Warner Bros. Pictures
Formerly |
|
---|---|
Company type | Subsidiary |
Industry | Film production |
Predecessor | Warner Features Company |
Founded | April 4, 1923 |
Founders | |
Headquarters | Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group |
Website | warnerbros.com |
Footnotes / references [1][2] |
Warner Bros. Pictures is an American
Founded in 1923 by brothers Harry Warner, Albert Warner, Sam Warner, and Jack L. Warner, in addition to producing its own films, it handles filmmaking operations, theatrical distribution, marketing and promotion for films produced and released by other Warner Bros. labels, including Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, New Line Cinema, DC Studios, and Castle Rock Entertainment, as well as various third-party producers.
Warner Bros. Pictures is currently one of five live-action film studios within the
History
The studio's predecessor (and the modern-day Warner Bros Entertainment as a whole) was founded as the Warner Features Company in
On April 4, 1923, Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. was officially established as their main focus was entirely on the motion picture industry.
The studio has released twenty-five films that have received an Academy Award for Best Picture nomination: Disraeli (1929), I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932), 42nd Street (1933), Here Comes the Navy (1934), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935), Anthony Adverse (1936), The Life of Emile Zola (1937), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Four Daughters (1938), Jezebel (1938), Dark Victory (1939), to name a few.
In the aftermath of the 1948 antitrust suit, uncertain times led Warner Bros. in 1956 to sell most of its pre-1950[15][16][17] films and cartoons to Associated Artists Productions (a.a.p.). In addition, a.a.p. also obtained the Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios Popeye cartoons, originally from Paramount Pictures. Two years later, a.a.p. was sold to United Artists, which owned the company until 1981, when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquired United Artists.[18][19]
In November 1966, Jack gave in to advancing age and changing times, selling 32% of control of the studio and music business to Seven Arts Productions, run by Canadian investors Elliot and Kenneth Hyman, for $32 million.[20] Eventually, the company, including the studio, was renamed Warner Bros.-Seven Arts on July 14, 1967.[21]
In 1982, during their independent years, Turner Broadcasting System acquired Brut Productions, the film production arm of France-based then-struggling personal-care company Faberge Inc.[22]
In 1986, Turner Broadcasting System acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Finding itself in debt, Turner kept the pre-May 1986 MGM film and television libraries and a small portion of the United Artists library (including the a.a.p. library and North American rights to the RKO Radio Pictures library) while spinning off the rest of MGM.[23]
In 1989,
In 1991, Turner Broadcasting System acquired animation studio Hanna-Barbera and the Ruby-Spears library from Great American Broadcasting, and years later, Turner Broadcasting System acquired Castle Rock Entertainment on December 22, 1993[26][27] and New Line Cinema on January 28, 1994.[28][29] On October 10, 1996, Time Warner acquired Turner Broadcasting System, thus bringing Warner Bros.'s pre-1950 library back home. In addition, Warner Bros. only owns Castle Rock Entertainment's post-1994 library.
Warner Bros. Pictures
The division was incorporated as Warner Bros. Pictures on March 3, 2003, to diversify film subjects and expand audiences for their film releases.[30] The company became part of the Warner Bros. Pictures Group, which was established in 2008, and Jeff Robinov was appointed the first president of the company.[31] In 2017, longtime New Line executive Toby Emmerich joined as president.[32] In January 2018, he was elevated to chairman.[33][34] On October 23, 2018, it was announced Lynne Frank, President of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, would be leaving the company to pursue new opportunities.[35] In June 2019, Warner Bros. Pictures signed an agreement with SF Studios to have their films distributed in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland.[36]
As with most other film distributors, Warner Bros. Pictures struggled with releasing films during the 2020
In March 2021 Warner Bros. announced that for 2022 they will discontinue their same-day HBO Max and theatrical release model in favor of a 45-day theatrical exclusivity window.[40] This is part of an agreement the studio reached with Cineworld (who operates Regal Cinemas).[41]
On June 1, 2022,
Steve Spira returned as president of business affairs for Warner Bros. in June 2022, while De Luca and Abdy took over from Emmerich in July 2022. Former president
In August 2022, Warner Bros. Pictures entered into a multi-year deal for distributing MGM films outside the United States, including on home entertainment. The contract included joint participation of both companies for marketing, advertising, publicity, film distribution, and relationship with exhibitors for future MGM titles.[47] That same month, plans for film distribution at the studio were changed, with the studio relying more on theatrical releases than HBO Max-only releases.[48]
Walter Hamada, the president of DC Films, stepped down on October 19, 2022.[49] President of Production & Development Courtenay Valenti exited on October 28 and was replaced by Jesse Ehrman.[50][51] On June 9, 2023, the Warner Bros. Pictures Group was renamed as the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.[52]
Film library
Mergers and acquisitions have helped Warner Bros. accumulate a diverse collection of films, cartoons and television programs. As of 2022, Warner Bros. owned more than 145,000 hours of programming, including 12,500 feature films and 2,400 television programs comprising more than tens of thousands of individual episodes.[53]
Warner Bros. owns some shared universes. Some of them are based on books and comics, including some of the highest grossing IP's in the movie industry.
IP | No. Films | Notes |
---|---|---|
DC Extended Universe | 15 | Movies based on DC Comics. DCEU was Warner Bros.'s first iteration of a shared universe. The DC Universe serves as an upcoming reboot, led by James Gunn. |
DC Universe | – | Upcoming reboot of the DC Extended Universe, led by James Gunn. First movie, expected to be released in 2025. |
Wizarding World | 11 | Film rights sold by J. K. Rowling for 2 million $ and a net % of the profits. This shared universe became the 4th highest grossing IP in movie history. This universe includes 8 movies based on the Harry Potter books and 3 movies based on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. |
The Conjuring | 8 | Dramatized horror movies based on real-life cases of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. This shared universe includes movies like Annabelle, The Nun and The Curse of La Llorona. |
MonsterVerse | 4 | Shared Universe based on monster movie characters like Godzilla and King Kong, in addition to other kaiju characters created by Toho, including Mothra, Rodan and King Ghidorah. Made in co-production with Legendary Entertainment. |
Middle Earth | 6 | Movie series based on the books written by J. R. R. Tolkien, directed by Peter Jackson. |
Lego | 4 | Warner Bros owned the rights to Lego movies up until the end of 2019. More Lego movies were planned, but got cancelled after Universal Pictures bought the rights to the Lego movies. Cancelled sequels include a sequel to The Lego Batman Movie, called Lego Superfriends.[54][55] |
Film series
Title | Release date | No. of films | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Gold Diggers | 1923–51 | 7 | |
Looney Tunes | 1930–present | 8 | |
Penrod and Sam | 1931–38 | 2 | |
Perry Mason | 1934–37 | 6 | |
Philo Vance | 1934–40 | 5 | |
Torchy Blane | 1937–39 | 9 | |
Four Daughters | 1938–41 | 4 | |
Nancy Drew | 1938–2019 | 6 | |
Secret Service | 1939–40 | 4 | |
Ocean's
|
1960–present | 5 | co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures (2001–present) |
Hanna-Barbera | 1964–present | 12 | owned by WB since 1996 |
Dirty Harry | 1971–88 | 5 | |
The Exorcist | 1973–2005 | 4 | co-production with Morgan Creek (3–4) |
Oh, God! | 1977–84 | 3 | |
Every Which Way but Loose | 1978–80 | 2 | |
Superman | 1978–2006 | 6 | co-production with Legendary Pictures (2006) |
Mad Max | 1979–present | 4 | co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures |
Poseidon | 1979–2006 | 2 | |
Friday the 13th | 1980–2009 | co-production with Paramount Pictures and New Line Cinema | |
The Shining | 1980–2019 | ||
Arthur | 1981–2011 | 3 | |
Blade Runner | 1982–2017 | 2 | co-production with Alcon Entertainment and Columbia Pictures (2017) |
National Lampoon's Vacation | 1983–2015 | 5 | |
Police Academy | 1984–94 | 7 | |
Sesame Street | 1985–present | 2 | co-production with Sesame Workshop |
Lethal Weapon | 1987–98 | 4 | |
The Lost Boys | 1987–2010 | 3 | |
Beetlejuice | 1988–present | 1 | |
Batman
|
1989–97 | 4 | co-production with Polygram Pictures (1989–95)
|
Under Siege | 1992–95 | 2 | co-production with Regency Enterprises |
Unforgiven | 1992–2013 | ||
Grumpy Old Men | 1993–95 | ||
The Fugitive | 1993–98 | ||
Free Willy | 1993–2010 | 4 | co-production with Regency Enterprises |
Major League | 1994–98 | 2 | distribution only; co-production with Morgan Creek |
Ace Ventura | 1994–2009 | 3 | |
Eraser | 1996–2022 | 2 | |
Twister | 1996–present | 1 | co-production with Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment |
The Matrix | 1999–present | 4 | co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures |
Pokémon | 1999–2019 | US distribution only; co-production with The Pokémon Company | |
Deep Blue Sea | 1999–2020 | 3 | co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures |
The Whole Yards | 2000–04 | 2 | distribution only; co-production with Morgan Creek (2000) and Franchise Pictures |
Miss Congeniality | 2000–05 | co-production with Castle Rock Entertainment and Village Roadshow Pictures | |
Tom and Jerry | 2001–present | 16 | co-production with Turner Entertainment |
Cats & Dogs | 2001–20 | 3 | co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures (1–2) |
Wizarding World | 2001–present | 11 | |
Scooby-Doo | 2002–present | 6 | |
Terminator | 2003–09 | 2 | co-production with Columbia Pictures |
A Cinderella Story | 2004–present | 6 | |
Laura's Star | 2004–11 | 5 | |
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants | 2005–08 | 2 | co-production with Alloy Entertainment |
The Dark Knight trilogy
|
2005–12 | 3 | co-production with Legendary Pictures
|
Willy Wonka | 2005–23 | 2 | co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures |
Happy Feet | 2006–11 | ||
300 | 2007–14 | co-production with Legendary Pictures | |
The Hangover | 2009–13 | 3 | |
Final Destination | 2009–present | 2 | co-production with New Line Cinema and Practical Pictures |
Sherlock Holmes | co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures | ||
Dolphin Tale | 2011–14 | co-production with Alcon Entertainment | |
The Hobbit | 2012–14 | 3 | co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, New Line Cinema and WingNut Films |
Magic Mike | 2012–23 | ||
The Conjuring Universe | 2013–present | 7 | co-production with The Safran Company and New Line Cinema
|
The Lego Movie | 2014–19 | 4 | co-production with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Village Roadshow Pictures (2014) and Lego System A/S |
MonsterVerse | 2014–present | co-production with Legendary Pictures | |
Creed | 2015–present | 3 | co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and New Line Cinema (1–2) |
It | 2017–19 | 2 | co-production with New Line Cinema |
The Meg | 2018–present | ||
Detective Pikachu | 2019–present | 1 | co-production with Legendary Pictures, The Pokémon Company and Toho |
Joker | co-production with DC Studios and Village Roadshow Pictures | ||
Dune
|
2021–present | 2 | co-production with Legendary Pictures |
The Batman
|
2022–present | 1 | co-production with DC Studios |
Highest-grossing films
Rank | Title | Year | Box office gross |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Barbie | 2023 | $636,230,472 |
2 | The Dark Knight ‡ | 2008 | $534,987,076 |
3 | The Dark Knight Rises | 2012 | $448,149,584 |
4 | Wonder Woman | 2017 | $412,845,172 |
5 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 | 2011 | $381,447,587 |
6 | The Batman | 2022 | $369,345,583 |
7 | American Sniper | 2014 | $350,159,020 |
8 | Joker | 2019 | $335,477,657 |
9 | Aquaman
|
2018 | $335,104,314 |
10 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | 2016 | $330,360,194 |
11 | It | 2017 | $328,874,981 |
12 | Suicide Squad | 2016 | $325,100,054 |
13 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ‡
|
2001 | $318,886,962 |
14 | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 1 | 2012 | $303,030,651 |
15 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | 2009 | $302,334,374 |
16 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 | 2010 | $296,374,621 |
17 | Inception | $292,587,330 | |
18 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | 2007 | $292,382,727 |
19 | Man of Steel | 2013 | $291,045,518 |
20 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | 2005 | $290,469,928 |
21 | The Matrix Reloaded | 2003 | $281,576,461 |
22 | The Hangover | 2009 | $277,339,746 |
23 | Gravity | 2013 | $274,092,705 |
24 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | 2002 | $262,641,637 |
25 | The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [1] | 2013 | $258,387,334 |
‡ — Includes theatrical reissue(s)
Notes
- ^ co-owned by New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (the film's producers)
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