Disney+ Signs Landmark Deal in France to Invest 25% of its Local Turnover in French, European Movies; Gets Nine-Month Window on Theatrical Films

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Disney+ has made a significant deal to put a quarter of its annual French revenue towards funding French and European productions. In return for this pledge, the streaming platform will be granted access to newly released films within nine months after their initial theater release, which is a substantial improvement from the previous waiting period of 17 months.

In contrast, Netflix, the top streaming service in France by subscribers, boasts a 15-month window, while Apple TV+ – having recently signed its first investment agreement in France for 20% of its revenue to be spent on local and European productions – is at a 17-month mark.

For the next three years, Disney+ plans to invest heavily in local cinema productions. They have agreed to either purchase or pre-purchase and fund at least 70 movies during this timeframe, aiming for a variety of film genres and budget levels.

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Over the course of the next three years, Disney+ intends to significantly boost its involvement in local cinema by securing a minimum of 70 movies through either purchase or pre-purchase and financing deals. This will result in a diverse range of films across various genres and budgets.

The long-awaited agreement was shaped after a tumultuous round of discussions with the local industry, which occasionally broke down. For instance, Disney opted to skip the cinema release of “Strange World” in 2022, causing French cinemas to experience turmoil. However, this decision triggered renewed talks as well. A representative from Disney criticized the French regulations, labeling them as overly complex and consumer-unfriendly, failing to acknowledge how consumer behavior has changed in recent years and increasing our vulnerability to piracy.

After much deliberation and twists during negotiations with the local industry, the deal finally materialized, although it had momentarily collapsed on some occasions. For example, Disney decided to bypass a cinema release for “Strange World” in 2022, causing French cinemas to face uncertainty but also leading to fresh discussions being held. A spokesperson from Disney expressed disapproval towards the French laws, claiming they were overly complicated and consumer-unfriendly, ignoring how consumer behavior has transformed in recent years and making us more susceptible to piracy.

For several years, Disney, similar to other streaming platforms, has been advocating for changes in France’s stringent release window policies. These regulations have been a factor behind Netflix’s absence at the Cannes Film Festival, as the event mandates that all films in competition must be theater-released in France. However, major French players, such as pay TV group Canal+, have resisted these changes because they are significant investors in local productions and wish to maintain their advantageous access to newly released films, currently set at six months.

This significant agreement between Disney is taking place since the U.S. studio emerged as the primary distributor in France by 2024, boasting hits such as “Inside Out 2” and “Moana 2.”

Hélène Etzi, chairman of The Walt Disney Company France, stated that this deal represents a crucial advancement for French movie enthusiasts. She emphasized that making movies available to a wide range of people, initially in cinemas and quickly on the Disney+ platform, is vital for catering to French viewers’ needs. Etzi added that this agreement underscores Disney’s steadfast dedication to the public and its ambition to keep collaborating with French artists and production houses within the film and media industries.

The agreement has been applauded by movie associations in France, such as ARP, BLIC, and BLOC, which represent producers, directors, and distributors. In a collective statement, they expressed their joy that Disney+ has become part of the group of media companies who have agreed to finance and broadcast films within the industry. This move will bolster the industry’s backing for French and European productions and provide its subscribers with more recent movie releases.

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2025-01-29 21:16