Five of their next six titles, including Marvel’s “Eternals,” all of which are set to open during the rest of 2021, will not reach Disney+ or Hulu until at least 45 days after their theatrical release. Their animated “Encanto,” opening at Thanksgiving, will reach the streaming platform after 30 days. That’s close to as much as theaters could hope for. Most films, irrespective of performance, have hit home availability by 45 days. Disney, Warner Bros., and Universal all have had some with same day release on various platforms, with Universal and other companies regularly going to Premium VOD after three weeks.
Of note, four of the six films come from their stockpile of 20th Century Fox productions. Because of deals they inherited, these titles give Disney less flexibility. But these dates show that they have enough to add to their streaming platform, even at 45 days. “Encanto” will hit Disney+ just before Christmas, the ideal time for maximizing its response. Last year, Universal released “The Croods: A New Age” to PVOD, also a Thanksgiving release, to PVOD for the holiday to apparent significant viewing. “Encanto” per sources will have no additional charge for the Disney+. These windows are specifically for the domestic market, with decisions on other territories to be made at the local level. 30 Day Window before Disney+ 11/24 Encanto 45 Day Window before Disney+ 10/15 The Last Duel 10/22 Ron’s Gone Wrong 11/5 Eternals 12/10 West Side Story 12/22 The King’s Man Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
