28 Best Disney Movies in Italian
Disney Plus offers over 1,900 films and more are being added regularly—a large number of these include Italian language options.
You can view beloved animated classics like “Beauty and the Beast” as well as live-action features including “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Avatar,” all with excellent Italian dubbing and subtitles.
Below, I've gathered a selection of popular Disney titles available in Italian, plus some advice for getting the most out of your language learning experience with Disney Plus.
15 Must-watch Italian Movies on Disney Plus
Now that you understand how to access the Italian versions of films on Disney Plus, it's time to begin viewing. The following movies are both entertaining and worthy of repeated watching:
1. Inside Out
“Inside Out” provides a touching look into the inner life of a young girl called Riley. The primary characters are the emotions residing in Riley's head: Joy (Gioia), Sadness (Tristezza), Anger (Rabbia), Fear (Paura), and Disgust (Disgusto).
When Riley struggles with relocating to a new city with her family, her emotions fall into disarray and must regain their equilibrium. They even need to cooperate with Bing Bong, Riley's imaginary companion.
It stands out as one of the most inventive animated films I've watched, conveying the positive lesson of embracing all your feelings.
2. Avatar: The Way of Water (Avatar: La Via dell’Acqua)
This follow-up to “Avatar” is the highest-earning Disney movie ever released in Italy.
Jake Sully and Neytiri are now a couple in the alien world of Pandora, raising five children. When humans seeking to exploit Pandora cause new problems, they are compelled to flee and seek refuge with the Metkayina, a tribe of water dwellers.
The Sully family must then join forces with other clans to defend their world.
Similar to the original, the visuals are breathtaking. The blend of CGI and live action vividly animates the underwater creatures.
3. Lion King (Il Re Leone)
This 1994 film is a Disney classic. While the characters are lions, their feelings are deeply relatable and engaging.
On the African savannah, a lion cub named Simba is born as the future king to Mufasa. The kingdom celebrates, except for Scar, Simba's jealous uncle, who schemes to take the crown. After Mufasa's death, Scar makes Simba believe he is responsible, causing Simba to flee into exile.
Years later, Simba lives without worries, but destiny intervenes when he is called to face his history and reclaim the kingdom from Scar.
A more recent live-action version from 2019 is also available.
4. Luca
For a film that takes place in Italy, consider “Luca” for your list.
Luca, a young sea monster, is fascinated by the world above the sea. Ignoring his parents' warnings, he goes onto land in human form with another sea monster—Alberto—and they spend the summer in a coastal town, indulging in pasta and gelato and riding scooters.
They enter a race hoping to win a Vespa, but their human disguises cannot be maintained indefinitely.
The style evoked memories of Studio Ghibli for me, as “Luca” has a gentle pace and picturesque scenes, making it a soothing viewing experience.
5. Coco
“Coco” is a film that will deeply move you.
Miguel is a Mexican boy with a strong desire to play music, despite his family's ban. In rebellion, he takes the guitar of a famous musician and unintentionally crosses into the Land of the Dead.
There, he befriends Hector, an unfortunate skeleton who wishes to visit the Land of the Living. They agree to assist one another, and Miguel uncovers hidden truths about his musical hero and his own family.
The movie's famous song “Remember Me” is equally touching in Italian as “Ricordami.”
6. Finding Nemo ( Alla Ricerca di Nemo)
“Finding Nemo” remains an emotional experience even years after its release, telling the story of a father who will go to any length to recover his son.
Nemo, a clownfish, is captured and placed in a fish tank in Sydney, surrounded by other captive fish who are unhappy about their confinement. As he learns to adjust, his father—Marlin—is heartbroken and travels across the ocean to find him.
Marlin is accompanied by Dory, a devoted but forgetful blue tang, and they confront numerous dangers, such as sharks and fields of jellyfish, on their quest to reach Nemo.
7. Ratatouille
Remy is a rat with a remarkable gift for cooking and a passion for gourmet food. He dreams of becoming a chef despite being a rat, and he finds himself at the restaurant of his culinary hero in Paris.
Fortunately, he encounters Linguini, an awkward kitchen helper. He secretly aids Linguini in becoming a skilled chef by hiding under his hat and directing his cooking actions, and they prepare wonderful dishes together.
While the premise is amusing, it is also a highly motivational film. I appreciate its message about pursuing your dreams despite obstacles!
8. Aladdin
In the magical city of Agrabah, a clever orphan named Aladdin survives by stealing food but aspires to a better life. He finds a lamp containing a genie capable of granting three wishes. Because Aladdin wants to win the heart of Princess Jasmine, the Sultan's daughter, he wishes to become a prince.
However, the sorcerer Jafar desires the lamp for his own sinister plans. Aladdin must now outwit Jafar and rescue the kingdom.
The songs here are delightful and iconic. Listen for “Il Mondo è Mio,” the Italian version of “A Whole New World.”
9. Beauty and the Beast (La Bella e la Bestia)
“Beauty and the Beast” is an enchanting love story about seeing beyond external appearances to the heart within.
Belle, an intelligent, book-loving young woman, becomes a prisoner in a magical castle inhabited by a Beast. Although initially frightened, she befriends the castle's enchanted residents and learns the Beast is under a spell. As she realizes he is genuinely kind, they fall in love.
The film is filled with iconic scenes, and its theme song is beautiful to hear in Italian.
10. Encanto
Mirabel Madrigal is unique in her remarkable family because she lacks a magical ability. The Madrigals are respected by their Colombian village for their special powers, which include super strength and healing.
But then Mirabel has a vision of their magical home cracking. She decides to look into this and—as her family's powers start to disappear—she ultimately encourages them to face their hidden problems.
The animation style is vibrant and unique! Its musical numbers enhance the whimsical feel. I became hooked on “Non Si Nomina Bruno” (We Don't Talk About Bruno).
11. Avengers: Endgame
“Avengers: Endgame” serves as the epic conclusion to over 20 films in Marvel's Infinity Saga. It is full of surprises, ensuring an exciting experience.
Thanos has erased half of all life in the universe, and the surviving Avengers are devastated.
To reverse the damage, they devise an audacious plan: travel through time to collect the Infinity Stones before Thanos can acquire them. To accomplish this, they form teams and journey to different historical moments significant to their past.
Ultimately, they confront Thanos and his army in an epic battle.
12. Moana ( Oceania)
You may know this as “Moana,” but the Italian title is actually “Oceania.”
On a beautiful Polynesian island, Moana—the chief's daughter—feels a strong bond with the ocean and a urge to voyage. When a curse caused by the demigod Maui endangers the island, Moana sails to save her community.
She finds Maui, who is convinced to return a magical stone he took. During their journey, they must fight coconut-clad pirates, a giant crab, and more.
This is also excellent for children because Moana is very appealing—she is courageous, self-reliant, and clever.
13. Pirates of the Caribbean (Pirati dei Caraibi)
Among the entire “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, the first one, “The Curse of the Black Pearl,” is arguably the best. It is exciting and dark, with many clever remarks.
Elizabeth, the governor's daughter, is taken by cursed pirates. Now Captain Jack Sparrow–a charming but eccentric pirate–must save her, accompanied by Will Turner, a blacksmith who has feelings for her.
The Italian title for the first film is “La Maledizione della Prima Luna,” which translates to “The Curse of the First Moon,” a more poetic name.
14. Doctor Strange
“Doctor Strange” tells the story of a brilliant but arrogant neurosurgeon. A terrible car accident ruins his hands and ends his career, leading him to search for a cure.
This quest brings him to Kamar-Taj, a mystical place in Nepal. There, a powerful sorcerer teaches him about magic and other dimensions.
As Strange quickly advances, he enters a conflict against dark forces aiming to destroy reality, and he must now hone his skills to protect the world.
It is a visually mind-bending film. I appreciated its complex and intriguing villain.
15. Zootopia ( Zootropolis)
Zootopia (known as Zootropolis in the Italian version) is a vibrant city where animals of all types coexist peacefully, from hamsters to buffalos to sloths.
Judy Hopps aspires to be the first rabbit police officer in Zootopia. She takes on a case of missing animals. With her unexpected partner, Nick Wilde—a sly fox with a dubious history—they investigate various districts. These include Tundratown, with its snowy environment, and the humid Rainforest District.
It is a heartwarming, amusing film, and Judy and Nick are a charming pair due to their contrasting personalities.
More Disney Plus Movies for Learning Italian
In addition to the essential movies listed above, here are some further popular choices on Disney Plus that you can watch in Italian:
| A Bug's Life: Megaminimondo | Frozen: Il Regno di Ghiaccio | Soul |
| Black Panther | Iron Man | Star Wars |
| Captain Marvel | Jungle Cruise | The Incredibles (Gli Incredibili) |
| Cars: Motori Ruggenti | Little Mermaid (La Sirenetta) | The Lizzie McGuire Movie (Da Liceale a Pop Star) |
| Cruella | Monsters Inc. (Monsters & Co.) | Toy Story: Il Mondo dei Giocattoli |
| Deadpool | Mulan | Wall-E |
| Emperor’s New Groove (Le Follie dell'Imperatore) | Raya and the Last Dragon (Raya e l'Ultimo Drago) | X-Men |
| Freaky Friday (Quel Pazzo Venerdì) | Turning Red |
Tips for Learning Italian with Disney Plus
No matter where you are, the most popular Disney Plus movies often provide multiple language options, including Italian.
Here are some ways to ensure you're also learning the language (in addition to having fun with the movie):
- Begin with films you love. Perhaps you are a big fan of “The Lion King” or “Star Wars.” If you are new to watching movies in Italian, start with titles you already know well, as you will be familiar with the plot and can deduce some vocabulary from context.
- Write down new words or expressions. You can focus on phrases that occur frequently. I prefer to save new vocabulary in Anki, a flashcard application, for later review.
- Watch with subtitles initially, then try without them. If understanding the film is very difficult, start with English subtitles, but switch to Italian subtitles as soon as you can. Once you can follow the story reasonably well, attempt to listen to the dialogue without any subtitles.
Since watching an entire movie is quite demanding—even if they are Disney classics—I would suggest this activity if you have an intermediate level of Italian (at least B1) or higher.
Even beginners can have fun with Italian movies, but instead of focusing on vocabulary, you would concentrate on immersing yourself in the sounds of the language and enhancing your pronunciation.
How to Change the Language on Disney Plus
If you are using Disney Plus outside Italy (like Disney Plus USA), you can first verify if your chosen movie has an Italian audio track.
Follow these instructions to switch a movie's language to Italian:
- Select the movie you wish to watch and press play.
- Pause the movie and select the settings icon in the top-right corner of the screen. This appears as a white symbol with dark lines at the bottom.
- Click this icon to open the Audio and Subtitles menu. Choose Italian as the audio language in the first column, then pick Italian again as the subtitle language in the second column. If you prefer no subtitles, select “Off.”
- You can then close the window or tap the screen. Your movie should now play in Italian.
However, sometimes you might not see an Italian audio option for a movie (even if an Italian dubbed version exists officially). There is a solution for this. As an Italian learner, you can fully commit by setting your profile's language to Italian, which will automatically set movies on your account to Italian when available.
Here is how:
- Click on your profile in the upper right corner of your screen.
- If you have multiple profiles, choose “Edit Profiles” and select the profile you will use.
- The settings menu for your profile will appear. You will see “App Language” in the middle. Click on it, then select “Italiano” from the language list.
- Confirm your choice and save the changes.
Naturally, your dashboard (and all other controls) will also switch to Italian. If a movie does not have an Italian version, it will still play in English by default.
With Disney Plus, you will have plenty of movies to practice your Italian. These Disney films in Italian are all memorable and often part of popular culture, and the language used is typically clear and direct.
To continue learning Italian through movie clips and other engaging videos, consider Lingflix.
Lingflix uses authentic videos—such as music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks—and transforms them into customized language learning lessons, as shown here:
Lingflix helps you become accustomed to everyday Italian by merging the advantages of full immersion and native-level conversations with interactive subtitles.
Tap on any word to immediately view an image, definition within context, example sentences, and other videos where the word is used.
Access a full interactive transcript for every video under the Dialogue tab, and practice words and phrases with handy audio clips under Vocab.
After watching a video, you can use Lingflix's quizzes to actively practice all the vocabulary from that video. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you are viewing.
Lingflix even tracks all the Italian words you've learned to suggest videos and pose questions based on your existing knowledge.
Additionally, it will notify you exactly when it's time for review. That is a completely personalized experience!
The best part? You can try Lingflix for free!
Start using the Lingflix website on your computer or tablet or, even better, download the Lingflix app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
