Netflix and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group have extended and expanded their multi-year licensing deal which guarantees that Netflix will score exclusive rights in the United States to Universal’s animated feature films.
In addition, Netflix’s window to stream upcoming animated films such as “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” “Minions: The Rise of Gru” and “The Bad Guys” will begin after a four-month window on Universal’s own Peacock service.
This new agreement builds upon a pre-existing deal that covered Illumination Entertainment’s titles and will now include DreamWorks Animation titles.
The pact means the streamer should have access to their various “Shrek,” “Minions,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Despicable Me,” “Madagascar,” “Trolls,” “Sing,” “The Croods,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Boss Baby,” “Kung Fu Panda,” and Dr. Seuss franchises and other assorted films for the next several years.
Universal announced a week ago that it is moving its pay-one window for feature films from its home of sixteen years on HBO to Peacock to bolster the new service. The studio also recently signed a licensing deal for its live-action features with Amazon Prime Video and IMDb TV.
Netflix will also license rights to the full animated and live-action slate from Universal Filmed Entertainment Group four years after release along with select titles from Universal’s movie library.
Source: Reuters