Disney Plus's Shocking Move: Sudden Removal of Hit Sci-Fi Film Just 7 Weeks After Release!

Disney Plus has unexpectedly removed another movie from its library. This time, it's the science-fiction film Crater, directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez and starring Mckenna Grace. The plot revolves around four friends in a lunar mining colony who go on a quest to explore a legendary crater. Despite being released in early May, the film received a mediocre response from both audiences and critics.

According to a report from GamesRadar, Crater has been removed from the Disney Plus library in under two months since its premiere on the platform. With a budget of $53.4 million, this movie joins a growing list of content removals that have impacted Disney Plus in recent months. Unfortunately, Disney has not disclosed the reason behind this decision.

Disney Plus' Content Purges Explained

Last year, the concept of purging original content from streaming services' libraries sparked considerable discussion, particularly with the introduction of HBO Max. The service employed a tax write-down strategy, resulting in the cancellation of a $90 million Batgirl movie and the removal of popular shows and movies such as Westworld, Raised by Wolves, and Minx. However, some of these removed titles found new outlets as Warner Bros. Discovery began licensing content to ad-supported television channels like the Roku Channel.

Following in Warner Bros. Discovery's footsteps, other companies have now shifted their focus towards profit maximization and subscriber growth for their respective streaming services. Despite investing significant amounts of money into their streaming platforms during the streaming boom, some companies have struggled to see sufficient returns on their investments. As a result, more companies are now writing off and removing unsuccessful content, as well as licensing out other content, in order to optimize revenue.

Disney is following in the footsteps of HBO Max by aiming to optimize the efficiency and profitability of both Disney Plus and Hulu. In a projected third quarter write-down of $1.5 to $1.8 billion, Disney has already eliminated more than 12 movies and numerous shows, such as Willow, Y: The Last Man, and The World According to Jeff Goldblum. With the unexpected removal of Crater, viewers should anticipate further surprise content removals from Disney Plus and other streaming platforms as the industry continues to evolve.