Disney+ Surges to 126M Subscribers in 2025 Thanks to 3 Major Hits

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2025 has been a fantastic year for Disney+, as I’ve noticed a remarkable surge in subscribers! Three exceptional titles – movies and series alike – have spearheaded this impressive expansion. It seems that the success of these select productions has managed to captivate viewers from all walks of life, fueling the streaming platform’s growth like never before.

Despite anticipating a drop in subscribers, Disney+ saw an unexpected uptick during the March 2025 quarter, adding 1.4 million new users instead. This surge pushed the platform’s global subscriber base to 126 million, with the main factors behind this growth being the success of movies like Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King, and the premiere of the MCU series Daredevil: Born Again. A significant portion of this growth (approximately 1 million subscribers) was attributed to the U.S. and Canada.

Previously, Disney had signaled to investors a potential decrease in Disney+ users during Q1 of 2025 (March 2025). This prediction was shared by analysts and industry insiders, who estimated a drop of approximately 1.1 million subscribers. However, contrary to these expectations, Disney+ managed to attract an additional 1.4 million users. As a result of strong performance from some of its leading brands, the service now boasts a global subscriber base of over 126 million.

3 Disney+ Projects Grew Subscribers

Moana 2

It’s not unexpected that the release of Moana 2 is contributing to the surge in Disney+ subscribers. As reported by Deadline, the underwater sequel attracted a massive 27.3 million views worldwide within its initial five days, marking the biggest debut for a Disney Animation title on the platform since Encanto. Moreover, it ranked as the third-largest premiere for an animated film on Disney+ in theatrical history.

The streaming performance of the film was extremely strong after it surpassed the $1 billion mark at the box office worldwide, breaking records for animated openings and ranking third among the highest-grossing animated films of 2024. Given that it was originally intended to be a television series but underwent last-minute changes, this achievement is quite remarkable.

In a similar vein, it’s worth noting that the initial release of Moana experienced a significant surge, streaming over 1.4 billion hours on Disney+ since its debut in 2019, making it the most-watched film to date on the platform.

Mufasa: The Lion King

Following a nail-biting competition at the box office similar to Tortoise and the Hare, Mufasa: The Lion King premiered on Disney+ on March 26, 2025. In no time, it climbed to the summit of the streaming service’s movie charts, currently holding the position as the most-watched film on Disney+. Surpassing titles like Lilo & Stitch and Black Widow, according to FlixPatrol, its popularity suggests that the prequel’s mix of nostalgic charm and visual grandeur has struck a chord with viewers of all ages. Although Disney hasn’t disclosed exact viewership figures as yet, its high ranking indicates a positive response from audiences.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 1

The highly anticipated Marvel series, Daredevil: Born Again, kicked off this year on Disney+ with a bang, attracting 7.5 million viewers for its premiere episode. This makes it the platform’s most watched series debut of 2025 thus far, though it falls short when compared to blockbusters like Ahsoka (14 million in five days) and Percy Jackson and the Olympians (13.3 million in six days). However, its strong performance has played a significant role in boosting Disney+’s viewership for the year. Due to its MA rating, it may not have reached as wide an audience, but within Marvel Studios and Disney+, Born Again is undeniably considered a success. The series’ second season is already under production with a 2026 release planned, and early development of a third season indicates the producers’ faith in the show’s long-term impact on Disney+’s strategy.

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2025-05-09 20:25