With its streaming release on Disney+, Stephen Spielberg’s West Side Story reverses a recent trend. The COVID-19 pandemic has restructured the way films are made available to the public, as they inevitably head to streaming platforms after at least a month-long exclusive theatrical run. Through this release model, numerous blockbuster movies have gained a significantly better reception following their premiere on Disney+, but the case of West Side Story is different.
Released on December 10, 2021, West Side Story has grossed $73.7 million against a production budget of $100 million, making it a commercial flop. While this can be largely attributed to the rise of the Omicron variant at the time, the film’s failure is also caused by a multitude of factors. These include the cost and risk of going to the theaters, the marketing campaign failing to leverage Spielberg’s reputation, and the almost-simultaneous release with the box-office juggernaut Spider-Man: No Way Home. Regardless, West Side Story has been universally acclaimed, with critics seeing it not only as a top-tier remake but a musical that, in a lot of aspects, transcends the original.
Since its theatrical reception has been less than satisfactory, having West Side Story on Disney+ thus expands its reach. Those who were not comfortable going to the theaters yet can comfortably watch the musical from their homes, piquing the interest of the public, too. However, this streaming release actually reverses an observed pattern from recent blockbusters. Despite their profitable box-office, movies like worst-reviewed MCU entry, Eternals, is totally devoid of the pressure to be at par with, if not exceed, the franchise’s brand of quality through this move. Meanwhile, West Side Story is a pure Spielberg masterpiece, filmed with a certain technique and flair. So, by making it accessible through streaming, viewers do not get the big-screen experience that the film is meant to provide.
Because West Side Story was filmed before the pandemic, the filmmaking process was significantly different and bigger. The film's first sequence utilized the famed Spielberg Oner, with the long take displaying the demolished buildings and wrecking balls. The West Side Story’s team used cameras of different designs, configurations, and stabilizers, in addition to visual effects. Moreover, the choreography was a big part of the musical — not just figuratively, in a sense that it allowed the actors to express themselves amidst the tension, but also literally. After all, the production of West Side Story, which had no subtitles for its Spanish dialogues, was the epitome of big Hollywood films. At the time, it still managed to employ hundreds of extras and close off the streets of New York for days at a time. These elements successfully came together to create a cinematic reimagining of the Broadway classic.
For most movies, releasing on streaming platforms means they can rake in more viewership. In some cases, these films also gain greater appreciation, especially when the critical consensus is disregarded and the audience is allowed to form their own opinion. But because of the history, enormity, and flair that went into Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, the Disney+ watching experience will definitely be incomplete.
