Netflix Expands Licensing Deal With Universal For Illumination And Dreamworks Titles

Netflix announced a deal today with Universal Filmed Entertainment Group that will continue to give the stream U.S. streaming rights to upcoming Dreamworks and Illumination films.

What films is Netflix getting? Upcoming features from Universal’s Dreamworks Animation and Illumination will head to the streamer. This includes Dreamworks’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Bad Guys, and Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gru.

When will Netflix have the films? It’s complicated. Peacock, the streaming service owned by Universal’s parent company Comcast, has an exclusive four-month window on all of the features. But after that initial four-month period, Netflix will have exclusive streaming rights for 10 months, at which point it’ll revert back to Peacock. Then, four years after release, Netflix will again receive streaming rights to the Universal-produced films.

How is this different from the previous deal Netflix had? Netflix already had a streaming rights deal with Universal for Illumination’s films. The new deal expands to include films from Dreamworks.

Why is this important for Netflix? A strong family entertainment library is key for most of the major streamers.Despite having its own in-house feature animation unit, which will soon start releasing six animated features annually, Netflix still relies on external producers for some of its most popular family animation offerings. In fact, three Illumination films – The Secret Life of Pets 2, Despicable Me, and The Grinch – have appeared in Netflix’s Top 10 more than any other films on the platform, per an analysis by Forbes. Besides the Universal films, Netflix also has a licensing deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment, which gives it access to upcoming titles from Sony Pictures Animation.