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Will blockbuster’s revenue rely more on streaming platform release than cinemas?
In a nod to the power of streaming platforms over cinema, Disney’s Jungle Cruise earned a third of its opening revenues from Disney+ over the weekend
Disney+ let its subscribers pay $30 to stream Jungle Cruise the same day it hit theaters.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, early revenue totals from the entertainment giant show that streaming accounted for a third of the film’s revenues.
The film’s Disney+ revenue represented a bigger slice of the total revenue when compared with Black Widow.
Jungle Cruise’s $30 million was about 33 percent of its $91.8 million total, while Black Widow’s $60 million was about 27 percent of $218.8 million total.
Disney hasn’t announced any Premier Access titles that may follow Jungle Cruise.
The new numbers also arrive just days after Scarlett Johansson launched a major lawsuit against the company.
Streaming wars: Scarlett Johansson sues Disney
The star of Marvel’s box office hit “Black Widow”, Scarlett Johansson is suing the Walt Disney Company over allegations it breached the actor’s contract.
Disney released the movie in cinemas at the same time it launched the film on its streaming service – which Johansson says reduced her compensation.
Like many big stars, Johansson’s total earnings for Black Widow were calculated partly on what the total box office earnings were.
Black Widow made its debut on Disney PLUS and in cinemas on July 9 – and Disney PLUS users had to pay an additional $30 fee to watch the film.
Johansson says Disney wanted to steer audiences towards its platform, “where it could keep the revenues for itself while simultaneously growing the subscriber base… a proven way to boost Disney’s stock price”.
Johansson’s lawyers also believe “Disney wanted to substantially devalue the actor’s agreement and thereby enrich itself”.
The lawsuit is seeking an undisclosed amount of damages when it eventually goes to trial – and it could have lasting impacts in Hollywood as streaming services continue to find inventive ways to build their user base.
