The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Right now you can watch The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the UK on Disney Plus — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Sean Connery leads a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. What makes The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. To prevent a world war from breaking out, famous characters from Victorian literature band together to do battle against a cunning villain. Sean Connery and Naseeruddin Shah lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2003. The rules of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. 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, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen fits the bill. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Sean Connery grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.