Is Disney+ Being Overrun by Pixar Classics? New Data Reveals Surprising Streaming Habits
Disney’s streaming giant, Disney+, has been a colossal success since its 2019 launch, gathering a staggering 146 million subscribers and providing a platform for both nostalgia-inducing Disney classics and fresh, original shows from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, a new report calls into question the overall strategy of Disney+, particularly when it comes to the kind of content viewers are choosing to watch.
The Eye-Opening Stats: Pixar Rules the Disney+ Kingdom
A recent report by TV Grim Reaper revealed some rather startling data. The platform’s top 10 for the week ending in 9/17/23 included Disney+ original series Ahsoka, which snatched up a mind-blowing 577 million viewing minutes. However, even more surprisingly, Pixar films like Turning Red and Luca managed to outdo the buzz-worthy MCU series Loki and the Star Wars series Andor.
“According to TV Grim Reaper, Disney+’s top 10 from the week ending in 9/17/23 includes Pixar films such as Turning Red and Luca.”
Other shows making the list were The Mandalorian, Secret Invasion, Animals Up Close with Bertie, Hocus Pocus 2, and Good Chemistry: The Story of Elemental.
Nielsen Top 10 Disney+ Originals (Shows & Movies), US TV Viewing, week ending 9/17/23
Comp: A single 1 hr episode watched by 1 million people = 60 million minutes pic.twitter.com/roQ3LBK0us
— TV Grim Reaper (@TVGrimReaper) October 15, 2023
What This Means for the House of Mouse
Disney’s acquisition of Marvel in 2009 has propelled the MCU into a blockbuster-making machine, and the launch of Disney+ only fueled this fire. Over the past four years, Disney has focused on expanding the MCU into television, with shows like Loki becoming cultural phenomenons.
“The past four years have seen a massive rise in the production of these series, with some, like the top-10-making Loki, gaining praise and viewership…”
However, despite these significant efforts and the substantial viewership of series like Loki and Secret Invasion, they still couldn’t surpass Pixar’s classics. What makes this data even more concerning is the fact that both Turning Red and Luca aren’t even new releases.
“To make matters worse, both Pixar movies are not new releases, whereas Secret Invasion was released this year and Loki season 2 is currently airing weekly.”
Why Pixar Could be Disney’s Future Focus
Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter recently voiced optimism about Pixar’s future, indicating a possible shift in Disney’s approach. While the MCU will undoubtedly continue to be a significant part of Disney’s offerings, especially in theaters, the latest data suggests that Pixar has an unmatched drawing power on the streaming platform.
“The MCU may rake in cash in their theatrical releases, but these Disney+ reports seem to say that even the best Marvel shows cannot top the prowess of Pixar.”
The Big Takeaway: Don’t Underestimate Pixar
It’s a curious twist in the tale for Disney+, as the data implies that the allure of Pixar’s storytelling seems to be pulling more emotional strings than the action-packed adventures of the MCU. Will Disney pivot its focus more towards Pixar or continue to back its superhero series? Either way, it’s a high-stakes game for the streaming giant. What this boils down to is a critical question: can the magic of Pixar’s storytelling outshine the superheroic might of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Time will tell.
