Disney Wiki
Advertisement
Disney Wiki

Better Nate Than Ever is a Disney+ original movie. It is based on the book of the same name by Tim Federle who also directs the adaptation. It was released on April 1, 2022 on Disney+.[1]

On May 26, 2023, the film was removed from Disney+,[2] but was made available on VOD on September 26, 2023.[3]

Synopsis[]

Nate Foster, an unpopular 13-year-old from Pittsburgh, has a goal of one day becoming a Broadway musical star. When Nate is repeatedly overlooked, and never cast in the lead roles he deserves, he and his best friend Libby, sneak away to pursue their life's dreams in the Big Apple. A random encounter with his estranged aunt Heidi, turns their adventure upside-down. Only together can they make their dreams come true.

Plot[]

Nate Foster is a 13-year-old who lives in Pittsburgh and is obsessed with being a Broadway star. His parents are understanding while his older brother Anthony is put off by his odd behavior. At school, Nate is picked on and gets passed over major roles in the school play, but finds solace in his only friend Libby who supports him in his endeavors, but she herself has stage fright. She informs him that they are holding auditions for a Broadway adaptation of Lilo & Stitch, but Nate is unsure whether he can make it. As luck would have it, Nate's parents, Rex and Sherrie, decide to get away for awhile. Anthony uses the opportunity to hang out with his friends while Nate feigns spending the night at Libby's house. Nate and Libby sneak away on a bus to New York City without telling anyone.

Nate and Libby locate where to audition, but are informed that they need a parent or guardian to watch. By chance, Nate's Aunt Heidi, a struggling actress, just so happens to be there to audition for A Solitary Woman and Nate passes her off as his guardian. While Heidi is happy to see Nate, she wants to do the responsible thing and call her sister Sherrie to inform her, but Nate gives her Libby's number to hide it. Nate goes into the audition, but when he tries to show off his knee dancing from Fiddler on the Roof he accidentally rips his pants and humiliates himself. Nate prepares to return to Pittsburgh with Libby, believing that he has failed, but calls a callback. Libby cannot bring herself to stay with Nate in New York and admits her feelings for him, but Nate informs her that he does not think of her that way and stays for the callback which involves giving a monologue that impresses the casting directors.

Not having a place to stay, and needing to earn money, Nate discovers street performers and begins to sing; becoming a TikTok star overnight. He calls Libby who responds positively to the news before going to the Museum of Natural History to find Heidi who, while upset that Nate did not return home, gives him a place to stay. Heidi is revealed to have had a falling out with her sister in the past due to their clashing dreams. She nevertheless supports Nate's endeavors and hopes that he make the audition. Back at home, Anthony discovers Nate's TikTok video and heads over the Libby's house to demand what is happening. In the morning, Anthony and Libby arrive at Heidi's apartment in New York to pick Nate up. Nate tells Anthony that he is aware that he embarrasses him, but that he needs to go to the audition to achieve his dream. He escapes out a fire exit (something he has always wanted to do) while Heidi informs Libby about being an agent.

Nate arrives to audition for Stitch, but becomes demoralized upon realizing that the majority of the character's lines are alien grunts. He begins to sing "No One Gets Left Behind", but stumbles when Heidi, Anthony and Libby arrive and gives up. Anthony shouts that he does not embarrass him and this encourages Nate to continue singing and give a remarkable performance. Nate makes up with Anthony who found his audition impressive and he encourages Heidi to not give up on her dreams and to make up with Sherrie. On the drive back home, Anthony gets into show tunes and Libby accepts being Nate's platonic friend. The next day at school, Nate is called into the principal's office where his parents learned what happened and reveal that he successfully landed the part. The movie ends with Nate performing in the musical with Libby, Anthony, his parents, and Heidi in the audience.[4]

Cast[]

  • Rueby Wood as Nate Foster
  • Joshua Bassett as Anthony Foster; Nate's older brother
  • Aria Brooks as Libby Reneé; Nate's best friend
  • Lisa Kudrow as Aunt Heidi
  • Norbert Leo Butz as Rex Foster; Anthony and Nate's father
  • Michelle Federer as Sherrie Foster; Anthony and Nate's mother
  • Finn Egan-Liang as Jimmy Madison
  • Krystina Alabado as Assistant Casting Director
  • Brooks Ashmanskas as Casting Director
  • Keola Simpson as Garrett Kekoa
  • Anaseini Katoa as Director
  • Kylie Kuioka as Stage Daughter
  • Priscilla Lopez as Serious Play Casting Director
  • George Benson as Himself

Songs[]

Main article: Better Nate Than Ever (soundtrack)

Trivia[]

Easter eggs and allusions[]

  • In the original book, Nate was auditioning for a Broadway adaptation of E.T. the Extraterrestrial. For the film adaptation, this was changed to Lilo & Stitch. This was obviously done so that Disney could utilize their own brand, rather than having to ask permission for another way. The decision to use Lilo & Stitch came from director Tim Federle.[6]
  • When asked by Libby to name "the greatest animated movie of all time", Nate asks if she means before or after Moana's release.
  • Nate sings "Let It Go" during his second audition. Later, when he is asked to go to the New Asterdam Theater the next day, Nate points out that's the same theater where The Lion King debuted.
  • A TV spot for Cruella can be seen as Nate walks through Times Square.
  • Nate has a Wicked Poster in his room ironic enough Norbert Leo Butz and Michelle Federer who plays Nate's parents were part of the original Wicked Broadway cast. Norbert Leo Butz who plays Nate's father was the original Fiyero and Michelle Federer who plays Nate's mother was the original Nessarose in Wicked the Broadway musical.

Video[]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. Bucksbaum, Sydney (February 25, 2022). "First look at Disney+ musical 'Better Nate Than Ever' features full-circle 'HSMTMTS' reunion" (en). Entertainment Weekly.
  2. https://deadline.com/2023/05/disney-remove-series-streaming-disney-plus-hulu-big-shot-willow-y-dollface-turner-hooch-pistol-1235372512/ Disney Removes Dozens Of Series From Disney+ & Hulu, Including 'Big Shot', 'Willow', 'Y' & 'Dollface'
  3. https://thedirect.com/article/disney-movies-re-release-abandoned
  4. "Better Nate Than Ever on Disney+". Filmy Rating. Retrieved Mar 17, 2022.
  5. [1]
  6. Bucksbaum, Sydney (2022-02-25). "First look at Disney+ musical Better Nate Than Ever features full-circle HSMTMTS reunion". Entertainment Weekly.


v - e - d
Disney Plus logo
Movies
2019: Lady and the TrampNoelleTogo

2020: Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were MadeStargirlArtemis FowlHamiltonMagic CampThe One and Only IvanPhineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the UniverseSecret Society of Second-Born RoyalsCloudsBlack BeautyGodmotheredSafetySoul
2021: Flora & UlyssesRaya and the Last DragonLucaHome Sweet Home AloneDiary of a Wimpy Kid
2022: The Ice Age Adventures of Buck WildTurning RedCheaper by the DozenBetter Nate Than EverSneakerellaChip 'n Dale Rescue RangersHollywood StargirlRiseZombies 3PinocchioHocus Pocus 2DisenchantedDiary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick RulesNight at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again
2023: Chang Can DunkProm PactPeter Pan & WendyCraterWorld's BestDashing Through the SnowDiary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever
2024: Descendants: The Rise of Red

Documentaries
One Day at Disney (2019-present) • Dolphin Reef (2020) • Elephant (2020) • A Celebration of the Music from Coco (2020) • Howard (2020) • Inside Pixar (2020) • Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (2020) • Director by Night (2022) • Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage? (2022) • Mickey: The Story of a Mouse (2022) • Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl (2022) • Stan Lee (2023) • The Beatles: Let It Be (2024) • Jim Henson Idea Man (2024) • Tiger (2024)
Shorts
Lamp Life (2020) • Once Upon a Snowman (2020) • 22 vs. Earth (2021) • Ciao Alberto (2021) • Remembering (2022) • Zen - Grogu and Dust Bunnies (2022) • Le Pupille (2022) • The Shepherd (2023)
Premier Access
Mulan (2020) • Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) • Cruella (2021) • Black Widow (2021) • Jungle Cruise (2021)
Scripted series
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019-2023) • Diary of a Future President (2020-2021) • The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (2021-2022) • Big Shot (2021-2022) • The Mysterious Benedict Society (2021-2022) • Turner & Hooch (2021) • Monsters at Work (2021-present) • Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life (2021-present) • Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. (2021-2023) • Just Beyond (2021) • The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022-present) • Love, Victor (season 3) (2022) • Willow (2022-2023) • National Treasure: Edge of History (2022-2023) • The Muppets Mayhem (2023) • American Born Chinese (2023) • FreeKs (2023-present) • L-Pop (2023) • Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023-present) • Iwájú (2024)

Star Wars: The Mandalorian (2019-present) • Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021-2024) • The Book of Boba Fett (2022-2023) • Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) • Andor (2022-present) • Star Wars: Tales (2022-2024) • Ahsoka (2023-present) • The Acolyte (2024) • LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy (2024)
Marvel: WandaVision (2021) • The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (2021) • Loki (2021-2023) • What If...? (2021-present) • Hawkeye (2021) • Moon Knight (2022) • Ms. Marvel (2022) • She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022) • Secret Invasion (2023) • Echo (2024) • X-Men '97 (2024-present) • Agatha All Along (2024)

Docuseries
Marvel's Hero Project (2019-2020) • The Imagineering Story (2019) • The World According to Jeff Goldblum (2019-2023) • Pick of the Litter (2019-2020) • Prop Culture (2020) • Muppets Now (2020) • Earth to Ned (2020-2021) • The Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom (2020-present) • 616 (2020) • Into the Unknown: Making Frozen II (2020) • Marvel Studios: Legends (2021-present) • Marvel Studios: Assembled (2021-present) • Behind the Attraction (2021-2023) • The Beatles: Get Back (2021) • MPower (2023) • Secrets of the Elephants (2023-present) • Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All (2023) • Choir (2024)
Reality and competition shows
Encore! (2019-2020) • Be Our Chef (2020-present) • The Big Fib (2020) • The Quest (2022)
Shorts series
Forky Asks a Question (2019-2020) • Pixar: In Real Life (2019-present) • SparkShorts (2019-present) • One Day at Disney (2019-present) • Short Circuit (2020-2022) • Zenimation (2020-present) • The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse (2020-2023) • Pixar Popcorn (2021-present) • Launchpad (2021-present) • How to Stay at Home (2021) • Dug Days (2021) • Star Wars: Visions (2021-present) • Baymax! (2022) • Ice Age: Scrat Tales (2022) • I Am Groot (2022-2023) • Cars on the Road (2022) • Zootopia+ (2022) • Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (2023) • LEGO Pixar: Bricktoons (2024)
Other
Arendelle Castle Yule Log (2019) • Black Is King (2020) • The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special (2020) • High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special (2020) • Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) • Werewolf by Night (2022) • The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) • LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red (2023) • LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition (2024)
Cancelled projects
Muppets Live Another DayBook of EnchantmentWitch Mountain
Upcoming
Films: Aladdin: Live from the West End (TBA) • Three Men and a Baby (TBA) • The Return of the Rocketeer (TBA) • Sister Act 3: Kicking the Habit (TBA) • Flight of the Navigator (TBA) • Once on This Island (TBA) • Song for a Whale (TBA) • Superfudge (TBA) • Robin Hood (TBA) • The Sword in the Stone (TBA) • Inspector Gadget (TBA) • Phantom (TBA)

Shows: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2024) • Eyes of Wakanda (2024) • Tiana (2024) • Skeleton Crew (2024) • Win or Lose (2025) • Daredevil: Born Again (2025) • Ironheart (2025) • Vision Quest (2026) • The Witchverse (TBA) • Darkwing Duck (TBA) • Wonder Man (TBA) • Twisted Wonderland (TBA) • King Kong (TBA) • Marvel Zombies (TBA) • A Crown of Wishes (TBA) • Gargoyles (TBA) • The Doomies (TBA) • TaleSpin (TBA) • Nova (TBA)
Shorts: An Almost Christmas Story (2024)

Advertisement