Gramercy Pictures

Last updated
Gramercy Pictures
Company typeLabel
Industry Film
Founded
  • May 20, 1992;32 years ago (May 20, 1992) (original)
  • May 20, 2015;9 years ago (May 20, 2015) (relaunch)
Defunct
  • 1999;25 years ago (1999) (original)
  • 2016;8 years ago (2016) (relaunch)
FateMerged with Interscope Communications and October Films to form USA Films (original)
Dissolved (relaunch)
Successor Focus Features
Headquarters
Universal City, California
,
United States
Products Motion pictures
Parent PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (1992–1998)
Universal Pictures (1992–1996, 1998–1999)
Focus Features (2015–2016)

Gramercy Pictures was an American film production label. It was founded on May 20, 1992 as a joint venture between PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Universal Pictures. Gramercy was the distributor of PolyGram films in the United States and Canada and also served as Universal's art-house division. After Seagram's buyout of PolyGram, Gramercy along with October Films and Interscope Communications [1] were merged by Barry Diller to form USA Films in 1999. On May 20, 2015, Focus Features (the current art-house division for Universal) revived the name as a label for action, horror and sci-fi genre films; the label was phased out after the release of Ratchet & Clank on April 29, 2016.

Contents

History

Gramercy Pictures was formed on May 20, 1992 as a joint venture between PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Universal Pictures. [2] Gramercy Pictures released its first film, the Mario Van Peebles western Posse, on May 14, 1993. [3] [4]

On January 11, 1996, PolyGram bought the 50% stake owned by Universal thus assuming full control of Gramercy. [5] The distributor also had box office hits in 1994's Four Weddings and a Funeral , 1996's Fargo and 1997's Bean . Several Gramercy releases of the 1990s have grown in stature to become cult classics in the present day: The Big Lebowski , Dazed and Confused , Clay Pigeons and Mallrats . In addition, 1995's The Usual Suspects won two Oscars, for Best Original Screenplay (Christopher McQuarrie) and Best Supporting Actor (Kevin Spacey).[ citation needed ]

When Seagram acquired PolyGram on May 22, 1998, the latter was merged and folded into Universal; as a result, it reacquired Gramercy as it controlled Universal. In turn, Seagram sold the bulk of the PolyGram film library titles released up until March 31, 1996 to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1999, and later on, it sold Gramercy and two other specialty divisions, Interscope Communications and October Films, to Barry Diller's USA Networks, which merged all three companies into USA Films. [6] [7] [1] USA Films was then merged with Universal's own art-house division, Universal Focus, and transformed into Focus Features in 2002 after Vivendi Universal acquired USA Networks from Diller.[ citation needed ]

Revival

On May 20, 2015, Focus Features announced that the Gramercy label has been revived to release action, horror and sci-fi genre films. Its first release was Insidious: Chapter 3 on June 5, 2015. [2] The revived label was later phased out following the box office failure of Ratchet & Clank and a shift from genre films by Focus Features.

Filmography

Focus Features and Universal Pictures own the distribution rights to Gramercy's films unless otherwise mentioned.

1990s

Release DateTitleNotesBudgetGross
May 14, 1993 Posse [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $10 million$18,289,763
August 20, 1993 King of the Hill co-production with Wildwood Enterprises and Bona Fide Productions$8 million$1,214,231
September 3, 1993 Kalifornia [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films $8.5 million$2,395,231
September 24, 1993 Dazed and Confused co-production with Alphaville and Detour Filmproduction $6.9 million$7,993,039
November 5, 1993 A Home of Our Own [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $12 million$1,677,807
December 3, 1993 A Dangerous Woman North American distribution only; co-production with Amblin Entertainment and Island World $1,497,222
February 4, 1994 Romeo Is Bleeding [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $10 million$3,275,865
February 25, 1994 Savage Nights distribution only; produced by Banfilm, La Sept Cinéma and Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie$662,341
March 9, 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $4.4 million$245,700,832
April 15, 1994 Backbeat distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $2,392,589
May 6, 1994 Dream Lover [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films $256,264
July 29, 1994 Foreign Student
August 10, 1994 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $2 million$29,679,915
September 9, 1994 A Good Man in Africa [b] distribution only; produced by Polar Entertainment, Capitol Films and Southern Sun$20 million$2,308,390
September 28, 1994 Jason's Lyric [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films $7 million$20,851,521
October 28, 1994 Drop Squad co-production with 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks $734,693
November 4, 1994 Double Dragon [c] U.S. distribution only; produced by Imperial Entertainment$7.8 million$2,341,309
January 20, 1995 S.F.W. [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films $63,513
February 10, 1995 Shallow Grave [d] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $2.5 million$19,779,614
February 24, 1995 Before the Rain distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $763,847
March 17, 1995 Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films $13,940,383
April 19, 1995 New Jersey Drive co-production with 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks $5 million$3,565,508
April 28, 1995 The Underneath co-production with Populist Pictures$6.5 million$536,023
May 3, 1995 Panther [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $6,834,525
August 16, 1995 The Usual Suspects [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $6 million$34,380,094
September 22, 1995 Canadian Bacon [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films $11 million$178,104
September 29, 1995 Moonlight and Valentino [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $2,484,226
October 20, 1995 Mallrats co-production with Alphaville and View Askew Productions $6.1 million$2,122,561
November 10, 1995 Carrington [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $3,242,342
December 29, 1995 Dead Man Walking [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $11 million$83,080,768
February 23, 1996 La Haine distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment €2,590,000$309,811
March 8, 1996 Fargo [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $7 million$60,611,975
March 22, 1996 Jack and Sarah [a] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $218,626 (USA) $2,492,000 (UK)
Land and Freedom distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $228,800
April 19, 1996 Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie co-production with Best Brains, Inc. $1,007,306
May 3, 1996 Barb Wire distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films $9 million$3,793,614
May 10, 1996 Cold Comfort Farm North American distribution only; produced by BBC Films and Thames International $5,682,429
August 30, 1996 The Trigger Effect co-production with Amblin Entertainment $8 million$3,622,979
September 13, 1996 Grace of My Heart $5 million$660,313
September 20, 1996 Loch Ness distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $7 million£1,239,343
October 4, 1996 Bound [e] North American theatrical distribution only; produced by Dino De Laurentiis Company and Spelling Films $6 million$3,802,260
October 18, 1996 Jude distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $7 million$409,144
December 24, 1996 I'm Not Rappaport co-production with GreeneStreet Films $26,011
December 24, 1996 The Portrait of a Lady distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films $3,692,836
January 29, 1997 Gridlock'd distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Interscope Communications $5 million$5,571,205
February 14, 1997 When We Were Kings distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $2,789,985
March 7, 1997 The Eighth Day distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $416,401
April 11, 1997 Keys to Tulsa distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and ITC Entertainment $57,252
May 2, 1997 Commandments co-production with Northern Lights Entertainment$5 million$548,562
May 9, 1997 Twin Town distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $3.3 million$127,923
August 6, 1997 Def Jam's How to Be a Player distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $12 million$14,009,368
September 19, 1997 Going All the Way distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $113,069
October 3, 1997 The Matchmaker distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $3,392,080
November 7, 1997 Bean distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films and Tiger Aspect Films $18 million$251,212,670
December 17, 1997 Guy distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $4,134
February 18, 1998 I Want You distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $1,672
March 6, 1998 The Big Lebowski distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $15 million$46,129,927
March 27, 1998 No Looking Back North American distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Good Machine, Marlboro Road Gang and South Fork Pictures; 20th Century Fox handled International distribution$5 million$222,099
May 1, 1998 Go Now distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $25,695
May 29, 1998 The Last Days of Disco distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Castle Rock Entertainment $8 million$3,020,601
June 12, 1998 The Land Girls [b] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $238,497
August 21, 1998 Your Friends & Neighbors distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $5 million$4,714,658
September 25, 1998 Clay Pigeons [b] distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $8 million$2,253,139
October 16, 1998 Reach the Rock $4,960
November 22, 1998 Elizabeth distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $30 million$82,150,642
January 22, 1999 The Hi-Lo Country distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films $166,082
March 5, 1999 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels U.S. distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $1.4 million$28,172,686
October 1, 1999 Plunkett & Macleane distributed by USA Films; co-production with Working Title Films
October 29, 1999 Being John Malkovich distributed by USA Films; co-production with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films $13 million$32,382,381

2000s

Release DateTitleNotesBudgetGross
February 18, 2000 Pitch Black distributed by USA Films; co-production with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Interscope Communications $23 million$53,187,659
March 24, 2000 Waking the Dead distributed by USA Films; co-production with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $8.5 million$327,418
April 14, 2000 Where the Money Is [b] distributed by USA Films; co-production with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Universal Pictures $28 million$7,243,669
August 4, 2000 Mad About Mambo distributed by USA Films; co-production with Phoenix Pictures $65,283
September 8, 2000 Nurse Betty [b] distributed by USA Films; co-production with IMF and Universal Pictures $25 million$29,360,400

2010s

Release DateTitleNotesBudgetGross
June 5, 2015 Insidious: Chapter 3 U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by Stage 6 Films, Entertainment One and Blumhouse Productions $10 million$112,983,889
July 10, 2015 Self/less studio credit; produced by Endgame Entertainment; distributed by Focus Features $26 million$30,523,226
August 21, 2015 Sinister 2 U.S. distribution only; co-production with Entertainment One, Blumhouse Productions and IM Global $10 million$52,882,018
January 8, 2016 The Forest North American distribution only; co-production with AI Film and Lava Bear Films $37,608,299
March 4, 2016 London Has Fallen U.S. distribution only; co-production with G-BASE and Millennium Films $60 million$191,094,450
April 29, 2016 Ratchet & Clank distribution only with Focus Features; produced by Cinema Management Group, Blockade Entertainment, PlayStation Originals and Rainmaker Entertainment; final film released before Gramercy's dissolution$20 million$12,880,804

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Owned by MGM
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Distribution rights co-owned by Resurgence Media Group
  3. ↑ Owned by Moonstone Entertainment, with U.S. distribution rights currently licensed to MVD Entertainment Group
  4. ↑ Owned by Film4 Productions
  5. ↑ Owned by Paramount Pictures (via Melange Pictures)

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References

  1. 1 2 "Interscope Communications". Audiovisual Identity Database. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  2. 1 2 Petski, Denise (May 20, 2015). "Focus Features Revives Gramercy Pictures Label For Genre Films". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  3. ↑ Staff (August 17, 1993). "In Winner's Circle; Miramax's 'Crying Game' paces indies; New Line still running strong". Variety . Reed Business Information. Off to an auspicious start is Gramercy Pictures, with its first release, 'Posse,' immediately making the chart [of largest rentals from independent distributors]
  4. ↑ "Box office information for Posse (1993)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Gramercy Sold To Polygram". Reuters. 11 January 1996 – via The New York Times.
  6. ↑ "The Telegraph-Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  7. ↑ BATES, JAMES (28 September 1999). "Universal Adds Division for Specialty Films" – via LA Times.
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