Free Guy Is Even Better On Disney+ Than Movie Theaters
Although Free Guy was a hit during its theatrical release, the 2021 summer movie is surprisingly even better to watch on Disney+. The year 2021 posed significant dilemmas for studios releasing films, particularly in deciding which movies would receive streaming-only releases, exclusive theatrical releases, or day-and-date simultaneous streaming and theatrical debuts. Following the backlash of Black Widow’s dual Disney+ and cinematic release, Disney released Free Guy in theaters to box office success, though this also meant the wait for its streaming arrival on Disney+ was extended.
After Free Guy’s August 2021 theatrical release, Disney waited slightly over six months to move it onto its streaming platform. The arrival of Free Guy followed the Disney+ debuts of 2021 theatrically-premiering blockbusters like Encanto, Jungle Cruise, Eternals, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. While certain films worked better in the theaters due to their visuals, action, and large set pieces, other Disney films like Free Guy better lend themselves to the streaming format after their initial theatrical runs.
While seeing the movie in the theaters made for an enjoyable experience with its action and graphics, Free Guy's star-studded cameos, abundant Easter eggs, and quick references make it ideal to watch on Disney+. Watching Free Guy’s climactic scene where Guy shuffles through some of the most notable film and video game accessories is an exciting moment to first glimpse on the big screen, but the sheer amount of these Easter eggs means viewers are apt to miss a significant portion of the blink-and-miss-them jokes. On Disney+, audiences at home can pause, rewind, and rewatch some of Free Guy’s best and most reference-packed scenes as many times as they want. Additionally, several of Free Guy’s celebrity cameos, like Hugh Jackman, are hidden in the video game characters, or as voices, so it’s more likely that viewers will miss their appearances unless they can more casually sift through the film’s scenes.
Many of Free Guy’s Easter eggs and references were geared toward a more mature audience, but the Disney film is also categorized as a family-friendly movie. Since taking a family of kids to the movie theater isn’t as plausible in the age of the pandemic, many of Disney’s family-oriented movies have done better once released on Disney+. Encanto, for instance, debuted in theaters last November but moved to Disney+ at Christmas. Once Encanto was made available for casual, easy viewing at home, the success of the film skyrocketed and it has become one of Disney's biggest animated movies in years. Since Free Guy is also suitable for children who enjoy a little more action, the movie is apt to see a jump in numbers for kids who want to watch and rewatch Ryan Reynolds using Captain America's shield against a giant version of himself.
As the last holdout from 20th Century Fox before the Disney takeover, Free Guy is also one of Disney’s biggest movies in recent years that didn’t have very high expectations going in. As such, it wasn’t a big draw for people to see it in theaters when compared to the company’s slew of Marvel films premiering around the same time. Those who subscribe to Disney+ that opted not to see Free Guy in theaters are apt to give it a more casual chance on the streaming service, as it’s an easy-viewing action-comedy movie that didn’t necessarily warrant seeing right away. With Encanto having taken on new a life once dropping on Disney+, Free Guy has found its perfect viewing format to find an equal second wave of success.