Yes, you heard that right, you can pre-order a movie on a streaming service.
Disney+ has opened pre-orders for ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ so you can pay for it now, before it comes out next month. It’s releasing in the US on March 5, 2021 on Disney+ Premier Access. Similar to when Mulan launched last year on the service, you’ll need to pay extra to watch it. At least when it first comes out. If it’s anything like Mulan, you’ll be able to watch it for “free” about six months later.
The pre-order for ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ is going to cost you $30. Which might annoy some people, since you’re already paying $7/month for Disney+, and you won’t be able to keep this movie. Once the streaming window closes, it’s gone. Until it comes back a few months later, for good.
What’s the point of pre-orders?
We’ll admit, it is pretty strange for Disney+ to do pre-orders for Raya and the Last Dragon. Especially since this is a digital good, not one that Disney needs to ship out. Which is where pre-orders make a lot more sense – so you can have enough of the item available on launch day. But for a movie that is streaming? Seems pretty odd.
Even more odd than forcing existing Disney+ customers to pay another $30 to watch the movie when it hits theaters. Especially during a pandemic. This is where AT&T is showing up Disney. As it is releasing all of WarnerMedia’s movies in 2021, on HBO MAX the same day. And it doesn’t cost any extra. Of course, HBO MAX is also $15 versus Disney+ $7. But that is the right way to do it. Not by charging customers another $30 to see it the same day it hits theaters.
Either way, if you’re interested in pre-ordering Raya and the Last Dragon, you can click here to do so.