Since launching in November 2019, Soul) have met with critical and financial success.
But between Hamilton and Soul, which film encapsulates the best of what Disney+ has to offer? One is the film version of a hit Broadway musical, and the other is Pixar's best movie in years. And the truth is that they both signal highs for the streaming service — just in very different ways.
Hamilton: Immersive
Hamilton has become one of the Disney+'s film version clearly shows why so many people have gone to see it: it's immersive.
The songs, performances, and set pieces have all been put together with the express purpose of whisking the audience away into a new world. And in trying times like these, that's exactly what audiences situated at home needed from Disney.
Soul: Introspective
Hamilton might be a fun distraction, but Soul is far more likely to get audiences to think.
Its messages about the purpose of life and what to do with your time on Earth have struck a chord with critics and audiences alike, and it's clear that people will continue to ponder the ideas and queries it presents for a long time after its release.
Hamilton: Memorable
Soul is a memorable film by all means; it's jam-packed with complex themes that its audience will likely keep with them for years to come. Still, Hamilton is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The fact that the film version, which came out more than five years after the musical's debut, became the most-watched streaming title of 2020 more than proves how hard it is to forget.
Soul: Atmospheric
Hamilton draws its audience in with the promise of an exciting, immersive musical, and it fully delivers on that.
Still, it doesn't offer quite as much atmosphere as Soul, a film that bursts with a creative aura that stays intact for its entire runtime.
Hamilton: Music
Soul has one of the best scores of any film released in 2020, and even with there being fewer big films released that year than most years before it, that's not an easy title to earn. The magnificent work of Nine Inch Nails alums Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross combined with the excellent jazz compositions of Jon Batiste is more than enough to make its soundtrack worth the listen.
The issue is, Hamilton's songs are iconic. Everyone knows them. In of musical prowess, Lin-Manuel Miranda is just a tough guy to beat.
Soul: Themes
Hamilton has a few interesting ideas to present to its audience, but for the most part, Soul has the advantage in this category.
Its complex messages about life came from the personal experiences of director Pete Docter, who always infuses his films with a touch of humanity that it's hard to ignore.
Hamilton: Characters
Soul's characters are funny and, at times, relatable, but they can't hold a candle to Hamilton's incredibly-crafted interpretations of historical figures, from its tenacious title character Alexander Hamilton to his cordial nemesis Aaron Burr.
This is another area where Lin-Manuel Miranda's writing really makes the difference, as he saturates each of his characters with unrestrained personality.
Soul: Story
Hamilton's storytelling is incredible and, it could be argued, even ventured into a new avenue for musical theater.
Still, Soul's story is not only much easier to follow, but it also has the same "The Incredibles) such rousing successes.
Hamilton: Performances
Soul should not be underestimated in the category of which film has the better performances — Pixar's reputation for hiring only the best in vocal talent is still intact. In fact, Soul has a great voice cast that features Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, and (oddly enough) Hamilton performer Daveed Diggs.
But Hamilton's cast played a much bigger part in its success, and each and every member has received a boost in their career as a result of its extreme achievements. Their incredible performances are truly the lifeblood of the film — they power the story forward, while Soul's performances usually only move with its story.
Soul: Visuals
Hamilton has some excellent visuals, all thanks to its great cinematography and incredible set design, but Soul is such an innovative and expressive film — even for Pixar, the studio that pioneered CGI animation — that it's impossible not to laud its technological achievements.
From its beautiful take on the streets of New York City that perfectly splits the distance between realism and stylized design, to the comfortingly abstract world of the Great Before, Soul's visuals are brimming with character and personality.
