September is shaping up to be a major month for Disney+. While Disney+ Day is normally held in November to celebrate the launch of Disney+, this year the event has been moved up to September 8th to lead into the D23 Expo being held in Anaheim, California. There, the studio will showcase their plans for the coming years in film, television, and theme park attractions, including the 100th anniversary of the company in 2023.
Disney+ Day will mark the release of many high-profile movies on Disney+ from many parts of the studio's rich catalog, including a remake of one of their beloved classics, the latest MCU film, and an interactive short film. The rest of the month includes releases from 20th Century Fox that had been previously released in theaters shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, and didn't get as much attention as a result. The month will conclude with the long-awaited sequel to a cult holiday classic.
With the summer movie season over and kids back in school, Disney+ is making sure to offer families major titles for the month of September to ease the transition between the beginning of school until October begins the countdown to Halloween. Here is every major new movie addition coming to Disney+ for September 2022 and what day they will be available to stream.
Pinocchio - September 8
A remake of the classic Walt Disney animated film of the same name, Pinocchio is from director Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit) and stars Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump) as Geppetto, Joseph Gordon-Levitt ((500) Days of Summer) as Jimminiy Cricket, Cynthia Ervino (Bad Times at the El Royale) as The Blue Fairy, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth in the titular role.
Pinocchio is a high-profile Disney+ exclusive release, similar to Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers earlier this summer; it's also weirdly one of many new Pinocchio remakes, in addition to Guillermo del Toro's version and another movie featuring Pauly Shore. For families looking for a new movie to gather around and watch together, this version of Pinocchio feels like the perfect pick for families and kids now returning to school.
Thor: Love and Thunder - September 8
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The latest entry in the MCU, Thor: Love and Thunder opened in theaters back in July 2022. The film sees Thor (Chris Hemsworth) facing off against Gorr the Godbutcher (Christian Bale) and reteaming with his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) who now wields his old hammer Mljonir and has taken on the mantle of the Mighty Thor.
While films like Lightyear and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness were sent to Disney+ just 45 days after their theatrical release, the studio opted to hold off on Thor: Love and Thunder to tie into Disney+ day. The decision has been a wise one as currently, Thor: Love and Thunder has grossed $336 million domestically and $746 million worldwide. Now audiences can enjoy the latest adventure from the God of Thunder over and over again alongside the making of special which will also be released on Disney+ Day.
Remembering - September 8
Remembering is a short film starring Brie Larson (Captain Marvel) and directed by Elijah Allan-Blitz. The short film is about a writer who has been blessed with an amazing idea, only to lose grasp of it when the phone rings, and will explore themes of inspiration and childlike imagination.
Taking the short film experience to the next level is the addition of an Augmented Reality app, where Disney+ subscribers in the United States can scan the TV and take part in the story where the World of Imagination can extend into the viewer's real-world living room. A short film with an interactive component sounds like a way to spend Disney+ day.
The Art of Racing in the Air - September 16
Based on the 2008 novel of the same name, The Art of Racing in the Rain was released in theaters on August 9, 2019, by 20th Century Fox and is finally making its debut on Disney+. Directed by Simon Curtis (My Week with Marilyn) and a script by Mark Bomback (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), the film tells the story of a young racecar driver from the point of view of his dog Enzo. The film stars Milo Ventimigla (This Is Us) and Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia), with Enzo voiced by Kevin Costner (Dances with Wolves). While not a box office hit when it was released, the film might find new life on streaming.
Spies in Disguise - September 23
Spies in Disguise was released in theaters on December 25, 2019, and marks the final film released by Blue Sky Animation Studio before it was shut down by the Walt Disney Company. The plot follows secret agent Lance Sterling (Will Smith) who is transformed into a pigeon by an intelligent young scientist named Walter (Tom Holland) and the two must then work together to return Lance to his human form while also trying to stop a revenge-seeking cybernetic terrorist.
While it might not be the most glamorous movie for Blue Sky Animation to end on, and the film was crushed at the box office at the time of its release from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Jumanji: The Next Level, Spies in Disguise certainly belongs on Disney+ to complete the Blue Sky Animation Studios legacy.
The Call of the Wild - September 23
The Call of the Wild is an adaptation of the popular Jack London book of the same name from director Chris Sanders (Lilo and Stitch). Set during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, the film follows a dog named Buck as he is stolen from his home in California and sent to the Yukon, where he befriends an old outdoorsman played by Harrison Ford (Star Wars) and begins a life-altering adventure as the two begin to grow closer to one another. Sanders' background in animation meant that he opted to go for a fully CGI dog as opposed to a real one, to allow for a greater sense of control over the animal and allow it to have a greater range of emotion since Buck is the main character.
The Call of the Wild is the first film released by Disney under the new renamed 20th Century Pictures banner. The movie was released on February 21, 2020, and was one of the last major films released before theaters shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For anyone who ever had to read The Call of the Wild in school, this is a film version that does the book justice and makes for an entertaining watch.
Hocus Pocus 2 - September 30
Hocus Pocus 2, the long-awaited sequel to the cult film Hocus Pocus is finally coming to Disney+ on September 30, the day before October — and the countdown to Halloween begins. Hocus Pocus 2 reunites Bette Middler, Kathy Najimay, and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson Sisters joined by new cast members Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), Sam Richardson (Werewolves Within), and Tony Hale (Arrested Development).
Directed by Anne Fletcher (The Proposal), Hocus Pocus 2 will arrive on Disney+ 29 years after the release of the original film and is likely one of the most anticipated films set for release in 2022 for a generation who grew up with Hocus Pocus as a Halloween staple.