{{Short description|American film studio}} {{About|the original live-action studio|the television arm|DreamWorks Television|the animated counterpart|DreamWorks Animation}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox company | name = DreamWorks Pictures | trading_name = DreamWorks SKG | former_name = {{Plainlist| * DreamWorks LLC (1994–2009) * DreamWorks Distribution LLC (1994–2006) * DW Studios, LLC (2009–2015) * DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC (2011–2015) }} | foundation = {{Start date and age|1994|10|12}} | location_city = Universal City, California, U.S. | location = 100 Universal City Plaza | owner = | parent = Paramount Pictures (2006–2008)<br />Amblin Partners (2015–present){{efn|Via a joint venture between Reliance Entertainment, Lionsgate Studios, Alibaba Pictures, and Universal Pictures.}} | type = Subsidiary | logo = 230px|frameless|class=skin-invert | logo_caption = Logo used since 1997 | key_people = {{Plainlist| * Steven Spielberg (chairman) * Jeff Small (CEO) * Holly Bario (president of production) }} | founders = {{Plainlist| * Steven Spielberg * Jeffrey Katzenberg * David Geffen }} | industry = Film | products = Motion pictures | num_employees = 80 (2012)<ref name="Fritz 2012a" /> | divisions = {{Plainlist| * DreamWorks Television (1994–2013) * DreamWorks Animation (1994–2004) * DreamWorks Home Entertainment (1998–2009) * DreamWorks Interactive (50%) (1995–2000) * DreamWorks Records (1996–2005) * Go Fish Pictures (2000–2007) }} | subsid = {{Plainlist| * Pacific Data Images (2000–2004) * GameWorks (50%; 1996–2001) }} | website = {{URL|https://amblin.com/movie/dreamworks/}} }}
'''DreamWorks Pictures''', also known as '''DreamWorks SKG''' and commonly referred to as '''DreamWorks''', is an American film studio and distribution label of Amblin Partners. The studio was originally founded on October 12, 1994, as a live-action and animation film studio by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen (which together form the SKG of DreamWorks SKG), of which they owned 72%. From 1997 to 2005, DreamWorks distributed its own and third-party films, with Universal Pictures handling worldwide home video distribution during that period. It has produced or distributed more than ten films with box-office grosses of more than $100 million each.
DreamWorks Pictures was sold to Viacom, parent of Paramount Pictures in 2006 (this version is now named DW Studios, LLC). In 2008, DreamWorks announced its intention to end its partnership with Paramount and made a deal to produce films with Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group,<ref name="Reuters 2008" /> re-creating DreamWorks Pictures as an independent entity. The following year, DreamWorks entered into a distribution agreement with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, wherein Disney would distribute DreamWorks films through the Touchstone Pictures label; the deal continued until August 2016. Since October 2016, Universal Pictures has distributed most of the films produced by DreamWorks Pictures. Currently, DreamWorks operates out of offices on the Universal Studios Lot.
DreamWorks is also distinguished from its eponymous former animation division. Following the critical success of ''Shrek'' (2001), which won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 74th Academy Awards ceremony, the animation division was later spun off into its own separate company in 2004 and acquired by NBCUniversal in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=NBCUniversal completes purchase of DreamWorks Animation; Katzenberg payday tops $390 million |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-comcast-dreamworks-deal-complete-20160822-snap-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times | date=August 23, 2016 |access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref> Spielberg's company continues to use the original DreamWorks trademarks under license from its animation counterpart.<ref>[https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1297401/000095015709000533/ex99-1.htm ex99-1]. Sec.gov. Retrieved August 24, 2013.</ref><ref>[https://investor.shareholder.com/dwa/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1297401-11-23&CIK=1297401 Dreamworks Animation – Current Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130823190533/http://investor.shareholder.com/dwa/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1297401-11-23&CIK=1297401 |date=August 23, 2013 }}. Investor.shareholder.com (December 7, 2011). Retrieved August 24, 2013.</ref>
== History == === Founding and Universal distribution (1994–2005) === The original company was founded following Jeffrey Katzenberg's resignation from the Walt Disney Company in 1994. Katzenberg approached director Steven Spielberg and music executive David Geffen about forming a live-action and animation film studio, which had not been done in decades due to the risk and expense, but all three were very successful. They agreed on three conditions: They would make fewer than nine movies a year, they would be free to work for other studios if they chose, and they would go home in time for dinner. They officially founded DreamWorks SKG on October 12, 1994, with financial backing of $33 million from each of the three partners<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Svetkey |first1=Benjamin |title=Jeffrey Katzenberg, David Geffen, and Steven Spielberg Start a Studio |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/10/28/jeffrey-katzenberg-david-geffen-and-steven-spielberg-start-studio/ |access-date=August 14, 2018 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=October 28, 1994 |language=en}}</ref> plus $500 million from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and $300 million from CJ Group heiress Miky Lee, giving the CJ Group an 11% stake in DreamWorks; the deal was also initially understood to include distribution rights to DreamWorks films across Asia excluding Japan, although CJ ultimately handled rights for only China, South Korea and Hong Kong, with all other international territories handled by United International Pictures (UIP).<ref>{{cite news |title=Dreamworks East Miky Lee Hitches Her Star to Hollywood's Red-Hot Trio |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1996/10/28/203930/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918012558/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1996/10/28/203930/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=August 6, 2019 |work=Fortune |date=October 28, 1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CJE keeps investment in D'Works|website=Variety|first1=Nick|last1=Madigan|first2=Martin|last2=Peers|date=1 May 1998|access-date=7 December 2024|url=https://variety.com/1998/biz/news/cje-keeps-investment-in-d-works-1117470353/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Impact' rises to $200 mil|website=Variety|first=Don|last=Groves|date=30 September 1998|access-date=7 December 2024|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/impact-rises-to-200-mil-1117480914/}}</ref> Their new studio was based at offices on the Universal Studios Lot, in the same bungalow as Amblin Entertainment. Despite access to sound stages and sets, DreamWorks preferred to film motion pictures on location. Usually, however, the company would film in a soundstage or set in a major studio. Shortly after DreamWorks was founded, the media dubbed Spielberg, Katzenberg and Geffen as "the three amigos".<ref name="born">{{Cite web|url=https://time.com/archive/6726187/show-business-a-studio-is-born/|title=SHOW BUSINESS: A Studio Is Born | TIME}}</ref><ref name="ew">{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/10/28/jeffrey-katzenberg-david-geffen-and-steven-spielberg-start-studio/|title=Jeffrey Katzenberg, David Geffen, and Steven Spielberg Start a Studio|website=EW.com}}</ref> Despite Geffen's initial investment, it was reported in October 1994 that DreamWorks would only produce live-action and animated films, television programs and interactive entertainment.<ref name="born" /> There were rumors that Warner Bros. Records CEO Mo Ostin might collaborate at DreamWorks with Geffen, who himself was still contracted to work at Geffen Records.<ref name="ew" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rhino.com/article/david-geffen|title=David Geffen|website=Rhino}}</ref> The company eventually expanded into music once Geffen stepped down from Geffen Records in April 1995,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-11-fi-53428-story.html|title=Company Town : Geffen Records Has Prepared for Life After Its Namesake : Music: If David Geffen was the vision of the firm, incoming Chair Ed Rosenblatt is its heart, says former mentor Mo Ostin.|first=Chuck|last=Philips|date=April 11, 1995|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> and Ostin would be hired as leader of DreamWorks' music operations that October.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-08-01/mo-ostin-warner-bros-sinatra-hendrix-prince-dies|title=Mo Ostin, music executive who shaped the industry, has died|date=August 1, 2022|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> By 1998, DreamWorks was labelled as "multifaceted entertainment", with the company describing its ambition in 1997 as being to nurture creative breakthroughs in "every field" of entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.microsoft.com/source/1997/02/24/dreamworks-skg-chooses-softimage-exclusively-for-new-film-project-shrek/|title=DreamWorks SKG Chooses Softimage Exclusively For New Film Project "Shrek"|first=Microsoft|last=Source|date=February 24, 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/1998/04/where-paul-allens-money-goes/|title=Where Paul Allen's Money Goes|first=Craig|last=Bicknell|via=www.wired.com}}</ref>
In December 1994, DreamWorks Television was formed after DreamWorks agreed to a $200 million seven-year television production joint venture with Capital Cities/ABC.<ref>McClellan, Steve. (December 5, 1994). [https://web.archive.org/web/20140610193410/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-15935002.html "ABC makes high-profile production leap"]. ''Broadcasting & Cable''. 1994. HighBeam Research. Retrieved December 27, 2013.</ref> The company was set up to produce series for broadcast networks, cable channels and first run syndication, with no first-look guarantee for ABC, but financial incentives favored the network.<ref name="Kunz 2007">{{cite book |last1=Kunz |first1=William M. |title=Culture Conglomerates: Consolidation in the Motion Picture and Television Industries |date=2007 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-7425-4066-8 |pages=49, 50 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OMD4bqQg4iAC&pg=PA49 |access-date=June 4, 2014 |chapter=2}}</ref> Their first show, ''Champions'', was scheduled as a mid-season replacement for ABC. Dan McDermott was named the division's chief executive in June 1995.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hofmeister |first1=Sallie |title=Company Town : Fox Executive Dan McDermott Named to Head DreamWorks SKG Television |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-20-fi-15139-story.html |access-date=June 19, 2014 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 20, 1995}}</ref> DreamWorks Television's first success was ''Spin City'' on ABC,<ref name="Kunz 2007" /> the parent company of which was bought by The Walt Disney Company in February 1996.<ref>Fabrikant, Geraldine. [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/05/business/the-media-business-disney-and-abc-shareholders-solidly-approve-merger-deal.html "The Media Business; Disney and ABC Shareholders Solidly Approve Merger Deal"]. January 5, 1996. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved July 8, 2013.</ref> In 2002, the DreamWorks joint venture agreement with ABC ended. That agreement was replaced by a development agreement with NBC, with a first look clause.<ref name="Kunz 2007" /> In September 2013, DreamWorks Television merged with Amblin Television.
In 1995, traditional animation artists from Amblimation joined the new studio, which led to DreamWorks buying part of Pacific Data Images (PDI), a company specializing in visual effects, and renaming it PDI/DreamWorks in 2000. Both were software divisions and would merge later on. By then, DreamWorks had the traditional animators working for their animation department, and the computer animators worked on CG films. Amblimation shut down in 1997 and all 250 of Amblimation's crew members went on to join DreamWorks Animation.<ref name="Walt">{{Cite web|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/97/06/15/reviews/spielberg-walt.html|title=Film: The Man Who Would Be Walt|website=archive.nytimes.com}}</ref> The same year, DreamWorks Interactive, a computer and video game developer and joint venture between DreamWorks and Microsoft, was founded. DreamWorks Interactive was intended to eventually form synergies with the animation, film and television divisions of DreamWorks, with Geffen speculating in April 1995 that it could also possibly form synergies with DreamWorks' upcoming music division.<ref name="bill">{{cite magazine | author=Gillen, Marilyn A. |title=The Enter*Active File; Spielberg Gets Head Start on CD-ROMs |magazine=Billboard | date=April 8, 1995 | volume=107 | number=14 | page=98 }}</ref> With DreamWorks losing interest in maintaining a video game division, Electronic Arts (EA) acquired the Los Angeles studio of DreamWorks Interactive from DreamWorks and Microsoft on February 24, 2000, acquiring the intellectual property and rights of the acclaimed series ''Medal of Honor'' from Microsoft/DreamWorks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-feb-25-fi-2416-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=February 25, 2000|access-date=October 29, 2021|title=Electronic Arts Buys DreamWorks Interactive}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/ea-buys-dreamworks-interactive/ |title=EA buys Dreamworks Interactive |first=Tiffany |last=Kary |date=February 24, 2000 |website=ZDNet}}</ref>
In June 1995, DreamWorks announced that it had signed a $1 billion deal with MCA Inc. (then parent company of Universal Pictures) to distribute its theatrical releases in other countries and its home video releases worldwide over 10 years, while DreamWorks itself would distribute them for the company as a film production label in America.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fabrikant |first1=Geraldine |title=The Media Business; MCA to Distribute Dreamworks' Films Abroad |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/14/business/the-media-business-mca-to-distribute-dreamworks-films-abroad.html |access-date=December 9, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=June 14, 1995}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Horn |first1=John |title=MCA Makes Huge Deal With DreamWorks Studio |url=https://apnews.com/36fd5e14999b47d5486131ec3ee0ba02 |access-date=December 9, 2019 |work=AP News |date=June 13, 1995}}</ref> MCA also bought a 2% stake in the company for $54 million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bates |first1=James |last2=Eller |first2=Claudia |title=DreamWorks, MCA Ally on Distribution : Entertainment: Each firm will split profits for the film- music deal worth $1 billion over 10 years, Seagram says. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-14-fi-13102-story.html |access-date=December 9, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 14, 1995}}</ref>
In 1996, the company's record label, DreamWorks Records, was founded, the first project of which was George Michael's album ''Older''. The first band signed to the label was eels, who released their debut album ''Beautiful Freak'' that year. DreamWorks Records went on to sign established artists for their label, including the alternative rock act Morphine, comedian Chris Rock (as a spoken word artist) and Henry Rollins (as both a spoken word artist and a member of Rollins Band). The label helped launch the careers of artists such as Alien Ant Farm, Elliott Smith, Nelly Furtado and Papa Roach.<ref name="sell">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna3475307|title=Universal Music to buy DreamWorks|date=November 11, 2003|website=NBC News}}</ref> Once the main film division officially commenced in 1997, the label started releasing numerous soundtrack compilation albums for live-action and animated DreamWorks films, including ''American Beauty'', ''Road Trip'', ''Shrek'', ''Small Soldiers'' and ''The Prince of Egypt'', among others. These albums mostly consisted of songs from artists signed to DreamWorks Records, with the films themselves also using songs from DreamWorks artists; an example being ''American Beauty'', which had eels' song "Cancer for the Cure" and Elliot Smith's song "Because" in both the soundtrack album and the film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://diymag.com/feature/three-stages-of-eels|title=Three Stages Of Eels: A Beginners Guide To Eels|first=Words: Tom Baker 31st|last=January 2013|date=January 31, 2013|website=DIY}}</ref> The label's most commercially successful release was Papa Roach's ''Infest'', which sold 7 million units on the back of the rap rock movement,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/papa_roachs_infest_turns_15/|title=Papa Roach's 'Infest' turns 15}}</ref> while some of the label's highest-charting songs included Nelly Furtado's "I'm Like a Bird" and Alien Ant Farm's cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/05/where-are-your-boys-tonight-excerpt-dashboard-confessional.html|title='I Gotta Go Explain to People What Emo Is'|first=Chris|last=Payne|date=May 30, 2023|website=Vulture}}</ref> Commercially, the record company as a whole never lived up to expectations, and was sold in November 2003 to Universal Music Group,<ref name="sell" /> who closed it at the beginning of 2005. Until September 1, 2005, UMG continued to operate DreamWorks Nashville, a country-focused division of DreamWorks Records which was founded in June 1997. That label was shut down when its flagship artist, Toby Keith, departed to form his own label.<ref>Stark, Phyllis, "Toby Keith topped country charts, shook up Music Row", ''Billboard'', December 24, 2005, p. YE-18.</ref>
In 1997, DreamWorks Pictures released its first three feature films, ''The Peacemaker'', a film about terrorism; ''Amistad'', Spielberg's first film for the studio about an African slave rebellion and the aftermath of the massacre; and ''Mouse Hunt'', the studio's first family film about two brothers trying to fight a mischievous mouse.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}} All three of these films were relatively successful, managing to outgross their budgets by moderate margins, with ''Mouse Hunt'' being the most profitable of the three.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office/1997|title=Movie Theatrical Weekly Box Office Chart Archive 1997|website=The Numbers}}</ref> ''Amistad'''s score was composed by John Williams, a frequent Spielberg collaborator who also composed the music used for DreamWorks Pictures' opening logo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/song/the-theme-from-dreamworks-pictures-logo/1699860120|title=The Theme From DreamWorks Pictures Logo by Geek Music on Apple Music|date=August 1, 2023|via=music.apple.com}}</ref> This logo debuted in ''The Peacemaker'', the first of the three films to be released, and has appeared on all live-action DreamWorks releases since, as well as on all DreamWorks Animation releases between 1998 and 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/217474/more-dream-works|title=More than a dream in the works|date=November 1, 1997|website=South China Morning Post}}</ref> Williams' score for ''Amistad'' and Hans Zimmer's score for ''The Peacemaker'' were both released on albums by DreamWorks Records in 1997,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-peacemaker-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0000027087|title=The Peacemaker [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]|via=www.allmusic.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/amistad-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0000030657|title=Amistad [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]|via=www.allmusic.com}}</ref> although starting in 1998, the label usually only released background score albums for DreamWorks' most high-profile titles, such as Thomas Newman's score for ''American Beauty'' and Williams' score for ''Saving Private Ryan''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/american-beauty-original-motion-picture-score--mw0000051897|title=American Beauty [Original Motion Picture Score... {{pipe}} AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/saving-private-ryan-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0000039821|title=Saving Private Ryan [Original Motion Picture S... {{pipe}} AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}</ref> DreamWorks Interactive did not create video game tie-ins for ''The Peacemaker'', ''Amistad'' or ''Mouse Hunt'', and 1998's ''Small Soldiers'' was the only DreamWorks title to ever be directly adapted into a video game by DreamWorks Interactive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/games/small-soldiers|title=Small Soldiers|website=IGN}}</ref>
In 1998, the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lawsuit against DreamWorks for trademark infringement by Dreamwerks Production Group, Inc.,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-9th-circuit/1455238.html |title=DREAMWERKS PRODUCTION GROUP INC v. SKG STUDIO SKG |access-date=February 25, 2013}}</ref> a company mostly specializing in ''Star Trek'' conventions.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://openjurist.org/142/f3d/1127/dreamwerks-production-group-inc-v-skg-studio-skg |title=Open Jurist |journal=142 F. 3d 1127 – Dreamwerks Production Group Inc V. SKG Studio SKG |year=1997 |volume=F3d |issue=142 |page=1127 |access-date=September 15, 2011}}</ref> The same year, DreamWorks Animation produced its first two full-length animated features, ''Antz'' and ''The Prince of Egypt'', which were distributed by DreamWorks Pictures. DreamWorks Pictures continued to distribute DreamWorks Animation productions through their distribution name until 2004. DreamWorks Animation films were generally targeted towards younger audiences, in contrast to the more adult-oriented live-action DreamWorks films, including films with strong sexual elements such as ''American Beauty'' and ''Road Trip''/''EuroTrip'', which shared the same branding through to 2004. DreamWorks also had another division called DreamWorks Television Animation, which in 1998 produced ''Toonsylvania'' and ''Invasion America''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1842229/steven-spielberg-sci-fi-series-invasion-america-star-trek-producer-harve-bennett/|title=Steven Spielberg And A Star Trek Legend Teamed Up For A Forgotten Sci-Fi Series|first=Witney|last=Seibold|date=May 4, 2025|website=SlashFilm}}</ref> However, it quickly folded and the later animated show ''Alienators: Evolution Continues'' (based on the 2001 live-action DreamWorks film ''Evolution'') was instead handled by the main DreamWorks Television division, in association with DIC Entertainment and other parties.<ref name="AWN">{{cite web|last1=Amidi|first1=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi|title=DreamWorks TV shuts down|url=https://www.awn.com/news/dreamworks-tv-shuts-down|publisher=Animation World Network|access-date=August 26, 2015|date=March 9, 1999|archive-date=February 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204235348/http://www.awn.com/news/dreamworks-tv-shuts-down|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Copyright notice in the credits for ''Alienators: Evolution Continues'', 2001.</ref> Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine Jackson subsequently claimed in 2003 that DreamWorks' icon of a boy fishing and sitting on a moon crescent was plagiarized from the entrance to Jackson's Neverland Ranch. Spielberg was a friend of Jackson during the 1980s and appeared in his "Liberian Girl" music video.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/jermaine-and-larrys-forgotten-2003-talk|title=Jermaine and Larry's Forgotten 2003 Talk|first=Roger|last=Friedman|date=March 25, 2015|website=Fox News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.michaeljackson.com/au/video/liberian-girl-video/|title=Liberian Gir|via=michaeljackson.com}}</ref> This was among the only animated content that Paramount Pictures acquired from DreamWorks when its parent company Viacom purchased the live-action film division and television division in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1339947/000119312507043859/dex211.htm|title=Subsidiaries of Viacom Inc.|website=www.sec.gov}}</ref>
At the 71st Academy Awards in March 1999, DreamWorks Pictures' film ''Saving Private Ryan'' was the overwhelming frontrunner for the Best Picture Oscar. Directed by company co-founder Steven Spielberg, the film had received critical praise for its authentic portrayal of World War II, and was a commercial success. However, in one of the most famous upsets in Academy history, the award was instead given to romantic comedy ''Shakespeare in Love'', from Disney-owned Miramax, a studio which won numerous other Oscars in the 1990s and 2000s. The loss is widely attributed to an aggressive and unprecedented awards campaign by Miramax and its head, Harvey Weinstein. It included a reported "whisper campaign" to downplay the merits of ''Saving Private Ryan''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/harvey-weinstein-steven-spielberg-nastiest-oscar-campaign-ever-1187125/|title="Harvey Always Wanted More": Weinstein, Spielberg and the Oral History of the Nastiest Oscar Campaign Ever|first=Scott|last=Feinberg|date=February 20, 2019}}</ref> Ironically, ''Shakespeare in Love'' and ''Saving Private Ryan'' both ended up becoming part of the same corporate umbrella via Paramount Pictures' acquisition of the live-action DreamWorks film library in 2006, and its acquisition of the Miramax library in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Szalai |first=Georg |date=April 3, 2020 |title=ViacomCBS Closes Acquisition of Miramax Stake in $375 Million Deal |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/viacomcbs-closes-acquisition-miramax-stake-375-million-deal-1286478/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512123800/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/viacomcbs-closes-acquisition-miramax-stake-375-million-deal-1286478/ |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>
Following its defeat to Miramax, DreamWorks won three consecutive Academy Awards for Best Picture between 2000 and 2002, for ''American Beauty'', ''Gladiator'' and ''Beautiful Mind'' (the latter two were co-productions with Universal Pictures). By this point, DreamWorks were considered to be the first new major Hollywood motion picture studio since RKO Pictures was founded in 1928. Go Fish Pictures, a division of DreamWorks with the objective to distribute art-house, independent and foreign films, was founded in 2000. The division experienced success with the anime films ''Millennium Actress'' (2003) and ''Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence'' (2004), respectively, which led them to venture into releasing live-action films, with the release of ''The Chumscrubber''. However, ''The Chumscrubber'' was a commercial and critical failure, which led DreamWorks to shut down the division in 2007 shortly before the release of the Japanese film ''Casshern'' (which was distributed by DreamWorks). The library of Go Fish Pictures was included when Paramount Pictures acquired DreamWorks' live-action film library in 2006,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paramount.com/studio/library/complete-library|title=Complete Library {{pipe}} Theatrical Library {{pipe}} Paramount Pictures|website=www.paramount.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222052623/http://www.paramount.com/studio/library/complete-library |archive-date=22 February 2012 }}</ref><ref name="park">{{cite web | title=The Chumscrubber | url=https://parkcircus.com/film/112719-The-Chumscrubber |via=Park Circus}}</ref> even though it mainly consisted of the American distribution rights to the aforementioned anime titles.
In 2000, DreamWorks was planning on building a studio backlot after buying 1,087 acres of land in the Playa Vista area in Los Angeles. It was to be complete with 18 sound stages, with many office buildings and a lake. There would also be new homes, schools, churches, and museums. The project was to be completed in 2001, but was canceled for financial reasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seeing-stars.com/Studios/Dreamworks.shtml |title=Dreamworks |work=seeing-stars.com}}</ref> In April 2001, DreamWorks and Universal Pictures (through its new parent company Vivendi Universal) announced that they had extended their distribution agreement for an additional five years, following the commercial successes of ''Gladiator'' and ''Meet the Parents'' the year prior, both of which were co-produced by DreamWorks and Universal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goodridge |first1=Mike |title=Dreamworks signs to Universal for five more years |url=https://www.screendaily.com/dreamworks-signs-to-universal-for-five-more-years/405450.article |website=Screendaily |date=17 April 2001 |access-date=14 January 2026 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226225259/https://www.screendaily.com/dreamworks-signs-to-universal-for-five-more-years/405450.article |archive-date=26 December 2024 }}</ref> In January 2002, DreamWorks signed a deal with In Demand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Speier |first=Michael |date=January 13, 2002 |title=DreamWorks signs VOD deal with In Demand |url=https://variety.com/2002/digital/features/dreamworks-signs-vod-deal-with-in-demand-1117858392/ |access-date=July 6, 2021 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
For the period beginning October 1, 2004, to January 31, 2006, DreamWorks Pictures distributed its films in the North American domestic theatrical and worldwide television market, with international theatrical and worldwide home entertainment distribution by Universal Pictures. On October 27, 2004, DreamWorks Animation was spun off into a separate public company.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 25, 2011 |title=DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG, INC. - FORM 10-K (Annual Report) |url=http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/DWA/0x0xS1193125-11-45757/1297401/filing.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529091102/http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/DWA/0x0xS1193125-11-45757/1297401/filing.pdf |archive-date=May 29, 2012 |website=Shareholder.com |publisher=DreamWorks Animation SKG |page=148}}</ref>
David Geffen admitted that DreamWorks came close to bankruptcy twice. Under Katzenberg's watch, the studio suffered a $125 million loss on the 2003 animated film ''Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas'',<ref name="Friedman 2012" /> and also overestimated the DVD demand for ''Shrek 2'', with 5 million unsold DVDs.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050703015236/http://money.cnn.com/2005/07/01/technology/dvds/index.htm DVD: doom, gloom or boom?], CNN</ref> In 2005, out of their two large budget pictures, ''War of the Worlds'' was produced as a joint effort with Paramount Pictures which was the first to reap a significant amount of profits, while ''The Island'' bombed at the domestic box office but turned a profit internationally through Warner Bros. Pictures.<ref name="Friedman 2012">{{cite web |author=Roger Friedman | title='Island' Could Sink DreamWorks Sale |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/island-could-sink-dreamworks-sale |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905005305/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,164329,00.html |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |publisher=Fox News |access-date=June 30, 2020}}</ref>
The 2003 Bo Welch film, ''The Cat In The Hat'' also released in this period and was a critical and commercial failure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/cat-in-the-hat-2003-flop-live-action-dr-seuss-movies-ban/|title=Mike Myers' $134 Million Box Office Flop On Netflix Is The Reason Why Over 40 Classic Books Won't Get Live-Action Movies|first=Ben|last=Sherlock|date=August 18, 2024|website=ScreenRant}}</ref>
=== Paramount ownership (2005–2008) === In December 2005, it was announced the original Viacom, the then-parent of Paramount Pictures, agreed to purchase the live-action studio, still keeping the original name and producing/distribution name. The deal was valued at approximately $1.6 billion, an amount that included about $400 million in debt assumptions.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Peter Pae |author2=Claudia Eller |title=DreamWorks and Paramount settle divorce |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-oct-06-fi-dream6-story.html |access-date=August 29, 2014 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 6, 2008}}</ref> Throughout most of 2005, DreamWorks Pictures was widely expected to be acquired by newly formed NBC Universal, parent of Universal Pictures and majority owned by General Electric (GE) (with the remainder owned by Vivendi as a result of GE's acquisition of a majority stake in that company's Vivendi Universal division which included Universal Pictures and related assets and merger of it with their NBC division to form NBC Universal). The transaction was viewed by industry analysts as a natural fit due to Spielberg's decades-long history with Universal Pictures and the fact that DreamWorks had utilized the Universal Studios lot for its headquarters and international distribution since its founding.<ref name="sepny"/> Exclusive negotiations between DreamWorks and NBC Universal lasted for approximately nine months. By September 2005, the two parties had reportedly reached a verbal agreement for a sale valued at roughly $1.5 billion to $1.6 billion. However, towards the end of negotiations, GE attempted to lower their offer by approximately $100 million. Geffen was reportedly incensed by the last-minute reduction.<ref name="sepny">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/business/media/a-deal-for-dreamworks-unravels-over-price.html|title=A Deal for DreamWorks Unravels Over Price|first=Laura M.|last=Holson|date=September 28, 2005|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> As talks with NBC Universal stalled, Viacom unexpectedly entered the bidding. Led by Paramount's new Chairman Brad Grey, they moved aggressively to propose their own offer in early December 2005.<ref name="nytdeal">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/business/worldbusiness/paramounts-drive-wins-dreamworks.html|title=Paramount's drive wins DreamWorks|first=Sharon|last=Waxman|date=December 11, 2005|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> DreamWorks accepted Viacom's offer on December 9, 2005, with the deal being announced to the media two days later. In a public statement from December 2005, Spielberg said, "due to my very long history and my loyalty to Universal, I was saddened that after long negotiations and many compromises, we were unable to come to terms with Universal's parent company, GE."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-dec-12-fi-dreamworks12-story.html|title=Paramount Confirms Studio Deal|first1=Claudia|last1=Eller|first2=Sallie|last2=Hofmeister|date=December 12, 2005|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Regarding NBC Universal/GE, Geffen said in December 2005, "I think they thought we had no choice, and were going to squeeze us and squeeze us. After a year of dealing with them, they still did not have a concluded, finished contract ready to sign."<ref name="nytdeal"/>
The acquisition of the live-action DreamWorks studio was completed by the second iteration of Viacom, which had recently split from the original at the end of 2005, on February 1, 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paramount's DreamWorks come true |url=https://money.cnn.com/2005/12/11/news/fortune500/viacom_dreamworks.reut/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215154440/http://money.cnn.com/2005/12/11/news/fortune500/viacom_dreamworks.reut/index.htm |archive-date=December 15, 2005 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> DreamWorks Pictures would briefly become a semi-autonomous label of Paramount Pictures. A key reason for Viacom's acquisition was due to a severe shortage in Paramount's own film production pipeline for 2006–2007, after Grey's new regime canceled many pre-existing projects.<ref name="slate">{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/culture/2005/12/the-real-reason-why-paramount-bought-dreamworks.html|title=Meltdown|first=Edward Jay|last=Epstein|date=December 19, 2005|via=slate.com}}</ref> Spielberg and Geffen were still involved with the company under Paramount, although Geffen eventually departed in 2008 since he was interested in reinventing himself as a newspaper mogul.<ref name="wills">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-29-fi-dreamworks-story.html|title=A battle of wills behind scenes at Paramount|first=Claudia|last=Eller|date=January 29, 2007|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Katzenberg was now working at the newly independent DreamWorks Animation,<ref>https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/d/NYSE_DWA_2004.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=December 2025}}</ref> and remained there until its sale to NBCUniversal in 2016, which left Spielberg as the only one of the three founders currently involved with either DreamWorks company. Viacom's 2006 purchase of DreamWorks Pictures included a separate deal for Paramount to distribute new films by DreamWorks Animation over a six-year period.<ref name="contract"/> Viacom also held the rights to co-produce television shows based on DreamWorks Animation characters, via their children's division Nickelodeon.<ref name="nbcnews">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10425218|title=Paramount agrees to buy DreamWorks SKG|date=December 11, 2005|website=NBC News}}</ref>
Starting in September 2006, DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures went on to co-release films such as ''Blades of Glory'', ''Disturbia'', ''Dreamgirls'', ''The Last Kiss'', ''Tropic Thunder'' and the 2007 live-action adaptation of ''Transformers''. Despite internal tensions between DreamWorks and Paramount, the partnership led to Paramount becoming the highest grossing US studio of 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/dreamworks-transforms-paramount-into-top-studio-idUSN27438753/|title=DreamWorks transforms Paramount into top studio|website=Reuters.com|date=December 27, 2007|access-date=October 11, 2025}}</ref> A point of contention was that Viacom owner Sumner Redstone viewed DreamWorks purely as a label of Paramount Pictures, whereas Spielberg did not view it as such, even resisting having new DreamWorks films being branded as Paramount films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2007/09/27/14761454/will-paramount-and-dreamworks-really-split|title=Will Paramount and DreamWorks Really Split?|website=NPR.com|last=Masters|first=Kim|date=September 27, 2007|access-date=October 11, 2025}}</ref> In most of the Paramount-distributed DreamWorks films from this period, Paramount's logo only briefly appears at the very end of the credits, with the films usually opening with DreamWorks' 1997 logo. Notable exceptions are ''Dreamgirls'' and ''Transformers'', which feature both the Paramount logo and the DreamWorks logo at the beginning. It was Spielberg who insisted, as part of the 2006 sale, that Paramount's logo appear on DreamWorks' movies after the credits to give DreamWorks' own banner top billing.<ref name="wills" /> In a 2007 ''Los Angeles Times'' article, an anonymous source said that Spielberg wanted to "carry the torch that DreamWorks should feel like its own studio."<ref name="wills" /> In 2007, Redstone said, "I understand how people like them, entrepreneurs who built companies and are creative geniuses, want a hell of a lot of autonomy. They're entitled to a lot of autonomy and [we] are committed to giving them that. We do not treat them as employees, we treat them as co-workers."<ref name="wills" />
One of the biggest clashes between DreamWorks and Viacom/Paramount was over perceived ownership for the acclaimed ''Dreamgirls'', which won several awards, and which was a pet project that Geffen had been trying to get made for the last 25 years. This film was shot between January and March 2006, and produced by DreamWorks with funding from Warner Bros. and Paramount. Warner Bros. dropped out of the project at the last minute following Viacom's purchase of DreamWorks, and Paramount subsequently became sole owner of the film. In the lead up to the awards season, a DreamWorks executive sent an email to top Paramount managers, including Brad Grey, stating that the ''Dreamgirls'' filmmakers had requested there be no speeches before the film's premieres in New York and Los Angeles. However, at both events in early December 2006, Grey proceeded to give a speech honoring the filmmakers and acknowledging Geffen's 25-year effort to bring the project to the screen. According to anonymous DreamWorks insiders, who spoke to the media on anonymity out of fear of reprisal, Grey's actions were seen as a deliberate affront. Conversely, Paramount executives maintained that Grey, as the chairman of the studio owning the film, was well within his rights.<ref name="wills" />
On March 17, 2006, Viacom agreed to sell a controlling interest in the 1997–2005 DreamWorks Pictures live-action library to Soros Strategic Partners and Dune Entertainment II.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/18/business/media/18film.html |title=Viacom to Sell DreamWorks Film Library |date=March 18, 2006 |agency=Associated Press |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Viacom held a minority 49% stake, while the other parties, led by billionaire George Soros, held a majority 51% stake.<ref name="dead">{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2010/02/what-exactly-are-film-libraries-worth-now-25222/|title=So What Are Film Libraries Worth Now?|first=Nikki|last=Finke|date=February 12, 2010}}</ref> The film library (consisting of 59 titles) was valued at $900 million, and selling the majority stake helped Viacom finance the acquisition of the live-action studio itself.<ref name="slate"/> Paramount Pictures retained the worldwide distribution rights to those films, as well as various ancillary rights, including music publishing (the music publishing rights were later licensed to Sony/ATV Music Publishing when the company acquired Viacom's Famous Music subdivision), sequels and merchandising. The sale was completed on May 8, 2006.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/18/business/media/18film.html?pagewanted=print Viacom to Sell DreamWorks Film Library]. ''The New York Times''. Associated Press. March 18, 2006. Retrieved July 20, 2009.</ref> On February 8, 2010, Viacom repurchased Soros' controlling stake in the DreamWorks Pictures library for around $400 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fixmer |first=Andy |date=February 11, 2010 |title=Viacom Acquires Soros Stake in Films for $400 Million (Update3) |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a5_oOCdFObtM |url-status=dead |access-date=February 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130407205432/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a5_oOCdFObtM |archive-date=April 7, 2013}}</ref> Several notable DreamWorks films such as ''Cast Away'' (which DreamWorks controlled international rights) and ''American Beauty'' were not released on Blu-ray by Paramount Home Entertainment until they bought back Soros' controlling stake. However, they reissued certain other live-action DreamWorks films from 1997 to 2005 prior to buying back the stake.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/2524/gladiator.html|title=Blu-ray News and Reviews {{pipe}} High Def Digest|website=bluray.highdefdigest.com}}</ref>
With only a few exceptions,<ref>{{cite web | title=WestEnd makes 11-title Woody Allen library play | url=https://www.screendaily.com/distribution/westend-makes-11-title-woody-allen-library-play/5012217.article }}</ref> Paramount Pictures continues to control the rights to all films and television shows DreamWorks produced during their partnership, in addition to controlling the live-action film and television titles DreamWorks released prior to 2006. Paramount have also retained the film rights to the Hasbro-owned ''Transformers'' franchise, going on to release further films without DreamWorks' involvement. Initially, DreamWorks films released on home video were still branded similar to DreamWorks Home Entertainment releases and did not feature Paramount's logo on the packaging. Later home video releases have since incorporated Paramount's branding, including pre-2006 titles which Paramount had no involvement with. They do not hold the rights to the DreamWorks Animation films released prior to 2006, although they temporarily controlled the home media rights to the pre-2006 DreamWorks Animation library.<ref name="contract">{{Cite web|url=https://contracts.justia.com/companies/dreamworks-animation-skg-inc-19799/contract/877024/|title=Fulfillment Services Agreement between DreamWorks Animation {{pipe}} DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. {{pipe}} Business Contracts {{pipe}} Justia|website=contracts.justia.com}}</ref>
=== Reliance-Spielberg joint venture and Disney distribution (2008–2015) === In June 2008, it was reported that DreamWorks Pictures was looking for financing that would allow it to continue operations, but as an independent production company, once its deal with Paramount ended later that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/news/dreamworks-considers-indie-future-1117988086/ |title=DreamWorks considers indie future |author=Anne Thompson |work=Variety |date=June 26, 2008}}</ref> Several public equity funds were approached for financing, including Blackstone Group, Fuse Global, TPG Capital and several others, but all passed on the deal given their understanding of the Hollywood markets. On September 22, 2008, it was announced that DreamWorks closed a deal with Indian investment firm Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group to create a $1.2 billion stand-alone production company and end its ties with Paramount.<ref name="Reuters 2008">{{cite news |title=DreamWorks completes deal with Reliance ADA |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/industry-us-dreamworks-idUSTRE48M2T720080923 |access-date=September 25, 2012 |date=September 22, 2008 |work=Reuters}}</ref> In January 2009, Spielberg entered a licensing agreement with DreamWorks Animation to use the DreamWorks trademarks, logo, and name for film productions and releases.<ref name="McClintock 2015a">{{cite news |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |title=Will Steven Spielberg Drop the DreamWorks Name? |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/will-steven-spielberg-drop-dreamworks-826201/ |access-date=October 4, 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>
As part of the 2008 separation agreement with Paramount/Viacom, they retained an option to co-finance and co-distribute 15–20 upcoming DreamWorks Pictures projects. As a result of this deal, Paramount Pictures currently own the rights to most live-action DreamWorks films that were released between 1997 and 2010.<ref name="settle">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/features/dreamworks-paramount-settle-split-1117993480/|title=DreamWorks, Paramount settle split|first=Tatiana|last=Siegel|date=October 5, 2008}}</ref>
On February 9, 2009, DreamWorks Pictures entered into a long-term, 30-picture distribution deal with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, by which DreamWorks' films would be released through the Touchstone Pictures banner, with Disney collecting a 10% distribution fee.<ref name="Eller 2009">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-feb-10-fi-dreamworks10-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |title=DreamWorks gets Disney cash in distribution deal |first=Claudia |last=Eller |date=February 10, 2009}}</ref> Despite signing the deal in early 2009, DreamWorks Pictures only started releasing films through Disney/Touchstone in 2011. The deal also included co-funding via a $175 million loan by Walt Disney Studios to DreamWorks for production and access to slots in Disney's pay television agreement, then with Starz.<ref name="Eller 2009" /> The agreement was reported to have come after negotiations broke off with Universal Pictures just days earlier.<ref>{{cite news |last=Graser |first=Marc |title=Disney signs deal with DreamWorks |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/features/disney-signs-deal-with-dreamworks-1117999836/ |access-date=February 6, 2013 |newspaper=Variety (magazine) |date=February 9, 2009 |author2=Tatiana Siegel}}</ref> DreamWorks raised $325 million from Reliance Entertainment and an additional $325 million in debt in 2009.<ref name="Fritz 2012a">{{cite news |last=Fritz |first=Ben |title=DreamWorks Studios stays alive with new $200-million infusion |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/04/dreamworks-studios-stays-alive-with-new-200-million-infusion.html |access-date=February 6, 2013 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=April 10, 2012}}</ref> On August 18, 2009, DreamWorks and Reliance signed a three-year, $825 million pact for up to six films a year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/dreamworks-signs-film-financing-deal-with-reliance/503412/ |title=DreamWorks signs film financing deal with Reliance |website=The Indian Express}}</ref>
DreamWorks' slate of films in 2011, ''I Am Number Four'', ''Cowboys & Aliens'', and ''Fright Night'' failed, while ''The Help'', ''Real Steel'' and Spielberg's ''War Horse'' had success at the box office. This left DreamWorks so financially drained that by 2011, DreamWorks was seeking additional funding from Reliance. Reliance gave a $200 million investment on April 10, 2012. Under the deal, DreamWorks Pictures scaled back production to three films per year and sought co-financiers on big budget films, such as 20th Century Fox, which would later that year enter a five-year distribution deal with DreamWorks Animation, would co-finance and handle international distribution for ''Lincoln'' and ''Bridge of Spies''. DreamWorks continued to have Disney distribute and market their films.<ref name="Fritz 2012a" /> On August 29, 2012, after renegotiating their agreement with Disney, DreamWorks formed a deal with Mister Smith Entertainment to distribute its films internationally excluding India (where Reliance Entertainment will distribute), while Disney would continue to distribute in North America, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and some territories in Asia.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fritz |first=Ben |title=DreamWorks replaces Disney with new international partner |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-dreamworks-international-20120829,0,2191198.story |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=August 29, 2012}}</ref>
=== Amblin Partners venture and return to Universal (2016–present) === On September 2, 2015, it was reported that DreamWorks and Disney would not renew their distribution deal, which was set to expire in August 2016,<ref name="Masters 2015">{{cite news |last1=Masters |first1=Kim |title=Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks to Split From Disney, in Talks With Universal (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/steven-spielbergs-dreamworks-split-disney-819594/ |access-date=September 3, 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=September 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name="McNary 2015">{{cite news |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks to Leave Disney, Possibly for Universal |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/steven-spielbergs-dreamworks-to-leave-disney-possibly-for-universal-1201583836/ |access-date=September 3, 2015 |work=Variety |date=September 2, 2015}}</ref> with ''The Light Between Oceans'' being released in September as the final DreamWorks film distributed by Disney under their original distribution agreement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151216006049/en/DreamWorks-Studios-Participant-Media-Reliance-Entertainment-Entertainment |title=DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, Reliance Entertainment and Entertainment One Form Amblin Partners, a New Film, Television and Digital Content Creation Company |date=December 16, 2015 |work=Business Wire |location=Universal City, California |format=Press release |quote=Film projects in various stages of production include: 'The BFG' and 'The Light Between Oceans,' scheduled for release by Disney in 2016. |access-date=December 23, 2015}}</ref> During that time, DreamWorks was in early negotiations with Universal Pictures to distribute its upcoming films.<ref name="Masters 2015" /><ref name="McNary 2015" /> The contract allowing Spielberg to license the DreamWorks trademarks, name and logo from Jeffrey Katzenberg's DreamWorks Animation was set to expire on January 1, 2016, leading to media speculation that Spielberg would not renew the pact.<ref name="McClintock 2015a" /> Disney retained the film rights to the fourteen DreamWorks films it released,<ref name="McClintock 2015b">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/steven-spielberg-jeff-skoll-team-849249/ |title=Steven Spielberg, Jeff Skoll Team to Form Amblin Partners, Strike Distribution Deal With Universal |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |date=December 16, 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=December 22, 2015 |author2=Gregg Kilday}}</ref> undee subsidiary DreamWorks II Distribution Co. LLC from DreamWorks and Reliance on December 11, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/premerger-notification-program/early-termination-notices/20160358 |title=20160358: The Walt Disney Company; Steven Spielberg |date=December 11, 2015 |publisher=Federal Trade Commission |access-date=April 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/premerger-notification-program/early-termination-notices/20160359 |title=20160359: The Walt Disney Company; Anil D. Ambani |date=December 11, 2015 |publisher=Federal Trade Commission |access-date=April 29, 2016}}</ref>
On December 16, 2015, Spielberg, Reliance, Entertainment One and Participant Media partnered to launch the content production company Amblin Partners,<ref name="Fritz 2015">{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/steven-spielbergs-dreamworks-relaunches-as-amblin-partners-1450301848 |title=Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Relaunches as Amblin Partners |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 16, 2015 |access-date=December 16, 2015}}</ref> relegating DreamWorks to a brand for adult-themed films produced under the new company.<ref name="Fritz 2015" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cieply |first1=Michael |title=Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Studios in Deal to Form New Company |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/17/business/media/steven-spielberg-and-dreamworks-studios-in-deal-to-form-new-company.html |access-date=December 23, 2015 |work=The New York Times |date=December 16, 2015}}</ref> In addition to DreamWorks, the new company also would produce films under the Amblin Entertainment and Participant banners. On the same day, Amblin Partners announced a five-year distribution deal with Universal, under which the company's films would be distributed and marketed by either the main Universal label or its specialty label, Focus Features.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lang |first1=Brent |title=Steven Spielberg, Jeff Skoll Bring Amblin Partners to Universal |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/steven-spiellberg-universal-1201662956/ |access-date=December 23, 2015 |work=Variety |date=December 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Busch |first1=Anita |title=It's Official: Spielberg, DreamWorks, Participant, eOne, Others Pact For Amblin Partners |url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/spielberg-dreamworks-participant-eone-others-pact-for-amblin-partners-1201668244/ |access-date=December 23, 2015 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 16, 2015}}</ref> 2016's ''The Girl on the Train'' was the first film released under the new agreement,<ref name="McClintock 2015b" /> though a few films, like ''Office Christmas Party'' (2016), ''Ghost in the Shell'' (2017) and ''The Post'' (2017), were released by Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox respectively. ''Office Christmas Party'' and ''Ghost in the Shell'' were DreamWorks Pictures' first projects to have been done with Paramount since the 2008 split and DreamWorks' subsequent distribution relationship with Touchstone. Earlier in 2012, while the DreamWorks/Touchstone deal was in effect, a DreamWorks/Paramount film titled ''A Thousand Words'' was released, although this film originally began shooting in August 2008, while DreamWorks was still owned by Viacom.<ref name="Slashfilm">{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/shelved-eddie-murphy-film-a-thousand-words-january-2012-release-date |title=Shelved Eddie Murphy Film 'A Thousand Words' Gets January 2012 Release Date |work=/Film |date=2011-04-21 |access-date=2012-03-09}}</ref> It had been delayed due to complications arising from the DreamWorks/Viacom split.<ref name="Slashfilm"/>
On February 15, 2017, Universal acquired a minority stake in Amblin Partners,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/universal-buys-minority-stake-amblin-partners-1201912406/|title=Universal Buys Minority Stake In Amblin Partners|last=Lieberman|first=David|date=2017-02-15|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-02-27|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="NBCUniversal">{{cite news|last = Perry|first = Spencer|title = Universal Studios Buys a Minority Stake in Amblin Partners|url = https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/814659-universal-studios-buys-a-minority-stake-in-amblin-partners|access-date = February 20, 2017|work = Comingsoon.net|date = February 15, 2017}}</ref> which reunited a minority percentage of the live-action DreamWorks label with its former DreamWorks Animation division, which Universal acquired the year prior in 2016 and eventually handled distribution that began with ''How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World'' in 2019, after DreamWorks Animation's distribution deal with 20th Century Fox expired with the release of ''Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie'' in 2017. In 2020, Netflix released the film ''The Trial of the Chicago 7'', which was a co-production between DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Pictures and several other parties. This was one of the 15–20 DreamWorks projects that Paramount originally considered co-financing/co-distributing in late 2008–2010, as part of the post-split deal they made with DreamWorks Pictures.<ref name="settle"/> The project would end up being delayed, and shooting did not begin until 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/aaron-sorkin-trial-of-the-chicago-7-update-filming/|title=Aaron Sorkin's 'Trial of the Chicago 7' Gets New Life as Paramount Backs the Star-Studded Drama|first=Adam|last=Chitwood|date=August 30, 2019|access-date=January 7, 2020|archive-date=January 8, 2020|publisher=Collider|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108065739/https://collider.com/aaron-sorkin-trial-of-the-chicago-7-update-filming/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2021, Paramount launched their subscription streaming service Paramount+, which includes the 1997–2010 DreamWorks Pictures films owned by Paramount Pictures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/paramount-plus-line-tv-shows-films-movies-1573726|title=All the Shows and Movies Streaming Now on Paramount+|date=March 4, 2021|website=Newsweek}}</ref> Additionally, Paramount included these films on their free streaming service Pluto TV,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/new-movies-and-shows-streaming-in-january-2025-what-to-watch-on-netflix-max-prime-disney-and-more/|title=New Movies and Shows Streaming In January 2025: What to Watch on Netflix, Max, Prime, Disney+ and more|first=Fred|last=Topel|website=editorial.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref> which also includes certain DreamWorks Television shows owned by Paramount.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/spin-city-show-streaming-prime-video/|title=Beloved Sitcom Now Streaming In Full After Years Of Limited Availability|first=Abdullah|last=Al-Ghamdi|date=September 6, 2023|website=ScreenRant}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pluto.tv/us/on-demand/series/61c0fb9a04ff25001a449d51/season/1|title=Watch Freaks and Geeks Season 1 Free {{pipe}} Pluto TV|via=pluto.tv}}</ref> Disney's subscription streaming service Disney+ launched in 2019, and has included the 2011–2016 DreamWorks Pictures films owned by Touchstone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.disneyplus.com/en-pt/browse/entity-b662c120-217b-4aca-b225-d9fac488cfe0|title=Watch Fright Night {{pipe}} Disney+|website=www.disneyplus.com}}</ref> However, this was mainly in international markets where their more adult-focused streaming service Hulu was unavailable, with Hulu including most of the Touchstone-owned DreamWorks films.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/steven-spielberg-lincoln-streaming-hulu-march/|title=Steven Spielberg's 89% Rotten Tomatoes Presidential Drama Is Coming to a New Streamer|first=Justin|last=Klawans|date=February 23, 2025|website=Collider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hulu.com/movie/real-steel-99e7afc6-2a38-49c4-98c7-bbb5bff89699|title=Real Steel|website=Hulu}}</ref>
== Logo == === Original === The original DreamWorks logo features a boy sitting on a crescent moon with a fishing rod at night. The general idea for the logo was the idea of the company's founder, Steven Spielberg, who wanted a CGI image. Illustrator Robert Hunt was commissioned to execute the idea as a painting, and he used his son as the model.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Time | title=10 Movie Studio Logos and the Stories Behind Them |author=Wook Kim |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/09/24/mountain-to-moon-10-movie-studio-logos-and-the-stories-behind-them/slide/dreamworks/ |date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=March 11, 2018}}</ref> The logo was then turned into a motion graphic at Industrial Light & Magic, in collaboration with Kaleidoscope Films, Dave Carson and Clint Goldman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/03/the-story-behind-hollywood-studio-logos |title=The Stories Behind Hollywood Studio Logos |work=Neatorama |date=December 3, 2008 |access-date=March 11, 2018}}</ref> It was animated by ILM animation supervisor Wes Takahashi.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agni-animation.com/fullerton/halloffame/Wes_Ford_Takahashi.html |title=Subject: Wes Ford Takahashi |publisher=Animators' Hall of Fame |access-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812020742/http://www.agni-animation.com/fullerton/halloffame/Wes_Ford_Takahashi.html |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.itu.edu/directory/faculty |title=Digital Arts Faculty |publisher=International Technological University |access-date=June 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812215132/http://itu.edu/digital-arts/faculty/ |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is composed by John Williams.
=== Animation === {{Further|DreamWorks Animation#Logo}} The reimagined animation logo had music adapted from the track "Fairytale" for ''Shrek'', based on the children's picture book of the same name by author William Steig. The logo was composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and made its debut in 2004, with the release of ''Shrek 2'', a film which Gregson-Williams also composed. Two years after its acquisition by NBCUniversal in 2016, the logo received a new fanfare composed by John Powell and incorporate some cues from ''Shrek 2'' and tones from Williams' original DreamWorks fanfare to create the music for the logo. The new fanfare debuted in 2019, with the release of ''How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World'', a film for which Powell also composed. In 2022, Harry Gregson-Williams returned to compose a new version of the fanfare, with the debut of ''Puss in Boots: The Last Wish''.
== DreamWorks Home Entertainment == {{Infobox company | name = DreamWorks Home Entertainment | logo = frameless|class=skin-invert | logo_caption = Logo used from 1998 to 2009 | type = Division | industry = Home video | predecessor = CIC Video (1998–1999) | founded = {{Start date and age|1998|3|10}} | defunct = {{End date and age|2009}} | fate = Folded into Paramount Home Entertainment | successor = Paramount Home Entertainment<br />(2009–present, DWS catalog) | parent = DreamWorks Pictures (1998–2006)<br />Paramount Home Entertainment (2006–2009) | location_city = Universal City, California | location_country = United States | area_served = Worldwide | products = Home video | divisions = }}
'''DreamWorks Home Entertainment''' (DHE) was a home media unit of DreamWorks Pictures and banner for other home media units, formed on March 10, 1998. Its releases were first distributed by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (and initially through CIC Video internationally). After DreamWorks Pictures was purchased by Viacom on February 1, 2006, DHE became a label of Paramount Home Entertainment used for films released under the live-action DreamWorks banner until it was shuttered in 2009, when DreamWorks spun itself off from Paramount and became an independent company.
DreamWorks' library of film releases are currently owned and distributed by various studios. The pre-2009 library is owned by Paramount (DW Studios, LLC);{{efn|name=DWParamount|Majority-owned by National Amusements from 2009–2025 and by Paramount Skydance Corporation from 2025–present.}} the 2011–2016 library (DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC) is owned by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment,{{efn|name=DWTouchstone|Released under the Touchstone Home Entertainment label.}} and the majority of the 2016–present library by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
== Filmography == {{Main|List of DreamWorks Pictures films}}
=== Film series === {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Title ! Release date ! No. Films ! Notes |- | ''Meet the Parents'' | 2000–present | 4 | co-production with Universal Pictures (2000, 2004, 2010, 2026) and Paramount Pictures (2010, 2026) |- | ''Road Trip'' | 2000–2009 | 3 | co-production with The Montecito Picture Company (2000, 2004) and Paramount Famous Productions (2009) |- | ''Shrek'' | 2001–2004 | rowspan="3" |2 | co-production with DreamWorks Animation and Pacific Data Images |- | ''The Ring'' | 2002–2005 | |- | ''Transformers'' | 2007–2009 | co-production with Paramount Pictures and Hasbro |}
=== Highest-grossing films === {| |- | {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Highest-grossing films in North America<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/domestic/all-movies/theatrical-distributors/dreamworks-skg |title=All Time Domestic Box Office for Dreamworks SKG Movies |website=The Numbers}}</ref> |- ! Rank !! Title !! Year !! Gross |- ! 1 | ''Shrek 2'' | 2004 | $441,226,247 |- ! 2 | ''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' | 2009 | $402,111,870 |- ! 3 | ''Transformers'' | 2007 | $319,246,193 |- ! 4 | ''Meet the Fockers'' | 2004 | $279,261,160 |- ! 5 | ''Shrek'' | 2001 | $267,665,011 |- ! 6 | ''War of the Worlds'' | 2005 | $234,280,354 |- ! 7 | ''Cast Away'' | 2000 | $233,632,142 |- ! 8 | ''Saving Private Ryan'' | 1998 | $216,540,909 |- ! 9 | ''Madagascar'' | 2005 | $193,595,521 |- ! 10 | ''Gladiator'' | 2000 | $187,705,427 |- ! 11 | ''Lincoln'' | 2012 | $182,207,973 |- ! 12 | ''A Beautiful Mind'' | 2001 | $170,742,341 |- ! 13 | ''The Help'' | 2011 | $169,708,112 |- ! 14 | ''Meet the Parents'' | 2000 | $166,244,045 |- ! 15 | ''Catch Me If You Can'' | 2002 | $164,606,800 |- ! 16 | ''Shark Tale'' | 2004 | $161,412,000 |- ! 17 | ''1917'' | 2019 | $159,227,644 |- ! 18 | ''What Lies Beneath'' | 2000 | $155,464,351 |- ! 19 | ''Deep Impact'' | 1998 | $140,464,664 |- ! 20 | ''Minority Report'' | 2002 | $132,072,926 |- ! 21 | ''American Beauty'' | 1999 | $130,058,047 |- ! 22 | ''The Ring'' | 2002 | $129,094,024 |- ! 23 | ''Seabiscuit'' | 2003 | $120,277,854 |- ! 24 | ''Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'' | 2004 | $118,634,549 |- ! 25 | ''Blades of Glory'' | 2007 | $118,594,548 |} | {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Highest-grossing films worldwide<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/theatrical-distributors/dreamworks-skg |title=All Time Worldwide Box Office for Dreamworks SKG Movies |website=The Numbers}}</ref> |- ! Rank !! Title !! Year !! Gross |- ! 1 | ''Shrek 2'' | 2004 | $935,454,538 |- ! 2 | ''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' | 2009 | $836,519,699 |- ! 3 | ''Transformers'' | 2007 | $709,709,780 |- ! 4 | ''War of the Worlds'' | rowspan="2" | 2005 | $603,873,119 |- ! 5 | ''Madagascar'' | $542,063,846 |- ! 6 | ''Meet the Fockers'' | 2004 | $522,657,936 |- ! 7 | ''Shrek'' | 2001 | $491,812,794 |- ! 8 | ''Saving Private Ryan'' | 1998 | $485,035,045 |- ! 9 | ''Gladiator'' | rowspan="2" | 2000 | $465,390,350 |- ! 10 | ''Cast Away'' | $427,632,142 |- ! 11 | ''1917'' | 2019 | $384,579,472 |- ! 12 | ''Shark Tale'' | 2004 | $374,583,879 |- ! 13 | ''Minority Report'' | 2002 | $358,372,926 |- ! 14 | ''American Beauty'' | 1999 | $356,258,047 |- ! 15 | ''Catch Me If You Can'' | 2002 | $355,612,291 |- ! 16 | ''Deep Impact'' | 1998 | $349,464,664 |- ! 17 | ''Meet the Parents'' | 2000 | $330,443,045 |- ! 18 | ''Green Book'' | 2018 | $321,752,485 |- ! 19 | ''A Beautiful Mind'' | 2001 | $317,668,058 |- ! 20 | ''Real Steel'' | 2011 | $299,268,508 |- ! 21 | ''What Lies Beneath'' | 2000 | $291,420,351 |- ! 22 | ''Lincoln'' | 2012 | $275,293,450 |- ! 23 | ''The Ring'' | 2002 | $249,348,933 |- ! 24 | ''A.I. Artificial Intelligence'' | 2001 | $235,926,552 |- ! 25 | ''Chicken Run'' | 2000 | $227,793,915 |} | |}
=== Primary owners and distributors === ==== Theatrical distributors ==== * Universal Pictures<br />{{small|(1997–2005 for DW Studios, LLC and DreamWorks Animation catalogs; 2016–present for Storyteller Distribution Co., LLC catalog; 2019–present for DreamWorks Animation catalog)}} * Paramount Pictures<br />{{small|(2006–2012 for DW Studios, LLC and DreamWorks Animation catalogs)}} * Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures{{efn|Released under the Touchstone Pictures label.}}<br />{{small|(2011–2016 for DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC catalog)}} * 20th Century Fox<br />{{small|(2013–2017 for DreamWorks Animation catalog)}}
==== Home entertainment distributors ==== * Universal Pictures Home Entertainment<br />{{small|(1998–2006 for DW Studios, LLC & DreamWorks Animation catalogs; 2016–present for Storyteller Distribution Co., LLC catalog; 2018–present for DreamWorks Animation catalog)}} * Paramount Home Entertainment<br />{{small|(2009–present for DW Studios, LLC catalog; 2006–2013 for DreamWorks Animation catalog)}} * Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment{{efn|name=DWTouchstone}}<br />{{small|(2011–present for DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC catalog)}} * 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br />{{small|(2013–2018 for DreamWorks Animation catalog)}} * Sony Pictures Home Entertainment<br />{{small|(briefly in 2024 for DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC catalog via WDSHE)}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Rebecca |title=Disney Strikes Deal for Sony to Take Over Its DVD, Blu-ray Disc Business |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/disney-sony-pysical-media-dvd-blu-ray-disc-business-1235917294/ |website=Variety |access-date=February 20, 2024 |date=February 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 20, 2024 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Disney & Sony Ink Deal for Sony to Take Over Disney's Physical Media Production, Disney Movie Club to Shut Down as a Result |url=https://thedigitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/022024-1000 |access-date=February 20, 2024 |work=The Digital Bits}}</ref> * Studio Distribution Services<br />{{small|(2021–present for Storyteller Distribution Co., LLC and DreamWorks Animation catalogs via UPHE pre-SDS merger; 2024–present for DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC catalog via SPHE/WDSHE)}}
== See also == * The Geffen Company * Amblin Entertainment * DreamWorks Animation {{Portal bar|Greater Los Angeles|Film|Animation|Companies}}
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist|2|refs=}}
{{Film Studio}} {{NBCUniversal}} {{Lionsgate Studios}} {{Paramount Global}} {{Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group}} {{Steven Spielberg}} {{DreamWorks Animation}} {{Authority control}}
Category:DreamWorks Pictures Category:1994 establishments in California Category:2006 mergers and acquisitions Category:Amblin Partners Category:NBCUniversal Category:Comcast subsidiaries Category:Universal Pictures subsidiaries Category:Touchstone Pictures Category:American companies established in 1994 Category:Companies based in Los Angeles County, California Category:David Geffen Category:Entertainment companies based in California Category:Film distributors of the United States Category:Film production companies of the United States Category:Jeffrey Katzenberg Category:Mass media companies established in 1994 Category:Steven Spielberg Category:Universal City, California Category:Former Viacom subsidiaries