After a quiet theatrical release over Thanksgiving to overnight sensation over Christmas break. Encanto has become Disney’s newest franchise. Yes, I think it’s about time we start putting Encanto in the same class as Frozen and Disney’s other treasured properties.
During Disney’s quarter one earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek heavily praised Encanto. Not to mention Encanto has received three Oscar nominations (Best Original Song, Best Score, and Best Animated Feature).
Families’ reluctance to return to theaters played a big part in Encanto’s muted theatrical performance but families watching and rewatching on Disney+ led Encanto to become a Disney phenomenon. The title became the fastest to reach 200 million hours viewed on Disney+. The social engagement was also off the charts as the Encanto hashtag was viewed 11 billion times. Encanto also won this week’s Nielsen streaming chart with almost 1.5 billion total minutes of viewing.
Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It’s the first Disney song to accomplish that feat since “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. It probably helps that “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” lends itself nicely to the TikTok era.
Encanto continues to trend on Disney+ in the top spots. It will probably continue to trend for the foreseeable future. It proves Disney+’s platform abilities to create a new franchise. Chapek on the earnings call also revealed that Encanto merchandise defied traditional post-holiday declines and actually increased over the holidays after its release on Disney+.
So, will this happen for Turning Red? It very well could.
Without a theatrical release, and facing no other competition on Disney+(from an original content standpoint). I could see Turning Red doing quite well on the platform. I don’t know if it will be as successful as Encanto or if Turning Red will become the next big Pixar franchise. I’ll be watching closely to see how Turning Red does as that will likely affect Lightyear’s release.
Encanto’s success and the birth of a new Disney franchise means Disney will lean harder into it. I’m expecting a significant uptick in Encanto consumer products in the coming months. I also fully expect Disney to capitalize on the success within its theme parks and even cruise lines — maybe even a broadway show on its cruise ships. I’m also not ruling out the potential of a touring broadway adaption and a continuing Disney+ series.
Encanto now joins The Mandalorian as two franchises that were supercharged and amplified on Disney+. The future of the Encanto franchise is bright for Disney.
Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
