D23 July the 4th Movies and Shows to Watch – Capt. America to Hamilton! D23 always has its pulse on Disney, being the official fan club, there is a lot to keep up with. They have put together a great list of movies, shows, and marathons to enjoy this Fourth of July holiday.
Fourth of July Marvel Movie Marathon—FX
Celebrate Independence Day with the Avengers—both assembled and, well, independent… Our friends at FX are offering up an all-day Marvel Movie Marathon with a plethora of Avengers films, including The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 3, Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Avengers, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. It all kicks off on Thursday, July 4, at 7 a.m. ET/PT. (You can also watch many of the same Marvel Cinematic Universe films, all day, every day, on Disney+!)
Hamilton—Disney+
If ever there was an entertaining way to learn about some of the founding fathers, it’s in musical-theater form (by way of rap, hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and more). Take your first or 31st spin through Lin-Manuel Miranda’s multi-award-winning production of Hamilton, filmed at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway in July 2016. Starring Miranda, Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Phillipa Soo, Disney Legend Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr., and Ariana DeBose. (Plus, look for several other Hamilton-related titles on Disney+, including a sing-along version, as well as the panel discussion Hamilton: History Has its Eyes on You, led by Disney Legend Robin Roberts.)
America’s National Parks—Disney+ and Hulu
In the original docuseries from 2015, National Geographic honored the 100th birthday of “America’s best idea” with episodes featuring breathtaking cinematography and experiences of eight of America’s most beloved national parks—including Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon—offering insightful explorations of both breathtaking landscapes and memorably majestic animals. Right here in our own backyard! Don’t forget to check out the new, more-recent seasons, on both Disney+ and Hulu, from 2022 and 2023.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 3—Disney+
Y’know what also says “summer” in a big way? Camp! And that’s just what happened on the third season of Disney+’s hit series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. All our favorite East High Wildcats head to Camp Shallow Lake in California, where they and their fellow campers are primed for an unforgettable summer filled with romance, curfew-less nights, and a taste of the great outdoors. With a high-stakes production of Frozen on the horizon and a drama-filled “docu-series” being made of their rehearsal process (featuring original HSM star Corbin Bleu!), the Wildcats will attempt to show who is “best in snow” without leaving anyone out in the cold.
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)—Disney+
On six Sundays from June 29 to August 24, 1969 (so that included July 4th weekend!), the Harlem Cultural Festival welcomed thousands of fans to Harlem’s Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park) to hear a mind-bogging cavalcade of some of the era’s most iconic musical acts—including Gladys Knight & the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, the Staples Singers, Sly and the Family Stone, and more. For a host of thought-provoking reasons, few people remembered the festival… until Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson took the helm of a 2021 documentary using uncovered and newly restored footage. Summer of Soul went on to win the Oscar® for Best Documentary Feature (among many other accolades), and now you can watch it any time you want on Disney+.
