A Non-Disney Movie Claims Top Spot on Disney+ Streaming Charts

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Ever since August, a non-Disney film I’ve been eagerly waiting to watch has been consistently dominating Disney+ viewership rankings. You know, when Disney+ first debuted, it was all about Disney productions and brands that fell under the Disney umbrella like Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic. But over time, they’ve expanded their horizons thanks to strategic deals and acquisitions by the Disney family. Now, a wider variety of films are available for us die-hard movie lovers to enjoy!

Following its debut on Disney+ in early August for the first time, the movie Rio climbed rapidly through the streaming service’s viewership rankings. Since joining the platform, it has even occupied the top position on the top 10 chart for a continuous 10-day period. It initially took the number one spot on August 9, but slipped to second place from August 10-12. However, on August 13, it regained its leading position and has stayed there since then.

It’s noteworthy that the animated film Rio, released in 2011, was produced and distributed by Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox Animation rather than Disney. However, since Disney later bought Fox, they now hold the rights to both Rio and its sequel.

Regarding its continuation, it’s worth noting that “Rio 2” has joined Disney+ as well. While its popularity on the streaming service might not have reached the heights of other titles in terms of audience numbers, it has nonetheless made it into the platform’s top 10 most-watched list.

In the movie, Rio features a story about a tamed macaw called Blu, who embarks on a journey to Rio de Janeiro alongside another bird named Jewel. This film’s principal actors include Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez, and Leslie Mann.

Other Non-Disney Movies That Have Dominated Disney+

Due to Disney acquiring the rights for non-Disney productions and adding them to their streaming service, these movies and shows have often done exceptionally well, even making it into the top 10 rankings on numerous occasions.

As a cinephile eagerly scrolling through my streaming service’s offerings, I was delighted to find that the beloved animated film series, Ice Age, has found a cozy home there. Since its arrival, it’s been a real crowd-pleaser, even cracking the top 10 in August. However, much like how Manny might miss his friends when they venture off on their own adventures, Ice Age has recently slipped out of the top 10, but its charm and humor continue to draw audiences in nonetheless.

In July, movies such as “The Sandlot” were among the top 10 most popular, given that the film is about baseball and the Major League Baseball season typically takes place during summer. Additionally, the movie notably included the Fourth of July celebrations, possibly contributing to its popularity during that month.

In August, both “Fantastic Four” movies, including “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” performed exceptionally well on Disney+. Similar to the animated film “Rio,” these were initially produced by 20th Century Fox. However, much like “Rio” and all other Fox titles, Disney obtained the rights to them too.

It’s interesting to point out that the movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” was released towards the end of July. This likely sparked curiosity among fans, who may have wanted to revisit the earlier “Fantastic Four” films after watching the Marvel Studios version. The anticipation for past Marvel characters to appear in upcoming movies like “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” might also have contributed to the movies’ popularity on Disney+. Additionally, there’s a hint that a “Fantastic Four” character could potentially appear in one of those films, which could further fuel fan interest.

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2025-08-22 06:04