Disney+ viewers are probably still in post-Hamilton recovery mode. The filmed production of the stage show was a massive hit for Disney+. For the millions of people that had never actually seen it, the show seems to have largely lived up to the hype. August was going to have a hard time following a month that opened with Hamilton and is closing with Beyonce, and so, for the most part, it seems the strategy is not to try. But while August on Disney+ might not be quite as big and bold when it comes to content. It is not without its highlights as well as its curiosities.
August will open on Disney+ with some popular library titles including the original X-Men movie and the enjoyable, if not groundbreaking, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The first week will also give us the long-rumored debut of Howard the documentary film by former Disney animator Don Hahn about the incomparable Howard Ashman. Ashman was the lyricist who wrote all the music for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, and much of Aladdin. It's not even controversial to say that without Howard Ashman, the Disney Rennaissance never happens. Ashman is somebody all Disney fans should be familiar with and with the new film, they will have their chance to see the story of the man's life cut tragically short.
However, I'm looking forward to August 14 for entirely different reasons. It's a day for a double dose of new Disney movies because in addition to the release of the formerly theater bound The One and Only Ivan, we'll also finally see the release of Magic Camp. The live-action comedy starring Adam Devine has been done since 2017, and was previously also theater bound two years ago, but has sat on a shelf at Disney since then, and is being released to Disney+ with little to no fanfare. I need to see what all the fuss...isn't about. Here's everything dropping in the first half of August.
Friday August 7
Hidden Kingdoms of China
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Adventure Awaits
The Peanuts Movie
UFO Europe: The Untold Stories (S1)
X-Men
Howard
Muppets Now - Episode 102 - “Fever Pitch”
One Day At Disney - Episode 136 - “Ryan Meinerding: Marvel Studios Creative Director”
Disney Family Sundays - Series Finale Episode 140 - “Goofy: Pencil Cup”
Pixar In Real Life - Episode 110 - “WALL·E: BnL Pop-up Shop”
Friday, August 14
Alaska Animal Rescue (S1)
Ant-Man and the Wasp
India’s Wild Leopards
Jungle Animal Rescue (S1)
Nature Boom Time (S1)
Sam’s Zookeeper Challenge (S1)
Scuba Sam’s World (S1)
Spaced Out (S1)
T.O.T.S. (S1)
T.O.T.S. Calling all T.O.T.S. (S1)
Wild Cats of India (S1)
Zombies 2
The One and Only Ivan
Muppets Now - Episode 103 - “Getting Testy”
Magic Camp
One Day At Disney - Episode 137 - “Pavan Komkai: Broadcast Engineer”
Weird But True - Premiere Episode 301 - “Dinosaurs”
Hopefully, the first half of August will keep you busy, because the latter half of the month is uncharacteristically light in the content department. We'll only see a dozen pieces of content hitting Disney+ in the second half of the month unless some unannounced additions are made, which certainly has happened. We'll see the live-action Beauty and the Beast arrive, followed by the 2005 Fantastic Four and Alice Through the Looking Glass at the tail end of August, but that's pretty much it for library movie content.
With the end of Disney Family Sundays and the end, or at least the hiatus, of Pixar in Real Life, Disney+ will be down to three original series with new episodes by the end of August. And without much library content being added, things are looking a little sparse. Although, we will finish out the month strong with Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe. The brand new movie will continue the adventures of the title stepbrothers, this time as they save their sister Candace following an alien abduction.
Friday, August 21
Back to the Titanic
Beauty and the Beast
Mars: One Day on the Red Planet
Muppets Now - Episode 104 - “Sleep Mode”
One Day At Disney - Episode 138 - “Heather Bartleson: Holiday Services”
Weird But True - Episode 302 - “National Parks”
Friday, August 28
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Fantastic Four
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe
Muppets Now - Episode 105 - “The I.T. Factor”
One Day At Disney - Episode 139 - “Eric Baker: Imagineering Creative Director”
Weird But True - Episode 303 - “Farming”
Hopefully, the light end to August isn't the beginning of a trend, but rather an indication that Disney+ is holding some things back. We know that the original movie Secret Society of Second Bron Riyals will arrive in September. as will The Wolverine. Beyond that, we'll have to wait and see.
What are you looking forward to most on Disney+ in August? Let us know in the comments.
