Despite significant growth in both the subscriber base and the quality of its product, Disney+ recorded a substantial loss of $1.5 billion in the final quarter of last year, doubling that of its losses in the same period a year prior. While the streaming platform’s output is better than ever before, the company has already implemented steps to ensure losses aren’t as substantial this year, having raised the subscription price by $3 and promising more new and original content.
While the latter remains to be seen, February’s offering looks somewhat on the paltry side. From time to time, Disney+ can release some truly big-budget television and movies with some of the most expensive TV shows ever made. Over the past few years, the streamer has seen the premiere of The Mandalorian, a massive hit, Obi-Wan Kenobi, featuring the return of Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, along with Marvel shows and movies like Black Widow, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and most recently, Echo, arguably Marvel’s most brutal show yet. However, next month looks to be a little different as Disney takes a break from big-budget action, though one film from theaters will surely excite some MCU fans. Let’s take a look at the movies coming to Disney+ in February 2024…
Self
Stream Feb. 2
The latest installment from the prestigious Disney Pixar collaboration is February’s short film, Self. Directed by Searit Huluf, this experimental short, which is considered a part of the SparkShorts series, is set to follow a wooden puppet whose desperation to fit in with her counterparts in appearance, culture, and personality leads her to make a doomed wish upon a star that will subsequently lead her on a grueling, and frequently testing journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and eventually self-love. This charming short serves as a poignant lesson in coming to terms with one’s identity and just so happens to be the first Disney short to utilize stop-motion.
Disney has found success with shorts in the past, with many iterations that have premiered throughout its history. A few to note are Frozen Fever, Tangled Ever After, Paperman, and Get a Horse. Earlier last year, Disney celebrated 100 years of the studio with their Once Upon a Short film, which brought Robin Williams back as the Genie from Aladdin, along with a whole host of iconic characters. Though many expected the short film to be a hit, it failed to receive an Oscar nomination at the 2024 Academy Awards.
The 50 Best Movies on Disney+ to Watch Right Now, Ranked
Disney+ has a ton of classic movies and modern blockbusters that the whole family can stream right now.
The Marvels
Stream Feb. 7
The Marvels
- Release Date
- November 10, 2023
- Director
- Nia DaCosta
Receiving its theatrical release in November 2023, one of the latest contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels. A continuation of the Ms. Marvel Disney+ television series, The Marvels traverses the story of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), who, along with her accomplices, suffers from a confusion of powers, meaning she is forced to work with Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) to save the universe from imminent destruction. Despite an underwhelming reception both critically and commercially and the requirement to watch the TV series before the film, The Marvels is a solid addition to the franchise.
As Marvel moves away from Jonathan Majors’ Kang and heads into the unknown, whether that be with a recast villain or something else entirely, it’s enjoyable to see some characters we’ve come to know over the past few years. The Marvels currently sits at 62% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, though its audience score looks far better at a healthy 82%. In addition, its post-credit scene offers some very important implications heading into the following chapters of the Multiverse Saga.
Stream on Disney+
The Space Race
Stream Feb. 13
The 1969 Moon Landings have received unprecedented coverage for over half a century, and the stories of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins are all too well-known. Yet, what about the stories of the first Black astronauts? The National Geographic documentary, The Space Race, follows the story of the first black aerospace engineers, NASA administrators, and astronauts, who would prove to be pivotal in the civil rights movement and the broader social picture in the United States.
The Space Race interweaves archival footage with interviews with those who lived, breathed, and experienced these trailblazing endeavors. The documentary is an eye-opening account and one that shines a much-needed spotlight on this particular segment of history. If you’re a fan of outer space and love space documentaries, The Space Race could very well be a project to keep an eye on.
|
Movie |
Release Date |
|---|---|
|
Self |
Feb. 2 |
|
The Marvels |
Feb. 7 |
|
The Space Race |
Feb. 13 |
