Mr. Peabody and Sherman: Flop Explained, Where to Watch

Most people know Mr. Peabody as that impossibly smart cartoon dog with a talking pet and a time-traveling contraption. The 2014 film earned solid reviews yet still became one of DreamWorks’ trickier commercial bets — grossing $275.7 million worldwide against a $145 million budget and triggering a $57 million write-down for the studio.

Release Year: 2014 · Studio: DreamWorks Animation · Genre: Animated science fiction comedy · Top Streaming: Netflix, Prime Video

The table below compiles the key specs and commercial data for quick reference.

Why did Mr. Peabody and Sherman flop?

The numbers tell a complicated story. Mr. Peabody & Sherman opened March 7, 2014 on 3,934 screens and pulled $32.2 million in its first weekend — good for No. 2 behind the superhero sequel 300: Rise of an Empire, which was also distributed by 20th Century Fox that same month. The film earned an A from CinemaScore audiences and landed an 81% approval on Rotten Tomatoes. Those are not the marks of a flop in the traditional sense. Yet by DreamWorks standards, the returns fell short.

The worldwide gross of $275.7 million against a $145 million production budget sounds respectable on paper until you factor in marketing costs, which pushed the break-even point considerably higher. Forbes attributed the underperformance to lackluster marketing and a lack of appeal to the youngest moviegoers — the core demographic studios count on for repeat viewings. Gizmodo contributor Katharine Trendacosta offered a complementary read, arguing the film was “too clever” for general audiences accustomed to simpler animated premises. When Chris Aronson of 20th Century Fox spoke during the opening, he noted strong midweek numbers and a nostalgia factor working in the film’s favor, but that midweek strength did not translate into the multiplier the studio needed over a full theatrical run.

The US run ended August 14, 2014, having generated $111.5 million domestically while international markets contributed $164.2 million. Alongside Penguins of Madagascar, another DreamWorks release that year, the combined shortfall contributed to a $57 million write-down reported by DreamWorks Animation for fiscal 2014.

Critical reception

The critical consensus around the film centered on its clever script and inventive time-travel sequences. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus read: “Mr. Peabody & Sherman proves that revisiting familiar ideas doesn’t always result in creative diminishing returns.” Critics praised the voice work of Ty Burrell as Mr. Peabody and Max Charles as Sherman, along with the film’s educational upside. Metacritic’s 59/100 score reflected “mixed or average” notices, with some critics finding the pacing rushed given the story’s scope.

The audience CinemaScore grade of A stood out as unusually positive relative to the Metacritic score, suggesting that viewers who did engage came away satisfied — a contrast to the commercial outcome that puzzled industry observers at the time.

Box office performance

Breaking down the run: the second weekend brought $21.8 million and a No. 1 ranking as positive word-of-mouth moved the film up the charts. By the third weekend, it settled to No. 3 with $11.8 million; the fourth weekend brought $9.1 million at No. 4. The downward trajectory was faster than DreamWorks had expected, and without strong holds the multiplier fell below the 2.5× mark that typically signals healthy legs for an animated release.

The opening day figure of $8 million — roughly $32.2 million for the full three-day weekend — came in below analyst projections of $40 million or higher. The film never recovered that ground over the subsequent months.

What are Mr. Peabody and Sherman based off of?

The characters trace their origin to “Peabody’s Improbable History,” a recurring segment on the animated anthology show Rocky and His Friends, which aired from 1959 through 1961. The show was later retitled The Bullwinkle Show and continued airing into the mid-1960s. In these segments, the genius dog Mr. Peabody — voiced by Bill Scott — would narrate historical vignettes with trademark deadpan humor, often correcting the overly trusting Sherman on factual details throughout the story.

There is no 1959 theatrical film featuring these characters. Peabody and Sherman existed exclusively as TV segments during that period. The misunderstanding that a “box office flop in 1959” somehow produced these characters conflates eras — a 2014 animated feature had commercial difficulties, not a non-existent 1959 movie. Top grossing films of 1959 like Ben-Hur earned adjusted gross receipts in the billions, a scale that applies to feature films, not Saturday morning cartoon segments with zero theatrical footprint.

The 2014 CGI film from DreamWorks Animation took these short segments and built a feature-length narrative around the WABAC machine, a time-travel device Mr. Peabody invented. The film introduced original plot elements while retaining the core dynamic between the brilliant canine and his adopted son Sherman.

1959 cartoon series

Rocky and His Friends launched on October 30, 1959, and ran for two seasons before transitioning to the Bullwinkle Show format. The Peabody’s Improbable History segments appeared sporadically throughout the show’s run, typically as brief comedic vignettes that riffed on historical events in deliberately improbable ways. Jay Ward Productions created the original series, and the characters were conceptualized as a parody of educational programming — treating history with the deadpan confidence of a character who had actually witnessed it firsthand.

The original cartoon segments never achieved the commercial success of a feature film because they were not designed for that format. They were broadcast television content distributed for free via network airwaves, not theatrical releases.

Local inspiration for Mr. Peabody, Sherman and the WABAC machine

The 2014 film expanded this premise into a feature-length adventure. The plot follows Sherman (voiced by Max Charles) and Mr. Peabody (voiced by Ty Burrell) as they use the WABAC to visit historical periods — including ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, and ancient Greece — before a mishap threatens to unravel history itself. Historical figures like Agamemnon, Leonardo da Vinci, and others appear as characters with varying degrees of comedic license taken in their portrayals.

Rob Minkoff directed the 2014 feature, marking a shift from his previous work on The Lion King. The 20th Century Fox distribution gave the film a wide release across North America with over 3,900 screens for its opening weekend.

Where can I watch Mr. Peabody and Sherman?

Streaming availability for Mr. Peabody & Sherman has shifted over the years as licensing deals with DreamWorks Animation changed hands — notably after NBCUniversal acquired DreamWorks in 2016 and subsequent content reorganizations took effect. As of 2024-2026, the most consistently available platforms are Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, though the exact regional availability varies and viewers in some markets may find the film absent from both at certain periods.

For audiences looking for the most current information, checking individual streaming platforms directly remains the most reliable approach. The film’s availability has fluctuated between Netflix and Prime Video at different points, and content libraries shift as licensing windows expire and renew.

UK streaming options

UK streaming availability for Mr. Peabody & Sherman is less consistently documented in public sources than US availability. The film has reportedly appeared on Netflix in UK markets at various points, though current 2026 status lacks confirmed documentation. Prime Video UK has historically carried the film for rental and purchase, making it a fallback option when Netflix availability is uncertain.

The licensing situation means that if you searched for the film on Netflix UK in early 2024 and found it unavailable, that state may have changed since. Streaming library curation fluctuates regularly, and DreamWorks titles particularly have moved between platforms as NBCUniversal’s streaming strategy for its acquired content has evolved.

Prime Video availability

Amazon Prime Video has been the most reliable consistent home for the film in both UK and US markets. Both Amazon UK and Amazon US have carried the film for rental and purchase, typically priced between £3.99-£4.99 or $3.99 in the respective markets.

If you are trying to stream the film for free, your best bet is to check whether the film is included in your Netflix subscription at the current moment — though if you previously watched it on Netflix and found it removed, that removal may have been permanent or temporary depending on the licensing window at the time.

Why did they take Mr. Peabody and Sherman off Netflix?

The short answer is that Netflix licensing agreements are time-limited, and DreamWorks Animation’s content moved between platforms as ownership changed. When NBCUniversal acquired DreamWorks in 2016, the company’s streaming strategy shifted — NBCUniversal’s own platforms began prioritizing DreamWorks content, and Netflix’s license deals for older DreamWorks titles were not uniformly renewed.

YouTube discussions and fan forum posts have tracked the film’s Netflix availability over the years, with users noting specific removal dates and replacement availability on other platforms. These community-sourced observations align with broader patterns in streaming content curation: studios rotate their catalog titles on and off subscription platforms to manage licensing costs and promote their own streaming services.

Licensing changes

The DreamWorks Animation catalog was built around two major distribution eras: the pre-NBCUniversal period when Fox distributed theatrical releases, and the post-acquisition period when NBCUniversal integrated the studio’s content into its own streaming ecosystem via Peacock and its broader licensing arrangements. Mr. Peabody & Sherman, released in 2014, falls into the Fox-era catalog that later became part of the NBCUniversal acquisition.

Licensing deals for catalog titles typically run 12-36 month cycles. When DreamWorks content began shifting toward NBCUniversal platforms, older titles that Netflix had licensed were either renewed at higher cost or allowed to expire — and community tracking suggests Mr. Peabody & Sherman experienced at least one such transition when it left Netflix in some regions.

Current Netflix status

No current public source as of early 2026 confirms whether Mr. Peabody & Sherman is currently available on Netflix UK or Netflix US. The film has surfaced on Netflix at various points in the past, but its availability is not guaranteed in any given month. For the most accurate answer, search the film title directly on the Netflix platform you use.

The broader pattern suggests that NBCUniversal is gradually consolidating its DreamWorks catalog under platforms it controls or licenses exclusively, making wide third-party availability for older titles less likely over time. However, streaming licensing remains unpredictable, and a title removed from Netflix can reappear months later under a new deal.

Is there Mr. Peabody and Sherman 2?

As of early 2026, no sequel to Mr. Peabody & Sherman has been announced, and the gap since the 2014 original has widened to over a decade without any official development news from DreamWorks Animation or NBCUniversal. The original film’s underperformance at the box office likely dampened internal enthusiasm for a sequel, and DreamWorks’ subsequent focus on other franchises — including the How to Train Your Dragon series and Trolls franchise — has not included revived interest in the Peabody and Sherman property.

The characters did continue in other formats. A TV series titled The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show premiered in 2015 and ran for multiple seasons on Netflix, adapting the characters into a new format with historical comedy and expanded character dynamics. This series kept the characters active in the public eye without requiring a theatrical sequel investment.

Sequel status

No official sequel announcement exists in public corporate filings, press releases, or official DreamWorks communication as of 2026. Industry tracking sites like ComingSoon.net and official DreamWorks social media channels have not carried any development updates for a second feature film.

The television series The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show (2015-2017) ran for three seasons and 78 episodes, suggesting the IP retained value for lower-cost content production even if a theatrical sequel remained off the table. The series is currently available on Netflix in some regions, representing the most recent production using these characters.

Future prospects

Speculation about sequels occasionally surfaces in fan communities and film forums, but these discussions reflect audience enthusiasm rather than any confirmed development pipeline. DreamWorks Animation, now under NBCUniversal’s broader media strategy, has been selective about sequel investments, prioritizing properties with proven franchise potential and lower financial risk.

The characters remain popular enough that fan demand exists, and the time-travel premise offers nearly unlimited story potential. But without an official announcement, the most realistic path forward is likely additional streaming content — possibly a new series on Peacock or continued availability of the existing TV series — rather than a theatrical sequel.

Clarity on the record

What people are saying

Our midweek numbers were very strong, indicating good and positive word of mouth.

— Chris Aronson, President of Domestic Distribution, Twentieth Century Fox (KSL.com)

The movie was too clever for audiences. That explains the low opening.

— Katharine Trendacosta, Gizmodo (Wikipedia)

Mr. Peabody & Sherman proves that revisiting familiar ideas doesn’t always result in creative diminishing returns.

— Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus (Wikipedia)

The divergence between what industry observers expected and what audiences actually delivered reflects a recurring tension in animated film marketing: audiences aged 25-44 embraced the film for its wit and historical framing, while the younger demographic that drives repeat theatrical viewings did not turn out in expected numbers. This gap between critical acclaim and commercial performance is the defining story of Mr. Peabody & Sherman’s box office narrative.

For viewers deciding whether to stream the film today, the critical consensus and audience grades suggest it holds up well — the Rotten Tomatoes score of 81% and CinemaScore of A indicate quality that outlasted the film’s theatrical window. The question is not whether the film is worth watching, but whether your preferred streaming platform currently has it available.

For families: the film is generally appropriate for children aged 6 and up, with mild peril sequences and historical references that reward attentive viewing. The educational upside through the time-travel framing has been noted positively by parents and educators who have used the film in informal educational contexts.

Related reading: Song of the South: Controversy, Disney Ban & Where to Watch Explained · The Day the Earth Blew Up: Watch, Reviews & Kids Guide

Mr. Peabody & Sherman pulled in $276M with solid reviews yet flopped, detailed flop breakdown and watch guide tracing roots to 1959 TV segments now on Netflix.

Frequently asked questions

The pattern from Mr. Peabody & Sherman’s commercial story is not unusual in animated film — a beloved property, strong reviews, and satisfied audiences did not automatically translate into blockbuster returns. The disconnect between quality and commercial performance, combined with the characters’ ongoing presence through the TV series, suggests the IP retains latent value even if the studio has not moved forward with a sequel. For streaming viewers today, the question is not whether the film is worth 92 minutes — the critical consensus and audience grades make that clear — but whether your current platform carries it. Checking Prime Video for purchase or rental, or directly searching Netflix for current availability, remains the most reliable path to watching.