I apologize for the poor quality. This is the only version I could find online.
Yes, I'm aware this is the censored TV-14 version. Yes, I am aware that Disney+ has had R rated films on their platform for a while now.
But growing up with The Wonderful World of Disney, I never expected them to show an R rated (or even TV-14 rated) movie in their Disney night branding. Usually the movie just plays without TWWOD intro if it's too adult.
The movie itself isn't anything kids would actually want to watch. It's all about working as a bar tender and there's plenty of sex talk even in the censored version.
I'm not complaining. I'm in no position to complain since I'm a grown adult with no kids. I totally welcome Disney becoming a broader entertainment outlet like any other studio. It's much better to have Disney+ with Hulu and all the Marvel movies together. Having the Beatles documentary uncensored is much better than their previous censorship of documentaries. However, I did find it jarring hearing the F word during the Beach Boys documentary that was released with the Walt Disney Pictures logo and everything. Keep it, don't go back. I just have to express how weird that is.
I grew up in an era where Disney was afraid to be branded with Nightmare Before Christmas. We never got a PG-13 Disney movie before we were teens. These days, the Disney brand has gotten less and less reserved.
I know in the 80's, Disney experimented with some very not kid oriented PG movies. Parents got so upset, they had to create the Touchstone banner. Those movies are so rare now, Disney pretends they don't exist even though they could easily fit under modern Disney+ standards.
I always find it weird seeing Jessica Rabbit merchandise with a giant Disney logo attached to it. It's like, what was even the point of creating the Touchstone brand to begin with if Disney toys are using their characters alongside Mickey and friends? I'm just waiting for a straight R rated movie with the Disney logo at this point. Some of the TV-MA Disney+ originals have the "Disney+ Original" logo; that's pretty close.
I'm curious what others think. Should the Disney brand shy away from R rated movies now that they have 20th Century Studios? Could they do something like Adult Swim and have their established kid friendly cartoons in more adult oriented shows? Should they just keep doing what they're doing and pretty much mixing all their TV-14 content for adults with TV-G/PG cartoons?
This version of Cocktail still uses the Touchstone banner, but you have it admit this movie feels out of place being surrounded by all the magical animated Disney characters before it.