Netflix has renewed its deal to carry Universal Pictures’ raft of animated feature hits, which includes releases from powerhouse studios DreamWorks Animation (Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, The Wild Robot) and Illuminations (Despicable Me, Minions, Sing, The Secret Life of Pets, The Super Mario Bros. Movie).
Under the terms of the agreement, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s animated releases will continue to have a Pay 1 streaming release on NBCUniversal-owned Peacock. Netflix will take over exclusive rights to these films no later than eight months following their theatrical debut, for a 10-month window before they are back on Peacock. Netflix will also license rights to Universal’s full animation feature slate for additional windows in subsequent years, as well as rights to select library titles.
The partnership will extend to U.S. rights for live-action Universal and Focus Features titles beginning in 2027, taking over from Prime Video.
Universal-backed movies from Illumination and DreamWorks Animation take up three of the top five animated release slots for the year (Despicable Me 4, Kung Fu Panda 4 and The Wild Robot). In total, Illumination’s movies have made close to $11 billion in global box office; this year, the Despicable Me and Minions series became the first animation film franchise to surpass $5 billion. DreamWorks Animation, now in its 30th year, has the largest overall box office total of any animation studio with $17 billion.
[Source: Deadline]
