Walt Disney Animation Studios' Strange World arrives in theaters today, November 23. But after years of the pandemic, many moviegoers have been conditioned to expect Disney animated films to release directly to streaming.
Raya and the Last Dragon released in theaters and was simultaneously available on Disney+ Premier Access, while Encanto was added to the streaming service just 30 days after its theatrical release. Pixar's Soul, Luca, and Turning Red all released directly on Disney+. Lightyear, however, was released exclusively in theaters but came to Disney+ soon after.
So what's the deal with Strange World?
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Strange World will remain a theatrical release only. So if you want to check out the latest sci-fi comedy adventure, you'll have to head to the theater, which may not be a bad idea if you're looking to escape from the family for a bit this holiday weekend.
For those who prefer to watch new movies from the comfort of their home, Strange World will eventually come to Disney+ and will be free to watch for subscribers. The question is when.
Disney hasn't announced an exact date for when Strange World will be available to stream. And while Disney has sped up the amount of time it takes for a new release to come to Disney+, it's still handling each new release on a case-by-case basis -- usually depending on how well the film is doing at the box office. Naturally, the more successful the film, the longer it will play in theaters and the longer you'll have to wait for it to come to Disney+.
Looking at two recent Disney animated movies, Encanto was released in theaters on November 24, 2021. It came to Disney+ just 30 days later on December 24, 2021. Lightyear flew into theaters on June 17, 2022, before coming to Disney+ just 47 days later on August 3, 2022.
Let's say Disney follows a similar release pattern as Encanto for Strange World. Then it's possible the movie could arrive on Disney+ in time for the holidays -- possibly around December 24th or December 25th. However, if the film finds success at the box office, then it's possible we could be looking at a slightly longer theatrical run of perhaps 45 days, which would mean it comes to Disney+ in early- to mid-January 2023.
Reviews for Strange World are mostly positive, but nothing super impressive. The general consensus seems to be that it's a good movie but lacks originality. Will that be enough to get audiences to flock to theaters? Do you plan on seeing Strange World in theaters or are you waiting for streaming?