Pixar's Lightyear officially took flight this weekend, arriving in theaters across the United States. It's the first Pixar film to release exclusively in theaters since 2020's Onward. The studio's previous three movies — Soul, Luca, and Turning Red — all went directly to Disney+.
Although COVID is still around, much of the world has opened back up. For Disney, it means a return to theaters for their movies. But not everyone is happy about that. If you're the type who prefers to stay home and enjoy a movie from the comfort of your own couch, you're probably wondering when Lightyear will arrive on streaming services.
As a Disney film, Lightyear will be going to Disney+, the House of Mouse's very own streaming service. And as it's already in theaters, there won't be any of that Premiere Access charge that Disney was doing for a while. Once it comes to DIsney+, you'll be able to watch it for free.
So when will Lightyear come to Disney+?
Disney hasn't officially announced when Lightyear will be available on Disney+. But we can look at past films for a general idea. Walt Disney Animation Studios' Encanto had just a 30-day theatrical release window, releasing over Thanksgiving weekend on November 24 before debuting on Disney+ on December 24.
Disney's other films have varied but have typically had a minimum 45-day exclusive theatrical release. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, for example, is coming to Disney+ after a 48-day theatrical run. Marvel's Eternals began streaming on Disney+ on January 12, 2022, 70-days after its theatrical release. Marvel's Black Widow, which was released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with the Premiere Access fee, wasn't made free on the service until 90 days after.
So it seems the numbers vary by movie and it's possible the box office performance could dictate how long (or quickly) a movie goes from theaters to Disney+. In Lightyear's case, a 45-day window would put the film's arrival on Disney+ around Wednesday, August 3, 2022. But it's possible it could remain in theaters even longer if it does well enough. If Disney waits 90 days, then we're looking at a Disney+ arrival around September 15.
For what it's worth, it seems Lightyear might be worth checking out in theaters. It currently sits at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and our own Josh Wilding called it "the best animated movie of the year and a dazzling sci-fi escapade." Check out his full review here.