Overview

• On June 17, Disney+ pulled James Cameron’s 1989 film The Abyss from its UK catalogue after including a scene of a live rat submerged in fluorocarbon liquid
• The rat sequence was prohibited under the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937 and Video Recordings Act 1984 and has been cut from UK theatrical, TV, DVD and Blu-ray releases since its original launch
• The RSPCA campaigned for the removal, arguing that streaming services are not bound by the same animal welfare regulations as cinemas and home entertainment
• Viewers in the UK can still access an edited version of The Abyss on other platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV without the controversial scene
• The RSPCA is calling on the upcoming Media Act to extend existing animal protection standards to streaming services and close the current regulatory loophole