WALT Disney will release Pixar’s Soul, Turning Red and Luca films in theatres next year, giving nationwide big-screen showings to three movies derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Soul will be released on Jan 12, Turning Red on Feb 9 and Luca on Mar 22, Disney said on Tuesday (Dec 5). All three films received critical acclaim and have scores above 90 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.

The films debuted primarily on the Disney+ streaming service during the pandemic and may have trained consumers to skip theatres, knowing newer movies would be available online soon. Pixar’s most recent release, Elemental, opened to one of that studio’s worst-ever performances before gaining momentum.

Chief executive officer Bob Iger, who returned to lead Burbank, California-based Disney last November, has made restoring the lustre and profitability of Disney’s film business a priority. The division that includes theatrical releases has not turned a profit in more than a year.

Showing the Pixar films in theatres will bolster the studio’s release schedule and provide more fare for cinema operators such as AMC Entertainment Holdings, Regal Theatres and Cinemark Holdings.

In June, Pixar will release Inside Out 2 in cinemas, a sequel to a 2015 film that grossed US$858.8 million in worldwide ticket sales. BLOOMBERG

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