Where can I watch "Encanto" in Canada?

Joshua Gorner -

Encanto, the 2021 Colombia-set film from Walt Disney Animation Studios, starring the voices of Stephanie Beatriz and John Leguizamo among others, and featuring songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, was released in theatres in Canada and the United States on Friday, November 24, 2021.

Unlike some other films released by Disney in 2021 like Black Widow and Jungle Cruise, Encanto was released exclusively in cinemas to start, and was not given a day-and-date "Premier Access" release on the company's Disney+ streaming platform, as coronavirus-related restrictions on theatres have eased over the past few months.

However, the company announced in September that Encanto would only have a 30-day exclusive theatrical window, before becoming available on Disney+ on Friday, December 24, 2021, which Disney described as giving subscribers a "special opportunity to enjoy the film at home throughout the holidays".

In Canada, Disney+ costs $11.99 per month, or $119.99 per year when charged annually (all prices in this article are in Canadian dollars before applicable sales taxes). Unlike the Premier Access releases earlier in 2021 like Black Widow, it does not appear that any extra charge on top of the regular subscription fee will be required to stream Encanto so soon after its theatrical run.

Is there anywhere else I'll be able to watch Encanto if I don't want a Disney+ subscription?

Even though Disney's marketing efforts have been focused on Disney+, it has also quietly made most of its films available for rental or purchase on transactional video-on-demand platforms at or around the same time the movies are made available on Disney+.

Indeed, Encanto is now available for digital purchase starting at about $24.99 on the Apple TV / iTunes Store, the Cineplex Store, the Prime Video Store, and will likely soon be available (if it isn't already) via the set-top boxes of conventional TV providers like Rogers and Bell.

Digital rentals are not yet available as of December 25, but will likely come in the next few weeks, consistent with other recent Disney-released films once they arrive on Disney+. For example, the September 2021 Marvel Studios release Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings had become available for "regular" on-demand prices, or around $6.99 for a 48-hour rental (or $24.99 to purchase), on the iTunes and Prime Video stores by early December 2021, shortly after its Disney+ release.

Significant revisions

  • December 25, 2021 – added links to digital purchase options
  • December 23, 2021 – added direct link to the film on Disney+