Disney+ Shows and Movies Are Now Headed to Netflix, Including Ice Age and Percy Jackson
Disney has announced a licensing deal with Netflix to bring select Disney+ content to the streaming platform, marking a significant shift in the company’s distribution strategy. The agreement will make titles available to Netflix’s 325 million subscribers on a nonexclusive basis.
The headliner of the deal is Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which has been exclusive to Disney+ since its 2023 debut. The first two seasons will premiere on Netflix on October 4, adapting Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters. This timing is strategic, positioning Netflix availability as a tool to attract new viewers ahead of the show’s third season Disney+ premiere on November 20.
The deal also includes all five Ice Age films from 20th Century Studios, along with other Disney television series including Will Trent (seasons 1-4) and Shifting Gears (seasons 1-2). The licensing arrangement reflects industry trends toward maximizing content visibility through multiple distribution channels. However, availability on Netflix is expected to be temporary rather than permanent.
Disney’s decision to license content to a competing streaming platform represents a calculated effort to build momentum for contemporary series while leveraging Netflix’s massive subscriber base to reach audiences outside the Disney+ ecosystem. This approach balances exclusive content strategy with broader audience expansion goals.