Hamilton on Disney Plus is streaming now. Sorry, you can’t watch with a free trial

Hamilton is finally here. The smash Broadway hit is now available to stream on Disney Plus on your TV, desktop or phone, after weeks of hype. But if you’re a mega fan or newbie aching to watch the hip-hop musical, there may be one small hitch. Disney recently shut down its free trial program for Disney Plus, which means you’ll need to watch Hamilton from a paid subscriber account (more details below).

If you’re still on the fence, you can read CNET’s spoiler-free Hamilton review, or watch the trailer below to help make up your mind. Not sure why it’s so significant? Here’s why.

The award-winning musical is hailed as a creative modern retelling of Alexander Hamilton’s journey to becoming a founding father of the US. Created by composer, playwright, performer and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton won 11 Tony awards in 2016 and the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Drama.

The Hamilton movie was recorded with the original 2016 Broadway cast, which consists mostly of Black, Latino and Asian American performers, including Miranda himself. Disney Plus’ release is notable in the current climate of political protest against systemic racial injustice and calls to reform everything from entrenched policing laws to the hiring and compensation practices of corporate America.

Aaron Burr and George Washington are among the characters on stage alongside the titular founding father. The show includes popular songs such as My Shot, Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down) and Wait for It — you can stream the album free on Spotify and you should definitely listen to the soundtrack before you watch Hamilton. Here’s how you can watch Hamilton when it becomes available on Disney Plus on Friday. Until then, you can watch the trailer below.

Read more: This Hamilton shot is a drink you can quaff while you watch

When does Hamilton start?

Hamilton began streaming on Disney Plus this Independence Day weekend, appropriately enough for a musical about the American Revolution, starting July 3 at 12 a.m. PT (3 a.m. ET). The movie was originally scheduled to hit theaters in October 2021, but was moved to an online showing as a result of theater closures during the coronavirus pandemic.

Can I watch Hamilton online for free?

In order to watch Hamilton, you’ll need to have a Disney Plus subscription. Disney Plus has ended its free trials for new subscribers, so if you want to watch, you’ll need to choose one of the subscriptions below. Note that you can cancel at any time.

There are three basic ways to subscribe:

Once the movie becomes available on July 3, we expect it will be among the selections highlighted at the top of Disney Plus. If not, you can search for it by selecting the magnifying glass icon.

Can I download Hamilton to watch offline?

Disney Plus lets you download all of its shows and movies to watch offline. Subscribers should be able to also download Hamilton for offline viewing.

What’s the big deal?

Since Broadway performances of the show are suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus, the only way fans will be able to watch the award-winning musical is on Disney Plus. Tickets to see a live performance of Hamilton, which has often sold out in theaters across the country, have ranged from $149 and up.

Will Hamilton’s explicit language be censored?

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, has officially confirmed the movie will censor the F-word. The Hamilton movie trailer shows a PG-13 viewer rating, which suggests that the musical’s other cuss words and sexual content could remain, possibly with a warning before the show begins. 

But because Disney Plus is billed as a family-friendly streaming service, there’s been concern over the content, specifically songs containing the F-word and more romantically vivid scenes. 

This story is updated often with new information.