Disney actors and actresses are suing Disney in response to their films being simultaneously released in theaters and on Disney’s streaming service, Disney+. Movies can be unlocked on Disney+ by subscribers paying a $30 fee for premium access. The revenue generated from Disney+ goes directly to Disney themselves, with none of the profit going into the actor’s pockets. This should not be the case, because actors put in the time and commitment to deserve their compensation.
Two recent Disney movies, Black Widow and Jungle Cruise, debuted both in theaters and on Disney+. Due to the pandemic, many families have quarantined inside their homes, leaving their only option for watching movies to be on streaming services. According to Screen Rant, Black Widow generated over $500 million, however over $125 million of that total was generated from Disney+ sales, none of which was a part of the actors’ profit. Jungle Cruise generated over $90 million, with only $27.6 million resulting from box office sales.
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is another one of Disney’s Marvel movies that premiered recently, however, it did not have a simultaneous release on Disney+ with its release in theaters. According to USA Today, Shang Chi generated nearly $250 million dollars in box office sales, which is just in its first two weeks in theaters. Shang Chi is expected to make its debut on Disney+ on October 18th, giving the movie a 45 day theatrical release before becoming available on Disney+. This provides the actors with ample compensation for their movies because their contacts explicitly dictate the percentage of sales that they will receive from the box office. When Disney+ becomes involved, the water gets muddy.
Pre-pandemic, the movie release process began in theaters, then progressed to DVD, before being signed with streaming services. Due to the pandemic, this process has been shifted out of order, with viewers wanting immediate access to movies on streaming services. Actors and actresses will spend years preparing for the release of their movie, and they deserve ample compensation for their efforts. Disney argues that their contracts dictate what they receive, however what many companies are realizing is that there is no “pandemic clause” dictating protocols for uncertain circumstances. Actors have worked exceptionally hard to both navigate the uncharted waters of the pandemic and bring amazing characters to life on the big screen. These actors deserve to receive the profit, not Disney themselves.