When the live-action Mulan remake first hit Disney+, it wasn't available for "free" to subscribers of the streaming service. Instead, you had to unlock it with an add-on service called Premier Access. It basically allows you to watch new movies before it's available to all subscribers or anywhere else.

Here's what you need to know about Premier Access, including how to use it to stream the latest Disney movies from the comfort of your couch.

What is Disney+ Premier Access? Plus, how to watch Mulan with it photo 1

What is Disney+ Premier Access?

When Disney+ launched, it had one tier: For $6.99 a month (now $7.99 a month), you could access all the movies and shows on the streaming service. However, in 2020, Disney+ introduced Premier Access. This premium add-on lets you access some content that has been locked behind a paywall.

Premier Access has been used on a handful of titles so far, including Mulan, Raya and the Last Dragon, Cruella, Black Widow, and Jungle Cruise. These were released on Disney+ in most markets on the same day as their theatrical release (with the exception of Mulan, which only released via Premier Access).

Disney+ - £7.99/m or £79.90/yr

Amazon

How much does Premier Access cost?

Premier Access movies can be accessed for a one-time payment of $29.99 in the US/£19.99 in the UK (or an approximately equivalent local currency). Disney+ subscribers will not only have to pay the one-time Premier Access fee to watch the movie but also Disney+'s monthly subscription cost.

What is Disney+ Premier Access? Plus, how to watch Mulan with it photo 4
Disney

How to use Premier Access to watch movies

You’ll need to start with a subscription to Disney+. Then, you can open the Disney+ app and navigate to the movie you want to watch. Once on the movie listing, you will see the option to buy the title. 

  1. Log into Disney+ at disneyplus.com
  2. Select the movie (either by searching or from the home screen)
  3. Click GET PREMIER ACCESS (button below the title)
  4. Confirm the payment.
  5. You will return to the main screen and have the ability to select PLAY.
  6. Click PLAY to begin streaming the movie with Premier Access!

Note: You can watch Premier Access movies on any device linked to your Disney+ account.

How long will you have access to the movies?

Premier Access can be rewatched as many times as you want, so long as you remain subscribed to Disney+. Typically, within 91 days after movies are made available on Disney+ through Premier Access, they will then be made available to all on the service without the need for an additional payment.

For instance, Cruella launched on Premier Access on 28 May for $29.99 and then became free for all Disney+ subscribers to watch on 27 August 2021. 

Can you watch Premier Access movies elsewhere?

Disney tends to offer Premier Access movies elsewhere for people to rent. For instance, besides being available on Disney+ as a Premier Access movie, Jungle Cruise could also be rented on "select platforms" - including from Apple, Google, Roku, Vudu, etc - for a similar fee.

Want to know more?

Check out Disney+'s FAQ page to learn more about Premier Access. For more about Disney+, see our guide here.