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- “Mulan” is now available to watch on Disney Plus, six months after forgoing its planned theatrical release in the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Premier Access for “Mulan” on Disney Plus costs $29.99, and you can watch the movie as often as you like once purchased.
- “Mulan” will also be released on Amazon, Vudu, and FandagoNow on October 6 for $29.99.
- All Disney Plus subscribers will be able to watch “Mulan” starting December 4 with the standard $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year subscription.
- For detailed impressions on Disney Plus, check out our Disney Plus review here.
Disney’s “Mulan,” a live-action reimagining of the Chinese folk hero, is now available on Disney Plus as the service’s first $29.99 “Premier Access” title. On October 6, the movie will also be available on Amazon, FandangoNow, and Vudu for the same $29.99 fee, though you won’t need to pay for a Disney Plus subscription on those platforms. “Mulan” will become available to all Disney Plus members on December 4.
The final trailer for the film showcases significant departures from the animated “Mulan” released in 1998, including a new witch character named Xian Lang and choreographed action scenes that exceed the imagination of the original film.
While 1998’s “Mulan” was a family comedy with musical numbers and comedic characters, like the talking dragon Mushu voiced by Eddie Murphy, the new film is rated PG-13 and strikes a more serious tone. Also, unlike Disney’s recent live-action remakes of “Aladdin” and “The Lion King,” the new “Mulan” doesn’t feature any musical performances from the cast.
The new film doesn't adopt the songs and musical stylings of the original, but the soundtrack does feature a new version of the song "Reflection" updated by the original artist, Christina Aguilera. "Reflection" was one of the first singles of Aguilera's career, and she's produced another song called "Loyal Brave True" for the new film's soundtrack as well.
"Mulan" was originally intended for a theatrical release and even had a Hollywood premiere event in March before the coronavirus pandemic forced theaters around the world to close. Now, the film led by Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen and Jet Li will be available online via Disney Plus, while countries where theaters have re-opened will still have the option for a theatrical release.
"Mulan" isn't the first Disney movie to find its way to Disney Plus after COVID-19 caused theaters across the United States to close, but it's the first to require an additional payment beyond the subscription fee. Pixar's "Onward" was also fast-tracked to Disney Plus in March after its theater run was cut short by the coronavirus. "Artemis Fowl" was scheduled to hit theaters in May but premiered on Disney Plus in June with disappointing reviews.
Marvel's "Black Widow" was due out in May but Disney has now delayed the movie a full year. According to Variety, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said the release of "Mulan" on Disney Plus is a special situation, rather than the company adopting a new business model.
Updated on 10/1/2020 by Kevin Webb: This article has been updated with details on how to buy Mulan on additional digital retailers.
How to watch 'Mulan' on Disney Plus
"Mulan" is available now on Disney Plus. To watch on the service, you'll need a monthly or annual Disney Plus subscription and you'll have to pay the $29.99 "Premier Access" fee. With that said, "Mulan" is not a one-time rental. Instead, once purchased, Disney Plus members will continue to have access to "Mulan" for as long as they remain a subscriber.
The Premier Access purchase option will be available on Disney Plus through November 2. "Mulan" will then be available to stream for all Disney Plus subscribers without an extra fee starting December 4. The movie is also expanding to additional digital retailers on October 6 for customers who want to buy the movie without a Disney Plus subscription.
If you're interested in watching Disney's earlier interpretation of the Mulan story, the animated version of "Mulan" is available on Disney Plus for all subscribers.
How to watch 'Mulan' without Disney Plus
Starting October 6, "Mulan" will be available on Amazon, Vudu, FandangoNow, and other digital retailers for $29.99, and you won't need a Disney Plus subscription to watch on those platforms. You can preorder the movie now and then open the app on your service of choice to stream it as soon as it's released.
"Mulan," $29.99 at Vudu [Preorders receive $3 credit]
"Mulan," $29.99 at Amazon Prime Video
"Mulan," $29.99 at FandangoNow
It's unclear if "Mulan" will still be available to buy on other platforms after the Disney Plus Premier Access period ends on November 4, but once purchased, you'll be able to keep the movie in your library regardless.
What is Disney Plus and how does it work?
Disney Plus is a subscription streaming platform with on-demand access to Disney's iconic library of movies and TV shows. Along with "Mulan," "Toy Story 4," "Frozen 2" and Disney's other latest theater releases, you'll find classic franchises like "Star Wars," "The Simpsons" and Marvel's "Avengers."
A monthly subscription costs $6.99 per month while an annual subscription gives a small discount at $69.99 per year. Those looking for additional streaming content can sign up for a bundle with Disney Plus, ESPN+ and Hulu. The bundle costs $12.99 per month, which is about $5 less per month than it would cost to subscribe to each service separately.
Disney Plus is available to stream on Apple, PC, iOS, and Android devices, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and streaming devices from Amazon, Roku, and Chromecast. Disney Plus is also supported on smart TVs, including those from Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio. An internet connection is necessary to stream, but Disney Plus does provide an option to download movies and shows for offline viewing
All Disney Plus subscriptions include ad-free streaming and unlimited downloads for a growing library of films and TV series. Disney Plus supports up to 4K resolution video on select titles, as well as Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio with applicable devices.
What other brand-new movies can I rent at home?
Disney isn't the only movie studio to make its planned theatrical releases available on streaming services. Universal Studios debuted "Trolls World Tour" as premium rental on multiple services for $20. Following the film's success, Universal announced a new deal to bring future theatrical releases to streaming services less than a month after they reach theaters.
At $29.99, "Mulan" costs $10 more than "Trolls World Tour" before including the cost of a Disney Plus subscription. During the company's most recent earnings report Disney announced that Disney Plus now has more than 60 million subscribers worldwide. However, Disney Plus isn't earning nearly as much money per subscriber as Netflix, its top competitor, and the company has suffered heavy losses in its live entertainment and theme park business due to the pandemic.
Other studios, like Sony, Lionsgate, Paramount, and Warner Brothers, have also been offering streaming rental or purchase options for select titles that were originally planned for theaters. "In-theater" digital rentals or purchases can be made through a variety of services, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, FandangoNow, and Google Play. For more information about digital rentals, check out our guide to streaming rental services.
