The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) released a statement saying the decision has “shocked and dismayed all cinema operators”.
However, it appears Disney does not currently have plans to charge extra for Soul, which will be made available on 25 December.
Cinemas across Europe have expressed their outrage at the decision by Hollywood studio Disney+ to bypass a big-screen release for the new Pixar animation Soul and debut the film on their streaming platform Disney+.
Cinema operators have invested massively in offering the safest possible experience to their audiences on the basis of a promising schedule of new film releases.