The Universal Thread | Dreamworks Animation seeing layoffs, set to outsource their work

[Avatree]

Can someone --please!! -- explain this. It will be produced by Marvel Studios (owned by Disney) right? But distributed by Sony? Will Disney and Sony split the cake in two or what?

It is not a Marvel Studios production. It is a Sony production and Sony release, but it will be on the same level of canon as the MCU. Kevin Feige is co-producer to ensure it fits in alongside the Marvel Studios movies.

[hegemony]

Do you think Universal is rethinking their Monsters Universe thing after seeing Victor Frankenstein's box office?

[cookie]

2 hours ago, hegemony said:

Do you think Universal is rethinking their Monsters Universe thing after seeing Victor Frankenstein's box office?

 

I think it was on shaky ground ever since Dracula Untold underperformed.

[Cookson]

On ‎9‎/‎16‎/‎2015‎ ‎11‎:‎50‎:‎27‎, grim22 said:

 

Just say that a 250ft Kong exists, and then don't bring that point up ever again. Pretty simple really. Audiences will go along with it if the movie is entertaining enough.

 

This is kind of what the Kong: Skull Island movie is for. This is a BRAND NEW interpretation of Kong not related to anything prior before. I have a feeling the Kong species(small and big perhaps) lived during the same age Godzilla's and MUTOs were roaming the earth. Skull Island might be the last place on earth that resembles that era. MONARCH, corporation in G14 is also in this film. My guess is, we'll be getting seed plants in KONG: SKULL ISLAND on how the two can actually end up battling. My guess is, we'll be seeing Kong fight something much much larger(a kaiju) rather than dinosaurs in the film.

 

The size complaints need to stop. People don't realize that Kong has been much bigger than the original 33 film 3 or 4 times I believe. He doesn't need to be that 320 ft tall that the new Godzilla was/is either. He'll probably be more like 200-250 ft tall and be more standing up(like the original or the 76 version) than the hunched 05 Kong.

 

Also, GODZILLA vs KONG will end up being the biggest monster movie box office hit ever. Even if Skull Island and G2 underperform, GvsKong will do big numbers.

 

Since Legendary is doing the Godzilla/Kong universe with WB, why not just go back to WB? It seemed they were on a much better streak with WB anyway.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Cookson

[Maxmoser3]

6 hours ago, cookie said:

 

I think it was on shaky ground ever since Dracula Untold underperformed.

I thought Dracula Untold was successful 

[Sir Tiki]

Quote

A deal will be announced before the end of the year that will deliver Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks Studios a $200 million equity infusion from Participant Media, while also shifting the studio’s distribution deal from Disney to the director’s longtime home at Universal Pictures, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

 

Final details of the arrangement are still being ironed out, but the deal is expected to be wrapped up within days, bringing Spielberg’s operation a much-needed jump start, both economically and strategically. The transaction will bolster DreamWorks’ finances at a time when the continued commitment of its key equity investor, Reliance ADA Group of India, has come into question. However, one source cautioned that Reliance is expected to remain an active investor under the new deal.

 

DreamWorks Studios is trying to reboot itself after a series of disappointing films and lack of direction. While he remains one of Hollywood’s top directors, Spielberg has told associates that he feels DreamWorks movies have not been a high priority for a Disney operation that is busy releasing a string of blockbusters from its Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm units. Next summer’s Spielberg-directed “The BFG” will be the final DreamWorks picture released by Disney.

 

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/participant-dreamworks-universal-200-million-deal-1201658060/

[RobinHood26]

Already on the backlot, why not. 

[kayumanggi]

Here's some #UniversalPictures action packed moments of 2015! What is your favorite? #YearInReview pic.twitter.com/O0TgYzsXK1

— Universal Pictures (@UniversalPics)

December 30, 2015

[DAJK]

On December 1, 2015 at 3:53 AM, cookie said:

 

I think it was on shaky ground ever since Dracula Untold underperformed.

Lol I know this was from like a month ago but Dracula Untold did twice as much as I thought it would DOM and WW.

[kayumanggi]

4 Oscar nominations, 5th among the big six.

[kayumanggi]

Universal sets first 4K Ultra HD releases, including 'Jason Bourne' https://t.co/RFnJWTERO5 pic.twitter.com/Y4k7CxEIgl

— Variety (@Variety) April 19, 2016

[CaptainJackSparrow]

So will Universal stick with Legendary? I would assume Universal would want to distribute the Pokemon movie, but would it be worth it if they have to distribute their other films which may flop?

[babz06]

Universal is having a great start to the year. 

Fifty Shades Darker (55m budget) on the way to 300m+ WW

Split(9m budget) gonna make 200m+ WW

A Dogs Purpose (22m budget) 50m+ domestically.  Controversy didn't hurt it too much if at all.

The Great Wall underperformed but Legendary handled most of the costs there. 

 

Get Out looks poised to be another breakout horror hit. Then they have their jauggernaut billion dollar franchises coming (Despicable Me and Fast &Furious) They could launch another one with The Monster  Universe (the mummy), a lot riding on that film.

The only questionable films on their calendar seems to be The Snowman (sorry fassbender) and some Christmas romance called Let it Snow. 

 

 

[Eric Prime]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/studio-profit-report-2019-disney-reigns-netflix-gains-1281114

 

Quote

NBCUniversal: Profit at the studio run by Comcast entertainment unit NBCUniversal recovered in 2019 after a 2018 drop, with the studio proving that it's not all about box office despite such box office hits as Fast & Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw. In fact, 2019 saw a nearly 29 percent fall in theatrical revenue to $1.5 billion after 2018 blockbuster Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom alone had brought in more than $1.3 billion. Home entertainment revenue was also down, slightly, from more than $1 billion to $957 million. However, content licensing climbed 3.4 percent from $2.9 billion to $3 billion, and lower operating expenses also boosted the bottom line amid reduced film production costs throughout the year because of the makeup of the slate. The content licensing revenue line in 2020 could see some impact from the April launch of streamer Peacock, which led Universal to end its movie output deal with FX Networks starting with 2020 titles. 2019 though ended up being the third most profitable year in Universal's history, with management saying that was evidence that its "strategic slate approach," which sees the studio plan releases for single years and over multiyear periods, is working.

 

[Eric Prime]

https://deadline.com/2021/07/peacock-will-become-pay-one-partner-for-all-universal-pics-after-hbo-deal-expiration-at-years-end-1234787069/

 

Quote

As Universal’s pay TV partnership with HBO expires at year’s end, the studio’s streaming service Peacock will officially take its place starting in 2022.

 

All Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s theatrical releases starting next year will play on Peacock during each pic’s pay-one partner TV window, which is 120 days after a title’s theatrical release. Each movie will become available on Peacock for an initial exclusive four-month window followed by the last four months in a traditional 18-month pay-one period.  During those middle ten months, the studio’s film product will be licensed to additional partners. Prior to the pandemic, theatrical releases typically hit pay cable channels some 200 days following their theatrical release. Under the new Peacock deal, there’s a significant window crunch. I’m told that all UFEG movies will go though a typical PVOD and home entertainment sell-through and rental window before arriving at Peacock.

 

I’m told that his segmentation has not been done before in the traditional pay-one window. By Uni showcasing content across multiple platforms throughout the first 18 months, their titles will refresh across the streaming sphere so that no title or platform is oversaturated. Universal is also currently developing original movies exclusively for Peacock which will debut next year as well.

 

“Since launching Peacock just one year ago, we have seen incredible viewership of movies and continue to expand our catalog with a range of films for every fan and occasion,” said Matt Strauss, Chairman, Direct-to-Consumer and International, NBCUniversal in a statement. “Universal Filmed Entertainment Group has been a fantastic partner and we are excited to not only bring their amazing slate of blockbuster films and beloved franchises to Peacock in the first-pay window, but also provide a steady stream of fresh, original films exclusively for Peacock customers throughout the year.”

 

“This new dynamic Pay-One agreement demonstrates UFEG’s continued commitment to building a film ecosystem that allows filmmakers and artists to reach the broadest possible audience, celebrates and strengthens the theatrical experience, and, above all, empowers fans to experience the films they love on their own terms,” said Peter Levinsohn, Vice Chairman and Chief Distribution Officer, UFEG. “We’re excited to become Peacock’s first Pay-One partner while the platform continues to curate and build a vast film library that will delight its rapidly growing subscriber base.”

 

[Eric Prime]

Uni's streaming strategy is so bizarre lol

[Eric Prime]

https://deadline.com/2021/09/summer-box-office-2021-covid-disney-hbo-max-streaming-black-widow-1234828431/

 

Quote

Top Studios at 2021 Summer Box Office

Studio                 Summer B.O. *  % change from summer 2019**        
Disney                 $483M       -72%

20th                  $103.1M             -33%

Disney/20^th combined   $586.1M             -69%

Universal/Focus $407.4M             -24%

Warner Bros      $249.4M             -37%

Paramount        $220.6M             +17%

Sony/Sony Classics         $105M             -85%

Lionsgate            $68.3M               -78%

United Artists Releasing $50.1M         -48%

*for period of May 7-September 6

**vs. first weekend in May through Labor Day 2019

***

Top Ten Movies of Summer 2021

1.) Black Widow (Dis) $182.6M

2.) F9 (Uni) $172.9M

3.) A Quiet Place Part II (Par)   $160M

4.) Jungle Cruise (Dis) $106.8M

5.) Shang-Chi (Dis) $94.6M

6.) Free Guy (Dis) $94.4M

7.) Cruella (Dis) $86.1M

8.) Space Jam: A New Legacy (WB) $67.1M

9.) The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (NL) $65.5M

10.) The Boss Baby: Family Business (Uni/DWA) $57M

 

[Jamiem]

Uni sticking with the shorter window: 

 

Quote

But windows will get shorter, she said, because “it just makes practical sense” since films cycle through their prime theatrical revenue in two to three weeks. “The analysis is there, it’s industry-wide analysis.” Streamers were nudging things that way even before Covid.

 

But the studio is committed to theatrical windows and “working on the assumption that theatrical will be back next year. We may get off to a bit of a slow start, depending on what happens with Covid and during the flu season.”

Also making more movies for Peacock rather than day and date going forward 

Quote

]Asked how Peacock has changed her job, Langley chuckled. “Yeah, I think, look, when a company starts to orient around a new growth initiative, in this case Peacock, of course this impacts every part of the business. Our responsibility is to do what we can to further that initiative and the help drive growth.”

 

“It’s early days but we anticipate having a really significant role there to the extent that film content will play there, which we imagine that it will. We have done a couple of day-and-date [releases], we are about to put Halloween [Kills] onto the platform and in theaters at the same time. I don’t think we are going to do much stunting like that. I think it’s going to be more about us making originals for [Peacock] going forward.”

 

Asked how many, she said, “I don’t know yet is the simple answer to that. As you probably read in the news this week they just made a new hire so we are eagerly awaiting some news, hopefully driven by data, that will give us a roadmap of just want they want and when they want it and how much of what we have they want.

source: https://deadline.com/2021/10/donna-langley-universal-studios-halloween-christopher-nolan-peacock-1234852240/

Edited October 7, 2021 by Jamiem

[Eric Prime]

https://deadline.com/2021/12/nbcuniversal-theatrical-window-films-stream-peacock-45-days-1234887914/

 

Quote

NBCUniversal has adopted a new windowing strategy that will see most titles from Universal Filmed Entertainment Group stream exclusively on Peacock within a shorter timeframe after they hit theaters.

 

Starting with the studio’s 2022 slate, titles will appear on Peacock as soon as 45 days after their theatrical and PVOD releases. UFEG’s existing PVOD deals with exhibition will remain in place.

 

The announcement of the plan did not indicate plans for more day-and-date releases on Peacock like this year’s Halloween Kills, though fresh theatrical fare does move the needle in streaming.

 

 

The 2022 UFEG theatrical slate includes The 355, a spy thriller with Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Bingbing Fan, Diane Kruger and Lupita Nyong’o; Ticket To Paradise, with George Clooney and Julia Roberts; The Black Phone from Blumhouse Productions starring Ethan Hawke; and Marry Me, starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. New movies from DreamWorks Animation include The Bad Guys; Downton Abbey: A New Era from Focus Features; Ambulance, a Michael Bay thriller; and what is billed as the “final” installment of the Halloween franchise, Halloween Ends.

 

[YM!]

9 minutes ago, Eric Feels Pretty said:

https://deadline.com/2021/12/nbcuniversal-theatrical-window-films-stream-peacock-45-days-1234887914/

 

 

So sequels like Minions, JWD, and Puss in Boots 2 don’t count?