Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires opens with an impressive viewership, cementing the franchise as one of Disney’s most popular. Released on Disney Channel on July 10 and arriving on Disney+ the following day, the fourth installment is a sequel to Zombie 3, which has previously achieved strong viewership numbers.

With the return of key cast members, including Milo Manheim (Zed), Meg Donnelly (Addison), Chandler Kinney (Willa), and Kylee Russell (Eliza), Zombies 4 introduces new characters and a new conflict between vampires and daywalkers while weaving intricate storytelling and more complex themes.

According to ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, Zombies 4 has garnered 9.3 million views globally within the first 10 days of its release on Disney+. This helps push the Zombie franchise’s streaming hours to over 250 million in total, further proving it as one of the brand’s most popular Disney Channel Original Movie franchises on the platform.

What This Means For Zombies 4 And Disney

Zombies 4’s Impact Doesn’t Stop At Disney

Zombies 4‘s success is significant for the already popular franchise. Not only has the latest installment increased the franchise’s total streaming hours to a new high, but the release has also sparked a viral phenomenon on social media, generating significant activity across various platforms. The movie debuted at No.1 on Disney+ and held its top spot for several days following its release.

In addition to its streaming success, the movie’s soundtrack also claimed top spots on the Billboard charts, debuting at No. 1 on the Kids Albums chart, No. 3 on the Soundtrack chart, and No. 90 on the overall Billboard 200. In a statement, Ayo Davis, the president of Disney Branded Television, shared a few words about the impact of Zombies 4 and what made the movie a hit among kids this summer. Check out what he said below:

With an electrifying story, a chart-topping soundtrack, and major buzz across streaming and social, Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires is hitting big with kids everywhere.

Music has always been central to our Disney Channel Original Movies, and ZOMBIES 4 continues that tradition – joining last year’s ‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’ as one of summer’s must-watch events for kids. That excitement is spilling into the real world too, with the ‘Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide’ tour playing to packed houses as it travels across the U.S. this summer.

With music at the heart of the new movie, the Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour kicked off in San Diego, CA, on July 17, across North America. However, despite its success, Zombies 5‘s future remains uncertain. Disney has yet to confirm the potential sequel.

Our Take On Zombies 4’s Streaming Success

Zombies 4 Raises The Bar For The Franchise

With Zombies 4 setting up Zed and Addison’s replacements and featuring fewer cast members from the first three movies, the franchise is moving into a new direction. While both Manheim and Donnelly have expressed optimism about the future of the franchise, they have explicitly stated that the fourth installment could be a good way to say goodbye to their characters if they do not return.

Given the movie’s viral status, a sequel would be the logical next step, but its mᴀssive success also poses new challenges for the franchise, having raised the bar higher than ever.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline