Luca's Streaming Numbers Show Why Pixar Films Are Moving to Disney+
Recent figures released by Nielsen show just how big a streaming success Pixar's Luca was for Disney+ and why more Pixar movies are going directly to the platform. The recent announcement that the upcoming Turning Red would be going directly to the streaming platform, the third consecutive Pixar original movie to do so, saw fans and Pixar Employees upset about the perceived diminution of the acclaimed studio to streaming-original content. However, Luca's streaming success suggests that this move is not due to a perceived weakness in the material but a strategic move to support Disney's goal to dominate streaming.
Nielsen, the widely-used TV ratings agency, recently released their annual survey of the most streamed movies. Luca, commonly considered one of 2021's best animated movies, topped the list, being viewed for a total of 10.6 billion minutes. The top four spots were also animated Disney+ movies, including Raya and the Last Dragon, Moana, and Frozen II. This is especially impressive considering that Disney+ has fewer subscribers than Netflix. While Nielsen's numbers have limitations, they are the most reliable third-party measurement service, and likely more credible than streaming services' self-reported numbers.
RELATED: 2021 Confirmed Disney's Animated Movies Are Now Beating Pixar
The ultimate goal of Disney+ is to surpass Netflix, and Luca topping the movie list is a big success in this regard. Releasing future Pixar movies like Turning Red on the service is a way to continue this trend and keep subscribers happy. With theatrical releases still an uncertain prospect due to COVID-19, a high-profile streaming-exclusive Pixar release that could win new subscribers may be more valuable to Disney, which helps to
Read more on screenrant.com
