Why Disney+ Is Better than Netflix
Why Disney+ Is Better than Netflix
When Netflix came out, it was incredibly innovative. Using Netflix to watch shows was a whole lot better than going out and buying the actual discs, sorting through them, and watching them. It changed the game for TV watching.
Even before that, Netflix was already revolutionizing the entertainment industry by making it possible to watch great movies from the comfort of your home. Future generations will never understand the excitement of having media mailed directly to your mailbox the way we did growing up.
Today, however, Netflix has stalled. Sure, I loved their Witcher series. And Stranger Things was cool and nostalgic for a while. But today, Netflix’s content library has largely grown stale, relying on rereleasing ancient favorites like Avatar the Last Airbender to maintain relevancy with their audience.
Meanwhile, Disney+ shows what streaming services are really capable when in the hands of – if not the right – more capable hands.
Here are five reasons why Disney+ is better than Netflix.
Disney Owns Better Intellectual Property
In 2020, the name of the game in entertainment has completely changed, and it probably will never go back to the way it was. And Disney continues to be at the forefront of that change. Sure, Netflix pioneered streaming services, but Disney is taking it to new places, using it as a way to deliver brand new, massive blockbuster releases, and even further developing tried and true franchises through TV shows.
Disney owns the best content and the best franchises that people really care about. Netflix, however, is relegated to second rate content with smaller audiences. Take the Witcher for example. Mostly trying to lean into the fanbase of Lord of the Rings and subsequently the inferior Game of Thrones, The Witcher had no where near the fanbase of major franchises like Marvel or StarWars. Though it is still a great show, Netflix is forced to leverage underused franchises time and time again in order to create good content, with only really their own brand to back it.
Disney+ is More Family Friendly
Netflix has much more adult leaning content than Disney does. And they have a lot of questionable content as well. Ridiculous shows like “Too Hot to Handle” dominate the platform, while controversy ridden shows are also allowed in. The questionable content might be exciting for some, but for many who are tired of the endless tirade of sleazy material, of the likes you can easily find on cable television or HBO, many would opt out for platforms that take more care in what is allowed on.
Of course, Disney is not free of controversy. Take, for example the recent controversy surrounding the live action Mulan remake.
Still, they have the impeccable ability to own a ton of things and act like any other major business without seeming to be one.
Disney+ Has Better Documentaries
Fans of the Tiger King will probably argue with me on this point, but Disney+ has fantastic documentaries the likes of which I haven’t ever come across on Netflix. These documentaries are artful, tasteful, and not depressing meditations on the hopelessness of humanity.
Through Disney+ documentaries, you can swim with Chris Hemsworth, discover the beginnings of Disney Imagineering, learn more about the rise, fall and rebirth of Disney Animation Studios, and much, much more.
Disney+ Is Cheaper
Right now, Disney+ is cheaper for the full subscription than Netflix is for only its basic subscription. And Netflix’s basic subscription isn’t very good as the streaming quality it offers is pretty low. What’s more, you can get Disney+ as a bundle with other services Disney is involved with, like Hulu.
Netflix Has Less Possibility for Creating Future, Awesome Content
Again, Disney owns the most popular franchises, and therefore can keep creating as much content within the confines of those universes as it wants. This also leads to unlimited possible cross overs. Netflix on the other hand does not yet have this capability as it doesn’t own any franchises capable of driving enough interest to do crossover or to have a greater expanded universe (think the MCU). What’s more, there’s no sign that Netflix will ever be able to get into the expanded universe game the way Disney has done to great affect – although their spinoff Witcher animated movie seems to be attempting something of the sort.
Netflix is still a promising video streaming platform with some really cool projects coming out soon and a much broader range of titles available. However, Disney just has it where it counts – its own material, and the material they’ve purchased from pop culture icons. It remains to be seen which will come out on top, but given Disney+ has only been out for a year and is already the second most popular streaming service overall, my money would be on them.
