Disney Brings Disney+ Originals and Classics to Netflix
Disney has struck a significant content distribution deal with Netflix, allowing select Disney+ Originals, Pixar, and 20th Century Studios movies to reach Netflix’s over 325 million subscribers worldwide. This move includes releasing catalog programming such as Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Seasons 1 and 2) ahead of its third season debut on Disney+ on November 20, 2026. Additionally, all five Ice Age movies will be available on Netflix before the February 5, 2027, theatrical release of Ice Age: Boiling Point.
Other Disney-owned titles like Soul, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Elio will start streaming on Netflix globally in early 2027. Television series such as Will Trent, Tracker, Shifting Gears, Fresh Off the Boat, and Revenge are also part of the deal.
The deal is strategically designed to leverage the so-called “Netflix Effect”, which refers to the viral resurgence in viewership and cultural relevance that catalog content often experiences on the platform. Studios like NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery have used this effect to generate incremental revenue and build hype before launching new seasons or sequels on their own platforms.
Licensed programming makes up about 40% of Netflix’s TV shows worldwide and helps drive 50% of new Netflix signups. However, there is a downside: digital sales of movies or series licensed to Netflix can reportedly fall by up to 50% across other platforms like Prime Video, according to data from ScienceDirect.com.