Netflix Snags Sesame Street Movie Rights!

Netflix has emerged victorious in a bidding war, acquiring the feature film rights to the iconic children's program, Sesame Street. This deal brings the beloved characters and educational content fully into Netflix's fold, complementing their existing ownership of the show's television rights, secured in May 2025.

Rideback, the production company behind successful live-action films, has been tapped to produce the upcoming Sesame Street movie. They were already collaborating with Sesame Workshop on an animation project, giving them an early advantage in the acquisition process. Sesame Workshop will also participate in a producing capacity for the feature film.

The acquisition process was a year-long contest involving multiple major studios. Initially, Netflix, Universal, and Warner Bros. were in contention. Warner Bros., which previously held the film rights for a decade without producing a movie, withdrew early in the process. Universal had attached prominent filmmakers, but ultimately, Netflix prevailed.