Streaming Services, you know them, you probably have at least one, and they’re all the rage. Missed an episode of your favorite show? Don’t worry it’ll be up on Hulu tomorrow. Want something to binge for 12 consecutive hours? Netflix has tons of highly acclaimed original shows including Stranger Things and Orange is the New Black. Even Amazon Prime has some gems on there. Point is, streaming services are everywhere providing audiences with new and more convenient ways to consume all kinds of content. Ever since Netflix launched their streaming service in 2007, there has been a boom in the amount of platforms available for streaming. A new one is on its way right now, and a big one at that. From the largest studio in Hollywood, it’s Disney+. This is huge, like I said before Disney is the largest studio in Hollywood, and a Disney streaming service sounds like something worth that monthly bill. But first you gotta know what’s even going to be on it, so let’s go to what’s coming to the Disney+.
Marvel
Marvel fans this is what we’ve been waiting for! Avengers: Endgame just concluded the 11 year era with the original six Avengers (Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Hulk), but the MCU isn’t done yet. They have new installments that will soon go into development, most of them will be films but they have also have new TV series coming to Disney+. A Loki series has been confirmed and Tom Hiddleston is said to return to do some voice over for the series. There will also be two team up shows – WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The plots for both series have yet to be revealed but the actors will be reprising their roles for the new series.
Along with the new series, you will be able to stream other MCU films – Iron Man 1&3, Thor: The Dark World, and Captain Marvel. Many other MCU titles will be released on the platform within the platform’s first year.
I know what I will be binging during winter break.
Star Wars
Looking to return to a galaxy far far away? Well once November hits, you can! The Mandalorian, directed by Jon Favreau, was one of the first projects announced by Disney and will have featured directors like Taika Waititi and Bryce Dallas Howard. The series will follow the titular character as he goes on a journey throughout the galaxy after the fall of the empire. The platform will also feature a new season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars as well as a prequel series to Rogue One.
Just like with the MCU, Disney will also make other Star Wars titles available for streaming. Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, and Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker will be released during the first year of the platform.
Disney & Pixar Animation
Only interested in Disney+ so you can relive your childhood! Well I have some great news for you! Pretty much every title under this banner is coming to Disney+ in November, including some new and exciting things. The Hollywood Reporter reports that Monsters, Inc will be a getting a new series, and original voice actors will be coming back to reprise their role. The story will follow a new mechanic, Tyler Tuskmon, looking to work with Mike and Sully on the Laugh Floor at Monsters, Inc. THR also reports that a villain series called, Book of Enchantment, will be coming to the platform. The series is said to be adapted from a series of books written by Serena Valentino. Disney will also release a new Phineas and Ferb movie.
Disney Channel
90s babies it’s time, our favorites from the early Disney Channel days are coming back! The Cheetah Girls, Lizzie McGuire, Kim Possible, The Proud Family, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, they’re all coming back! Along with many other Disney Channel classics like Hannah Montana, Wizards of Wizardly Place, Good Luck Charlie, and the first two High School Musical films.
Disney Studios
Along with the Disney Channel content and Pixar/Disney Animation content, they will also be releasing their live-action films. Including, The Pirates of the Caribbean series, Chronicles of Narnia 1&2, Princess Diaries 1&2, their live-action remakes, and many more. It’s safe to assume that pretty much anything Disney related is coming to this service.
National Geographic
After Disney acquired 21st Century Fox for a cool $70 billion, they obtained the rights to National Geographic, so why not put it on the service. Who doesn’t want to watch some nature in between their Marvel/Star Wars binge? Along with some fun NatGeo titles, they’re bringing a behind the scenes look to Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Disney World Parks and a new nature series narrated by none other than Jeff Goldblum.
National Geographic content doesn’t seem like something one would be excited about compared to everything else coming to the platform, but I think this could be something worthwhile.
But…Is it worth it?
This is quite a lot of content, given Disney owns so much, and they’re quite picky about which streaming services can get the rights to their content. Which makes it hard to find ways to watch their original classics, or more popular titles. Recently Netflix cancelled all of their original Marvel series (Daredevil, Iron Fist Jessica Jones, The Punisher, and Luke Cage.), and many speculate this is due to Disney not wanting to have their content on another platform (quick reminder for those who have not realized it yet, but Disney owns Marvel Studios).
Now there are currently a decent amount of Disney films on Netflix, but it’s safe to say once this platform is launched, they will all be gone. Pretty much forcing us to get Disney+ if we want to watch a Pixar or Marvel film, but the good thing is – it’s not as expensive as you would think. Disney released the prices and Disney+ will be $6.99/month or $69.99 for the entire year. That’s not a lot of money, for a lot of content. This why I think it’s worth it, $7 and you’re pretty much getting everything Disney, sounds great to me. It’s so much content and for not a lot compared to other streaming services that are upwards of $10-15/month. Luckily Disney can afford to charge less than other services, so it all works out. But we all know the true reason behind the launch of Disney+, someone’s got to compete with Netflix and Disney has decided it’s gonna be them. So can they?
Disney vs. Netflix
I feel the biggest competition Netflix has with Disney is the family market and their collection of tentpole films with Star Wars and Marvel, but I’m afraid that’s it. If you think about it Netflix has a lot of variety, and Disney just has Disney. Netflix is where creators go to make their outlandish, weird, unique, and diverse content, and it’s where audiences go to see content just like that. Disney has a brand to keep, and that brand is family-friendly, so what you’re going to see on this platform is family-friendly content. Disney is kind of stuck in this family-friendly box and they can’t really venture out of it like how Netflix can. With that being said Disney can for sure work with that brand and make something great which is how they got to where they are, and they have Marvel which is a step up from family-friendly, but not too far out from it. Disney may only have Disney, but Disney is good. What they lack in variety they make up in popularity, especially with titles like Star Wars and Marvel. Variety reported that a study done by Ampere Analysis in the U.K. found that Disney’s content tops content found on Netflix. Disney can grab large audience with their tentpole titles, and Netflix can grab smaller niche audiences with their diverse content. The race between the two might be a really close one, and for sure fun to watch.