So you may be wondering, why isn’t the beloved Spider-Man swinging his way onto Disney Plus? The answer lies in a complex web of distribution deals and exclusive rights agreements that have tied the iconic superhero to other streaming platforms.
One key reason why Spider-Man is not available on Disney Plus is the existing deal between Sony Pictures, which owns the rights to Spider-Man, and Netflix. This deal grants Netflix exclusive access to Sony movies, including future Spider-Man films like “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” for a certain period known as the “pay one window.”
During this “pay one window,” which can last up to 18 months, Netflix has the exclusive license to stream Sony movies before they become available on other platforms. As a result, Spider-Man content, including movies and TV shows, remains off Disney Plus and other competing streaming services until the exclusive period with Netflix expires.
While Disney owns Marvel Studios, the production company responsible for the recent live-action Spider-Man films starring Tom Holland, the distribution rights to these films are held by Sony Pictures. This means that Disney does not have the authority to stream Spider-Man content on Disney Plus without striking a separate deal with Sony.
Additionally, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films that feature Spider-Man, such as “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” are distributed by Sony in collaboration with Disney. These films have a unique distribution arrangement that allows them to be shared between Sony and Disney platforms.
Despite this partnership for the live-action Spider-Man films, the animated Spider-Verse movies, like “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and its upcoming sequel “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” fall under Sony’s exclusive deal with Netflix. This means that these animated films are not available for streaming on Disney Plus or any other platform until the agreement with Netflix concludes.
In conclusion, the reason why Spider-Man is not on Disney Plus can be attributed to the distribution agreements between Sony Pictures and Netflix, which grant Netflix exclusive streaming rights to Sony movies for a certain period. Until these agreements expire and new deals are negotiated, fans will have to look to other platforms to enjoy their favorite web-slinging superhero content.
