Mulan's Disney Plus Release Is Not Cheap, But This Is What You Get

Disney recently announced that its next big movie, Mulan, will bypass movie theatres and premiere on Disney Plus for $30 USD. Some questions remained, however, and now Disney has provided some clarification regarding Mulan's digital release and its future on the platform.

A new landing page on Disney Plus spotted by Collider mentions that your $30 gets you "Premier Access" to Mulan. The movie will eventually be released for all Disney Plus subscribers, but people who pay for Premier Access will get to watch it first. Those who pay for it can watch Mulan as many times as they want and on any platform that supports Disney Plus. Unlike other rentals, there is no time limit at all, except you will lose access if you cancel your Disney Plus subscription.

The Premier Access version of Mulan will come with options for HDR, UHD, and Dolby Audio. The movie can also be downloaded for those who want to watch in an offline setting.

Disney did not provide any details on when Mulan may be available for Disney Plus subscribers who don't wish to pay $30 to watch it right away. The announcement of Premier Access also brings up questions about future Disney films following a similar path and releasing first on Disney Plus for a fee before becoming available to all subscribers.

For what it's worth, Disney's CEO Bob Chapek recently said the unique release strategy for Mulan is currently being considered a "one off" for the company. He said there are no plans to repeat this for any major upcoming Disney movie, including Black Widow, which is scheduled for a theatrical release on November 6. As usual, however, plans could change, especially if Mulan's home video release proves to be successful.

Chapek also clarified that Mulan will be shown in theaters in "select markets" on September 4, contingent upon safety regulations.

For more on Mulan's home video release strategy, check out this editorial from Mark Serrels at GameSpot sister site CNET, "Mulan for $30 on Disney Plus? Count me in."