Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, Hollywood’s summer blockbuster season has imploded. Likewise, there are no major concerts on the near horizon.
So that means the debut of “Hamilton” on Disney+ figures to be one of the season’s major pop-cultural events.
The film version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s electrifying, hip-hop-infused stage sensation about Alexander Hamilton and America’s founding fathers was originally planned to hit movie theaters in October 2021. But Disney changed course and is making it available for streaming starting July 3 — just in time for Independence Day.
Naturally, you won’t want to throw away your shot to see the acclaimed musical in the comfort of your home. So to get you properly prepared, we answer all your pertinent questions:
Where and when can I stream it?:
Beginning at midnight PT (3 a.m. ET) July 3, you can watch “Hamilton” via Disney+, the streaming service that launched last November. As Miranda joked on Twitter, it will be right there along with “A Goofy Movie” and “Talespin” and “An Extremely Goofy Movie.”
Is it showing only on July 3?
Like other movies and shows on the platform, “Hamilton” will be available for days and weeks — maybe months — to come. Disney hasn’t said when or if the film will be pulled, but count on it for being around for a while.
What is “Hamilton” about?
Miranda, who created, composed and stars in the musical, was inspired by Ron Chernow’s exhaustive 2004 biography about one of America’s seminal — but previously under appreciated — figures. It’s the improbable story of an orphaned immigrant, with extraordinary intelligence and ambition, who overcame a brutal upbringing to leave an incredible imprint on a fledgling nation before his infamous death in a duel with Aaron Burr.
OK, but what’s the big deal?
Hailed by critics and fans alike, the groundbreaking “Hamilton” won 11 Tony Awards, as well as the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for drama. It distinguished itself by relying on a cast of mostly non-white actors, and by fusing hip-hop and R&B with more traditional show tunes. “Hamilton” has been described as being about “America then, as told by America now.”
Also, with Broadway on lockdown and touring companies of the show sidelined, this might be your only chance to see “Hamilton” for a while.
Is it an adapted movie, say like that highly flawed 2012 version of “Les Misérables”?
No, this is what Disney is calling a “live capture” of an actual on-stage performance starring Miranda and the original cast, including Oakland native Daveed Diggs, Leslie Odom Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff and more.
It was filmed at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York over three days in June 2016. As Miranda said during a recent “Good Morning America” guest appearance, “it was basically a three-day film shoot with the best rehearsed cast in the history of the movies, because we had all been doing the show for a year at this point.”
How should a newbie best prepare to watch “Hamilton”?
You can read — or skim — Chernow’s opus, but be warned that it’s as thick as a phone book.
A better bet might be “Hamilton the Revolution” by Miranda and Jeremy McCarter. It’s a wonderful book full of photos and lyrics and essays that traces the development and rousing success of the show.
Also, there’s a really cool MsMojo YouTube video covering 5 Must-Know Facts about “Hamilton.”
Should I listen to the 46-song soundtrack ahead of time?
Normally, we’d suggest going into a musical “blind” so everything feels fresh and new. But the story of “Hamilton” is almost entirely sung-through and much of the music is exposition-heavy and full of fast-moving, tongue-twisty raps. So you might want to listen to at least a few songs to get a feel for the overall narrative.
Among the more popular numbers are “My Shot,” “The Schuyler Sisters,” “The Room Where it Happens,” “You’ll Be Back” and the opener, “Alexander Hamilton.”
Will the Disney+ “Hamilton” be censored in any way?
“Hamilton” contains three f-bombs, and the way Miranda explains it, movies with more than one such profanity get an automatic R rating. Disney wanted the film to rated a PG-13 so families can watch. Thus, two of the three f-bombs have been muted.
“Hamilton” has a running time of nearly 3 hours. Do we get a bathroom break?
Yes, there will be an intermission, the final minute of which will have an on-screen countdown.
How can I subscribe to Disney+?
Disney’s streaming service is available for $6.99 a month, or $69.99 per year (If you want to prepay for a year of Disney+, this option gets your monthly fee down to $5.83).
Disney+ is also available in a package with ESPN+ and Hulu at a cost of $12.99 a month.
Unfortunately, Disney has ceased offering free trial periods for new customers.
You can sign up for the service here.
In addition to Disney-branded films and shows, the service includes content from ABC, Marvel, Pixar, the “Star Wars” franchise, National Geographic and more.
