In a side-by-side image, Chris Evans is seen as Captain America from Captain America: The First Avenger, in his traditional outfit and holding his shield; and Lin-Manuel Miranda and Philippa Soo are seen as Alexander and Eliza Hamilton in the Broadway production of the musical Hamilton.

What to Watch This Fourth of July from Around the Worlds of Disney

By Courtney Potter

Summer is in full swing, and with it the splashiest of holidays: the Fourth of July! As we speak (type?), barbecues are getting fired up, pool floaties are being inflated, and folks everywhere are planning for some ultimate summer fun. But if spending time outside isn’t exactly your thing—and trust us, we get it—D23 has you covered with a selection of delightful shows and movies to watch from around the worlds of Disney themed to and around this very holiday, and the land we call home…

So stay cool by grabbing your favorite snacks (leaving the mosquitos to the rest of the family) and turning on your favorite TV or streaming device for some quality July 4th viewing:

In an image from Captain America: The First Avenger, Chris Evans as seen as the title character, wearing his traditional outfit and carrying his shield. He is surrounded by several other heavily fortified humans, and there is a military truck in the background.

Fourth of July Marvel Movie Marathon—FX

Celebrate Independence Day with the Avengers—both assembled and, well, independent… Our friends at FX are offering up an all-day Marvel Movie Marathon with a plethora of Avengers films, including The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 3, Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Avengers, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. It all kicks off on Thursday, July 4, at 7 a.m. ET/PT. (You can also watch many of the same Marvel Cinematic Universe films, all day, every day, on Disney+!)

In an image from the Broadway production of Hamilton, filmed for streaming on Disney+, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Philippa Soo are seen as Alexander and Eliza Hamilton, respectively. They are standing together on a dark stage; Soo is singing to Miranda and holding his hand.

Hamilton—Disney+

If ever there was an entertaining way to learn about some of the founding fathers, it’s in musical-theater form (by way of rap, hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and more). Take your first or 31st spin through Lin-Manuel Miranda’s multi-award-winning production of Hamilton, filmed at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway in July 2016. Starring Miranda, Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Phillipa Soo, Disney Legend Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr., and Ariana DeBose. (Plus, look for several other Hamilton-related titles on Disney+, including a sing-along version, as well as the panel discussion Hamilton: History Has its Eyes on You, led by Disney Legend Robin Roberts.)

In an image from National Geographic’s America’s National Parks, a bull elk is bugling amongst his harem during the elk rut in Grand Teton National Park. It is a sunny but cold morning, and the camera has caught the elks’ breath as they’re exhaling.

America’s National Parks—Disney+ and Hulu

In the original docuseries from 2015, National Geographic honored the 100th birthday of “America’s best idea” with episodes featuring breathtaking cinematography and experiences of eight of America’s most beloved national parks—including Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon—offering insightful explorations of both breathtaking landscapes and memorably majestic animals. Right here in our own backyard! Don’t forget to check out the new, more-recent seasons, on both Disney+ and Hulu, from 2022 and 2023.

In an image from season 3 of Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Dara Reneé as Kourtney, Frankie A. Rodriguez as Carlos, Julia Lester as Ashlyn, Sofia Wylie as Gina, and Matt Cornett as EJ are seen walking into Camp Shallow Lake for the start of their camp experience.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 3—Disney+

Y’know what also says “summer” in a big way? Camp! And that’s just what happened on the third season of Disney+’s hit series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. All our favorite East High Wildcats head to Camp Shallow Lake in California, where they and their fellow campers are primed for an unforgettable summer filled with romance, curfew-less nights, and a taste of the great outdoors. With a high-stakes production of Frozen on the horizon and a drama-filled “docu-series” being made of their rehearsal process (featuring original HSM star Corbin Bleu!), the Wildcats will attempt to show who is “best in snow” without leaving anyone out in the cold.

In an image from Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), Gladys Knight & the Pips are seen performing on stage during the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969. A band made up of around 15 musicians is seen behind them, and a colorful wall is behind the entire group; the word “Festival” can be seen in large letters, in white, on said wall.

Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)—Disney+

On six Sundays from June 29 to August 24, 1969 (so that included July 4th weekend!), the Harlem Cultural Festival welcomed thousands of fans to Harlem’s Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park) to hear a mind-bogging cavalcade of some of the era’s most iconic musical acts—including Gladys Knight & the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, the Staples Singers, Sly and the Family Stone, and more. For a host of thought-provoking reasons, few people remembered the festival… until Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson took the helm of a 2021 documentary using uncovered and newly restored footage. Summer of Soul went on to win the Oscar® for Best Documentary Feature (among many other accolades), and now you can watch it any time you want on Disney+.