Netflix Wins ‘Sesame Street’ Movie Rights

Netflix Wins ‘Sesame Street’ Movie Rights

June 21, 2026 discoverhiddenusacom Entertainment

Netflix has acquired the feature film rights to Sesame Street after a bidding war with Universal and Warner Bros., according to The Insneider newsletter. The streaming giant already secured television rights in May 2025. Rideback will produce the film alongside Sesame Workshop.

How did Netflix win the Sesame Street film rights?

The acquisition followed a year-long contest that began after Sesame Workshop signed with CAA in the fall. According to sources, the competition was a three-way battle between Netflix, Universal, and Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. previously held the feature rights for about a decade but failed to produce a movie. Sources state the studio bowed out early due to acquisition drama involving Netflix and Paramount.

Universal remained a strong contender by attaching producers Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and The Daniels—the filmmaking team behind Everything Everywhere All at Once. However, Sesame Workshop ultimately approved Rideback’s approach to the material, leading to the Netflix deal.

Did You Know? The 1985 film Follow That Bird was distributed by Warner Bros. and featured actors John Candy, Chevy Chase, and Dave Thomas.

Who is producing the new Sesame Street movie?

Rideback will produce the feature film. The company is led by Jonathan Eirich and Michael Lofaso and is known for the billion-dollar live-action adaptations of Aladdin and Lilo & Stitch.

Rideback had already established a relationship with Sesame Workshop through a separate animation project. This prior collaboration allowed the production company to get an early jump in the process.

Sesame Workshop will also serve as a producer on the project. No filmmaker is currently attached to direct the movie, according to sources.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that consolidating both television and feature film rights allows a single entity to control the brand’s narrative across all formats. This reduces the licensing friction that previously stalled a Sesame Street movie at Warner Bros. for ten years.

What is the history of Sesame Street on the big screen?

The educational series is famous for characters including Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, and Bert and Ernie. It has previously spawned two theatrical releases.

‘Sesame Street’ movie is rumored to be in the works at Netflix

The first adaptation, Follow That Bird, arrived in 1985. This was followed by The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland in 1999.

What happens next for the franchise?

Netflix may now seek to align the feature film’s release with its existing television programming. A possible next step involves the appointment of a director to lead the project.

The streamer could leverage Rideback’s experience with high-budget live-action adaptations to determine the film’s visual style. Future developments may depend on how Sesame Workshop and Rideback finalize the creative approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is producing the Sesame Street movie?
Rideback, run by Jonathan Eirich and Michael Lofaso, will produce the film with Sesame Workshop also serving in a producer capacity.

Which studios competed for the rights?
Netflix, Universal, and Warner Bros. were involved in the bidding process.

When did Netflix acquire the television rights?
Netflix picked up the television rights in May 2025.

Do you think a modern Sesame Street movie should be live-action or animated?

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