Disney announces it will release Pixar’s ‘Onward’ early

By Camden Mondeaux on March 20, 2020
EMERYVILLE, CA – JANUARY 19: The Pixar logo is seen at the main gate of Pixar Animation Studios January 19, 2006 in Emeryville, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The latest Pixar animated movie ‘Onward’ will get a dramatically earlier release date for digital download in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. 

By: Cami Mondeaux

Even though the move was released to theaters two weeks ago, Disney is making the move to cut the theatrical run in favor of a digital release instead.

The movie will be available for digital download Friday 8 p.m. Eastern Time — then it will be released to Disney Plus April 3. Making quarantine situations and social distancing a little bit brighter.

The decision to move the film from theaters to streaming isn’t exactly a surprise. And it’s not a new idea either.

Other streaming services like Universal and Warner Bros. have been making the same calls, especially with movie theaters closing across the country to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

 

Last weekend was already one of the worst reports of box office returns in the last two decades. ‘Onward’ led the box office, grossing about $10.5 million — but that’s only a fraction of the nearly $50 million it made its first weekend. Granted, its first weekend was when theaters were more widely open and customers were still gathering in public crowds instead of staying inside.

What is most surprising, is that ‘Onward’ is getting released extremely early on Disney Plus. Coming out April 3 means it’s getting released juts two weeks after it was released in theaters.

Disney already made the move to release ‘Frozen 2’ early on its streaming platform last weekend — hoping to surprise families with some fun and joy during an uncertain and challenging period.

This early release of ‘Onward’ might’ve been inspired by a similar motivation.

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