Why Shang Chi Not On Disney Plus?
Premier Access on Disney+ will not feature Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. We analyze the decision’s rationale and its impact on fans. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be released exclusively in theaters; here’s why it won’t be available on Disney+ like so many other films.
Shang-Chi, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is a part of Phase Four and the second film released by Marvel this year after Black Widow. However, while the latter premiered in theaters on the same day viewers could stream it on Disney+ (for an additional $30 fee on the service’s Premier Access), Shang-Chi will only be available in theaters.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will only be in theaters for 45 days before becoming available on Disney+. This is the primary reason why the film will not be released simultaneously on Disney+. Previously, films had a 90-day theatrical run before becoming available on demand or for rental.
- As a result of the pandemic, theatrical releases and studios’ plans for them have changed.
- During an August earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek confirmed that the MCU film Shang-Chi would be released exclusively in theaters, citing the “practicality of last-minute changes” as the reason why a dual release was no longer an option.
This is the first Marvel film to have its theatrical release shortened. Shang-Chi receiving an exclusive theatrical release would not have been so unusual before the pandemic, but the theater-only release hurts Marvel today. Due to the ongoing pandemic and the rise of the delta variant of COVID-19, many viewers are still uneasy about being in theaters — an enclosed space with a crowd of people, poor ventilation, and sometimes a lack of masks.
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is not receiving a simultaneous release, so fans who wish to support the film in its first and a half months of release but are unwilling to visit theaters will be unable to do so.
- In addition, excluding Shang-Chi from Premier Access could have a significant impact on its revenue.
If tens of thousands of potential viewers do not see it in theaters and there is no additional cost to view it when it debuts on Disney+ in the future, then its earnings will undoubtedly be affected. However, it remains to be seen how many Disney+ subscribers will watch the film after its release on the streaming service.
- Even Marvel’s marketing efforts will have shifted toward promoting Eternals, the next film in the Phase Four slate.
- Due to the pandemic and the changes that have arisen as a result of its effects, it is becoming increasingly difficult to enjoy films as they were intended to be viewed on the big screen.
Despite Black Widow’s release resulting in a lawsuit, its simultaneous theatrical and streaming release with Jungle Cruise made it more accessible to audiences, who were able to watch it from the comfort of their own homes despite the uncertainty of the pandemic. 
Does Disney+ offer Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings?
Premier Access on Disney+ will not feature Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. We analyze the decision’s rationale and its impact on fans. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be released exclusively in theaters; here’s why it won’t be available on Disney+ like so many other films.
- Shang-Chi, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is a part of Phase Four and the second film released by Marvel this year after Black Widow.
- However, while the latter premiered in theaters on the same day viewers could stream it on Disney+ (for an additional $30 fee on the service’s Premier Access), Shang-Chi will only be available in theaters.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will only be in theaters for 45 days before becoming available on Disney+. This is the primary reason why the film will not be released simultaneously on Disney+. Previously, films had a 90-day theatrical run before becoming available on demand or for rental.
As a result of the pandemic, theatrical releases and studios’ plans for them have changed. During an August earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek confirmed that the MCU film Shang-Chi would be released exclusively in theaters, citing the “practicality of last-minute changes” as the reason why a dual release was no longer an option.
This is the first Marvel film to have its theatrical release shortened. Shang-Chi receiving an exclusive theatrical release would not have been so unusual before the pandemic, but the theater-only release hurts Marvel today. Due to the ongoing pandemic and the rise of the delta variant of COVID-19, many viewers are still uneasy about being in theaters — an enclosed space with a crowd of people, poor ventilation, and sometimes a lack of masks.
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is not receiving a simultaneous release, so fans who wish to support the film in its first and a half months of release but are unwilling to visit theaters will be unable to do so.
- In addition, excluding Shang-Chi from Premier Access could have a significant impact on its revenue.
If tens of thousands of potential viewers do not see it in theaters and there is no additional cost to view it when it debuts on Disney+ in the future, then its earnings will undoubtedly be affected. However, it remains to be seen how many Disney+ subscribers will watch the film after its release on the streaming service.
Even Marvel’s marketing efforts will have shifted toward promoting Eternals, the next film in the Phase Four slate. Due to the pandemic and the changes that have arisen as a result of its effects, it is becoming increasingly difficult to enjoy films as they were intended to be viewed on the big screen.
Despite Black Widow’s release resulting in a lawsuit, its simultaneous theatrical and streaming release with Jungle Cruise made it more accessible to audiences, who were able to watch it from the comfort of their own homes despite the uncertainty of the pandemic.
Shang-Chi will appear in the delta variant.
Marvel’s SHANG-CHI WILL STAY IN THEATERS During Disney’s Q3 Investor Call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek confirmed that Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings will continue to be released exclusively in theaters despite the global popularity of the Delta Variant.
While Chapek acknowledged that they did not anticipate the surge, the chief executive explained that they must “plant a flag” for films such as Shang-Chi and Free Guy. “At some point, we’ll have to put a stake in the ground and declare Shang-Chi or Free Guy as titles we intend to release in the marketplace.” Chapek continued by stating that Shang-Chi would be a “interesting experiment” for Disney, admitting that it will serve as “another data point” to guide the company’s future decisions.
The head of Disney also noted that the Disney+ Premiere Access release of the next Marvel Studios film is “not possible” due to existing “distribution agreements” and the “practicality of making last-minute adjustments.” “Shang-Chi is a 45-day window for us, so the possibility of bringing a Marvel title to the streaming service after it has been in theaters for 45 days will be yet another data point that will inform our future decisions regarding our titles. 
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the most recent film to be released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on September 3. Earlier this year, the Marvel film Black Widow debuted on Disney+ on the same day it debuted in theaters, as part of a program called Disney Premier Access, which allowed subscribers to pay a premium to watch the newest movies as soon as they were released in theaters.