One TV comedy giant leads the best Disney+ binges
One TV comedy giant leads the best Disney+ binges
Whether you want Springfield chaos, Disney Channel nostalgia, or mystery-comedy weirdness, Disney+ has you covered.
When I open Disney+, it’s usually not for comedies. I’m thinking about the obvious stuff first: Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, the animated classics, and whatever giant franchise Disney wants me to click on that week. But the funny thing is, if you dig around even a little, Disney+ has some really solid comedies sitting right there. The kind of shows you can throw on during dinner, keep rolling for a few episodes, and suddenly realize you’ve spent a whole week hanging out in Springfield, Waverly Place, Philadelphia, or the weirdest little town in Oregon. That’s what this list is about: easy, funny, binge-worthy shows that give you a real world to settle into. Here are the best binge-worthy comedy TV shows streaming on Disney+ right now.
Best binge-worthy comedy shows streaming on Disney+
Best endless binge: ‘The Simpsons’
“The Simpsons” is basically the infinity pool of TV comedy. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie have been causing problems in Springfield for so long that the episode count almost stops making sense. And that’s what makes it such a great binge on Disney+. Whether you’re a classic-seasons-only person, a newer-episodes defender, or someone who just wants to throw on a random “Treehouse of Horror” and call it a night, there’s just an absurd amount to watch. More than seems possible, honestly.
The best part is that “The Simpsons” doesn’t ask much of you. You don’t need to track a complicated story. You don’t need to remember where you left off. You can just jump into Springfield and get jokes, satire, pop-culture riffs, dumb Homer moments, Lisa being the smartest person in the room, Bart being Bart, and a whole town of side characters who somehow feel like old friends. It works as a background show, a comfort rewatch, or a full marathon if you’re brave enough. Some binges are about racing to the ending. This one is about realizing there may never actually be an ending, and how incredible a feat that actually is.
The Simpsons
Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.
“The Simpsons” was ranked the best sitcom of all time by Rolling Stone in 2021.
If you’ve never seen it, “The Simpsons Movie” pulled together some of the series’ best writers for a wild ride.
Best magical nostalgia binge: ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’
“Wizards of Waverly Place” is one of those Disney Channel shows that’s straight nostalgia. Alex, Justin, and Max Russo are siblings growing up in New York City, except they’re also wizards-in-training. Their parents run a sandwich shop, the kids learn magic in secret, and eventually, only one Russo sibling gets to keep the family powers. That’s a very fun sitcom engine. Every episode can be about school, family, dating, jealousy, or chores, but then magic gets involved, and everything goes sideways.
The reason this one is such an easy binge is Selena Gomez as Alex Russo. She’s sarcastic, lazy, clever, selfish, lovable, and constantly trying to find a shortcut. Which, of course, is why the show keeps moving. Alex uses magic irresponsibly, Justin gets annoyed because he’s the responsible one, Max adds chaos because that’s basically his job, and then everyone learns something before doing it all again. It’s breezy, funny, and full of that Disney Channel comfort rhythm. But it also has a real series-long hook with the family wizard competition, so watching all the way through actually pays off. And with “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” bringing this world back, now’s a pretty good time to revisit the original and remember why people loved it so much in the first place.
Wizards of Waverly Place
Alex, Justin and Max Russo are not your ordinary kids - they’re wizards in training! While their parents run the Waverly Sub Station, the siblings struggle to balance their ordinary lives while learning to master their extraordinary powers.
Best coming-of-age binge: ‘Boy Meets World’
Back in the day, “Boy Meets World” was one of the staples of my favorite TV line-up: TGIF (officially branded as “Thank goodness it’s funny” but became “Thank goodness it’s Friday” in our house) on ABC. The show follows Cory Matthews from middle school into college, which means you’re not just watching a sitcom — you’re watching these characters grow up. Cory, Shawn, Topanga, Eric, and Mr. Feeny all become part of the reason the show is so easy to keep watching. One episode, you’re dealing with school problems, the next it’s friendship, family, dating, responsibility, heartbreak, or Eric doing something beautifully stupid.
What makes it such a satisfying binge is the long runway. Cory and Topanga don’t just have a cute little sitcom crush. You actually watch that relationship change over the years. Shawn isn’t just the cool best friend. He gets real emotional weight. Eric starts as the goofy older brother and slowly becomes one of the funniest parts of the whole show. And then there’s Mr. Feeny, who somehow manages to be the teacher, neighbor, mentor, and moral compass for basically everyone. It’s funny, but it’s also sincere in a way that still works. If you want a comedy binge that feels like growing up with people, this is the one.
Boy Meets World
The coming of age events and everyday life-lessons of Cory Matthews, a Philadelphian who grows up from a young boy to a married man.
Best mystery binge: ‘Gravity Falls’
“Gravity Falls” is kind of the wildcard of this list. It follows twins Dipper and Mabel Pines as they spend the summer with their Grunkle Stan in Gravity Falls, Oregon, a town where everything is weird, suspicious, and probably hiding something. On one level, it’s a very funny animated show about monsters, tourist traps, sibling chaos, and Mabel wearing sweaters like she’s trying to win a national championship. But underneath all that is a real mystery.
That’s what makes it such a great binge. Every episode gives you jokes and a fun little adventure, but it also drops clues, codes, secrets, and weird little hints about the bigger story. Dipper wants answers, Mabel brings the chaos and heart, and Grunkle Stan slowly becomes way more important than he first appears. Because the show only runs 40 episodes, it’s short enough to finish without making it your whole life, but packed enough that it feels like a full meal. It’s funny, strange, smart, and surprisingly emotional by the end. Basically, it’s the Disney+ comedy binge for anyone who wants to laugh while also feeling like they’re solving a puzzle.
Gravity Falls
Twin brother and sister Dipper and Mabel Pines are in for an unexpected adventure when they spend the summer helping their great uncle Stan run a tourist trap in the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, Oregon.
More binge-worthy comedy TV shows on Disney+:
‘Phineas and Ferb’
Phineas and Ferb
Each day, two kindhearted suburban stepbrothers on summer vacation embark on some grand new project, which annoys their controlling sister, Candace, who tries to bust them. Meanwhile, their pet platypus plots against evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz.
‘Hannah Montana’
Hannah Montana
At home and school, she’s Miley Stewart, a typical teenager, but when the lights go down and the curtain goes up, she emerges as the glamorous and talented Hannah Montana. Having the “Best of Both Worlds” is a complicated proposition, and keeping her identity under wraps leads Miley and her friends into some hilarious capers as she tries to balance her normal life with her rock star persona.
‘The Muppets’
The Muppets
The Muppets return to primetime with a contemporary, documentary-style show. For the first time ever, a series will explore the Muppets’ personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, breakups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires. This is a more adult Muppet show, for “kids” of all ages.
‘The Proud Family’
The Proud Family
Follow the adventures and misadventures of Penny, a 14-year-old African American girl who’s doing her best to navigate through the early years of teen-dom. Penny’s every encounter inevitably spirals into bigger than life situations filled with hi-jinks, hilarity and heart. Her quest to balance her home, school and social lives are further complicated by friends like the sassy Dijonay, Penny’s nemesis LaCienega Boulevardez, her loving, if not over-protective parents and her hip-to-the-groove-granny, Suga Mama.