Spider-Verse films are owned by Sony, not Disney
Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel Across the Spider-Verse are not on Disney Plus because Sony Pictures Entertainment owns them outright. Disney does not own the Spider-Man film rights or the characters in these movies. Sony has its own streaming service, Sony Pictures Core (formerly called Crackle Premium), where these films appear instead.
This ownership split happened because Sony bought the film rights to Spider-Man characters decades ago, before Disney acquired Marvel Entertainment in 2009. When Disney bought Marvel, it gained the rights to use Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films — but only those specific MCU movies. Sony kept the right to make standalone Spider-Man films and films about Spider-Man villains and allies, which is why Sony produces and distributes the Spider-Verse movies.
The confusion is understandable because Disney owns Marvel Studios and produces many Marvel films that do appear on Disney Plus. But the Spider-Verse films fall outside that agreement, so Disney has no right to stream them.
Key Takeaways
- Sony Pictures owns the Spider-Verse films, not Disney, so they stream on Sony's platform instead of Disney Plus.
- Disney owns Marvel Studios but does not own the film rights to Spider-Man standalone movies — Sony retained those rights from before Disney's 2009 acquisition of Marvel.
- Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse are available on Sony Pictures Core, which requires a separate subscription.
- Some Spider-Man films do appear on Disney Plus, but only those made as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe deal between Sony and Disney.
Where to watch Spider-Verse movies right now
The most direct way to watch Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse is through Sony Pictures Core, which is a subscription service run by Sony. You can also rent or buy both films through digital storefronts like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Rental typically costs $3.99 to $5.99, and purchase prices range from $9.99 to $14.99 depending on video quality.
If you have a cable or streaming bundle that includes premium channels, check whether Starz is part of your package — both Spider-Verse films rotate through Starz's catalog periodically. The availability changes, so searching "where to watch" on Google or using a service like JustWatch will show you current options in your region and whether each film is free with a subscription you already have.
How Sony and Disney's Spider-Man agreement works
Sony and Disney have a complex deal that lets them share Spider-Man in specific ways. Disney's Marvel Studios can use Spider-Man in MCU films — like the Tom Holland Spider-Man: Homecoming trilogy and his appearances in Avengers films. Those MCU Spider-Man movies do appear on Disney Plus because Disney produced them as part of the MCU.
However, Sony retains the right to make its own Spider-Man films outside the MCU. That is why Sony produces the Spider-Verse animated films, the live-action Venom films, and other Spider-Man universe movies. Sony also decides where those films stream, and Sony chooses to put them on its own platform to drive subscriptions to Sony Pictures Core.
This arrangement means you may see some Spider-Man content on Disney Plus (the MCU films) and other Spider-Man content on Sony's platform (the Spider-Verse films, Venom films). The character appears in both places, but the streaming rights are separate.
Why studios keep streaming rights separate
When a studio owns a film, it also owns the right to decide where that film streams. Streaming rights are valuable because they drive subscriptions and advertising revenue. Sony keeps its Spider-Man films on Sony Pictures Core because every subscription to that service is money Sony collects directly.
If Sony licensed the Spider-Verse films to Disney Plus, Disney would pay Sony a one-time fee, but then Disney would keep all the subscription revenue those films generate. Sony would lose the ongoing income from viewers who subscribe to Sony Pictures Core specifically to watch Spider-Verse movies. From Sony's business perspective, it makes more sense to stream the films on Sony's own platform.
This is why you see the same pattern across the streaming industry: Warner Bros. keeps its films on Max, Paramount keeps its films on Paramount Plus, and Universal keeps many of its films on Peacock. Each studio wants to own the relationship with viewers and collect the subscription revenue directly.
MCU Spider-Man movies that are on Disney Plus
If you have Disney Plus, you can watch the three Tom Holland Spider-Man films that are part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). These films appear on Disney Plus because Marvel Studios produced them as MCU entries, and Disney owns Marvel Studios.
You can also find Spider-Man in other MCU films on Disney Plus, including his appearances in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. These are the only Spider-Man films available through Disney Plus, because they are the only ones Disney has the streaming rights to distribute.
What to expect from Sony Pictures Core
Sony Pictures Core is a free ad-supported service, or you can pay for an ad-free version. The free tier shows ads during playback but lets you watch the full Spider-Verse catalog. The paid tier removes ads and typically costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year, though pricing may vary.
Beyond the Spider-Verse films, Sony Pictures Core includes other Sony-owned movies and licensed content. The catalog changes regularly as Sony adds and removes titles, so the Spider-Verse films should remain available long-term since they are Sony's own productions and major draws for the service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Into the Spider-Verse ever come to Disney Plus?
No. Sony owns the Spider-Verse films and has no reason to license them to Disney Plus, since doing so would reduce subscriptions to Sony Pictures Core. The films will remain on Sony's platform as long as Sony owns the rights, which is indefinite.
Is Spider-Man: No Way Home on Disney Plus?
Yes. Spider-Man: No Way Home is an MCU film that Marvel Studios produced, so Disney owns the streaming rights and it is available on Disney Plus. It is the only Spider-Verse-adjacent film on Disney Plus, but it is a different franchise from the animated Spider-Verse movies.
Do I need a separate subscription to watch Spider-Verse movies?
You can watch them through Sony Pictures Core (free with ads or paid without ads), or you can rent or buy them individually through Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or other digital stores. You do not need a separate subscription if you choose to rent or buy per film.
Why does Disney Plus have some Spider-Man movies but not Spider-Verse?
Disney Plus has the Tom Holland MCU Spider-Man films because Marvel Studios produced them. The Spider-Verse films are animated movies that Sony produced independently, so Sony controls where they stream and chooses to keep them on Sony Pictures Core to build that service's subscriber base.