Raya and the Last Dragon is a 2021 animated movie directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada. The movie tells the story of Raya (Kelly Marie Tran), a warrior princess from Kumandra who has trained to protect a dragon gem belonging to the ancient dragons and containing incredible power. An attempt at stealing the gem results in it being broken into five pieces and scattered through the five kingdoms of Kumandra, along with awakening the evil Druun spirits. Years later, after the Druun have ruined Kumandra and turned people to stone, Raya embarks on a journey to find the mythical last dragon and restore the gem, using its power to banish the evil spirits.

The movie was planned for a November 2020 release but was pushed back to March 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It would eventually be released in theaters and on Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, at a premium cost of $29.99. Due to the limited amount of theaters open at the time, the movie could not reach the box office heights of past Disney animated films like Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, or Moana.

It did receive positive reviews that praised its developed characters and fresh spin on the typical Disney movie. It was also enjoyed by those who watched it, as it was a hit on Dinsey+. However, the movie never really got the major release and recognition it deserved, and its low box-office numbers overshadowed its strengths. Here are some of the reasons the movie was overlooked.

Update November 28, 2023: In honor of the release of Disney's Wish, this article has been updated to look back on one of Disney's most underrated animated films in recent memory, Raya and the Last Dragon.

Its Streaming Release

The biggest factor in the movie’s box office failure was its release. Disney released the movie simultaneously in movie theaters and on Disney+ for an additional fee of $30 – on top of the monthly fee subscribers were already paying for the streaming platform. In June 2021, after three months at the premium price, the movie would become available to all Disney+ subscribers at no extra cost.

If a family or a group of people wanted to watch the movie, the $30 fee was likely cheaper than what they would have spent on an average theater trip, and it would have been a plausible treat for a comfortable movie night at home. However, for individuals, the extra cost might not have been worth it. The fact that the movie would later require no such fee also led many people to just wait. Especially since it was already a late release, the general anticipation and excitement for the new movie had already disappeared slowly but surely.

Unless you really wanted to see it and didn’t mind spending the money, there was little incentive for the premium access. The inconvenience regarding the movie's release didn't only become obvious with people deciding to wait for free acces, but it can also be seen when looking at a very particular rating. Raya and the Last Dragon scored a high ranking for being one of the most pirated films of 2021, which again shows that people didn't necessarily choose the official yet inconvenient streaming route.

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This led to the movie’s lack of financial success, but it also led to a staggered and uneven public reception. Some people watched the film right away, while others waited. Though the streaming release offered convenience in letting people watch when they wanted, it also meant there was little unity in when it was watched. Not everyone could see it at the same time, making it hard for the movie to get public momentum. There was no collective reception right on the movie’s release – especially when compared to the craze over Disney’s recent Encanto. It seems like Raya never got a huge public reception, and a lot of that also had to do with timing.

Time of Release

Another very important factor regarding the movie's release was the time during which Raya and the Last Dragon found their way onto the big as well as small screens. As previously mentioned, the film was initially meant to be released at the end of 2020, during the Thanksgiving weekend that Disney had great success with Frozen II and Ralph Breaks the Internet the previous years. But was then pushed back to the beginning of 2021. This already shows that the time of release had a serious impact on the movie, especially since restrictions due to the pandemic continued to be an issue even in 2021.

With the dangers and restrictions of COVID-19, many people might have felt unsafe, and understandably so, in attending a theater showing and instead opted to watch at home, either paying the fee or waiting. On the streaming side of things, the convenience of at-home viewing was not without its caveats. For example, the pandemic left many people out of work, with little extra income to spend on the movie – particularly one that they didn’t get to own, and that would come at no extra cost in three months. As restrictions eased, the movie was largely overshadowed by later releases like Luca.

Raya and the Last Dragon was also one of many high-profile releases in March for streaming platforms. Three weeks later, the highly anticipated release of Zack Snyder's Justice League hit then titled HBO Max. Then, at the end of the month, there was Godzilla vs. Kong. Both those movies likely generated a lot more discussion online, yet it could be argued they were not competing with Raya and the Last Dragon for the same demographic. What did air the same day that Raya and the Last Dragon hit Disney+ was the highly anticipated season finale of WandaVision, which likely did take away a lot of the attention.

Lack of Promotion at Movie Theaters

Finally, there is another significant reason as to why this movie didn’t see the expected recognition and promotion at movie theaters. It even includes the issue that some theater chains weren't even showing the film, making it more difficult for people who would have loved to actually see the film for the first time on a big screen. According to IndieWire, the North American theater chains Cinemark, Harkins, and Cineplex didn’t show the movie due to rental cost negotiation issues with Disney. Additionally, other theaters, both on the chain and local level, might have had negotiation issues or pandemic restrictions that limited showings of the movie and how many people could see it.

Especially during the pandemic, it was no secret that numerous theaters had to close entirely, and, therefore, the showing of movies simply wasn't an option for quite a long time. With the movie available in the comfort of viewers’ homes, which was supposed to be the main approach to releasing the movie, its theatrical release also didn’t have much marketing. The result was that the movie received limited releases in movie theaters, with very little promotion for it, meaning that not many people were actually aware of Raya and the Last Dragon hitting some, but not many, big screens.

Overshadowed By Encanto

While Raya and the Last Dragon was originally supposed to be released in 2020, its delay meant it was one of two Disney animated films of that year. The second was Encanto, which hit theaters over Thanksgiving weekend of 2021. While Encanto did not light up the box office like Frozen did because theaters were more open than they were in March, it performed better at the box office than Raya and the Last Dragon. Then Encanto found its way onto Disney+ within a month, where it truly blew up on the streaming service.

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Encanto became a cultural phenomenon, partially due to the catchy iconic music. The songs, particularly "We Don't Talk About Bruno" made Encanto part of the pop culture conversation. Raya and the Last Dragon, on the other hand, was not a musical but more of an action film. While fans love Disney's action movies, they don't tend to stay with audiences the way the musical entries do. Big Hero 6 and Wreck-It-Ralph are popular Disney films, but they likely are not as popular among fans and young children as say, Frozen, Moana, or Tangled.

Why Raya and the Last Dragon Is Worth Checking Out

Despite its struggles in release and reception, Raya and the Last Dragon is a strong movie that offers new perspectives and ideas. Especially with regard to current differences all around the world, the movie has some valuable lessons to teach. It conveys the important message of showing empathy and finding common ground, even if it seems impossible at first. Because of its beautiful approach to forming a connection between what initially started out as enemies, it is a great watch for all ages and has the potential to leave a positive impact.

With beautiful animation, fun characters, and a moving story, Raya and the Last Dragon stands out as arguably the most relatable Disney Princess. She is a force to be reckoned with, but there is still enough room for her flaws, which makes her even more approachable. Raya and the Last Dragon may have slipped under the radar due to its time and method of release, but it’s well worth a watch.