Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios) is an American film studio founded in 1912. It was owned by NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast.
Universal itself was the film (outside of America) and video distributor for DreamWorks live-action titles and DWA titles (Back when DreamWorks Animation was a division of DW before it was spun off in 2004), DreamWorks' theatrical films from 1998-2006 in American however were distributed by Universal, but through their then DreamWorks Pictures label. DreamWorks was then sold to Paramount Pictures in 2006, at which point Paramount took over distribution.
After Viacom spun off DreamWorks Studios in 2008, Universal was planned to resume distributing DreamWorks' movies, but this deal fell through as Disney took over the distribution for DreamWorks movies under the Touchstone Pictures banner starting in 2011 until 2016. In April 2016, Comcast (which owns Universal) purchased DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 Billion. It is therefore likely that when the current distribution deal with 20th Century Fox finishes, DreamWorks Animation's films will be distributed by Universal. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) was the first DWA film distributed by Universal and as a Universal subsidiary.
Ever since DreamWorks Pictures started, the studio had rented space from Universal Studios on their backlot. This continued through the Paramount and Touchstone eras.
Units[]
Divisions[]
- Universal Television
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
- Focus Features
- Gramercy Pictures
- NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan
- Working Title Films
- DreamWorks Animation
- Illumination
- Universal Animation Studios
- Universal Cartoon Studios
Dreamworks Filmography[]
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
- Abominable (2019)
- Trolls World Tour (2020)
- The Croods: A New Age (2020)
- The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021)
- Spirit Untamed (2021)
- The Bad Guys (2022)
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
- Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023)
- Trolls Band Together (2023)
- Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
Upcoming[]
- The Wild Robot (2024)
Other Notable Films (Non-Dreamworks)[]
- Universal Monsters/Dark Monsters (1931-56)
- The Mummy (1932-2017; TBA)
Trivia[]
- Monsters vs. Aliens was also released through Universal International Pictures and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment despite being distributed by Paramount Pictures.