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Sure, Disney and Netflix compete for streaming subscribers — but the Mouse House also sees the rival’s massive customer base of over 325 million as a way to monetize and promote its own content, and Netflix is happy
to write the checks.
Disney Entertainment and Netflix have entered into an expansive new content licensing agreement, which will bring an eclectic mix of library titles and current-season TV shows to Netflix for varying periods of times on a nonexclusive basis.
In some cases, part of Disney’s strategy is to drum up interest in upcoming releases. Disney+ original series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” Seasons 1-2 will be available on Netflix globally beginning Oct. 4 as part of a three-month promotional window in advance of its Season 3 premiere on Disney+ on Nov. 20.
Similarly, all five of 20th Century Studios’ “Ice Age” films will be available on Netflix worldwide beginning Oct. 4 in a separate three-month promotional window ahead of the franchise’s sixth installment, “Ice Age: Boiling Point,” releasing in theaters on Feb. 5, 2027. The movies are “Ice Age” (2002), “Ice Age: The Meltdown” (2006), “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” (2009), “Ice Age: Continental Drift” (2012) and “Ice Age: Collision Course” (2016).
Three current series from 20th Television also are coming to Netflix: Crime drama “Will Trent” Seasons 1-4 and sitcom “Shifting Gears” Seasons 1-2 will be available on Netflix globally, while action-drama “Tracker” Seasons 1-3 will be available on Netflix internationally outside the U.S. as part of a multiyear term.
“Will Trent” (S1-4) will be on Netflix globally as of Nov. 3, ahead of the Season 5 premiere on ABC in early 2027. “Shifting Gears” (S1-2) is coming to Netflix beginning Dec. 1 in the U.S. and internationally in January, ahead of the Season 3 premiere on ABC on Jan. 7, 2027. “Tracker” (S1-3) will be available on Netflix internationally as of Feb. 26, 2027; Season 4 premieres on CBS on Oct. 4.
The deal includes a selection of non-franchised Disney-branded films from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar. Beginning in early 2027, Oscar-winner “Soul,” “Elio,” “Raya and the Last Dragon” and other movies will be will be available to stream on Netflix globally (with title availability and launch dates varying by region).
In addition, a selection of library series from Disney Entertainment will be available on Netflix. Those include “Felicity” (available on Netflix in the U.S. Oct. 7, internationally at later dates), “Revenge” (global), “Army Wives” (global), “Fresh Off the Boat” (U.S. and select regions) and “This Is Us” (internationally outside the U.S.; it had been previously licensed to Netflix in 2024-25 in the U.S.).
The new batch of Disney-owned TV shows and movies will join other licensed content from the media conglomerate on Netflix, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Arrested Development,” “Scandal” and “Black-ish.”
From Disney’s perspective, the expanded licensing pact is a win-win: Disney is bringing the collection of titles to a broader audience to boost their visibility (while also generating millions in incremental revenue) and Netflix is adding more content offerings.
And Disney is not deviating from its general strategy in which Disney-branded titles remain largely exclusive to its platforms and TV channels. All titles that are currently on Disney+ (including the “Ice Age” movies and “Percy Jackson”) and Hulu will continue to be available.
Netflix, in addition to a broad lineup of licensed titles, also spends a bunch of money on originals. Those include animated hit films “KPop Demon Hunters” and “Swapped.” Its upcoming slate of originals includes “Steps” (Nov. 20), “Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory” and Guillermo del Toro’s “The Buried Giant,” with sequels to “Leo” and “KPop Demon Hunters” in the works.
