Disney releases Onward for digital purchase two weeks after the theatrical premiere

Disney has announced that its latest Pixar animated movie, Forward, will get a dramatically earlier release for digital download: it will be released in the US tonight for purchase from 8pm ET, with a streaming release on Disney Plus following April 3.

The move makes Forward the latest (and one of the most talked about) films that cut off its theatrical run in favor of a digital release. That Disney would choose to follow in the footsteps of Universal and Warner Bros. – who release films such as Emma, Trolls World Tour, The hunt, The invisible man, and Birds of prey early – unsurprising, as theaters across the country close to prevent the spread of the new corona virus.

Last weekend already saw one of the worst box office returns in the past two decades, with the entire industry raising just over $ 55 million dollars. Forward led that package, with revenue of $ 10.5 million in the U.S., but it was a fraction of the nearly $ 50 million it had made the first weekend that was available when theaters opened wider and customers were still flocking to they flocked instead of staying inside.

“While we look forward to the audience enjoying our movies on the big screen again soon, given the current circumstances, we are excited to release this fun, adventurous movie early on digital platforms so that audiences can enjoy the comfort of their home can enjoy, “director Dan Scanlon and producer Kori Rae said in a statement.

Something that is particularly noticeable in the Disney announcement is that Forward will come true extreme asked on Disney Plus on April 3, just two weeks after digital availability begins today. Disney has already come across a new Disney Plus release Frozen 2 last weekend with the aim of ‘surprising families with fun and joy during this challenging period’. Presumably the earlier than expected release of the equally family-friendly one Forward on the streaming platform is due to a similar motivation.

While Disney is cutting ForwardIs theatrical, the fact that Forward was already available in theaters when coronavirus-induced closures are likely to be a major factor in the early digital release. Just don’t expect Disney’s bigger blockbusters – like the now delayed Mulan, Black Widow, or New mutants – to receive comparable streaming treatment in the coming weeks.