Do Disney's Fox Acquisition Mean DreamWorks Movies from 2013 to 2017 Are Now Theirs?

Often misunderstood, the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney in 2019 does not come with the rights to all the properties owned by Fox. Many speculate whether DreamWorks movies from 2013 to 2017 are now part of the Walt Disney Co., but the answer is no, they're still under Comcast's Universal Pictures.

Separate Entities: Understanding the Ownership

It's crucial to recognize that Fox and DreamWorks are separate companies. When Disney acquired Fox, they gained a significant portion of its properties and assets, but not everything. Specifically, the acquisition focused on assets like the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Deadpool, and the assets of 20th Century Fox film and TV library.

DreamWorks Animation's Transference

In 2016, Comcast, through Universal Pictures, acquired DreamWorks Animation from 20th Century Fox. This move was not to be taken lightly and symbolizes a significant shift in the animation industry. The acquisition made Universal Pictures the new owner of all DreamWorks Animation films from that point forward, including DreamWorks Animation's rights to its existing library.

Understanding the Distribution Deals

There is often confusion between the distribution deals and the ownership of the movies. For instance, from 2013 to 2017, DreamWorks Animation had a distribution deal with Fox, similar to the one between DreamWorks Pictures and Disney from 2009 to 2015.

With the distribution deal, DreamWorks retained ownership of its movies despite Fox distributing them. Ownership remains with the studio, not the distributor. In 2016, Comcast's acquisition of DreamWorks Animation made DreamWorks Animation fully part of the Universal Pictures family.

Future Possibilities and Antitrust Concerns

As the deal stands, Disney does not inherit DreamWorks' assets or movies. However, the future is never certain. A significant obstacle to considering Disney's ownership of DreamWorks movies could be the antitrust concerns among the regulators. For instance, the Justice Department (DOJ) seeks to block ATT's proposed acquisition of Time Warner, which could impact major media acquisitions in the U.S.

Disney Does Not Own DreamWorks Movies Under Current Deal

To reiterate, Disney’s acquisition of Fox in 2019 does not extend to DreamWorks movies from the 2013 to 2017 period. These films remain under Comcast's Universal Pictures. No deviation from this ownership is currently in the pipeline, barring any unexpected legal or governmental outcomes.

A Futuristic Collaboration Idea: DreamWorks Disney

One interesting idea floated around is a collaborative movie featuring beloved DreamWorks and Disney characters. Characters like Jack Frost, Elsa (from Frozen), Anna (from Frozen), Merida (from Brave), Hiccup (from How to Train Your Dragon), Pumbaa and Timon (from The Lion King), and other favorites could create a blockbuster hit. While this concept appears exciting, it's worth noting that it’s purely a speculative scenario in the absence of current ownership agreements.

Current Ownership and Distribution

As of the current understanding, the following DreamWorks Animation movies from 2013 to 2017 are under Universal Pictures' (Comcast) ownership:

The Croods Turbo Mr. Peabody Sherman How to Train Your Dragon 2 Penguins of Madagascar Home Kung Fu Panda 3 Trolls The Boss Baby Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie

Related Content

For those interested in other top-tier animation properties currently under Universal Pictures, the studio owns:

The Ice Age franchise The Rio franchise Horton Hears a WHO The Robots franchise Tenet AE The Peanut Movie Ferngully: The Last Rainforest

These films and franchises both benefit from Universal Pictures' distribution and animating capabilities, making it a rich environment for animation enthusiasts and movie-goers alike.