Disney has announced that the number of people subscribing to its Disney+ streaming service has passed 50 million.

The platform offers thousands of films and TV episodes, including the entire Marvel and Star Wars franchises as well as the full back catalogue of The Simpsons.

Disney+ launched in the UK and several other European countries towards the end of last month, pushing the worldwide subscription figure past the milestone mark.

"Great storytelling inspires and uplifts, and we are in the fortunate position of being able to deliver a vast array of great entertainment rooted in joy and optimism on Disney+," said Kevin Mayer, Disney's chairman of DTC.

"We're truly humbled that Disney+ is resonating with millions around the globe, and believe this bodes well for our continued expansion throughout Western Europe and into Japan and all of Latin America later this year."

Disney+ first launched in the US last autumn and has already amassed around a third of the subscriber base of market leader Netflix.