Ferdinand is no longer on Disney Plus in the United States

Disney removed Ferdinand from its streaming service in September 2023. The film, a 20th Century Studios animated comedy about a gentle bull, was available on Disney Plus for several years after the platform launched, but it is not there now. If you had it saved to your watchlist, it will show as unavailable when you try to play it.

The removal happened because Disney's streaming rights to the film expired. When a studio licenses a movie to a streaming service, that license has a set end date. Once that date passes, the platform must remove the title unless the license is renewed. Disney chose not to renew the rights to Ferdinand, so it came down.

This is common with films that Disney does not own outright. Ferdinand was produced by 20th Century Studios, which Disney acquired in 2019, but the original distribution agreements were made before that purchase. Those older contracts sometimes have terms that are expensive or inconvenient to renew, so studios let them lapse.

Key Takeaways

  • Ferdinand was removed from Disney Plus in September 2023 because the streaming license expired and was not renewed.
  • The film is still available to rent or buy on other platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu, usually for $3.99 to $5.99.
  • Disney Plus does not announce removals in advance, so titles can disappear without warning once their license ends.
  • Removals are temporary in some cases — a film may return to Disney Plus later if Disney negotiates a new license agreement.

Where you can watch Ferdinand now

You can rent Ferdinand on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube. Rental prices are typically $3.99 in standard definition or $5.99 in high definition, and you can watch for 48 hours after you start playing it. Some services also offer the option to buy the film permanently for $9.99 to $14.99, depending on the format.

Subscription services other than Disney Plus do not currently carry Ferdinand as part of their standard catalog. If you have a subscription to Netflix, Hulu, or another major platform, you will not find it there. Your options are rental, purchase, or waiting to see if Disney Plus adds it back later.

Why Disney Plus removes movies and shows

Streaming rights are not permanent. When a studio licenses content to a platform, both sides agree on how long the license lasts — often three to five years. After that period ends, the platform can either pay to renew the license or let the title expire. If the renewal cost is high or the studio wants to license the content elsewhere, the platform may choose to remove it.

Disney Plus has removed hundreds of titles since it launched in 2019. Some removals are tied to licensing expiration, while others happen because Disney wants to move a film to a different service — for example, moving a title to Hulu instead of Disney Plus to reach an older audience. Disney does not publish a removal schedule, so you typically find out a show or movie is gone only when you try to watch it.

Whether Ferdinand might return to Disney Plus

It is possible that Ferdinand could return to Disney Plus in the future if Disney negotiates a new license agreement with 20th Century Studios. This happens occasionally with films that were removed. However, there is no announcement or timeline for this, and it may not happen at all.

If you want to know whether Ferdinand comes back, the most reliable way is to check Disney Plus directly every few months or follow Disney Plus news sites that track additions and removals. Disney does not send notifications when a removed title returns, so you have to look for it yourself.

How to know if other Disney Plus titles might disappear

Disney Plus does not tell you which titles are at risk of removal or when they will leave. The platform does not display expiration dates next to movies or shows. Your best protection is to read titles you want to keep watching — Disney Plus allows offline downloads on phones and tablets, and downloaded content remains playable even after it is removed from the service.

You can also save titles to your watchlist, though this does not prevent removal. If a title disappears, it will straightforward show as unavailable in your list. Some viewers keep a personal spreadsheet of films they want to watch on Disney Plus, then watch them before they might be removed, but this requires checking the service regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if Ferdinand was removed from Disney Plus?

No. Disney Plus does not issue refunds when titles are removed. Your subscription fee covers access to whatever content is currently available on the service, not to specific titles. Removals are part of how streaming services operate.

Is Ferdinand available on Disney Plus in other countries?

It may be. Streaming rights vary by country, and a film can be available in one region but not another. If you have a Disney Plus account in a different country, you could check there, but availability is not may provide.

Why does Disney remove movies if it owns 20th Century Studios?

Disney owns the studio, but it does not automatically own all the streaming rights to every film the studio made. Older contracts were signed before Disney's purchase and may have terms that are separate from Disney's current agreements. Renewing those rights can be expensive or complicated.

Will Disney Plus tell me before a movie is removed?

No. Disney Plus does not announce removals in advance. Titles straightforward disappear when their licenses expire. The only way to know is to try watching the film or to follow Disney Plus removal tracking websites.