Disney+ and Hulu kick off a fresh slate anchored by three crowd-pleasers: a new Muppets variety special, a behind-the-curtain Imagineering doc series, and the streaming arrival of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes on Hulu. The lineup leans into co-viewing staples, effects-driven spectacle, and deep-cut Disney craft—exactly the mix that keeps subscribers sampling beyond a single franchise. With Hulu now accessible inside Disney+ under one login, this is also a clear test of how bundled discovery can boost watch time.
The Muppets return to classic variety show format
The Muppets work best when they can riff in real time, toss to a musical guest, and break the fourth wall before the punchline lands. That’s the spirit of the new special featuring Sabrina Carpenter, directed by Tony winner Alex Timbers and executive produced by Seth Rogen. Disney has tried multiple modern takes—from a mockumentary sitcom to band-centric spinoffs—but the classic variety format remains the franchise’s north star.
Expect fast-cut backstage chaos, updated running gags, and Carpenter’s pop instincts to anchor the music set pieces. Nielsen’s streaming snapshots have repeatedly shown co-viewing spikes for family-first brands, and few IPs bridge generations like Kermit and Miss Piggy. If engagement sticks, don’t be surprised if Disney scales this into a seasonal run; variety is relatively cost-efficient content that travels well internationally and fuels perpetual clip culture.
Inside Imagineering: the makers behind Disney parks
We Call It Imagineering profiles the artists and engineers who make Disney parks hum—an ideal on-ramp for fans who love how things work as much as the finished show. The series arrives as Disney continues to spotlight breakthroughs such as Stuntronics (the robotic stunt double behind that soaring Spider‑Man at Avengers Campus) and the free‑walking “Project Kiwi” character platform showcased by Disney Research. IEEE Spectrum and ACM SIGGRAPH presentations have chronicled how these teams fuse robotics, machine learning, and materials science to deliver illusions that reset guest expectations.
The timing is savvy. The Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM’s Theme Index has consistently ranked Disney parks at the top of global attendance, and behind-the-scenes storytelling reliably converts casual viewers into destination planners. For Disney+, maker-centric docs routinely overperform their budgets, building high completion rates and healthy save-to-list behavior that keeps algorithms recommending deeper library cuts.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes storms onto Hulu
Wes Ball’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes swings onto Hulu after a robust theatrical run that pulled in nearly $400 million worldwide according to Box Office Mojo. Set generations after Caesar, it follows young chimp Noa on a rescue quest that widens into a clash over what civilization becomes next. The film earned solid notices—landing in the low 80s with critics on Rotten Tomatoes—and showcases Weta FX’s latest performance‑capture and facial‑solving advances, an evolutionary step from the tech that redefined the franchise in the previous trilogy.
On streaming, Apes fills a valuable tentpole slot: recognizably cinematic, broadly four‑quadrant, and ideal for Friday‑night discovery. Expect Hulu to surface it alongside sci‑fi and action rails and pair it with earlier Apes entries, a tactic proven to multiply total franchise hours. For viewers who track VFX craft, watch for the nuanced eye and mouth micro‑expressions that sell Noa’s inner life—small details that Weta has discussed in recent technical case studies.
Also new on Disney+ and Hulu: films, series, and anime
Beyond the headliners, there’s a healthy wave of library comfort food and unscripted staples. Hulu’s movie refresh spans crowd favorites and awards winners—think Ghostbusters, When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Woman, Django Unchained, 12 Years a Slave, I, Robot, and 27 Dresses—plus Spanish‑language versions that reflect the platform’s growing bilingual shelf. Unscripted fans get fresh seasons and specials, and anime watchers can continue One Piece’s Whole Cake Island arc in dubbed form. Both Disney+ and Hulu also add new episodes of long‑running doc series like Ancient Aliens, a reliable binge driver.
Why this Disney+ and Hulu slate matters for retention
This is a textbook retention play: an all‑ages variety showcase to spark social chatter, a prestige nonfiction series that deepens brand affinity, and a box‑office hit to anchor the weekend. Bundled discovery inside Disney+ helps Hulu titles hitch a ride on franchise traffic, a pattern media analytics firms like Antenna have linked to lower churn and higher multi‑title sessions. For viewers, it means fewer dead ends and more serendipity.
The bigger picture is equally clear. Disney is leaning on what only it can do—heritage characters with fresh musical heat, unparalleled access to its own R&D engine, and a tentpole pipeline that still feels theatrical at home. If the Muppets special lands and Imagineering hooks the maker crowd, don’t just expect sequels; expect formats that invite perpetual behind‑the‑scenes engagement, keeping fans in the ecosystem long after the credits roll.