‘Mulan’ is coming to Disney+ on September 4, for an additional price of $29.99 | Hacker News Reader

‘Mulan’ is coming to Disney+ on September 4, for an additional price of $29.99

techcrunch.com

12 pointsonedognight18 comments

I don't really like paying extra on a streaming service I'm already paying for. However, I'll be really, really upset if this is a easy-click-to-purchase system that my kids can select. I have profiles for the kids set up but who knows if that'll save me.

I have no interest in paying for this and certainly don't want to deal with this being splashed all over just baiting me (or the young ones) to click.

Anyone else think that that price seems steep?

It seems like Disney is trying to replace the revenue they would get from movie theater tickets, and prop up their old business model, rather than adapt to the current circumstances.

Ya it's outrageous, if I went to see this with a friend in a theater we'd pay about $10ea. Now I have to assume the majority of those $20 are going to the theater to cover their employees and rent, so at most, Disney is maybe making $4 a ticket, so they priced this as if it were 7.5 tickets and yet their overhead for distribution approaches $0 when streaming compared with film.

Studios make between 75% and 90% of the value of ticket sales in the first week a big-budget movie is in theaters. (The shares are different for indie films.)

Depending on the negotiating power of the studio, that may even extend to the second week for a major blockbuster film, like for example a Fast and Furious or Marvel film.

Generally, the studio's share of ticket sales drops below 50% after about a month. By the end of the second month, if the theater is still showing a movie, it is getting almost all of the ticket sales revenue.

This is why movie studios really push the concessions: that's where they make the most money. By the time they're making the lion's share of a movie ticket sale, there generally aren't many people still interested in watching the movie in a theater, so it's only worth it to keep long-tail movies in theaters for more than a few weeks.

I didn't know it was that bad, that's quite an extreme business model.

I believe that Disney gets most of the admission price for movies, and the theater makes its money off of concessions.

These streaming services need some way to identify the number of viewers. I'm sure there'll always be some ways around this (there already is via piracy), but they'd want something better than just asking you how many people are watching and charging $10 per person.

I can't think of any ways that aren't big problems from a basic privacy perspective such as a camera in your TV watching you.

When my wife and I watch a film I only go to shows with the large seats, which are reserved and I can get food and alcohol brought to me. So they price they are quoting is worth it to me and still comes out cheaper if I get to watch in the comfort of my home. Even for a small family in general seating this is still cheaper than tickets and movie snacks.

$30 for an entire family, vs $30+ for tickets plus $15+ for soda and popcorn and snacks?

It's a downright steal if you were planning to watch the movie.

It's expensive for a streaming movie, cheaper then say a PPV boxing match or four tickets to a movie theater.

I guess if you want to see that movie really, really badly...

If this was another Star Wars, Avengers or The Matrix film I could see people angrily paying $30 but a live action rehash of a second rate children's property? I don't get it, maybe it was more popular than I realize.

It's not popular, Disney's testing the waters and they know parents are desperate to district their kids and will pay anything for 2hours of peace.

What you think of the price is up to you but know that the lead actress came out in support of the Hong Kong police[0][1]

[0]https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49373276 [1]https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/mulan-actress-hk-prote...

So sad to see this blatant money-grabbing behavior. It's not even a new story. It's so calculated and transparent, the way they toyed with the release date and now have pulled this from nowhere.

Those of us who have been paying monthly to stream Star Wars surely deserve a break here, Disney? Aren't we gotten already?

It’ll be interest to see if the $30 gets you unlimited views or if it’s like pay per view rentals where once you start it you have 48 hours to finish and then you can’t watch it any more

See with blood and real eyes of Hong Kong young Kids, if anyone want to pay. #boycottMuLan

The original cartoon is so much better. Go to see that. Would have a good and happy day.

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