We’ve Noticed a “Pixar Pattern” When it Comes to Free Disney+ Releases

Recently, Disney shared a series of announcements in regards to several of their highly anticipated 2021 movie releases. Among these announcements was the news that Black Widow and Cruella would be released on Disney+ via Premier Access the same day that they hit theaters.

Another upcoming release, Pixar’s Luca, had its release moved to Disney+, but at no additional cost to subscribers and without an accompanying theatrical release.

This is now the second time that a Pixar film has been released strictly on Disney+ at no additional cost. Last year, Soul was released on the streaming platform on Christmas Day, as what Disney CEO Bob Chapek described as “a treat for families to enjoy together this holiday season.”

To date, Disney has released or announced the release of several major film titles across multiple studios on Disney+, including Walt Disney Pictures, Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and Marvel. However, the only films so far to get a release solely on Disney+ with no upcharge are Soul and Luca — both Pixar titles.

Other films, including Mulan (Walt Disney Pictures), Raya and the Last Dragon (Disney Animation Studios), Cruella (Walt Disney Pictures), and Black Widow (Marvel Studios) were or will be released on Disney+ via Premier Access, which comes with an additional fee of $30 on top of the monthly subscription cost to watch during its initial release.

These recent developments present a sort of awkward question: what exactly is going on over at Pixar? The studio has an impressive history under the Disney umbrella, producing blockbuster films that shattered box office records time and time again. So why take a studio with a proven track record of financial success and limit the earnings potential by offering these new releases at no additional cost?

Keep in mind that Pixar wasn’t always owned outright by Disney, and the two studios haven’t always lived together in harmony. The acquisition of Pixar in 2006 was actually a rather tumultuous one in Bob Iger’s earliest years as CEO, where one of his first priorities was to repair what was at the time a damaged relationship between the two studios. Was Iger the glue that held the two studios together? Will him stepping down as Chairman at the end of the year signal those troubled waters to return?

One possible explanation came when Disney CEO Bob Chapek highlighted the need for the company to remain flexible when it comes to their upcoming releases in light of the pandemic. On Disney’s Investor Day presentation in 2020, he pointed to the fact that 80% of the company’s upcoming film and television releases would head straight to Disney+.

While the pandemic has certainly forced consumers and motion picture studios to reconsider what a trip to the movies looks and feels like, it’s hard to merely write off Soul and Luca’s straight-to-streaming releases as mere coincidences.

It’s also possible that Disney wants to attract more families with younger kids to the streaming service. CFO Christine McCarthy shared late last year that more than half of the global households subscribed to Disney+ do not have kids, so its possible that this is simply a short-term strategy to entice more families with kids to sign up with the newest Pixar releases made available at no extra cost.

Of course, Disney has not disclosed their exact strategy with future Disney+ releases, or why only Pixar films that have had their releases moved straight to streaming with no upcharge. As more movie theaters across the country reopen, we could see a shift in the company’s strategy, but we won’t know for sure until Disney announces more updates on their upcoming film releases!

Be sure to stay tuned as we continue to cover Disney movie and television news and updates!

Click here to read more about Disney’s decision to launch the vast majority of their upcoming film and television releases directly to their streaming services.

What is your take on the newest Pixar films moving straight to Disney+ with no upcharge? Is it mere coincidence or part of a longer-term strategy? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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