Since so much has been going on with DreamWorks Animation, as of late, I thought I'd give a brief analysis of how they're doing today (in terms of commercial and critical success).
As what many people know, DreamWorks Animation made one of the first computer-animated films ever, Antz in 1998. However, it had to compete against another bug cartoon, Pixar's A Bug's Life (which is arguably better). However, Antz's commercial success at the box office (while not the studios' most profitable) would allow them to expand and improve the quality of their animation.
Shrek was released in 2001, and launched a massive franchise empire, with nearly $270 million domestic (which back then was the second-biggest animated film ever). It was followed by Shrek 2 in 2004, which shattered records with a $105 million opening and $420 million total (the largest domestic gross ever for an animated film) and $920 million worldwide (Top 20 all-time list). It was that particular film that skyrocketed DreamWorks Animation to the top (it even beat Pixar that year). Shrek The Third and Shrek Forever After were also very successful, but they didn't match the very high mark set by the second movie, with close to $800 million worldwide each ($337 and $238 million domestically).
But Shrek wasn't the only movie franchise to succeed. In 2005, Madagascar was released and was a huge hit with $532 million worldwide ($195 million domestically), and it even beat the original Shrek's $485 million worldwide gross, putting up some lofty expectations for the future. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, released in 2008, did improve on the gross worldwide ($603 million), but it actually fell short domestically ($180 million), which was a bit disappointing. Thankfully, just a couple of months ago (partially due to 3D surcharges), Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted beat everyone's expectations and after opening to $60 million, saw better-than-expected sustainability, and is expected to reach $220 million stateside (along with a worldwide gross close to its' predecessor's $603 million). The series' popularity had been reinvigorated due to the popular Penguins of Madagascar TV series on Nickelodeon.
2008 brought Kung Fu Panda, DreamWorks' next major franchise bait. And that movie succeeded too, with a $60 million debut and $215 million finish. Plus, with it being very well-liked, it seemed like fans were clamoring for more. Three short years later, Kung Fu Panda 2 (one of my favorite DreamWorks movies) arrives, and it loses nearly 25% from its' predecessors' business stateside ($165 million). However, it was able to do huge business overseas, with grosses crossing the $500 million mark there ($665 million worldwide). A TV series is currently running on Nickelodeon.
Finally, 2010 brought their first book adaptation, How To Train Your Dragon (my favorite DreamWorks movie). The movie did open slow over Spring Break ($44 million), but it saw unbelievable legs, finishing with nearly $220 million stateside and close to $500 million worldwide. A TV series just premiered on Cartoon Network and a live stage show is currently touring worldwide.
But DreamWorks didn't always do computer animation. In fact, in 1998, The Prince of Egypt was critically-acclaimed and earned close to $220 million worldwide (a huge number for a movie back then). But the studio would slowly turn away from the format as grosses started to dwindle. In 2000, The Road To El Dorado bombed with just $75 million worldwide. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron didn't turn a profit stateside, but still earned over $120 million worldwide (and I'll say it again, one of my favorites from the animation studio). The movie that axed traditional animation once and for all from the studio was Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, which only managed $25 million stateside (but $80 million worldwide).
DreamWorks also had collaborations with British studio Aardman, starting with the successful Chicken Run ($225 million worldwide). But again, grosses would begin to dwindle. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, despite winning an Oscar was only a $60 million domestic grosser (with close to $200 million worldwide, though). Flushed Away, the final Aardman project with DreamWorks, only found over $175 million on a $150 million budget. Aardman now releases their films with Sony Pictures Animation (but hasn't found much success).
But DreamWorks has had plenty of computer-animation misfires themselves, in what became a "slump" after How To Train Your Dragon's $43 million opening weekend, they were unable to hit high marks (until Madagascar 3 this year). Shark Tale tried to be the next Finding Nemo, but couldn't even make half of that films' ginormous gross domestically ($337 million vs. $149 million). Over The Hedge boasted starpower, but it couldn't find as big of an audience as DreamWorks' other films ($335 million worldwide and $135 million domestic). Bee Movie featured the voice-acting debut of Jerry Seinfeld (one of the most successful television comedians), but it had DreamWorks' worst gross since their early days ($125 million against a $150 million budget). Monsters VS. Aliens had a strong opening weekend ($59.3 million), but it failed to connect foreign audiences ($375 million worldwide). The same goes for MegaMind, which boasted strong starpower but yet again, just couldn't click with foreign audiences ($320 million worldwide, much less than five other 2010 animated hits, but yet again, another one of my favorites from the studio). Kung Fu Panda 2 and Shrek Forever After both fell 25% or more from their predecessors. The most successful of the bunch was Shrek spin-off Puss in Boots, which, despite only $150 million stateside, was able to tally a huge $550 million worldwide.
Now lets' look at the future. We all know DreamWorks will end its' contract with Paramount at the end of this year with what I think is going to be one of their best films yet, Rise of the Guardians, their second attempt at a book adaptation. It releases Thanksgiving week. Just a couple of weeks ago, DreamWorks signed a deal with 20th Century Fox for the next five years, which is a double bonus since Fox has Blue Sky Studios (who has the worldwide juggernaut Ice Age franchise).
Next year will be DreamWorks' second year to have three movies in one year. The Croods (March 22), co-directed by How To Train Your Dragon's Chris Sanders and starring Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds also lends his voice to the main character in the studios' second film of 2013, Turbo (July 19). Finally, DreamWorks does their third adaptation with the classic Mr. Peabody and Sherman (Late 2013). Lined up after that are computer/hand-drawn combination Me and My Shadow, an adaptation of The True Meaning of Smekday!, two sequels to How To Train Your Dragon and a third Kung Fu Panda.
Plus countless more in development.
Altogether, I think DreamWorks is in a great spot right now. They just keep getting better and better, not just in animation quality, but the stories that they bring today are brilliantly executed compared to their first movies. I do have to say that animation is getting more and more crowded each year, but I do believe that DreamWorks is still going to be sticking around for a long time.
