Pixar's 'Soul' had a huge debut weekend on Disney Plus, according to new Nielsen viewership data

<p><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/600b091a933f1100193111b8-2086/Screen Shot 2021-01-22 at 121852 PM.png" border="0" alt="soul pixar" data-mce-source="Disney/Pixar" data-mce-caption="&amp;quotSoul&amp;quot"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Pixar's "Soul" had a huge opening weekend on Disney Plus last month.</p><p>Viewers in the US spent 1.67 billion minutes watching the movie the week of December 21 to December 27 (it premiered on the streaming service on Friday, December 25), according to Nielsen. It topped the research company's latest list of top streaming titles released on Friday, which accounts for Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video.</p><p><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/average-us-household-now-subscribes-to-4-streaming-services-analysis-2021-1" data-analytics-position="12" data-analytics-module="">New research shows the average US household now subscribes to 4 streaming servicesand it could lead to a major shift in the market</a></strong></p><p>The movie's viewership is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mandalorian-tops-nielsen-list-of-most-watched-streaming-tv-shows-2021-1">impressive considering that Nielsen measures minutes watched</a> in the US, which gives TV shows, especially long-running ones like "The Office," an advantage. Even more impressive is that the data only accounts for the movie's first weekend of release, meaning that plenty of Disney Plus' 87 million subscribers watched it when it premiered.</p><p>Disney did not immediately return a request for comment.</p><p>"The Office," which has nearly 200 episodes, landed at No. 2 on Nielsen's latest list with 1.4 billion minutes watched. The list accounted for the popular sitcom's final full week on Netflix before it left for NBCUniversal's Peacock at the end of 2020.</p><p><strong>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hulu-insiders-question-what-its-future-looks-like-under-disney-2020-12" data-analytics-position="30" data-analytics-module="">'Just a cog in a machine': Hulu insiders say the company's culture has changed under Disney and question its future path after a scrapped international expansion</a></strong></p><p>"Soul's" performance bodes well for Disney Plus as the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the theatrical industry.</p><p>Disney decided to forgo a theatrical release in favor of making it available on Disney Plus at no additional fee to subscribers, unlike last year's "Mulan" remake, which Disney charged an additional $30 fee for when it first debuted on the service. Disney has plans to release more movies directly to Disney Plus, such as the animated "Raya and the Last Dragon."</p><p>Questions still linger over what Disney will do with its major tentpole releases, particularly "Black Widow," which is currently dated for theatrical release in May. Other studios have already started to delay (again) several major movies this week, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/no-time-to-die-delay-james-bond-uncharted-ghostbusters-pandemic-2021-1">including the James Bond movie "No Time to Die."</a></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-netflixs-franchise-tv-strategy-compares-to-disney-plus-2021-1" >Netflix's push into franchise TV will be essential as Disney Plus prepares a barrage of Marvel and 'Star Wars' shows</a></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nielsen-data-soul-hit-on-disney-plus-first-weekend-2021-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-planes-future-of-aviation-problems-regulations-2020-3">Why electric planes haven't taken off yet</a></p>
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