'Hamilton' release spikes surge in Disney+ app downloads
Although it’s difficult to verify viewership for streaming services, it looks like “Hamilton” is a box office smash for Disney+.
A prerecorded version of the hit Broadway musical was released on Friday, spurring a surge in app downloads during the holiday weekend.
From Friday through Sunday, Variety reports, the Disney+ app was downloaded 266,084 times in the U.S. and 513,323 times globally, according to analytics firm Apptopia.
Apptopia’s data shows that Disney+ downloads were 72.4% higher than the average of the four weekends in June 2020 over comparable Friday through Sunday time periods.
#Hamilton Drives Up Disney Plus App Downloads 72% Over the Weekend https://t.co/CXUgxzAlwg
— Variety (@Variety) July 6, 2020
It’s likely that “Hamilton” accounts for the surge. The movie version stars the original cast, including creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, and was recorded as it appeared on the Broadway stage.
Shot from various angles by six cameras, the movie uses frequent close-ups, bird’s-eye views of the stage and even frames some scenes from backstage.
We review the filmed version of 'Hamilton' now on Disney+. https://t.co/Q2coLtUJdi
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) July 4, 2020
Could Hamilton Be Made Today? https://t.co/yjXzhaQlio via @rkylesmith pic.twitter.com/5cw4aYMDys
— National Review (@NRO) July 4, 2020
CNN notes that streaming services like Disney+ and Netflix rarely release viewership numbers and data that is released often lacks context or third-party verification.
“Viewership data for streaming services is a much sought-after but rare commodity,” Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore (SCOR), told CNN Business. “At this point, you are more likely to spot a unicorn than to see comprehensive viewership data shared by the streaming services.”
Disney reportedly paid $75 million for the rights to the film of the play, with the intent of releasing it in theaters on Oct. 15, 2021. With theaters shut down by the covid-19 pandemic, Disney joined other Hollywood studios in turning to digital releases.
“Hamilton,” inspired by Ron Chernow’s biography of the founding father who died in a duel with Aaron Burr, debuted on Broadway in 2015. With its principals recast as people of color and a hip hop-influenced score, it was an instant hit and garnered 11 Tony Awards.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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