A closer look at the Disney+ TV library ahead of Hulu’s 2026 integration
A closer look at the Disney+ TV library ahead of Hulu’s 2026 integration
Most people come for Marvel or Star Wars — but there’s a lot more (and less) than you might expect.
When I think of Disney+, I don’t think “everything service.” I think Marvel. I think Star Wars. I think a massive lineup of animated shows I haven’t watched since I was a kid. And honestly? That’s kind of the whole deal. Disney+ isn’t trying to cover every genre under the sun — it’s built around a very specific universe: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and Nat Geo. But once I actually dig in, it’s kind of wild how much content is packed into those five lanes. Between the endless superhero shows, deep-cut Star Wars animation, legacy Disney Channel hits, and every single season of “The Simpsons,” there’s no shortage of stuff to scroll.
So I wanted to take stock of where things stand in 2025. What does Disney+ actually do really well? What still feels like it’s missing? How often are new shows dropping, and what’s the real depth of the library once you’ve burned through the biggest titles? And with Hulu officially merging into the platform next year, what should we expect as the service finally starts to grow beyond its original identity? Let’s break it all down.
Feel free to share your thoughts about Disney+’s offerings in the comments below.
Everything you need to know about the Disney+ TV show streaming library:
What TV genres does Disney+ do really well?
When you think of Disney+, you’re probably thinking of franchises — and for good reason. The platform’s bread and butter is still the big branded stuff, and they do it better than anyone. Marvel and Star Wars shows make up the core of Disney+ originals, and for fans of action, sci-fi, and superheroes, it’s a stacked lineup. You’ve got MCU titles like “Loki,” “Moon Knight,” and “She-Hulk” that all play in different corners of that universe. On the Star Wars side, there’s a ton to dig into — from “The Mandalorian” to “Ahsoka” to the anthology series “Tales of the Empire.” But for my money, “Andor” is still the best show on Disney+ and the one you should watch first when you sign up for the service.
The other genre Disney+ absolutely dominates is animation. If you’ve got kids — or just love a good cartoon — it’s hard to top what’s here. You get all the legacy stuff from “Bluey” and “The Simpsons” to newer series like “Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life” and “X-Men ’97.” It’s also one of the few platforms with almost the entire Disney Channel vault, so if you grew up on shows like “Kim Possible” or “That’s So Raven,” it’s all sitting there waiting. And Pixar fans aren’t left out either — “Monsters at Work” and other spin-offs add even more family-friendly depth to the animation catalog.
There’s also a quietly strong lineup of nature docs and adventure series thanks to the National Geographic tile. If you want a break from space battles and superheroes, shows like “Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold” and “Underdogs” are great little detours. This section leans educational, but the visuals are stunning and the stories often feel just as high-stakes. It’s also one of the only parts of the platform that appeals beyond just families and fanboys. Between that and the addition of “Doctor Who,” Disney+ has quietly carved out a nice sci-fi/nature lane to go with all the franchise and family content.
What TV genres could Disney+ do more of?
Since I don’t have kids, my perspective on Disney+ is definitely skewed. I’m not here for Bluey or Disney Junior reruns — I’m looking for grounded, adult dramas or something with a little more edge. And that’s where Disney+ still comes up short. Outside of a few darker Marvel entries like “Daredevil: Born Again,” the platform doesn’t really have that lineup of intense, character-driven shows you’d find on Netflix, Prime Video, or Max. There’s no gritty crime drama. No messy, prestige family sagas. Nothing that lives in the same world as a “Succession” or “The Night Of.” For viewers who want complex stories about adults for adults, the cupboard’s still pretty bare.
The same goes for comedy. Once you age out of animated sitcoms and family-friendly fare, the catalog dries up fast. I’m not asking for laugh tracks and multi-cam setups, but there’s definitely a gap when it comes to smart, character-based single-cam comedies. Think “Hacks,” or even something like “Ted Lasso.” That sweet spot between funny and emotional just isn’t something Disney+ has really leaned into, and after you scroll past the few originals that dip into that tone, there’s not much else in the queue.
Now, those gaps in content might all be on purpose. Because in 2026, Hulu will be fully folded into Disney+, which means a lot of those general entertainment shows — the grounded dramas, the edgy comedies, the adult-skewing stuff — will finally live in the same app. And honestly, that probably explains why Disney hasn’t beefed up those genres yet. They’ve been planning for this merger for a while, and now that they’ve officially bought out Comcast’s stake in Hulu, they’re finally making the transition. So while Disney+ has been a little lopsided in its offerings, that’s likely not an accident. It’s just step one in a bigger plan to create a single, more complete streamer.
How often does new content drop on Disney+?
Disney+ tends to space things out more than some of the other big streamers. You’re not getting a flood of new shows every week like on Netflix, but there’s usually a steady drip of big franchise content. Most months bring at least one high-profile drop — a new Marvel show, a fresh Star Wars installment, or a family-friendly original. Over the past year alone, we’ve gotten shows like “Ironheart,” “Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld” and “Daredevil: Born Again.” But the cadence is slower. A lot of these drop weekly, and there’s usually a gap between major releases. So if you’re caught up, you might find yourself waiting a bit for the next big thing.
That’s where Disney’s strategy kind of cuts both ways. On one hand, they focus on quality, where every Marvel or Star Wars launch is a big deal. On the other hand, if you’re not into those franchises (or you’ve already seen them all), it can feel like there’s not much else to get excited about in a given month. Other platforms like Prime Video or Netflix throw a bunch of stuff at the wall and even if half of it isn’t great, there’s always something new. Disney+ is more curated, which works when you’re in the mood for a tentpole title… but if you’re not, the “new this week” section might be a little thin.
How deep is Disney+’s TV show library?
Disney+ doesn’t try to be everything, but what it does do, it does in bulk. The library leans hard into its core brands, so if you’re into animation, superhero shows, or anything “Star Wars,” it’s incredibly deep. You’ve got the entire run of “The Simpsons” — all 36 seasons — plus every Star Wars animated series ever made: “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “Star Wars Rebels,” “Star Wars: The Bad Batch,” and more. And on the Marvel side, it’s got everything from the newer live-action shows like “WandaVision,” “Loki” and “Ms. Marvel” to older animated series like “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” and “X-Men ’97.” You could spend months just watching superhero and sci-fi animation, it’s that stacked.
That franchise depth is also what makes Disney+ a go-to for nostalgia. They’ve got a ridiculous amount of old Disney Channel series — think “That’s So Raven,” “Lizzie McGuire,” “Wizards of Waverly Place” — plus Pixar spin-offs like “Monsters at Work” and “Cars on the Road.” You’ve also got tween and high school shows like “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” and “Diary of a Future President.” And of course, “Bluey” is everywhere (for good reason). Between all that and the massive animation library, there’s just an overwhelming amount of kid and family-friendly content.
Where it gets a little shallower is outside those big buckets. If you’re scrolling for adult dramas, comedies, or long-running network procedurals, Disney+ doesn’t have the kind of back catalog you’d find on “Grey’s Anatomy” on Hulu or “Law & Order: SVU” on Peacock. There’s not a big slate of classic ABC shows or anything that feels like comfort-watch TV for grown-ups. But that’s also kind of the point. Disney+ has always been framed as the dedicated home for Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic — and it sticks to that lane. So what you get is laser-focused depth, not broad genre coverage.
That said, things are already shifting. If you’re a bundle subscriber using the Hulu on Disney+ beta, you’re seeing some of that general entertainment content sneak in. And in 2026, when Hulu is officially folded into Disney+, that change becomes permanent. That means shows like “The Bear,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Only Murders in the Building,” and “Fargo” will all live under the same roof as “The Mandalorian” and “She-Hulk.” For now, the library is deep in a very specific way, and if you’re all-in on Disney-branded franchises, you’re set for life. But come 2026, that depth is going to widen a lot.
Too long didn’t read summary
Disney+ is laser-focused on franchises, animation, and family-friendly content, and the library runs deep in those lanes. You’ll find tons of Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney Channel shows, plus a steady stream of new originals. But it’s still pretty light on adult dramas and comedies (at least for now). That’s set to change in 2026, when Hulu fully merges into Disney+, bringing a lot more general entertainment under one roof. When that happens, Disney+ will be all the stronger for it.
Disney+
Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.”