Netflix and Universal Extend US Animated Film Licensing Agreement to Add Live-Action Films Starting in 2027

Netflix customers will be able to add even more Universal films to their queue, and the studio’s live-action films will appear on the streamer in the US starting in 2027.

Netflix and NBCUniversal’s Universal Filmed Entertainment Group have announced an extension to their existing licensing agreement for animated films from Illumination and DreamWorks Animation. Now, starting in 2027, Netflix will receive US rights to live-action films from Universal Pictures and Focus Features “no later than eight months” after their theatrical release.

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After Universal films first premiere on NBCU’s Peacock, Netflix will have a 10-month window during which those films will only be available on Netflix—before they return to Peacock. Netflix will also license rights to Universal’s full slate of animated and live-action films for additional windows in future years, as well as rights to select films from Universal’s film library, the companies said.

“We have always valued our partnership with NBCUniversal, and we are excited to expand it to bring even more entertainment to our U.S. members starting in 2027,” Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, said in a statement. “Illumination and DWA animated films have always been incredibly popular on Netflix, and we look forward to adding live-action films from Universal Pictures and Focus Features in the coming years. By combining these licensed films with Netflix original programming, we can offer our members an exceptional entertainment package with even more choice of films to watch.”

In the first six months of 2024, eight of the top 10 animated films on Netflix were from Illumination and DWA, including Illumination/Nintendo’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which spent a record 38 weeks on Netflix’s Top 10 list. USA and “Sing 2” at 32 weeks. The latest films from the existing animation partnership include “The Super Mario Brothers Movie,” “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” “The Migration” and “Trolls Together.”

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Currently, Sing, The Secret Life of Pets and Kung Fu Panda 4 are on Netflix’s daily Top 10 list in the US. Upcoming films from the existing animation partnership include Despicable Me 4 and Wild Robot.

Peter Levinson, Chairman of Global Distribution, NBCUniversal Studio Group, commented: “Through this expanded partnership, we are delivering the optimal experience for the modern consumer through a direct-to-consumer strategy that benefits both NBCUniversal and Netflix. We are always committed to pairing our diverse film slate and innovative windowing strategy with the right partners, and Netflix’s unprecedented support for our lineup allows us to ensure our films are seen in theaters and at home by as wide an audience as possible.”

UFEG claims to have “the largest theatrical slate in the industry.” The studio’s partners include Jason Blum’s Blumhouse, Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw, Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners, Will Packer Productions, Lord Miller and Elizabeth Banks, and Max Handelman’s Brownstone Prods.

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