How to rent and watch Mulan on Disney Plus

Disney’s live-action Mulan is finally upon us. After the studio postponed the film several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, audiences can finally see the remake of Disney’s beloved animated feature on Friday, Sept. 4.

The film industry has been topsy turvy in the wake of the pandemic, and Disney’s release schedule has been in flux since March, when Pixar’s Onward was disrupted by theaters shutting down to curb the spread of the virus and dropped on Disney Plus. Moviegoers have practically been getting whiplash from all of the delays, surprise drops, and streaming shakeups.

As a hugely anticipated Disney release, Mulan has been one of the movies to keep an eye on as the company figures out how to release the film safely and, of course, ensure that it makes money. Disney’s plan for Mulan is a little complicated, but below we break down how, exactly, you can watch the new film using something called Premier Access.

Was Mulan released in movie theaters?

Not in the U.S. Though movie theaters have been slowly reopening, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced in an August earnings call that Mulan would be skipping theaters in the U.S. and heading straight to streaming. The company pulled a similar move with its Artemis Fowl adaptation and the filmed version of Hamilton, cancelling their theatrical releases and dropping them onto Disney Plus instead.

In countries where Disney Plus is not available and theaters have safely reopened, Mulan will be playing in theaters.

Will Mulan be on Disney Plus?

Yes, but there’s a catch. Mulan is available through Disney Plus Premier Access, which essentially a VOD release that Disney Plus subscribers can purchase as a premium add-on. Premier Access to Mulan will cost $29.99, and will remain unlocked as long as the Disney Plus subscription is active. Essentially, users can pay $29.99 now and you can watch Mulan at any time, as often as you want, for as long as you continue to pay for a Disney Plus subscription.

When can I watch Mulan on Disney Plus?

According to Disney’s FAQ page, Premier Access to Mulan will be available for purchase starting on Sept. 4, and running through Nov. 2.

Disney already has plans to drop the paywall on Mulan and add it to the Disney Plus streaming library. On Dec. 4, three months after its initial release, Mulan will be available to all Disney Plus subscribers with no Premier Access required. That sounds like subscribers who don’t purchase Premier Access before Nov. 2 will have to wait until Dec. 4 when Mulan heads to the Disney Plus library.

How to get Disney Plus Premier Access

First, you’ll have to have a Disney Plus account. Disney’s streaming service is available for $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. (It’s also worth noting that Disney Plus no longer offers a free trial.) Disney Plus is also available in a bundle with Hulu and ESPN Plus for $12.99 per month.

Once you have Disney Plus, you’ll be able to purchase Premier Access on Sept. 4 through the Disney Plus website or through the Disney Plus app “on select platforms, including Apple, Google, and Roku.”

Hulu/Disney Plus bundle

• $13

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Disney is offering a bundle combining its three streaming services — Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus — for $12.99/month.

• $13 at Disney Plus