Disney Plus vs. Netflix

By Arlett Ramirez
Web Content Contributor

Most of us are familiar with Netflix. We either have our own personal account or use someone else’s account (family or friends) to binge our favorite shows like “Parks and Recreation,” “Friends,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and many more.

Having Netflix is essential, because it’s become part of our culture. Netflix Originals are shows that can only be found on Netflix and most of them have received positive reviews like “The Crown,” “Ozark” and “Stranger Things.” If you’re not watching Netflix, others might look at you funny.

At the start of 2019, Netflix had 148 million subscribers worldwide and 60 million were from the U.S. Netflix has completely revolutionized the way we watch TV and now Disney wants to step into the ring with their own streaming service, Disney Plus.

Let me give you some backstory on Disney and Netflix. In 2012, the two companies struck a deal where Netflix would be able to stream new Disney movie releases. With this deal, Netflix could stream Marvel movies (“Captain America: Civil War”, “Black Panther”, “The Avengers: Infinity War”) Disney studio movies (“Beauty & the Beast”, “Moana”, “Coco”) and the new Star Wars movies (“The Force Awakens” and the “Last Jedi”). These movies wouldn’t cost subscribers extra since it would be included with the subscription meaning subscribers could watch all these movies for a low price.

I remember when “Captain America: Civil War” showed up on Netflix and I was shocked because it had been a few months since I had seen it in theaters. I immediately watched it because it was the introduction of “Black Panther” and most of the Avengers returned despite it not being an Avengers movie. I had the same reaction with “Coco” when it was released on Netflix shortly after its theatrical release.

However in 2017, Disney CEO Robert Iger announced that Disney would release its own streaming service and would remove their content from Netflix, meaning that Netflix would no longer be able to stream new Disney movies. Newly released Disney movies like “Captain Marvel,” “The Avengers: Endgame,” “Aladdin” and “The Lion King” will all be available on Disney Plus when it launches on Nov. 12.

But that’s not all! In March 2019, Disney acquired 21st Century Fox for 71.2 billion dollars. Yep, 71.2 billion dollars! By doing this Disney now owns the extensive Fox movie collection with films like “Titanic” and “Avatar” (the two highest grossing movies of all time), and shows like “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.”

So what does this mean for Netflix subscribers? It means that if you want to stream Disney content you’ll have to subscribe to Disney Plus for $7 monthly. That doesn’t mean to cancel your Netflix subscription, and replace it with Disney Plus. Netflix will still have your favorite Netflix Originals like “Stranger Things,” “Narcos” and “Bojack Horseman.” Disney Plus will have about 7,000 episodes, and almost 500 movie titles.

I can speak for myself that I’m super excited for Disney Plus since I’ll be able to stream my favorite Disney movies and Disney Channel shows like “Hannah Montana,” “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and “That’s So Raven” (a.k.a. my childhood).

Disney Plus will also create original content like Netflix such as a Star Wars show called “The Mandolorian” and a live-action “Lady and The Tramp.” To learn more about Disney Plus’s upcoming content, check out this article!

Featured image by Arlett Ramirez.