The Bad Guys (franchise)
A franchise of crime comedy films from DreamWorks Animation.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Bad Guys is a media franchise of crime comedy films produced by DreamWorks Animation, loosely based on the children's book series of the same name by Aaron Blabey. The franchise began with the 2022 film of the same name and has since expanded to include two prequel holiday specials, a sequel, and a prequel streaming series. It follows a gang of humanoid animals who operate as professional criminals in the face of social prejudice, eventually striving to change their ways with the secret help of a retired criminal turned State Governor.
- field
- Animated film franchise
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Crime comedy films featuring humanoid animal criminals
- first_release
- 2022
- latest_release
- 2025
Lore & Background
The franchise originated with the 2022 film The Bad Guys, directed by Pierre Perifel in his feature directorial debut. The film was developed after several studios expressed interest in adapting Aaron Blabey's book series, with Etan Cohen writing the screenplay. Production took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the film's release was delayed multiple times, ultimately premiering in April 2022. A sequel, The Bad Guys 2, was confirmed in 2024 and released in 2025, with Perifel returning to direct alongside co-director JP Sans. A third film was planned as of June 2025, but its status became uncertain after key crew members left DreamWorks Animation in late 2025 and early 2026.
The franchise also includes two prequel holiday specials: The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday (2023) and The Bad Guys: Haunted Heist (2024), both produced by DreamWorks Animation Television and released on Netflix. A prequel streaming series, initially titled The Bad Guys: Breaking In, premiered on Netflix in November 2025 and was retitled The Bad Guys: The Series for its second season in April 2026. Two short films were also produced: The Bad Guys in Maraschino Ruby (2022) and The Bad Guys: Little Lies and Alibis (2025).
Reader's Guide
The Bad Guys franchise represents DreamWorks Animation's continued exploration of the heist genre with a comedic twist, similar to how Shrek handled fairy tales or Kung Fu Panda handled kung fu. The franchise's core theme involves a group of humanoid animal criminals who, despite facing extreme social prejudice, attempt to reform and use their skills for constructive goals. The franchise expanded rapidly from a single film to include multiple television specials, a series, and short films, indicating strong audience interest. Its box office performance and critical reception are not detailed in the source article, but the franchise's growth suggests commercial viability. The uncertain status of a third film, following the departure of key creative personnel, highlights the volatility of franchise development in animation. The franchise also crossed over into video games with characters appearing in DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing in 2023.
Did You Know?
- The franchise is loosely based on the children's book series by Aaron Blabey.
- The first film was delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A third film was planned as of June 2025, but its status became uncertain after key crew left DreamWorks Animation.
- Two prequel holiday specials were released on Netflix in 2023 and 2024.
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