Peacock Just Added a Forgotten 2000s Animated Move (And It’s an Instant Streaming Hit)

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The early 2000s saw a huge surge in animated movies, creating a new generation of classics. Thanks to advancements in computer animation and studios like DreamWorks, alongside continued success from Disney and Pixar, films like Finding Nemo, Shrek, and The Incredibles became major hits. However, some animated films from that time weren’t as well-received. Recently, a critically disliked movie from the mid-2000s has unexpectedly gained popularity after becoming available on the streaming service Peacock.

Despite receiving negative reviews and flopping in theaters over 20 years ago, DreamWorks’ Shark Tale, starring Will Smith, is now a popular streaming movie. Added to NBCUniversal’s streaming service on January 1st, it quickly climbed into the Top 10, and is currently ranked at No. 8 in the U.S. That puts it ahead of other DreamWorks films like How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World and The Croods: A New Age.

How Did DreamWorks’ Worst Movie Become a Streaming Hit?

Calling Shark Tale DreamWorks’ worst movie might sound like an exaggeration, but there’s good reason to believe it. While DreamWorks has made several critically acclaimed films like How to Train Your Dragon and The Wild Robot, Shark Tale consistently receives very poor reviews. It currently holds a 35% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the lowest-rated DreamWorks film of all time. Critic Rachel Wagner even called it “one of the worst mainstream animated films of the last 20 years,” and many others have criticized its unappealing characters, questionable content, and over-reliance on famous voice actors instead of a strong story.

Even though Shark Tale didn’t receive great reviews when it first came out and hasn’t held up particularly well compared to other DreamWorks films from that time, it’s proven popular on streaming services. Before finding success on Peacock, the movie was a hit on Netflix in early 2025.

Despite its flaws, Shark Tale remains popular thanks to a wave of nostalgia. The movie, filled with a memorable soundtrack and a famous cast, really captures the early 2000s with its playful humor and references to pop culture. For millennials and older Gen Z, it’s a fun trip down memory lane. Interestingly, it can be even more enjoyable as an adult, with jokes and social commentary that kids might miss. Plus, iconic scenes like the squeaky shrimp have gone viral, bringing the film to a new generation of viewers while reminding older fans why they loved it in the first place.

What’s New on Peacock?

While Shark Tale is currently very popular, Peacock has added a lot of other great movies and shows. At the start of 2026, the streaming service launched a wave of new content, including animated favorites like All Dogs Go to Heaven, the first three How to Train Your Dragon films, and Shrek Forever After. Beyond animation, new additions on January 1st also included action and drama with titles like Den of Thieves, The Green Mile, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and The Terminator.

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2026-01-07 01:42