UPDATE! ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Sees Largest Worldwide Disney Plus Premiere Ever
The first two episodes of Star Wars: Obi- Wan Kenobi have seen the largest global debut for a Disney Plus original series yet – a most impressive bit of news when considering that the series arrived against the debut of competing streamer Netflix’s Stranger Things 4: Volume 1, which also arrived everywhere that service is available. Fans have clamored for more of Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, so this is certainly no surprise.
As of the time that this article is being posted, Lucasfilm and Disney have not opted to reveal official viewership figures, nor have third parties – though that data will likely come into focus in the near future. Nonetheless, in terms of hours streamed on its global opening weekend, Obi-Wan Kenobi has seen greater viewership than the premieres of similar hits for the streaming service like Loki, WandaVision, or The Mandalorian. Lucasfilm revealed this news below:
Thank you to the best fans in the galaxy for making #ObiWanKenobi the most-watched @DisneyPlus Original series premiere globally to date, based on hours streamed in an opening weekend. pic.twitter.com/enb72jo4kh
— Obi-Wan Kenobi (@obiwankenobi) May 31, 2022
Netflix still has yet to drop the final two, feature-length episodes of the season with Stranger Things 4: Volume 2, and the show will likely take the crown in terms of overall viewership this weekend due to Netflix’s greater pool of subscribers and greater number of viewable hours of their show, including previous seasons. Nonetheless, streaming is a more flexible, less competitive medium than conventional television or the box office, and since a rising tide lifts all boats, that allows something like Obi-Wan Kenobi to enjoy more attention even when people are streaming other high-profile shows. In the weeks ahead, Obi-Wan Kenobi will likely pull ahead of Stranger Things 4 as the full limited series becomes available to view, but in the short run, the people running Disney Plus are likely popping the champagne after another premiere series has had another happy landing.
UPDATE!
Ewan McGregor has posted a special message offering thanks to the fans for making the premiere a big deal, while also defending fellow Star Wars actor Moses Ingram from racist attacks:
A personal message from Ewan McGregor. pic.twitter.com/rJSDmj663K
— Star Wars (@starwars) June 1, 2022
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi streams new episodes on Wednesdays, with the first two available to stream right now on Disney Plus. You can read our review of the first two episodes here.
Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.
