Willow

Willow has built a real following in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 2,187 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it for Warwick Davis — the performance elevates material that could easily tip into self-seriousness. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Willow arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Willow through its more ambitious moments. The evil Queen Bavmorda hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. When the royal infant is found by Willow, a timid farmer and aspiring sorcerer, he's entrusted with delivering her from evil. Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Willow came out in 1988. The world-building is meticulous enough to sustain multiple rewatches, with details early on that only make sense later. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Willow is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Watch for Warwick Davis in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.