Pixar’s Luca is only being released on Disney+, sidestepping a theatrical release altogether. The animated film was originally scheduled to be released in theaters, but that changed this past March, when execs at Disney decided to opt out of that path and send the movie directly to the company’s streaming service instead. But why is Luca only being offered to Disney+ subscribers rather than getting a run on the big screen? 

Luca follows the titular character (Jacob Tremblay), a sea monster who can become human when he’s on land, as he ventures to the Italian seaside town of Portorosso after meeting Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer), another sea monster who enjoys being topside. It’s a coming-of-age story that sees Luca coming to terms with who he is, where he fits in, how others view him on land, and the deep bond he forms with his newfound friends. The critical reception for Luca has been generally positive, but audiences won’t need to flock to theaters to see the film on June 18. While the pandemic was the primary reason Luca is only being released on Disney+, the fact that other movies are also getting a theatrical release means that the option to do the same for the Pixar animation was there. 

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However, Disney has been attempting to offer subscribers more content to stream besides the sprawling catalog of older films, series, and Marvel offerings. Luca is the second Pixar film to go to streaming, with Soul having been the first when it was released in December 2020. The decision to send Luca to streaming also came after Raya and the Last Dragon, the only Disney animation to get a theater release since the start of the pandemic, only saw a gross of a little over $23 million over the course of three weeks. With theater attendance only recently starting to pick up the pace and with animations usually geared toward younger audiences, the company likely wanted to capitalize on Luca being a streaming-only option to encourage more subscribers to join the service so they’re able to watch.

Having the Pixar animation be exclusive to Disney+ also gives viewers additional content to watch in between each upcoming project. There are only so many new options available to viewers on Disney+ and, as many people have turned to streaming platforms for entertainment during the pandemic, the streamer could always use more films to diversify its slate. There’s also the issue of many theaters not being open yet in certain places. But while the film is debuting on Disney+ where the streaming service is available, Luca will get a theatrical release in areas where it isn’t.

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Due to the global pandemic, movies that were originally scheduled to be released in 2020 were delayed. Eternals, West Side Story, and a plethora of other Disney films were pushed back by several months or more and will finally debut this year. But while Raya and the Last Dragon, Cruella, and Black Widow’s releases were changed to debut simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+, it was decided Luca would go the direct-to-streaming route (and without an additional fee). It’s unclear whether any of Disney’s future Pixar animations will also go the same route, however, considering more and more theaters will be opening in the coming months.

 

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About The Author


Mae Abdulbaki
(1080 Articles Published)

Mae Abdulbaki is a movie reviews editor with Screen Rant. She previously wrote about a variety of movies and TV shows for Inverse, CinemaBlend, Pajiba, and The Young Folks, where she wrote reviews, features, news pieces. Her other work can be found at The Mary Sue, Film School Rejects, UPROXX, Heroic Hollywood, Looper, The List, and Bam Smack Pow, among others. Mae has also appeared on television segments, podcasts, and panels to discuss all things entertainment.

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