Brave

Brave is currently streaming in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus, and it earns its premise rather than just borrowing genre trappings. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 14,274 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for Kelly Macdonald — the performance elevates material that could easily tip into self-seriousness. Put it on tonight on Disney Plus and see for yourself.

There is a reason Brave keeps coming up in conversation. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Brave through its more ambitious moments. In the mystical Scottish Highlands, Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman and is granted an ill-fated wish. Kelly Macdonald and Emma Thompson lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. It hit screens in 2012. What separates Brave from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Brave fits the bill. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Kelly Macdonald's performance is the anchor the more ambitious moments need. The world-building pays off in ways you will not anticipate on a first watch.