Disney+ is packing tons of new surprises in June 2023. For starters, Avatar: The Way of Water – which currently stands as the third highest-grossing film of all time – is finally heading to streaming on both Disney+ and Max as part of a pre-existing deal with Warner Bros. Discovery that sends select 20th Century Studios titles to Max for a shared streaming window. However, only on Disney+ can you watch both the first and second Avatar films for one hell of a lengthy double feature.
The eccentric biopic Flamin’ Hot is the second shared streaming premiere on Disney+ this month. Searchlight Pictures will also release the film on Hulu at the same time. The feature directorial debut of actress Eva Longoria, Flamin’ Hot is inspired by the true story of Richard Montañez, the Mexican-American janitor who helped invent the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos brand at Frito-Lay in the late ’80s to early ’90s.
Marvel fans have a lot to look forward to on Disney+ in June 2023 as well. All eyes are going to be on Secret Invasion, the latest and ninth television series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Based on the famous Marvel Comics storyline of the same name, Secret Invasion will be an MCU event that takes place over six episodes. Samuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury and must stop a conspiracy of undercover shapeshifting Skrulls who are infiltrating Earth in the highest positions of power.
Moving on, Marvel fans will be able to dive into the behind-the-scenes special Assembled: The Making of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. As a neat bonus, the Disney+ original documentary on the Marvel godfather himself Stan Lee is coming to the streaming service in the middle of the month as well. The self-titled Stan Lee documentary will surely be a must-see for all Disney+ subscribers this June, regardless if their diehard Marvel fans or not. Disney+ has a lot more new additions on the way, including new episodes of Raven’s Home and all 8 seasons of the classic American sitcom Home Improvement starring Tim Allen.
Read more on our monthly recs below and then check out the full list of everything coming to Disney+ in June 2023. You can also find what’s new and about to be removed from Netflix, HBO and Max, and Prime Video this month right here on DiscussingFilm.
Our Recs:
Avatar: The Way of Water
James Cameron’s ground-breaking blockbuster Avatar: The Way of Water will now be available to be enjoyed on Disney+. However, what’s uncertain at the moment is when the sequel will be available in the streaming platform’s IMAX enhanced mode for the proper aspect ratio and improved viewing experience. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) must flee the safety of their forest clan for Pandora’s oceans when old enemy Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) returns in a new Na’vi form and threatens the lives of their children; older brother Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), younger brother Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), youngest sister Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), and their adopted oldest daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver).
The Sully family travel and find sanctuary within the ocean reefs of the Metkayina water tribe led by Chief Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) and Tsahìk Ronal (Kate Winslet). Here, they must learn how to live and be one with the water if they are to survive. Along the way, the Sully family meets a rogue whale-like Tulkun named Payakan who aids them in the fight against the invasive “sky people” from Earth. As it stands, James Cameron is deep into production on the next few untitled Avatar sequels with Avatar 3 planned to release in 2024, Avatar 4 in 2026, and Avatar 5 in 2028. Just what kind of new next-level technology Cameron and his massive productions are cooking to continue raising the bar in the magnificent world of Pandora remains to be seen.
Avatar: The Way of Water debuts on Disney+ and Max June 7, 2023!
Flamin’ Hot
Eva Longoria makes an impressive feature directorial debut with Flamin’ Hot, a biopic that’s just as stylish and charismatic as its main subject. Based on the memoir A Boy, a Burrito and a Cookie: From Janitor to Executive by Richard Montañez, Flamin’ Hot follows Montañez as he goes from down-on-his-luck Frito-Lay janitor to vice president of multicultural sales and community promotions at PepsiCo thanks to his ingenious creation of the Hot Cheeto. Searchlight Pictures is finally releasing the film for all on streaming after it wowed audiences and brought them to tears at the 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival.
Character actor Jesse Garcia (Narcos: Mexico) breaks through in his first feature leading role alongside Annie Gonzalez (Gentefied) as Judy Montañez – Richard’s hard-working and supportive wife – Tony Shalhoub (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as PepsiCo CEO Roger Enrico, and industry veteran Dennis Haysbert (24) as Clarence C. Baker, the Frito-Lay machine operator who took Richard under his wing. Emilio Rivera (Mayans M.C.), Bobby Soto (The Tax Collector), newcomer Brice Gonzalez (Lopez vs. Lopez), and comedian Matt Walsh round out the supporting cast. An inspirational underdog story like no other, with authentic Latino representation both in front and behind the camera, Flamin’ Hot is not to be missed on Disney+ this June.
Flamin’ Hot premieres on Disney+ and Hulu on June 9, 2023!
Secret Invasion
The first series of Phase 5 of the MCU, Secret Invasion is being sold as an espionage thriller with franchise-shaking repercussions. When Nick Fury learns that a group of sinister shapeshifting Skrulls has infiltrated and replaced some of the world’s most influential positions of power, he has no choice but to go dark and uncover this conspiracy from the inside. Fury recruits Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), and friendly Skrull Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) to fight back against the renegade Skrulls led by new foe Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir).
Also appearing in Secret Invasion is Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes – who plays a more political role here outside of his War Machine armor – Olivia Colman as one of Fury’s old allies from MI6 Sonya Falsworth, and Emilia Clarke as Talos’ rebellious Skrull daughter G’iah. Series creator Kyle Bradstreet (Mr. Robot) serves as the head writer with Ali Selim directing all 6 episodes. Fans should know that Marvel Studios is marketing Secret Invasion as a limited series event, meaning that whatever happens at the end of this show will leave ramifications for the franchise that can’t be easily taken back. Following Secret Invasion will be Loki Season 2 and Echo later this year on Disney+.
Secret Invasion kicks off on Disney+ June 21, 2023!
New Disney+ Arrivals for June 2023
Coming June 2
Pride from Above
Coming June 7
America’s National Parks (Season 2)
Avatar: The Way of Water
First Alaskans (Season 2)
Coming June 9
Flamin’ Hot (Premiere) *New to Disney+
Hailey’s on It! (Season 1, 6 episodes)
Coming June 14
Assembled: The Making of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania *Disney+ Original Premiere
Last of the Giants: Wild Fish (Season 2)
Miraculous Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (Season 5, 5 episodes)
Pupstruction (Season 1, 8 episodes)
Raven’s Home (Season 6, 4 episodes)
Coming June 16
Pretty Freekin Scary (Season 1, 7 episodes)
Stan Lee *Disney+ Original Premiere
The Villains of Valley View (Season 2, 5 episodes)
Coming June 21
Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper (Season 1)
Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Camp Minnie (Season 1, 9 episodes)
Secret Invasion: Episode 1 *Disney+ Original Premiere
Coming June 23
World’s Best *Disney+ Original Premiere
Coming June 28
Alice’s Wonderland Bakery (Season 2, 7 episodes)
Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian – The Making of Season 3: Episode 1 *Disney+ Original Premiere
Home Improvement (Seasons 1-8)
Home in the Wild (Season 1)
Secret Invasion: Episode 2 *Disney+ Original
Just announced: to celebrate 100 years of the studio, a collection of classic short films from Disney’s animation library will soon be released on Disney+
Premiering Friday, July 7:
- The Skeleton Dance (1929)
- Building a Building (1933)
- Bath Day (1946)
- Figaro and Frankie (1947)
- Goofy Gymnastics (1949)
- Aquamania (1961)
Premiering Friday, August 11:
- Barnyard Olympics (1932)
- Mickey’s Steam Roller (1934)
- Donald’s Nephews (1938)
- Goofy and Wilbur (1939)
- Donald’s Cousin Gus (1939)
- The Flying Jalopy (1943)
Premiering September 5–8:
- Trolley Troubles (1927)
- All Wet (1927)
- The Barn Dance (1929)
- Playful Pluto (1934)
- Mickey’s Kangaroo (1935)
- Merbabies (1938)
- Bone Trouble (1940)
- Pluto, Junior (1942)
Premiering Friday, October 6:
- When the Cat’s Away (1929)
- Fiddling Around (1930)
- Camping Out (1934)
- Wynken, Blynken and Nod (1938)
- Old Macdonald Duck (1941)
- Inferior Decorator (1948)
- Chips Ahoy (1956)
