Why Spider-Man: No Way Home Isn't on Disney+ Yet - Explained
Discover the reasons behind the absence of No Way Home on Disney+. Explore the streaming differences between Morbius and Spider-Man.
Many are curious why Spider-Man: No Way Home is not available to stream on Disney+ while Morbius is. Although No Way Home is a highly acclaimed Marvel Studios film within the MCU, it falls under the Sony Spider-Man Universe (SSU) franchise. This franchise includes Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, and Madame Web, with Venom 3 and Kraven the Hunter expected to join in 2024.
Even though Sony independently produces SSU movies without Disney's involvement, they are all on Disney+. This includes Venom, Venom 2, and Morbius, as well as all other live-action Spider-Man films, such as Tobey Maguire's trilogy and Andrew Garfield's The Amazing Spider-Man movies. Surprisingly, only two MCU Spider-Man movies are on Disney+, with Spider-Man: No Way Home being noticeably absent. This has left many questioning why a Marvel Studios film like No Way Home is not included, while movies like Morbius, which they did not produce, are part of the streaming service's library.
Morbius & Spider-Man: No Way Home Fall Under Different Streaming Deals
Sony's various deals with streaming services cause discrepancies between Morbius and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Morbius Tom Holland Spider-Man(1) - Sony's various deals with streaming services cause discrepancies between Morbius and Spider-Man: No Way Home. - Morbius & Spider-Man: No Way Home Fall Under Different Streaming Deals
The reason why Morbius is on Disney+ but Spider-Man: No Way Home isn't is actually quite simple. The Spider-Man movies with Tom Holland are part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but Sony Pictures holds the distribution rights. In a deal with Starz, Sony's Spider-Man movies can only be streamed on that platform during the Pay-1 period. Pay-1 streaming is the initial time when a movie is available for streaming after it has finished its run in theaters and home releases.
Sony and Starz had an agreement that covered all movies released until the end of 2021, including Spider-Man: No Way Home. However, starting in 2022, Sony made a deal with Netflix to replace Starz. This means that Sony movies now exclusively stream on Netflix during the Pay-1 window, which typically lasts around 18 months. Despite the complexity of these deals and streaming services, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Morbius fall under the different streaming agreements mentioned.
Morbius, which hit theaters in April 2022, was included in the Netflix Pay-1 deal. The Pay-1 period for Morbius' streaming release ended in March 2024, at which point Disney+ acquired the rights to stream the film. On the other hand, Spider-Man: No Way Home was released in theaters in December 2021 and was part of the Starz-Sony deal. As a result, No Way Home was available for streaming on Starz during the Pay-1 window until January 2024. This new arrangement allows Sony to explore other streaming services, potentially leading to a Disney+ release for the MCU film in the future.
Will Sony's Other Spider-Man Villain Movies Stream On Disney+?
The other SSU movies of 2024 may not be far behind Morbius on Disney+.
Kraven, Venom, and Madame Web in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. - The other SSU movies of 2024 may not be far behind Morbius on Disney+. - Will Sony's Other Spider-Man Villain Movies Stream On Disney+?
Now that the confusion surrounding Sony's deals has been clarified, many are wondering if other SSU movies will be available for streaming on Disney+. Following the release of Morbius, only Madame Web has hit theaters so far. Venom 3 and Kraven the Hunter are set to be released in the latter part of 2024. Under the Sony-Netflix agreement, all three films will be streamed on Netflix for an 18-month period after their theatrical and home releases. However, once this period ends, there is a possibility that they may become available for streaming on Disney+ just like the previous movies.
Sony Spider-Man Universe Movie | Theatrical Release Date | Approximate Netflix Streaming Date | Approximate Disney+ Streaming Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Madame Web | February 12, 2024 | April-June, 2024 | October-December 2025 |
Kraven the Hunter | August 30, 2024 | October-December, 2024 | April-June, 2026 |
Venom 3 | November 8, 2024 | January-March, 2025 | July-September 2026 |
When Will Spider-Man: No Way Home Stream On Disney+?
Spider-Man: No Way Home is needed for Disney to complete its Spider-Man and MCU collection on Disney+.
Tom Holland as Spider-Man holding his head in Spider-Man: No Way Home - Spider-Man: No Way Home is needed for Disney to complete its Spider-Man and MCU collection on Disney+. - When Will Spider-Man: No Way Home Stream On Disney+?
Spider-Man: No Way Home is currently the only live-action Spider-Man and MCU movie not available for streaming on Disney+. This makes it stand out as missing from the service, especially since all other Spider-Man movies are already streaming. Additionally, No Way Home is the only MCU property, whether it be films or TV shows, that is not present in the Disney+ library. This is significant because the film plays a crucial role in the Multiverse Saga and Tom Holland's Spider-Man journey.
It is highly likely that Spider-Man: No Way Home will start streaming on Disney+ soon. The Pay-1 period for the film ended in January 2024, leading to its removal from the Starz streaming library. Although the film has not found a new streaming platform yet, the absence of No Way Home from Disney+ indicates that Disney may be motivated to complete their collection of Spider-Man and MCU content. Given that Morbius was added in March 2024, it is possible that Spider-Man: No Way Home will follow suit in the near future.
Editor's P/S:
The article provides a comprehensive explanation of why "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is not available on Disney+, while "Morbius" is. The complex streaming deals between Sony and various platforms, including Starz and Netflix, create discrepancies in distribution rights. It's understandable that fans may find this confusing, given that both films are part of the Sony Spider-Man Universe.
However, the article also offers hope that "Spider-Man: No Way Home" may eventually make its way to Disney+. With the Pay-1 period for the film having ended, it's possible that Sony and Disney could reach an agreement to bring the highly anticipated movie to the streaming service. This would complete Disney+'s collection of Spider-Man and MCU content, making it a more comprehensive destination for fans of the franchise.
