Walt Disney Animation Studios' sci-fi family comedy Strange World will head to streaming services this month after a disappointing theatrical run at the box office. Disney announced that Strange World will arrive on the Disney+ streaming platform on Friday, December 23.
This was one of the dates we had originally predicted for its streaming debut, although we acknowledged that it would ultimately depend on how well Strange World performed at the box office. As it turns out, the film bombed, which explains its quick arrival to streaming.
Despite hitting theaters during the normally lucrative Thanksgiving holiday weekend window, Strange World failed to live up to Disney's expectations -- or its production budget. The film hit just $27.8 million globally during its opening weekend and has so far mustered just a $53.4M worldwide total. It's estimated that Disney could lose close to $150 million on the film, which would make it one of the company's biggest flops.
Strange World didn't generate the buzz we're used to seeing from a Disney animated film and sits at just a 74% on Rotten Tomatoes with a 67% audience score. While those aren't necessarily bad scores, it is below average by Disney standards. The critics consensus reads: "Strange World is a Disney milestone in terms of representation -- but as a storytelling experience, this dazzlingly animated adventure offers little audiences haven't already seen."
Despite its stumbling at the box office, it's entirely possible that Strange World finds a welcomed reception on Disney+. After all, it is a family-friendly movie with vibrant colors and a meaningful story coming to the streaming platform during an extended holiday weekend. It may just be the perfect film to sit around and enjoy with the kiddos.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ original action-packed adventure “Strange World” introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob, a three-legged dog and a slew of ravenous creatures.
Strange World features a star-studded cast that includes Jake Gyllenhaal as Searcher Clade, a family man who finds himself out of his element on an unpredictable mission; Dennis Quaid as Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father, Jaeger; Jaboukie Young-White as Searcher’s 16-year-old son, Ethan, who longs for adventure; Gabrielle Union as Meridian Clade, an accomplished pilot and Searcher’s partner in all things; and Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal, Avalonia’s fearless leader who spearheads the exploration into the strange world. It was helmed by Oscar-winning director Don Hall (Big Hero 6, Raya and the Last Dragon) and co-directed/written by Qui Nguyen (co-writer Raya and the Last Dragon).