When will Free Guy release on Disney+ for free? Ryan Reynolds' video game movie was originally set to be a theatrical release by 20th Century Fox in 2020, but the release plan changed a lot due to Disney's acquisition of Fox. COVID-19 shutting down theaters also forced Disney's hand to delay the movie to its final August 2021 release date. Free Guy's repeated delays came as a sign that Disney wants the movie in theaters instead of debuting on their growing streaming service.
Disney's plan for putting major movies on Disney+ was fast-tracked in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. Movies like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Onward had their at-home release dates moved up substantially to get them on Disney+ early. The Mouse House even decided to make Mulan the first Premier Access title, made Pixar's Soul and Luca exclusive to the service, and gave high-budget blockbusters like Black Widow and Jungle Cruise same-day releases in theaters and on Disney+ as Premier Access movies. They've seen great success with these releases, but that doesn't mean every Disney movie is going to be on the service right away.
Free Guy is the biggest Disney movie to get an exclusive theatrical release in all of 2021. That's due to Free Guy being the last movie that was originally owned and produced by 20th Century Fox before Disney acquired the smaller studio. That grandfathered deal between 20th Century Fox and WarnerMedia demands Free Guy be released on HBO Max before any other streaming service; hence, Disney couldn't do a day-and-date release as it has for most of its big movies in the past year. Ryan Reynolds' movie might only be available to see in movie theaters at the time of its release, but it will be on Disney+ eventually after it finishes its first pay TV (streaming) window on HBO Max. Unfortunately, on its quarterly earnings call this week, a Disney representative said that the company has "not confirmed anything beyond the theatrical date at this point."
Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced back in May 2021 that Free Guy and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be the company's first two movies to experience 45-day exclusive theatrical runs. This gives Ryan Reynolds' video game movie a chance to play in theaters for six full weeks and seven weekends at a minimum. However, it's not yet certain what will happen to Free Guy after that 45-day theatrical window. It could either go the traditional home entertainment route and get a Blu-ray/DVD and digital rental window first before going to streaming, or it could bypass the physical purchase and digital rental options altogether and go straight to streaming on HBO, as is increasingly common in the streaming era in the time of Covid. If it goes the first option, it would mean more money for Disney, but it would delay it appearing on HBO Max and thus, delay it heading to Disney+. In any case, at-home audiences will be able to purchase, rent, or stream Free Guy on HBO and HBO Max in 45 days and on Disney+ an unspecified amount of time after.
When Free Guy does arrive on Disney+, there is a good chance that the movie will be quite a popular streaming choice for subscribers. Free Guy's reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, and the mix of action and humor paired with Reynolds' star power is a great combo. Although there is some violence and language included, Free Guy should be a good match for Disney's family-oriented streaming service and its younger target demographic.
