During the COVID-19 pandemic, starting with the Mulan remake, they copied Trolls World Tour's rental strategy from the height of the pandemic in April 2020 for their Premier Access program on Disney+.
Explanation
The statement correctly identifies that both Disney's Mulan and Universal's Trolls World Tour implemented alternative release strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trolls World Tour was released directly to digital rental in April 2020 due to theater closures and achieved considerable success, reportedly earning over $100 million during its initial three weeks. In contrast, Mulan was released later, in September 2020, as part of the Disney+ Premier Access program, which required users to pay an additional fee to access the film while it was still in its limited theatrical run in certain regions. While Mulan's release followed Trolls World Tour’s success, it is somewhat misleading to say Disney's approach was a direct 'copy' of Trolls' strategy, as the implementation of the rental model differed significantly. Thus, the statement is partially accurate but lacks nuance regarding the nature of each company’s approach.
Key Points
- Trolls World Tour was released directly for premium rental and was financially successful during the pandemic.
- Mulan utilized a different strategy, requiring additional payment through Disney+ rather than direct rental.
- The statement presents an oversimplified view of the strategies employed by Disney and Universal.
