Editor's Note: Disney Plus announced that Eternals will appear on January 12, 2022. The original text of this article is as follows.

The box office success of "Shang - The Legend of Ki and the 10 Rings" is all great for the cast and crew, Marvel and Disney, the film industry, and dedicated moviegoers. One thing is not good. It's the home viewing experience that flourished during the pandemic.

Disney recently confirmed that the remainder of the movies coming out in 2021 will have exclusive theatrical releases. This includes the next Marvel film, "Eternals," which will not have a same-day release, including a Disney Plus Premiere Access debut. Instead, it will be released on November 5 and will be shown on the big screen for at least 45 days before it becomes available for streaming on Disney Plus and other digital platforms.

In its announcement, Disney also revealed that the animated musical "Encanto" will open in theaters on November 24 and will be available for streaming on Disney Plus beginning December 24 after a 30-day theatrical run.

The remaining five Disney films this year will have a minimum 45-day release: "The Last Duel" (October 15), "Ron's Gone Wrong" (October 22), "Eternals" (November 5), "West Side Story" (December 10), "The King's Man" (December 22).

Update: Eternals will appear on Disney Plus on January 12, 2022. The rest of this article will proceed as originally written.

So when will Eternals appear on Disney Plus? The answer is complicated.

First, according to a Disney statement, "Eternals" will be in theaters for a minimum of 45 days. If the film is available shortly after that window, the earliest release date for streaming is December 20.

Second, Disney very clearly points out that Encanto will be streaming in 30 days on Disney Plus for subscribers. Similar details are not provided for Eternals or the other films on the list.

Once Eternals finishes its theatrical run, it may be available on Disney Plus as a free movie for subscribers. Perhaps it will be a Disney Plus Premier Access title, cheaper than $30 - say $19.99. Or it might be streamed on all digital platforms, including Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play, at the latter price.

It will be interesting to see what Disney does with Shang-Chi when its 45-day theatrical run ends.

Speaking of interesting, Disney CEO Bob Chapek described "Shang-Chi" as "an interesting experiment." His words provoked some backlash, and lead actor Sim Liu clammed up. But the film became a test case for Disney as it contemplated the future of theatrical release and home streaming. And the box office success of Shang - CHI clearly made an impact.

Earlier this year, Disney made most of its films available day-and-date in theaters and on Disney Plus. Such was the case with the previous Marvel film, "Black Widow."

However, the box office for "Black Widow" was somewhat disappointing. With Shang - CHI, Disney opted for an exclusive theatrical release. The result was a record Labor Day weekend box office of $75.5 million, which was down 52.5% in its second weekend.

Compare this to the 67.8% decline for The Black Widow, which showed that streaming had a negative impact on box office receipts.

With vaccinations on the rise and the near elimination of restrictions across the country, Disney has likely done the math and decided to move away from its previous streaming strategy (especially with respect to the reported $200 million budget of "Eternals"). While this is good news for theater chains, it is not so for those who enjoy watching at home, where bathroom breaks are easier to get and snacks are cheaper.

Of course, streaming is not going away; the 45-day theatrical run is still shorter than Before Times (typically three months). Therefore, it will come in handy even if you have invested in an 85-inch TV, which is ideal for your home setup.