Hulu and Disney Plus will become one

Goodbye, Hulu: Disney+ Will Fully Absorb Hulu Starting 2026 Hulu has spent years building a loyal following with its mix of critically acclaimed originals, exclusive series, and must-watch dramas. For many U.S. viewers, it’s been a staple of their streaming lineup. But for international fans, the experience has been far more limited. Since Hulu is geo-blocked outside the United States, most of its content has only been available internationally through the Star tile on Disney+—and even then, not everything makes it across. That’s about to change in a big way. During its Q3 2025 earnings call, Disney officially announced that it will retire the standalone Hulu app and fully integrate Hulu’s library into Disney+ starting in 2026. This major update means subscribers will no longer need to pay for or toggle between two services. Instead, they’ll find all of Hulu’s top titles living side by side with Disney classics, Marvel blockbusters, Star Wars series, Pixar favorites, and ESPN’s sports content—all within Disney+. “This is a major step forward in our streaming strategy,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston. “By bringing Hulu into Disney+, we’re building a single, world-class platform that brings together exceptional storytelling across every genre—general […]
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I think this is a great decision. I’ve always found it frustrating to switch between apps and remember which show is on which service. Now that Disney+ will include Hulu, I can just open one app and find everything in one place. It feels like a cleaner and more modern approach. I also hope this means they will improve the app interface. Disney+ is already pretty good, but having so many genres together—sports, family, drama, reality—might require smarter filters and navigation tools.

As someone outside the U.S., I’m especially happy about the global access. I never had Hulu, so I missed out on shows like The Handmaid’s Tale or Reservation Dogs. I only heard about them through social media. This change will finally let people like me watch these shows legally and in high quality. I know some people will miss the Hulu brand, but I personally don’t mind as long as the content remains.

What I’m really wondering now is how this change will affect the subscription price. Will Disney raise the cost to match what people are currently paying if they have both Hulu and Disney+? Or maybe they’ll offer a lower combined price at first to help people adjust?

I think a lot of people only subscribe to one of the two right now. Some just want family content, others only want adult dramas or sports. So I hope Disney takes that into account. Not everyone wants everything in one package.

If they’re smart, they’ll offer some kind of flexible pricing—maybe different plans depending on what kind of content you watch. I just don’t want to end up paying more for shows I don’t even watch.

I see both sides here. On one hand, this is obviously good for international viewers. They’ve been locked out of a lot of great shows for years, and it’s ridiculous that in 2025, you still need a U.S. zip code to enjoy content you’re willing to pay for.

But I also think something unique might be lost. Hulu had a bit of an experimental soul. It took chances on strange projects. If Disney tries to fold all that into a more “mainstream” shape, some of the magic could disappear.

I also worry about creators. When everything gets centralized, it can become harder for unusual or niche voices to get heard. Will a new Pen15 or Ramy find a home inside Disney+? I hope so. But I’m not sure.

Still, this is happening no matter what. So I’ll cross my fingers and hope the content stays strong. I just want bold storytelling, even inside the House of Mouse.

So basically, Disney is eating Hulu like it’s a snack. Great. I guess we’re calling this “convenience,” but let’s be honest—it’s control.

Soon, every major media brand will be part of a few mega platforms, and we’ll have no real say in it. Yeah, sure, cool for international users who couldn’t watch Hulu—but what happens to content that doesn’t “fit” the Disney+ vibe? Do they cancel it or bury it?

I’ll give it a try, but I don’t trust Disney to protect the kind of risk-taking stories Hulu sometimes had.

I get why this might help simplify things, but I’m concerned about what happens to Hulu’s identity. It had its own style—more indie, more raw. Disney is a big company that sometimes plays it safe. If they start filtering or rejecting creative shows because it doesn’t fit the “Disney” image, that’s going to be a problem.

I also don’t like how streaming is becoming monopolized. Fewer platforms mean less choice in the long term. I understand this is convenient, but I’m not sure it’s better for creators.

Finally! I’ve been waiting years for Hulu content to reach us here in Southeast Asia. I always see people online talking about Only Murders in the Building, and I wanted to watch it legally but couldn’t. I’m glad this merger will fix that.


Also, I already pay for Disney+, so I’m really happy I don’t have to subscribe to a new service. One app is enough. If this helps them focus on making better shows instead of splitting everything across brands, I think that’s smart.


I just hope the rollout in 2026 includes subtitles for different languages. That part is very important for people outside the U.S.

I think this is a smart move. As someone who already uses both Hulu and Disney+, switching between apps always felt unnecessary. The combined interface will save time and reduce confusion. From a technical standpoint, merging platforms also means a better user experience and fewer logins. I’m especially happy about the international rollout. I have friends in Europe and Asia who always complained about not having access to Hulu originals. They deserve the same content we have. I just hope the UI won’t be too bloated once everything is packed into Disney+. My only concern is whether Hulu’s edgier content will sit well next to Disney’s family-friendly image. I wouldn’t want any censorship. Overall, though, this is good news for consumers—especially people outside the U.S. who’ve missed out for too long.

Finally! I’ve been living in Canada and it’s always frustrating hearing Americans talk about Hulu shows we can’t watch. It’s about time Disney made everything available on one app. I’m all for fewer subscriptions. Hope they don’t raise the price though.

This whole Disney+ and Hulu saga must hold the record for the most drawn-out merger of any streaming service. I mean, how many years has this been in discussion? It felt like every year they were “almost” merging, but something always delayed it. At least now there’s a solid date—2026—but even that feels late.


That said, I don’t think this is the final move. If Disney really wants to compete with Netflix globally and become the number one streaming platform, they’ll have to absorb more than just Hulu. Maybe they’ll go after other platforms next, like a deal with Paramount+ or even parts of Warner Bros content if it becomes available. They need a stronger international library and more local content in different regions.


Streaming was supposed to simplify things, but we ended up with too many apps and subscriptions. If Disney wants to be the true cable replacement, they have to consolidate more, offer fair pricing, and ensure that content from all age groups and genres is available in one place. Hulu alone won’t be enough. It’s a start, but it’s not the finish line.