DreamWorks has created loads of profitable animated franchises over time, however there have additionally been one or two duds. DreamWorks usually adapts fashionable kids’s books, like The Unhealthy Guys, Captain Underpants and The best way to Prepare Your Dragon. In addition they have some sensible authentic concepts thrown into the combination.
The best way to Prepare Your Dragon means that DreamWorks could think about extra live-action remakes, following the identical playbook utilized by Disney. If so, then the studio should not neglect animation. Its monitor report with franchises proves that it may possibly lead the animation trade if it learns from its greatest hits.
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Boss Child
The Boss Child franchise is DreamWorks’ worst and most complicated. The primary film was launched in 2017, and it made $528 million regardless of being met with largely unfavourable opinions. Its 53% Rotten Tomatoes rating did not cease it from getting an Oscar nomination for Greatest Animated Function.
After the industrial success of The Boss Child, a sequel was launched in 2021. The Boss Child: Household Enterprise was even much less fashionable with critics, and it could not repeat the field workplace success of the primary film. The franchise additionally contains two TV spinoffs, each with mediocre opinions.
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Spirit
Not many individuals would have anticipated Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron to get a sequel virtually twenty years later, however the franchise was revived with a Netflix present after which a film. The sequel, Spirit Untamed, makes use of a totally totally different fashion of animation. This is only one means that it is barely recognizable as a follow-up to the primary film.
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is an uncommon providing from DreamWorks, launched earlier than the studio shifted solely to 3-D computer-generated animation. The content material of the film is simply as uncommon as its fashion, particularly because the horses do not talk with each other as animals do in numerous different animated motion pictures.
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Captain Underpants
It all the time appeared possible that Dav Pilkey’s wildly fashionable collection of kids’s books would get film or TV diversifications sooner or later. DreamWorks has produced each, beginning with Captain Underpants: The First Epic Film in 2017. A Canine Man spinoff film was launched in 2025, probably reviving the franchise.
The Captain Underpants franchise has been strong however not spectacular. It retains among the wacky humor from Pilkey’s books, but it surely fails to recapture his particular model of anarchic, rough-around-the-edges allure. Canine Man‘s industrial success implies that there could possibly be extra to come back.
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Trolls
Troll dolls date again to the Nineteen Fifties, and there have been cartoons and different related media because the Nineteen Nineties. DreamWorks purchased the rights and reimagined the characters in a jukebox fantasy musical, that includes a mixture of fashionable songs and authentic hits.
All three Trolls motion pictures have obtained typically constructive opinions, with their Rotten Tomatoes scores starting from 64% to 76%. There have been specials and TV reveals too, proving that the franchise has persistently delivered family-friendly musical leisure, even when not one of the motion pictures characterize the height of what DreamWorks can do.
8
Megamind
It is tough to correctly assess the Megamind franchise, since it solely consists of 1 nice film and one horrible sequel. 2010’s Megamind is a hilarious superhero spoof with Will Ferrell voicing the titular blue-headed protagonist, whereas the 2024 sequel Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate, was a heartless follow-up with out Ferrell’s involvement.
Megamind vs. the Doom Sequel serves as an introduction to the spinoff TV present Megamind Guidelines, which was launched on Peacock on the identical day. It isn’t akin to the superb authentic film, as its pitiful 9% Rotten Tomatoes rating signifies.
7
The Croods
2013’s The Croods was a monetary success, however DreamWorks did not instantly rush into making a sequel. As a substitute, a TV present adopted, though the Croods ultimately returned to the big-screen for 2020’s The Croods: A New Age. The sequel reunites the star-studded forged from the unique film, which incorporates Emma Stone, Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds.
The Croods and its sequel happen in an interesting fantasy world, brimming with shade and peculiar creatures from another imaginative and prescient of the Pliocene period. With loads of colourful animation and a few proudly foolish gags, the Croods franchise is a serviceable crowdpleaser, though it lacks the spark of another DreamWorks motion pictures.
6
Prince Of Egypt
1998’s The Prince of Egypt is likely one of the highest DreamWorks motion pictures, offering a contemporary tackle a Biblical story that additionally appeals to non-Christians. With a outstanding ensemble forged that includes Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Sandra Bullock and extra, it breathes new life into the story of Moses.
The Prince of Egypt is an exhilarating Biblical epic, however even its most ardent admirers may not learn about its direct-to-video prequel. Joseph: King of Desires adapts a distinct story from the Bible. There are flashes of brilliance, but it surely’s not as spectacular as its predecessor.
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The Unhealthy Guys
The Unhealthy Guys is DreamWorks’ latest franchise, and it is instantly one in all their finest. After two entertaining heist comedies, The Unhealthy Guys 3 looks as if a certainty, which may imply that the films will veer even farther from the Aaron Blabey books they’re impressed by.
The Unhealthy Guys motion pictures are fast-paced, frantic enjoyable, however in addition they have loads of coronary heart. In addition they satirize the heist style in some ways, which is a part of what they provide to older audiences. A 3rd film hasn’t been formally confirmed but, however The Unhealthy Guys has all of the makings of an awesome franchise for DreamWorks.
4
Madagascar
The Madagascar franchise appears to have wound down, with even its TV spinoffs having ended a number of years in the past. It began all the best way again in 2015, but it surely managed to maintain itself as a result of the primary film introduces so many lovable supporting characters, from the penguins to King Julien and his lemurs.
The Madagascar motion pictures are extra involved with comedy than emotional storytelling, notably the spinoff Penguins of Madagascar, which begins with Skipper’s crew breaking into Fort Knox. This illustrates the madcap comedy of the franchise. It is no coincidence that the principle stars are all comedians.
3
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda performs with the tropes of the wuxia style, making them extra accessible for a youthful viewers by including a wholesome dose of comedy. Jack Black stars as Po, the unlikely hero whose underdog story within the first film units him up as a singular sort of fighter.
The Kung Fu Panda franchise has three sequels, each introducing an intriguing new villain for Po and his allies to take down. The unique film is arguably the perfect of the bunch, however there’s nonetheless lots to like in regards to the sequels. Kung Fu Panda can get surprisingly emotional at instances.