As part of its ongoing cost-cutting strategy, Disney removed Better Nate Than Never from Disney+ worldwide as of May 27.
The movie was released exclusively on Disney+ on April 1, 2022.
In “Better Nate Than Ever,” 13-year-old Nate Foster has big Broadway dreams. There’s only one problem — he can’t even land a part in the school play. But when his parents leave town, Nate and his best friend Libby sneak off to the Big Apple for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove everyone wrong. A chance encounter with Nate’s long-lost Aunt Heidi turns his journey upside-down, and together they must learn that life’s greatest adventures are only as big as your dreams. Based on the award-winning novel.
Why Was ‘Better Nate Than Never’ Removed From Disney Plus?
Disney decided to remove Better Nate Than Never from Disney+ because of its low viewership. The company didn’t see the cost of maintaining the show as justified, particularly while it’s aiming to save $5 billion through cost-cutting measures.
Disney still bears ongoing costs to keep shows like Better Nate Than Ever on Disney+. By eliminating certain titles, Disney can save money, as it no longer needs to make residual payments and pay licensing fees.
Additionally, removing content also opens up opportunities for Disney to establish licensing agreements for these shows with other companies, like Netflix or HBO, which could generate additional revenue.
Will Better Nate Than Ever Come Back To Disney Plus?
Due to a content impairment charge that Disney has implemented, which serves as a write-off for tax purposes, Better Nate Than Ever is unable to return to Disney+.
Once the impairment period ends, Disney technically has the option to reintroduce Better Nate Than Ever to Disney+. However, given that Disney has deemed the ongoing costs of maintaining the title on Disney+ as not worthwhile, the possibility of such a return is extremely low.
Where To Watch Better Nate Than Never
Currently, there are no alternative streaming platforms or purchase options available for Better Nate Than Ever.
Disney’s decision to remove content parallels a preceding action by Warner Bros. Discovery, headed by David Zaslav, which also pulled a selection of titles from (HBO) Max. The company subsequently granted Roku and Tubi the rights to many of these shows through a number of licensing agreements, thereby further monetizing programming that had previously failed to achieve expected success.
It’s unclear whether Disney will license the movie to another streaming service, as that would depend on the interest of other platforms. However, it’s certainly a possibility that Disney will follow a similar path to Warner.
Similarly, there’s uncertainty about if or when Disney might offer Better Nate Than Ever for digital purchase.
If and when The Mysterious Benedict Society is made available on another streaming service or available to purchase, we’ll be sure to update this article.
What Other Titles Have Been Removed From Disney Plus?
Disney has pulled over 100 titles in total from Disney+ shows such as Willow, Turner & Hooch, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Just Beyond, Diary of a Future President, Big Shot, and The World According To Jeff Goldblum, and many more.
You can see the full list of removals right here.