TheDisney+chart is being dominated by R-rated movies. The streaming service, which launched in late 2019, contains content owned and produced by Disney and its various brands, including 20th Century Studios, Marvel Studios, Pixar, National Geographic, and Lucasfilm. However, when it initially debuted, no R-rated content was available on the platform. This policy eventually changed due to a variety of factors, including the streamer’s acquisition of the Marvel series that were originally developed for Netflix, includingDaredevilandThe Punisher.
The presence of these shows caused Disney+ to launch a system of parental controls that separated children’s profiles from adult profiles, limiting their library on the former. While recentDisney+ original showsand movies, which include the showStar Wars: Skeleton Crewand the musicalDescendants: The Rise of Redare still focused on the family audience,adult profiles have access to a broader variety of material, including R-rated and TV-MA titles that were developed for their partner streaming service Hulu.
Deadpool & Wolverine Leads The Charge Of R-Rated Movies On Disney+
Two Other R-Rated Movies Are Charting
Now, the R-rated moviesDeadpool & Wolverine,John Wick, andNightbitchhave all charted on Disney+simultaneously.Deadpool & Wolverine, which is a crossover follow-up to bothDeadpool 2andLogan, is the first R-ratedMarvel Cinematic Universe movie, and was a smash hit. 2014’sJohn Wickis a Keanu Reeves gun fu action epic that launched a massive multimedia franchise, whileNightbitchis a 2024 adaptation of Rachel Yoder’s metaphorical horror novel about the trials of motherhood starring Amy Adams and directed by Marielle Heller.
Deadpool & Wolverinegrossed $1.338 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time and the second highest-grossing movie of 2024 behindInside Out 2.
On theDisney+daily Top 10 chart for adult profiles in the U.S. as of January 3,Deadpool & Wolverinetopped the chart, even though it has been streaming on the platform since mid-November. Meanwhile,John Wickhas taken No. 5, separated from the top byPaddington,Skeleton Crew, and 2019’sThe Lion King.Nightbitchhas come in at No. 6, beating out the family-friendly titlesDream Productions,Mufasa: The Lion King - A Special Look, andThe Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, as well as the PG-13 titleAmber Alert.
Our Take On The R-Rated Disney+ Movies Charting
This Could Only Help Disney+
While it may be surprising that three of the Top 10Disney+movieswere rated R, this shows how successful more adult-oriented fare can be on the platform. The fact that adults seem to be using the platform to access Hulu titles as well as R-rated fare from Disney’s other brandsallows the streaming platform another avenue for revenue, which could prove vital in bolstering it as the streaming market continues to provide a variety of challenges, including intense competition and dwindling profits, which has already led to the cancellation and outright removal of shows like their 2022Willowseries.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Cast
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
John Wick
John Wick is a 2014 action thriller featuring Keanu Reeves as a retired hitman. The film follows John Wick as he emerges from retirement to avenge the loss inflicted by a group of gangsters, setting the stage for a relentless pursuit and exploration of a shadowy underworld.
Nightbitch
A suburban mother struggles with the isolation of stay-at-home life while raising her young son. As she begins to embrace her primal instincts, she experiences strange transformations, leading her to question whether she’s losing her mind or becoming something altogether different—something feral and dangerous.
