Disney are confirmed to receive exclusive theatrical releases. The question of theater-only releases for most films wasn't a major topic of discussion until 2020 when COVID-19 shut down theaters. This forced Hollywood to adjust as cinemas were closed or had limited attendance. It led to the rise of video-on-demand releases and titles debuting on a streaming service the same day as a theatrical launch.
Warner Bros. boldly announced its Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings that Disney committed to exclusive theatrical release windows of 45 days.
Disney has now confirmed that all six of the studio's remaining 2021 movies will receive exclusive theatrical releases. This includes The King’s Man (12/22). Each of these movies will play exclusively in theaters for 45 days except for Encanto, which received a 30-day window so it can release on Disney+ on Christmas Eve.
The commitment from Disney for theater-only releases for its remaining 2021 movies comes on the heels of a great summer for the studio. Black Widow, Cruella, and outperformed box office expectations and that can be attributed to audiences only having the option to see them in theaters right now.
Disney's latest announcement could also be telling for what the future holds for their movies. Most Disney movies should go straight to Disney+ once the 45-day exclusivity window has ed, but some of the 20th Century productions could go to rival streaming services instead or land on Hulu if they are more adult. This is also a great sign that Disney will commit to releasing the majority of its movies exclusively in theaters in 2022 and beyond. While the studio will continue to make shows and movies strictly for Disney+, those interested in seeing any of Disney's remaining 2021 titles will have to do so in theaters or wait for them to become available elsewhere.
