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Credit: Inside the MagicDisney just picked up another batch of movies tied to some of Universal’s biggest franchises, and they’re heading to a streaming platform that once seemed like the last place fans would expect to find them.
Over the last several months, Disney+ has started looking very different from the family-focused streaming service that originally launched in 2019. The continued integration of Hulu has opened the door to movies and franchises Disney doesn’t own, including properties closely associated with rival studios and even Universal’s theme parks.
The Shrek collection already gave subscribers a taste of how unusual this new streaming landscape can become. Now, another group of recognizable blockbusters is preparing to make the jump.
And this time, the list includes dinosaurs, Minions, and even a franchise with a longtime attraction at Universal Studios Florida.
So, what exactly is going on?
Disney+ Has Become Much Bigger Than Disney
Disney+ originally built its identity around Disney’s enormous collection of recognizable brands. Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic gave the service an extensive library without needing much outside help.
Hulu has dramatically expanded that equation.
Disney has continued integrating Hulu into Disney+, allowing eligible subscribers to access much of Hulu’s streaming library without leaving the Disney+ app. As a result, subscribers can now come across plenty of movies and television shows that have little or nothing to do with Disney itself.
That means Disney+ isn’t limited to movies and television shows actually owned by Disney.
Licensing agreements regularly move movies between competing streaming services. A Universal movie streaming on Hulu via Disney+ doesn’t mean Disney purchased the property or gained control of the franchise. It simply means the streaming rights allow that title to appear there for a particular period.
Still, seeing Universal-associated franchises sitting alongside Disney’s own properties can be surprising.
And Shrek provided one of the most noticeable examples.
Shrek Already Made the Jump
Earlier in 2026, the main Shrek movies became available through Hulu on Disney+ for eligible U.S. subscribers.
That included Shrek (2001), Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010), putting one of DreamWorks Animation’s defining franchises inside Disney’s streaming ecosystem.
Of course, Disney doesn’t own Shrek. DreamWorks Animation is part of NBCUniversal, and the franchise remains closely associated with Universal.
That’s particularly noticeable for theme park fans. Shrek has maintained a presence within Universal’s parks for years, making its appearance within Disney’s streaming platform feel especially unusual.
But that’s simply the reality of modern streaming.
Studios can compete at the box office, inside theme parks, and through their own streaming platforms while still licensing individual movies to other services.
Now, Disney’s August lineup is taking that unusual crossover considerably further.
More Universal Blockbusters Arrive in August
In August 2026, several familiar movies will be available on Hulu, making them accessible on Disney+ for eligible subscribers.
Among the biggest additions is Jurassic Park (1993), Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster that launched one of Universal’s most enduring franchises. Jurassic Park also maintains a major presence at Universal Orlando Resort.
Despicable Me 2 (2013) is also joining the lineup, bringing Gru and the Minions into Disney’s streaming ecosystem despite their major presence at Universal’s theme parks.
Then there’s Men in Black (1997) and Men in Black II (2002), which are also joining Hulu in August.
The franchise has a particularly strong connection to Universal Orlando. MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack has operated at Universal Studios Florida since 2000, allowing guests to become agents and battle aliens.
Disney+ subscribers will soon be able to stream several movies connected to franchises represented throughout Universal’s theme parks.
What Does This Actually Mean for Universal and Disney?
Despite how strange it may look, Disney isn’t actually taking these franchises away from Universal.
This is primarily about streaming licensing. Movies routinely rotate between services as licensing agreements begin and expire, meaning they don’t always remain exclusively on one company’s platform.
Hulu’s integration into Disney+ makes those arrangements much more noticeable. A movie arriving on Hulu can now appear within an app viewers strongly associate with Disney entertainment.
That creates some unusual combinations.
A guest could experience MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack or explore Jurassic Park at Universal Orlando Resort, then find movies behind those properties through Hulu on Disney+.
It’s another reminder that the streaming wars aren’t as straightforward as they once appeared.
Disney+ Keeps Expanding Beyond Disney
Disney+ isn’t acquiring Universal’s franchises, but its library increasingly extends far beyond traditional Disney entertainment.
Hulu has played a major role in that transformation.
The August arrivals of Jurassic Park (1993), Despicable Me 2 (2013), Men in Black (1997), and Men in Black II (2002) provide another example of how much the platform has expanded.
For viewers, that means more recognizable movies available from one place. For theme park fans, however, there’s an amusing layer to the situation.
Some franchise guests that guests immediately associate with Universal will soon be only a few clicks away on Disney+.
And as Disney continues bringing Hulu deeper into its flagship streaming service, this probably won’t be the last time rival studio properties end up sharing the same streaming home with Mickey Mouse, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars.
