Disney Exploring New Approaches to Movie Viewing on Disney+
In the tempestuous world of Hollywood, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has sent theaters teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, with Disney remaining shrouded in secrecy regarding the future of its grand theatrical releases. But whispers of a potential shift to streaming platforms, like Disney+, become increasingly loud as big-ticket films like Mulan and Artemis Fowl have found their homes on the digital service.
As the glitzy lights of the big screen flicker and dim for many, it's quite plausible that those flickers may be replaced with the warm glow of smaller screens. Deadline mused about Disney's intentions for several upcoming titles, such as Cruella, Pinocchio, and Peter Pan and Wendy - all initially designed for theatrical releases. The outlet hinted that Disney might employ the Premier Access platform, similar to the path they took with the live-action Mulan remake, or push straight to Disney+. Yet, it's important to note that no definitive decisions have been made, leaving the theatrical debuts of these films up in the air.
Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the return of movie-goers to cinemas, this strategy makes perfect sense for Disney. In numerous regions across the U.S., the prospect of resuming normalcy at theaters remains elusive, either due to enforced closures or a broader hesitancy to step back into cinemas. Furthermore, as revealed during the company's fourth-quarter earnings report, Disney's main objective now, and for the foreseeable future, revolves around its direct-to-consumer business.
To maintain and expand its burgeoning subscriber base, Disney eagerly seeks fresh, exclusive content. It's not difficult to imagine Disney capitalizing on its upcoming slate of feature films to draw in new subscribers given the precarious state of the U.S. right now - and that's putting it lightly. Data from Sensor Tower reveals a tantalizing 68% surge in Disney+ app installs during a three-day period when Mulan hit the service, alongside a staggering 193% increase in in-app spending.
It's not just Disney riding the tide of the pandemic; other studios have adopted the direct-to-consumer route for big-budget projects. Universal Pictures enjoyed tremendous success with the PVOD release of Trolls World Tour, while Warner Bros. will soon follow suit with Wonder Woman 1984 - premiering both on theaters and HBO Max on Christmas Day.
When the pandemic first reared its head, theaters had some leverage when negotiating release windows and exclusivity arrangements with studios. However, the brief tussle between AMC and Universal Pictures eventually devolved into a truce. With studios striving for vertical integration, it's clear that they require cinemas less than the other way around. Especially now, with the nation's largest cinema chains perilously hovering above bankruptcy.
Disney's barely finite Premier Access experiment might not transform into the avenue through which all or most of the upcoming films will find their way to Disney+. But it shows that the House of Mouse is actively weighing its options, and that should send a shiver down the spine of theaters already grappling with financial trouble.
- Amid the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of movie theaters due to the pandemic, Disney is contemplating shifting some of its grand theatrical releases to streaming platforms like Disney+.
- With multiple upcoming films, such as Cruella, Pinocchio, and Peter Pan and Wendy, rumored to potentially bypass theaters and go straight to Disney+, theaters may find themselves on shaky ground.
- As Disney emphasizes its direct-to-consumer business in the face of financial unpredictability, the potential for increasing the subscriber base by releasing fresh, exclusive content directly on Disney+ becomes increasingly influential.
- The shift towards streaming platforms is not unique to Disney, as other studios like Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. have also adopted the direct-to-consumer route for big-budget projects, reducing the leverage of theaters and potentially leading to closures due to financial instability.
