The fall brings cooler temperatures and more time for snuggling up on the couch with a good movie or show. Luckily, there are lots of great options in September, including a bunch of new programming from Disney+ to mark the second annual Disney+ Day. So grab some fresh apple cider and enjoy these fun new shows.
Netflix
- Sept. 1: “Barbie: Mermaid Power” — This animated movie marks the 40th Barbie movie! Barbies Brooklyn and Malibu (along with Skipper, Stacie and Chelsea) transform into mermaids to compete in an underwater competition to help save the world of Pacifica. At least they won’t have to walk around on their tiptoes as mermaids!
- Sept. 1: “LOL House of Surprises” (Season 1) — Royal Bee is bringing her best friends to the house of surprises to show them her fabulous new project. Follow the adventures of the LOL dolls through Glitter City in this animated series.
- Sept. 1: “Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles” (Season 2) – Teenage Rabbit Samurai Yucichi continues his epic quest along with a collection of fighting animal friends that are both cute and awesome. Can Yucichi and his friends (and a magical yo-yo) defeat their enemies? You’ll have to watch to find out.
- Sept. 2: “Ivy + Bean” — This live-action movie is the first in a series based on the books by Annie Barrows. The story focuses on the adventures of Ivy and Bean, two young girls who learn that different people can be the best of pals. Netflix says they plan to make a series of these family-friendly movies, though there is no official word about how many books will be adapted for the screen.
- Sept. 5: “CoComelon” (Season 6: New Episodes) — The youngest Netflix audiences will be thrilled to watch more adventures of JJ and his two siblings (YoYo and TomTom) in this wildly popular series that seems to really confound many parents.
- Sept. 14: “Heartbreak High” (Season 1) — This Australian teen drama is a reboot of the 1994 series. Outsiders Quinni and Darren must navigate the tricky hallways of high school. This show deals with issues of broken friendship, love, sex and heartbreak, with swear words and a little fighting thrown in along the way. This show is probably best for older teens.
- Sept. 15: “Dogs in Space” (Season 2) — Humans have destroyed planet Earth and have sent dogs into space to find us all a new home. Follow the adventures of these brave canine space explorers as they battle aliens and continue the search for a new place to call home.
- Sept. 26: “My Little Pony: Make Your Mark” (Season 1) — Follow the adventures of Sunny Starscout and friends as they celebrate the return of magic to the world. If you just can’t get enough pony magic, check out the show’s theme song, complete with karaoke lyrics, to ensure the music stays in your head forever.
Hulu
Hulu is adding several classic kids' movies this month. So, take a trip down memory lane and introduce your kids to your old favorite, their new favorite:
- Sept. 1: “Short Circuit” (1986) — An experimental robot (originally developed to be used in wartime) is struck by lightning and escapes from the lab. The robot starts to take on human characteristics, but is it truly alive or just a machine?
- Sept. 1: “Hook” (1991) — Peter Pan is all grown up and has forgotten his time in Neverland. This movie has an impressive cast, including Dustin Hoffman, the late Robin Williams, Maggie Smith and Julia Roberts.
- Sept. 1: “Big” (1988) — It seems like kids always want to grow up faster. One evening while at a carnival, Josh makes a wish at a creepy fortune-telling booth — and poof! — he wakes up as an adult (played by Tom Hanks). Josh has to navigate life as a grown-up and decide what he truly wants from life. And he gets to play in a toy store and dance on a big piano along the way.
Disney+
- Sept. 7: “Edge of the Unknown With Jimmy Chin” — What’s more challenging than rock climbing or snowboarding down a huge mountain? How about capturing these incredible feats on film, while also participating in the movie! That's exactly what Academy Award–winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin does. In fact, he has been involved with some of the best films about elite adventure athletes, including “Free Solo,” “Meru” and “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.” Do not miss this epic 10-part series.
- Sept. 8: “Pinocchio” (live-action) — The latest Disney live-action remake, “Pinocchio” is sure to entertain old and new fans of this classic story. This Disney+ Day drop has a star-studded cast, including Tom Hanks as Geppetto.
- Sept. 8: “Love and Thunder” — From the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) comes the story of Thor, again. Watch our hero travel across the universe saving the world, falling in love and battling a bad guy hell-bent on destroying all gods. Like the other 28 MCU movies, this one is rated PG-13, and is best for the tween and teen crowd.
- Sept. 8: “Cars on the Road” — Lightening McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) hit the road for all-new adventures. This series of nine new episodes is sure to inspire your little ones to dig out their toy cars and zoom them around the house.
- Sept. 8: “Tierra Incógnita” — Eric and his sister Uma go to live with their grandparents after their parents mysteriously disappear. Eric decides to uncover the truth behind their disappearance and returns to the scary amusement park in his hometown to look for answers. Described as a mystery/horror show for adolescents, this one might be best for the tween/teen crowd that is missing the excitement and scares of “Stranger Things.”
- Sept. 8: “Growing Up” — This innovative documentary series shares the coming-of-age stories of 10 young adults from diverse backgrounds. Through powerful interviews, the audience experiences their stories and individual journeys to self-discovery and self-acceptance. This could be a great show to watch with your tween/teen. Check out the trailer here.
- Sept. 8: “Epic Adventures With Bertie Gregory” — While Jimmy Chin films human adventures, Bertie Gregory focuses on animals. Gregory is a National Geographic explorer and wildlife filmmaker, and he takes viewers behind the scenes to show how they capture those amazing animal shots. Around the world, on land and in the sea, you’ll witness incredible animal moments and the team that puts it all on the line to share them with the world.
- Sept. 21: “Super Natural” — This nature documentary explores the extraordinary in ordinary creatures. From trees that can communicate with one another to bees that work together to cook their enemy, this show exposes aspects of nature that are usually hidden from the human eye. The show is narrated by award-winning British actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Let’s hope he doesn’t have to try and say the one word that completely terrifies him.
- Sept. 21: “Firebuds” — Disney Junior presents new episodes of the show in which talking vehicles live, work and play with the humans who drive them. First-responder friends work together to help the community with issues big and small. This show is aimed at Disney’s youngest audience members, and highlights themes of teamwork and helping others.
- Sept. 28: “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” (Season 2, Episode 1) — Several months have passed since the conclusion of the first season, as the Bad Batch roams the Empire after the fall of the Republic. The characters in this animated series have adventures, meeting new and old friends (and enemies) along the way.
- Sept. 28: “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” (Season 2, Episode 1) — After winning back the title of the Mighty Duck, the team of loveable misfits hits the road, headed to an intense summer hockey institute in California.
- Sept. 30: “Hocus Pocus 2” — Three friends accidentally bring back the Sanderson sisters (played by Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy) to modern-day Salem. Adventure and laughs ensue as they must figure out a way to stop the witches from brewing up chaos again.
Disney+ likes to go old-school with some of its popular series, releasing one episode at a time. Watch for new episodes of the following series throughout September:
- “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” — Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
- “Dancing With the Stars” — Sept. 19, 26
- “Star Wars: Andor” — Sept. 21 (episodes 1, 2 and 3), 28
- “High School Musical” — Sept. 7, 14
