Netflix wins – Netflix secured the film rights to Sesame Street after a two-company bidding war, with Rideback producing the movie. The deal caps a year-long search that began with Universal, Warner Bros and Netflix, and comes after Netflix helped keep the Sesame Street TV s
Netflix has kept Sesame Street firmly on its platform—this time, by winning the rights to bring the beloved children’s series to the big screen.
The streamer landed the film rights after a two-company bidding war, with Rideback producing the movie. Rideback has already been working with Sesame Workshop on an animated project. and that relationship matters here: the company had Sesame Workshop’s stamp of approval for the movie rights to go to Netflix.
The bidding process stretched for a year. It reportedly started with three companies aiming for the rights: Universal, Warner Bros and Netflix. Warner Bros had previously held the film rights, but a movie never came together, and the studio bowed out early.
Universal, meanwhile, entered with a team attached—Everything Everywhere All at Once helmers The Daniels were reportedly set as producers. With Warner Bros exiting and Universal’s bid in motion, Netflix ultimately came out on top.
This new movie deal lands after a tense chapter for the Sesame Street television show itself. Netflix saved the series last year after Warner Bros Discovery decided not to renew its deal. The first season debuted on Netflix in November 2025, and the second season premiered in March.
For the movie, Rideback has lined up Jonathan Eirich and Michael Lofaso to produce. The production company’s history with Netflix runs deep, including the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series, plus movies such as Death Note and The Two Popes.
Rideback also produced the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie, The Lego Movies, live-action Aladdin, It, Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr, Gangster Squad, Haunted Mansion, and TV shows like Walker, Walker: Independence, Lethal Weapon, and Frequency.
With Netflix now holding the film rights and Rideback carrying production, the question for fans is simple: after keeping Sesame Street streaming through renewal drama, can the franchise turn that momentum into a movie that lives up to its legacy?
Netflix Sesame Street Sesame Workshop Rideback Jonathan Eirich Michael Lofaso bidding war Warner Bros Universal The Daniels Movies Kids content