Picture Credits: Universal Pictures
In a surprise move, the “first window” rights for Universal’s live-action slate—originally set to transition in 2027—have moved from Prime Video to Netflix a full year early. Starting in January 2026, Netflix became the exclusive home for Universal’s biggest blockbusters shortly after their theatrical and Peacock runs.
This new arrangement creates a powerhouse schedule for 2026 and 2027, bridging the gap between cinema screens and your living room faster than ever. From high-octane sequels like Jurassic World: Rebirth and Nobody 2 to prestigious dramas like Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the pipeline is packed. When you factor in the existing Pay-1 deal with Sony Pictures, Netflix is positioning itself as the undisputed king of the “first window.”
How does it work? You can see from the graphic below, but generally speaking:
- The theatrical window is, at max, 120 days (sometimes it’s around 112), meaning roughly four months.
- Peacock will stream the movie for 4 months
- Netflix will then take over for the next 10 months
- Peacock will then run it for another final 4 months
Release Schedule For Illumination Dreamworks Movies Netflix
Note: This list is primarily for the United States, as Universal Pictures has different arrangements with Netflix worldwide. Some regions get their movies in the first window (meaning sooner than the US), while others have to wait years. All release dates are subject to change.
Universal Live Action Movies Coming in 2026 & Beyond
So far, we’ve seen Megan 2.0, Honey Don’t, and How to Train Your Dragon added to Netflix, but what’s next? Here’s a look at the next year or so:
Jurassic World: Rebirth
Picture: Universal Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: July 2nd, 2025
Peacock Release Date: October 31st, 2025
Netflix Release Date: February 28th, 2026 (along with prior Jurassic World entries)
Director: Gareth Edwards
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
Synopsis: Five years after the events of Dominion, a covert operations team partners with a paleontologist to extract DNA from three massive surviving dinosaur species in the equatorial regions to create a miraculous life-saving drug.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Theatrical Release Date: September 12th, 2025
Peacock Release Date: November 7th, 2025
Expected Netflix Release Date: March 7th, 2026
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Paul Giamatti, Dominic West, Elizabeth McGovern
Synopsis: As the Crawleys enter the 1930s, the family must navigate a rapidly changing world, a scandalous divorce involving Lady Mary, and financial threats to the estate in this final chapter of the saga.
Nobody 2
Picture Credit: Universal
Theatrical Release Date: August 15th, 2025
Peacock Release Date: November 14th, 2025
Expected Netflix Release Date: March 14th, 2026
Director: Timo Tjahjanto
Cast: Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Sharon Stone, Christopher Lloyd, RZA
Synopsis: Former government assassin Hutch Mansell is forced back into the violent underworld he left behind when a mysterious power broker calls in a debt, threatening the safety of his reunited family.
Anemone
Theatrical Release Date: October 3rd, 2025
Peacock Release Date: November 28th, 2025
Expected Netflix Release Date: March 28th, 2026
Director: Ronan Day-Lewis
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Bean, Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley
Synopsis: A man sets out on a journey to the rural woods of Northern England to reconnect with his estranged, hermit brother, unearthing the complex and mysterious past that drove them apart.
Him
Theatrical Release Date: September 19th, 2025
Peacock Release Date: December 19th, 2025
Expected Netflix Release Date: April 19th, 2026
Director: Justin Tipping
Cast: Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker
Synopsis: A promising young football rookie is invited to train at the isolated compound of an aging, legendary quarterback, but the mentorship quickly spirals into a blood-chilling nightmare of obsession and horror.
Bugonia
Picture: Focus Features
Theatrical Release Date: October 24th, 2025
Peacock Release Date: December 26th, 2025
Expected Netflix Release Date: April 26th, 2026
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Cast: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Alicia Silverstone, Aidan Delbis
Synopsis: In this dark comedy, two conspiracy-obsessed men kidnap the powerful CEO of a pharmaceutical company, convinced she is actually an alien intent on destroying the Earth.
The Black Phone 2
Theatrical Release Date: October 17th, 2025
Peacock Release Date: January 16th, 2026
Expected Netflix Release Date: May 16th, 2026
Director: Scott Derrickson
Cast: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies, Demián Bichir
Synopsis: Survivors Finney and Gwen return to face a new terrifying chapter of supernatural horror, as the dark legacy of The Grabber continues to haunt their lives and community.
Wicked: For Good
Theatrical Release Date: November 21st, 2025
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~March 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~July 2026
Director: Jon M. Chu
Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh
Synopsis: The journey continues as Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship is tested by their opposing destinies, leading to the ultimate confrontation with the Wizard and the rise of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Hamnet
Theatrical Release Date: November 26th, 2025
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~March 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~July 2026
Director: Chloé Zhao
Cast: Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling novel, this historical drama reimagines the short life of Shakespeare’s only son, Hamnet, and the profound grief that inspired the playwright’s greatest tragedy, Hamlet.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Picture: Universal Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: December 5th, 2025
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~April 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~August 2026
Director: Emma Tammi
Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio
Synopsis: Security guard Mike Schmidt returns to face new terrors as the haunted animatronics of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza are joined by a fresh, even more menacing set of characters in this chilling sequel.
Song Sung Blue
Theatrical Release Date: December 25th, 2025
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~April 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~August 2026
Director: Craig Brewer
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens
Synopsis: Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians form a Neil Diamond tribute band in Milwaukee, finding love, redemption, and a second chance at their dreams in the most unexpected of places.
Midwinter Break
Picture: Focus Features
Theatrical Release Date: February 20th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~June 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~October 2026
Director: Polly Findlay
Cast: Ciarán Hinds, Lesley Manville
Synopsis: A retired couple flies to Amsterdam for a midwinter break, but what is intended to be a relaxing holiday reveals deep fissures in their marriage as hidden resentments and secrets bubble to the surface.
Reminders of Him
Theatrical Release Date: March 13th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~July 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~November 2026
Director: Vanessa Caswill
Cast: Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lainey Wilson
Synopsis: Based on the Colleen Hoover novel, a young mother returns to her hometown after serving five years in prison, desperate to reunite with her four-year-old daughter despite the town’s rejection.
You, Me & Tuscany
Theatrical Release Date: April 10th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~August 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~December 2026
Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Cast: Regina Hall, Kofi Siriboe, Lil Rel Howery
Synopsis: A workaholic woman inherits a crumbling vineyard in Tuscany and flies there to sell it, only to fall for the charming local estate manager and the slow-paced Italian lifestyle.
Obsession
Theatrical Release Date: May 15th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release: ~September 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~January 2027
Director: Curry Barker
Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter
Synopsis: A music store employee and hopeless romantic named Bear uses a supernatural novelty toy, called the “One Wish Willow”, to wish for his longtime crush and childhood friend Nikki to fall in love with him. However, the wish is granted with unexpectedly dark consequences for both of them.
Finding Emily
Theatrical Release Date: May 22nd, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~September 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~January 2027
Director: Alicia MacDonald
Cast: Angourie Rice, Spike Fearn, Minnie Driver
Synopsis: When a lovesick musician is given the wrong number for his dream girl, he teams up with a driven psychology student to find her, sparking a hilarious campus-wide frenzy in Manchester.
Disclosure Day
Picture Credit: Universal Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: June 12th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~October 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~February 2027
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Emily Blunt, Jeffrey Wright
Synopsis: In the near future, the world is forever changed when the government finally declassifies undeniable proof of extraterrestrial life, triggering a global crisis for a family at the center of the event.
Girls Like Girls
Theatrical Release Date: June 19th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~October 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~February 2027
Director: Hayley Kiyoko
Cast: Maya da Costa, Myra Molloy, Stefanie Scott
Synopsis: Based on the hit song and novel, this coming-of-age romance follows Coley, a teen who moves to rural Oregon and finds herself falling for her best friend Sonya, forcing both to navigate the complexities of first love, identity, and acceptance.
The Odyssey
Picture Credit: Universal Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: July 17th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~November 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~March 2027
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson
Synopsis: An epic, grounded adaptation of Homer’s tale following King Odysseus on his perilous ten-year journey home after the Trojan War, battling mythical beasts and the wrath of the gods.
One Night Only
Theatrical Release Date: August 7th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~December 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~April 2027
Director: Will Gluck
Cast: Monica Barbaro, Callum Turner, Molly Ringwald, Maya Hawke
Synopsis: Two strangers try to find true love in New York City on the one night of the year when pre-marital sex is legal, navigating a chaotic and hilarious landscape of desperate singles.
Sense and Sensibility
Theatrical Release Date: September 11th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~January 2027
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~May 2027
Director: Georgia Oakley
Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, George MacKay, Caitríona Balfe, Frank Dillane
Synopsis: A fresh adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel following sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who must navigate financial uncertainty, societal expectations, and the complexities of love after being forced to leave their family estate.
Other Mommy
Theatrical Release Date: October 9th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~February 2027
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~June 2027
Director: Rob Savage
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Jay Duplass, Dichen Lachman, Karen Allen
Synopsis: Based on the novel Incidents Around the House, a young girl is terrorized by a paranormal entity known as “Other Mommy” who threatens her family if she doesn’t let it in.
Focker In-Law
Theatrical Release Date: November 25th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~March 2027
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~July 2027
Director: John Hamburg
Cast: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Ariana Grande, Owen Wilson, Skyler Gisondo
Synopsis: The Focker and Byrnes feud is reignited when Greg’s son, Henry, gets engaged to the daughter of a family even more intense than Jack Byrnes, leading to the ultimate clash of in-laws.
Violent Night 2
Theatrical Release Date: December 4th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~April 2027
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~August 2027
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Cast: David Harbour, Beverly D’Angelo, John Leguizamo, Cam Gigandet
Synopsis: Santa Claus is back to deliver season’s beatings when a new threat endangers the North Pole itself, forcing St. Nick to team up with Mrs. Claus to save Christmas once and for all.
Werwulf
Theatrical Release Date: December 25th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~April 2027
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~August 2027
Director: Robert Eggers
Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Ineson
Synopsis: In this period horror set in 13th-century England, a mysterious creature stalks a foggy countryside as local folklore becomes a terrifying reality for the villagers, forcing them to confront a darkness that may be closer than they think.
Looking Ahead to 2027…
A busy few years ahead for Universal with lots and lots of undated movies and projects planned. Looking at the dated movies first, 2027 will see the release of a new Exorcist movie and Miami Vice. A new Fast & Furious movie, titled Fast Forever, is planned for 2028. Elsewhere, Jordan Peele is working on a new project, as is Judd Apatow on a couple of projects at least. There’s also collabs with Mattel coming up for Monster High. =
Universal Animated Movies Coming in 2026 & Beyond
The Bad Guys 2
Picture: DreamWorks Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: August 1st, 2025
Peacock Release Date: November 21st, 2025
Expected Netflix Release Date: March 21st, 2026
Studio: DreamWorks
Director: Pierre Perifel with JP Sans
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Zazie Beetz, Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne
Synopsis: Reformed criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula are trying very hard to be good. However, they soon find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes heist that’s masterminded by a new team of delinquents they never saw coming — the Bad Girls.
Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
Theatrical Release Date: September 26th, 2025
Peacock Release Date: January 23rd, 2026
Expected Netflix Release Date: May 23rd, 2026
Studio: DreamWorks
Director: Ryan Crego
Cast: Laila Lockhart Kraner, Jason Mantzoukas, Gloria Estefan, Kristen Wiig
Synopsis: Gabby takes a road trip with Grandma Gigi to Cat Francisco, but when her beloved dollhouse is taken by an eccentric cat lady, she embarks on a real-world adventure to reunite the Gabby Cats and get it back before it is too late.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Picture Credit: Illumination
Theatrical Release Date: April 1st, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~July/August 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~November/December 2026
Studio: Illumination
Director: Aaron Horvath & Michael Jelenic
Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Benny Safdie, Kevin Michael Richardson, Brie Larson
Synopsis: Mario and Luigi meet and quickly befriend Yoshi, as they join Princess Peach and Toad on an adventure into outer space and across the galaxy to face off against Bowser’s son, Bowser Jr.
Minions 3
Theatrical Release Date: July 1st, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~November 2026
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~March 2027
Studio: Illumination
Director: Pierre Coffin
Cast: TBA
Synopsis: TBA
Forgotten Island
Theatrical Release Date: September 25th, 2026
Estimated Peacock Release Date: ~January 2027
Estimated Netflix Release Date: ~May 2027
Studio: DreamWorks
Director: Joel Crawford / Januel Mercado
Cast: Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jcinto, Lea Salonga
Synopsis: Follows two best friends who become stranded on the mystical world of Nakali, where their only escape might cost them their shared lifetime of memories.
Looking Ahead to 2027…
On the DreamWorks slate, Cocomelon: The Movie is scheduled for release in February 2027, around the time the main show, popularized on YouTube, moves from Netflix to Disney. The second How To Train Your Dragon live-action movie is currently due in June 2027, and Shrek 5 will also premiere that month.
Illumination’s slate includes many undated titles, with confirmed titles in development including The Secret Life of Pets 3, Sing 3, and an untitled Barbie film.
What Universal movie are you looking forward to watching in theaters or when it drops on Netflix? Let us know in the comments down below.