All this combined makes Raya a good, but not great, family adventure. I loved how by the end of the film Raya has a whole troupe of misfits. Obviously Awkwafina is a ton of fun, but ever other random side character who joins the adventure has personality as well. It is it's own unique world with it's own unique set of characters and environments, and it was a fun place to explore. Some people have drawn comparisons between this world and the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and while there are some similarities, to dismiss it outright because of that is pretty minimialistic.

What did work for me though is GORGEOUS visuals and a stunning world. That on top of its aggressively heavy-handed messaging that just didn't work for me personally keep it from being an all time classic. Not saying that as a bad thing, the formula works, but sometimes Raya can feel a bit like it's going through the motions of an adventure rather than feeling like a true adventure. Ancient lands, swashbuckling hero, magical sidekick who speaks in pop culture references, all that stuff is here. Really, you’re pre-ordering so that you won’t have to spend a few moments unlocking access on premiere day.Think of Raya kind of like a modern take on Aladdin. There certainly aren’t limited quantities like with theater tickets. After all, this isn’t a permanent copy of Raya - end your subscription and you lose the CG fantasy flick as well, even if it’s still in the early access period. However, it also raises questions about the value of pre-orders. It might make sense if you’d rather not risk your family’s health just to see the movie on a big screen during a pandemic, and aren’t willing to wait for the eventual no-extra-charge release. Pay $30 and you can watch the animated epic through your Disney+ subscription as soon as it’s available.Īs with the early release of Mulan, Raya’s price isn’t out of line with what you’d pay to see the movie in theaters (where it’s also available on March 5th). From directors Don Hall and Carlos Lpez Estrada, co-directors Paul Briggs and John Ripa, producers Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho, and featuring the voices of Kelly Marie Tran as Raya and Awkwafina as the last dragon Sisu, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Raya and the Last Dragon opens in theatres on March 12, 2021. The streaming service has started taking pre-orders for Premier Access to Raya and the Last Dragon ahead of its digital debut on March 5th.

Disney+ has previously offered early access to movies with theatrical releases, but now it’s hoping you’ll pay in advance.

Raya and the last dragon movie tickets