Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has become one of the most successful film franchises in history. With over 20 movies in its lineup, fans can’t get enough of the superhero action, thrilling narratives, and interconnected storylines. Disney Plus, the streaming platform launched by Disney, has become a go-to destination for MCU enthusiasts to binge-watch their favorite movies and TV shows.
However, despite offering an extensive collection of Marvel content, not all MCU movies are currently available on Disney Plus. From licensing agreements to distribution deals, various factors can influence the availability of movies on different streaming platforms. Here, we highlight the notable MCU films that you won’t find on Disney Plus.
“The Incredible Hulk” (2008) starring Edward Norton as Bruce Banner aka the Hulk, is notably absent from the Disney Plus catalog. This film, which is often overshadowed by its successor “The Avengers” (2012), is produced by Universal Pictures, which still holds the distribution rights. Hence, the movie remains outside the Disney Plus library.
Similarly, Sony Pictures has a fascinating relationship with Disney when it comes to the rights of another beloved character, Spider-Man. Although Spider-Man has appeared in the MCU films, his standalone movies are produced by Sony. As a result, you won’t find the “Spider-Man” trilogy starring Tobey Maguire (2002-2007) on Disney Plus. However, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017) and “Spider-Man: Far From Home” (2019) are available as Sony and Disney reached an agreement to include these newer films within the MCU canon.
Moving on, before Marvel Studios produced its own movies, it had engaged in collaborations with other studios. Such ventures include the production rights for characters like Daredevil, Ghost Rider, Blade, and the Punisher, which were once licensed to Marvel’s subsidiary, Marvel Knights. As the rights to these characters have expired or reverted back to Marvel Studios, there is still no official release of their standalone films on Disney Plus. However, some of these characters have found new life in Marvel television shows, including “Daredevil,” “Jessica Jones,” “Luke Cage,” “Iron Fist,” and “The Punisher,” which can be streamed on Netflix.
Another notable absence from Disney Plus is “The Punisher” (2004), a standalone film starring Thomas Jane as Frank Castle, who takes on the mantle of the fiercely vengeful Punisher. Distributed by Lionsgate Films, the rights for this particular adaptation still lie outside the Disney umbrella.
Although not a standalone movie, “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!” (2010-2013) is a beloved animated series telling the story of Marvel’s superhero team. Regrettably, this series isn’t part of the Disney Plus lineup. Due to licensing constraints, the rights for the animated show rest with Marvel Animation Studios and other distributors.
Additionally, while the acclaimed animated film “Big Hero 6” (2014) is based on a Marvel comic, its distribution rights are owned by Disney Animation and not Marvel Studios. As a result, it cannot be found on Disney Plus within the MCU collection.
As the business landscape of streaming continues to evolve, it’s possible that some of these absent MCU movies may find their way onto Disney Plus in the future. New licensing agreements, renegotiated deals, and shifting distribution rights might pave the way for these films to be included in the platform’s vast collection. Until then, fans can still enjoy the majority of the MCU movies and TV shows available on Disney Plus while awaiting the potential arrival of these missing heroic adventures.