October 5, 2026, 12:03 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Disney and Netflix have been competing for streaming customers for years. Now the two rivals are working more closely together. A new licensing agreement brings numerous films and series from the Disney catalog to Netflix. Many of them are also available to German users.
“Percy Jackson” and “Ice Age” Now on Netflix
A prominent part of the agreement involves the first two seasons of the series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” originally produced for Disney+. According to the U.S. trade magazine “Variety,” the timing is deliberate: The third season premieres on Disney+ on November 20, 2026.
The situation is similar with “Ice Age.” Netflix now has all five previous films in its catalog before the sixth installment, “Ice Age: Boiling Point,” hits theaters on February 5, 2027, after more than ten years. Both franchises have been available to users worldwide on Netflix since October 4, 2026. However, they won’t remain there permanently. The licensing window is only three months for each.
There’s Something for Series Fans Too
It doesn’t stop with “Percy Jackson” and “Ice Age.” Disney is also licensing several series from 20th Television to Netflix, including “Will Trent.” The first four seasons are set to be available worldwide on Netflix starting November 3, 2026, before the fifth season premieres on the U.S. network ABC in early 2027.
“Shifting Gears” is also part of the package. The first two seasons are scheduled to appear on Netflix in the U.S. starting December 1, 2026. Internationally, the launch is planned for January 2027. The third season will premiere on ABC in early 2027.
The series “Tracker” has a special licensing agreement. Netflix will receive the first three seasons outside the U.S. starting February 26, 2027. It is expected to be available there for several years.
Additional popular series from the Disney catalog are also included, such as “Felicity,” “Revenge,” “Army Wives,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” and “This Is Us.” The timing and regions where each production will appear on Netflix vary by title. Exact dates are yet to be announced.
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Pixar and Disney Films Are Also Part of the Deal
Starting in early 2027, well-known films from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar are also set to follow. Variety mentions “Soul,” “Elio,” and “Raya and the Last Dragon,” among others. While the films are intended for worldwide release, when they will be available in specific regions is not yet known.
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Importantly, the titles are not moving from Disney to Netflix but are being offered there additionally. Productions currently available on Disney+ or Hulu will remain accessible there.
Why Disney Is Giving Content to the Competitor
At first glance, the cooperation seems unusual, as Disney+ and Netflix are direct competitors. According to Variety, Disney primarily uses its competitor as additional advertising space. This is particularly evident with “Percy Jackson” and “Ice Age.” The existing productions reach a larger audience through Netflix before Disney releases new installments of the respective series. At the same time, Disney can earn additional millions through the licensing deal.
Whether Disney+ will extend the agreements after the respective licensing windows expire remains to be seen. However, it is conceivable that the two streaming services might renegotiate the timeframes if they are successful.