Better Nate Than Ever Brings Broadway Sparkle To Disney+

Better Nate Than Ever brings Broadway sparkle to Disney+.

Newcomer Rueby Wood stars as Nate Foster in Better Nate Than Ever, a theatre kid struggling to be cast in his middle school musical. When his parents go away for their anniversary, Nate and his best friend Libby (Aria Brooks) sneak off to New York City to audition for Lilo and Stitch on Broadway. Better Nate Than Ever is written and directed by Tim Federle, best known as the showrunner of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, who also wrote the 2013 novel of the same name.

This coming-of-age film is made by and for theatre kids as it celebrates the magic of Broadway and New York City. Wood has a quirky charm that will have you rooting for him to make it big, while High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star Joshua Bassett plays Nate’s sporty older brother who doesn’t support his theatre dreams. Their strained relationship pays off by the end of the film giving Nate’s big finale musical number major impact.

The only thing missing in Better Nate Than Ever is more music. We get a Broadway dream sequence of “Big Time,” Nate goes viral on TikTok singing “On Broadway,” he sings “No One Gets Left Behind” in his final audition, and then there’s “About To Go Awf” in the credits sung by both Rueby Wood and Aria Brooks. It would’ve been really exciting to see more of the Lilo and Stitch show they’re auditioning for, as well as more musical numbers from it.

Better Nate Than Ever has a cast full of enthusiasm, positive LGBTQ+ representation, and fun Ferris Bueller meets Billy Elliot vibes. The film is fun for the whole family with tons of musical references and wacky city adventures. Nate shows that believing in yourself, accepting who you truly are, and never giving up are the real keys to success. Being different is good, in fact, it’s what makes you a star.

Better Nate Than Ever is streaming exclusively on Disney+.