“Elemental,” the latest Disney and Pixar collaboration, has become a sensational hit on Disney+, racking up an astonishing 26.4 million streams within just its first five days of release. This sets a new high for the streaming platform’s movie launches this year and secures a position in Disney+’s all-time top 10 premieres. Interestingly, Disney’s way of counting a ‘view’ is similar to Netflix’s method, where total streaming time is divided by the film’s duration.
Although the animated feature initially stumbled at the box office with a mere $30 million, it has stunningly rebounded with global earnings surpassing $484 million. The movie now wears the crown for Disney+’s most popular animated premiere since “Turning Red” hit the platform in March 2022. Moreover, it has captured the title of the most-viewed Disney+ premiere in Latin America.
In terms of competition, “Elemental” has outperformed even big titles like “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” which amassed around 10.8 million views in its opening five days on Disney+. Jim Morris, the President of Pixar, acknowledged the film’s early challenges but confirmed its ultimate financial win for Disney.
Situated in the imaginary Element City, the animated film weaves a tale of friendship between characters Ember and Wade, voiced by Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie, respectively. Written by John Hoberg, Kat Likkel, and Brenda Hsueh and directed by Peter Sohn, “Elemental” boasts a star-studded cast and aims to alter stereotypes while encouraging personal development.
The movie premiered on September 13 on Disney+ and continues to attract a growing audience, indicating that its popularity is far from peaking.
