Universal extends animated streaming deal with Netflix (and adds live-action movies!)

Good news, movie buffs! On top of Netflix's own film content, the streamer has ensured that our watch lists will continue to be stacked with great movies for years to come.

Netflix and Universal Pictures have had a streaming deal in place for years that allows animated films from the studio to stream on Netflix, including DreamWorks and Illumination titles, and it has officially been extended.

The companies announced on Oct. 29 that the successful licensing deal for animated movies continues to be in effect, and beginning in 2027, the deal will include live-action titles from both Universal Pictures and Focus Features.

This is huge news for both Netflix and Universal, but also for those of us at home enjoying the movies. The selection will grow to include some big blockbusters.

Netflix continues movie streaming deal with Universal

According to Variety, Universal's movies will begin streaming on Netflix at least eight months after their release in theaters, which includes an exclusive four-month premiere window on Peacock. Following Peacock's exclusivity window, Netflix will have the exclusive rights to stream the titles for 10 month. When that time's up, the movies return to Peacock.

On top of acquiring the most recent releases from the Universal umbrella, Netflix seems to have additionally scored the rights to license content from throughout the studio's animation and live-action libraries. Again, Netflix's movie carousels and top 10 lists are about to be brimming with some of the best movies we could ever ask for, from past, present, and future.

Here's what Netflix's chief content officer Bela Bajaria said about the deal extension:

"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. Illumination and [DreamWorks Animation] animated films have always been incredibly popular on Netflix, and we are looking forward to adding Universal Pictures and Focus Features live-action films in the years to come. By combining these licensed titles with our Netflix original programming, we can offer our members an exceptional entertainment package with an even greater selection of films to enjoy."

- Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer

Some of the most popular movies on Netflix in the past year have been those hailing from Universal's DreamWorks and Illumination, including from the Sing, Trolls, The Secret Life of Pets, Minions, and Kung Fu Panda franchises. While we still have a couple years to wait for live-action movies to start rolling in from Universal, more hit animated movies are on the way very soon.

Despicable Me 4 and The Wild Robot are two recent animated favorites that will be making their way to Netflix after streaming on Peacock. In addition, the in-the-works fifth Shrek movie, The Bad Guys 2, and Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie will be among those streaming on Netflix in the near future. Minions 3, which will hit theaters in July 2027, will also be a future smash on the Netflix top 10.

In the next two years, prior to the 2027 start date for live-action Universal and Focus Features movies streaming on Netflix, the studio has so many exciting tentpoles hitting theaters. Both parts of Wicked, Jurassic World Rebirth, M3GAN 2.0, and more are upcoming blockbusters that just might be included in the library titles Netflix can snag post-2027. Fingers crossed our watch lists will be blessed.

Stay tuned for more Netflix news and updates from Netflix Life!