Elemental arrived in theaters this week, and Disney is hoping that Pixar can re-establish its brand as a box office behemoth with it. In hopes of encouraging audiences back to the theaters, Disney has done away with the same-day theatrical and Disney+. This means the only way to watch Elemental right now is by hopping in the car and driving to your local theater.
While going to the movie theater is certainly a way to escape the summer heat, the speed at which Disney's movies have come to Disney+ has given fans reason to just wait and save money until the movie eventually arrives on the streaming service. So how long will we be waiting for Elemental to arrive on Disney?
When will Elemental start streaming on Disney+?
Disney is doing a staggered global release for Elemental. The movie was released in theaters across the United States and Canada on June 16, 2023, but will arrive in theaters worldwide on July 7, 2023. So what could this mean for Elemental's arrival on Disney+?
Well, right now, not much. Disney hasn't announced when Elemental will come to Disney+ and in all likelihood are probably waiting to see how it performs in theaters before they commit to a streaming release. Last year's Lightyear, which was a box office bomb, made its Disney+ debut after just about 45 days in theaters. It took Strange World, another box office disappointment, just over 30 days to come to Disney+.
Disney's films typically take anywhere between 45 to 90 days to go from theaters to streaming. Based on recent Disney's recent track record with its CG-animated films, Elemental could arrive on Disney+ in early August, especially if it doesn't perform well at the box office.
However, Disney is trying to re-establish its theatrical business, so it's possible they could give Elemental a longer leash, even if it struggles to pull in pre-COVID box office numbers. Under CEO Bob Iger's leadership, Disney is now allowing more time to pass between a movie's theatrical release and its Disney+ streaming debut. Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania took about three months to stream, while Avatar: The Way of Water took six months. If Disney chooses to wait the full 90 days, then Elemental won't start streaming on Disney+ until mid-September.
While we have no firm streaming date set yet, it seems like a safe window of expectation is anywhere between early August and mid-September. Initial reviews for Elemental describe it as a "solid story told with dazzling visual flair," but acknowledge that it "may not satisfy as fully as the greatest Pixar pictures."