Morgan Creek Entertainment

Last updated
Morgan Creek
Company type Film production company
Industry Film & television
Founded1987;38 years ago (1987)
FounderJames G. Robinson
Joe Roth
Headquarters Santa Monica, ,
Key people
James G. Robinson
(Chairman & CEO)
Brian Robinson
David C. Robinson
Divisions Morgan Creek International
Morgan Creek Music
Morgan Creek Video
Morgan Creek DVD
Website morgancreek.com

Morgan Creek is an American film production company that has released box-office hits including Young Guns , Dead Ringers , Major League , True Romance , Ace Ventura: Pet Detective , The Crush , Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and The Last of the Mohicans . The studio was co-founded in 1987 by James G. Robinson and Joe Roth. [1] Robinson leads the company as chairman and CEO. His two sons, Brian Robinson and David C. Robinson, run the day-to-day operations.[ citation needed ] The company name comes from Roth's favorite film, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek . [2] Their most recent film is The Exorcist: Believer , which was released on October 6, 2023.

Contents

Morgan Creek generally releases their films through larger studios while retaining the copyrights, and making autonomous decisions on home video and television rights. Their logo contains a stylized creek.

Company history

Morgan Creek's initial slate of films from 1988 to 1990 were released by 20th Century Fox, except for Renegades and Coupe de Ville which were released by Universal Pictures and Major League which was released by Paramount Pictures, and some home video releases of its early titles going to Media Home Entertainment. [2] In 1991, beginning with Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves , they shifted their distribution of new films, as well as their previous catalog titles, to Warner Bros., where they remained until early 2005. Later that year, beginning with Two for the Money , they released their newer films through Universal, though previous films were still handled in the United States by Warner Bros.

In 1996, Morgan Creek tried to expand into animated feature film production. Only one, The King & I was produced, and it flopped. [3]

On July 11, 1997, Gary Barber announced that he would leave Morgan Creek, and he subsequently went on to start out Spyglass Entertainment. [4] In 1998, Morgan Creek had a distribution deal with Warner Home Video to release its product through the Morgan Creek Video and the Morgan Creek DVD labels. [5]

On October 8, 1998, Morgan Creek and Franchise Pictures entered into an agreement where Morgan Creek would distribute Franchise's upcoming pictures domestically. [6] On July 2, 2001, Morgan Creek Productions sued Franchise Pictures for allegedly breaching an agreement giving the company the right of first refusal on some films. [7]

In October 2014, Morgan Creek sold the international distribution rights and copyrights to their films to Revolution Studios for $36.75 million. [8] In September 2015, Morgan Creek began negotiating the sale of rights for the remaining territories, though they intend to retain remake and television rights to the Ace Ventura, Major League, Young Guns, and Exorcist franchises. [9]

List of Morgan Creek filmography

Films

Release dateTitleDirectorStory byScreenwriter(s)Producer(s)BudgetGross (worldwide)Notes
August 12, 1988 Young Guns Christopher Cain John Fusco Christopher Cain
Joe Roth
$11 million$45,661,556first Morgan Creek production distributed by 20th Century Fox; international and home media distribution by Vestron Pictures
September 23, 1988 Dead Ringers David Cronenberg David Cronenberg
Norman Snider
Marc Boyman
David Cronenberg
$13 million$8,038,508co-production with Telefilm Canada and Mantle Clinic II
March 3, 1989 Skin Deep Blake Edwards Tony Adams $8.5 million$19,674,852
April 7, 1989 Major League David S. Ward Chris Chesser
Irby Smith
$11 million$49,797,148co-production with Mirage Productions; U.S. distribution by Paramount Pictures
June 2, 1989 Renegades Jack Sholder David RichDavid Madden$16 million$9,015,164co-production with Interscope Communications; distributed by Universal Pictures
December 13, 1989 Enemies, a Love Story Paul Mazursky Roger L. Simon
Paul Mazursky
Paul Mazursky$9.5 million$7,754,571
February 16, 1990 Nightbreed Clive Barker Gabriella Martinelli
Jon Turtle
Joe Roth
$11 million$8,862,354
March 9, 1990 Coupe de Ville Joe Roth Mike Binder Larry Brezner
Paul Schiff
N/A$715,983second and last Morgan Creek production distributed by Universal Pictures until 2005
August 1, 1990 Young Guns II Geoff Murphy John Fusco James G. Robinson
Paul Schiff
Irby Smith
$10 million$44,143,410
August 17, 1990 The Exorcist III William Peter Blatty Carter DeHaven $11 million$39,024,251
September 28, 1990 Pacific Heights John Schlesinger Daniel Pyne Scott Rudin
William Sackheim
$18 million$44,926,706last Morgan Creek production distributed by 20th Century Fox
June 14, 1991 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Kevin Reynolds Pen Densham Pen Densham
John Watson
Pen Densham
Richard Barton Lewis
John Watson
$48 million$390,493,908first Morgan Creek production distributed by Warner Bros.; the film's score would become the music for Morgan Creek's animated logo
January 17, 1992 Freejack Geoff Murphy Steven Pressfield
Ronald Shusett
Dan Gilroy
Steven Pressfield
Ronald Shusett
$30 million$17,129,000
March 27, 1992 Ladybugs Sidney J. Furie Curtis BurchAndre Morgan
Albert S. Ruddy
$20 million$14,796,494international distribution only; distributed in North America by Paramount Pictures
April 24, 1992 White Sands Roger Donaldson Daniel PyneWilliam Sackheim
Scott Rudin
$22 million$9,011,574
August 14, 1992 Stay Tuned Peter Hyams Jim Jennewein
Tom S. Parker
Richard Siegel
Jim Jennewein
Tom S. Parker
James G. Robinson$25 million$10,736,401
September 25, 1992 The Last of the Mohicans Michael Mann Michael Mann
Christopher Crowe
Michael Mann
Hunt Lowry
$40 million$75,505,856international distribution only; distributed in North America by 20th Century Fox
April 2, 1993 The Crush Alan ShapiroJames G. Robinson$6 million$13,609,396
September 10, 1993 True Romance Tony Scott Quentin Tarantino Samuel Hadida
Steve Perry
Bill Unger
$13 million$12,281,551co-production with Davis Films and A Band Apart
February 4, 1994 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Tom Shadyac Jack BernsteinJack Bernstein
Tom Shadyac
Jim Carrey
James G. Robinson$12 million$107,217,396
March 30, 1994 Major League II David S. WardR.J. Stewart
Tom S. Parker
Jim Jennewein
R.J. StewartJames G. Robinson
David S. Ward
$25 million$30,626,182
April 22, 1994 Chasers Dennis Hopper Joe Batteer
John Rice
Joe Batteer
John Rice
Dan Gilroy
Tom Berenger
Erika Eleniak
William McNamara
Gary Busey
$15 million$1,596,687
September 9, 1994 Trial by Jury Heywood Gould Jordan Katz
Heywood Gould
James G. Robinson
Chris Meledandri
Mark Gordon
N/A$6,971,777
October 14, 1994 Imaginary Crimes Anthony Drazan Kristine Johnson
Davia Nelson
James G. RobinsonN/A$89,611
October 28, 1994 Silent Fall Bruce Beresford Akiva Goldsman $30 million$3,180,674
November 10, 1995 Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls Steve Oedekerk $30 million$212,385,533
January 12, 1996 Two If by Sea Bill Bennett Mike Armstrong
Denis Leary
Ann Lembeck
Mike Armstrong
Denis Leary
N/A$10,658,278
January 26, 1996 Big Bully Steve Miner Mark Steven Johnson Gary Foster
Lee Rich
James G. Robinson
Gary Barber
Dylan Sellers
$15 million$2,042,530
March 22, 1996 Diabolique Jeremiah S. Chechik Henri-Georges Clouzot
Don Roos
James G. Robinson
Marvin Worth
$45 million$17,100,369
November 1, 1996 Bad Moon Eric Red James G. Robinson$7 million$1,055,525
July 2, 1997 Wild America William Dear David Michael WiegerJames G. Robinson
Irby Smith
Mark Stouffer
$17 million$7,324,662
March 13, 1998 Incognito John Badham Jordan KatzJames G. RobinsonN/AN/A
April 17, 1998 Major League: Back to the Minors John Warren$18 million$3,572,443
August 21, 1998 Wrongfully Accused Pat Proft Pat Proft
James G. Robinson
Bernd Eichinger
N/A$9,623,329co-production with Constantin Film
October 23, 1998 Soldier Paul W. S. Anderson David Webb Peoples Jerry Weintraub $60 million$14,594,226co-production with Warner Bros. and Jerry Weintraub Productions
March 19, 1999 The King and I Richard Rich Peter Bakalian
Jacqueline Feather
David Seidler
Peter Bakalian
Arthur Rankin, Jr.
James G. Robinson
$25 million$11,993,021Morgan Creek's first and, so far, only animated film; co-production with Nest Family Entertainment, Rankin/Bass Productions and Rich Animation Studios
September 1, 1999 Chill Factor Hugh Johnson Drew Gitlin
Mike Cheda
James G. Robinson$34 million$11,263,966
February 18, 2000 The Whole Nine Yards Jonathan Lynn Mitchell KapnerAllan Kaufman
David Willis
$41.3 million$106,371,651North American, U.K. and Irish distribution with Warner Bros. only; produced by Franchise Pictures, Rational Packaging and Lansdown Films
May 12, 2000 Battlefield Earth Roger Christian Corey Mandell
J. D. Shapiro
Jonathan Krane
Elie Samaha
John Travolta
$44 million$29,725,663distribution in North America, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, the Benelux, Italy and Spain with Warner Bros. only; produced by Franchise Pictures
July 19, 2000 The In Crowd Mary Lambert Mark Gibson
Philip Halprin
James G. Robinson$15 million$5,217,498
August 25, 2000 The Art of War Christian Duguay Wayne BeachWayne Beach
Simon Barry
Nicolas Clermont $60 million$40,400,425U.S., U.K. and Irish distribution with Warner Bros. only; produced by Franchise Pictures and Amen-Ra Films
October 6, 2000 Get Carter Stephen Kay David McKenna Mark Canton
Neil Canton
Elie Samaha
$63.6 million$19,412,993distribution in North and Latin America, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, the Benelux, Italy and Spain with Warner Bros. only; produced by Franchise Pictures and The Canton Company
January 19, 2001 The Pledge Sean Penn Jerzy Kromolowski
Mary Olson-Kromolowski
Michael Fitzgerald
Sean Penn
Elie Samaha
$35 million$29,419,291distribution in North America, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, the Benelux, Italy, Spain and India with Warner Bros. only; produced by Franchise Pictures and Clyde Is Hungry Films
February 23, 2001 3000 Miles to Graceland Demian LichtensteinRichard Recco
Demian Lichtenstein
Demian Lichtenstein
Eric Manes
Elie Samaha
Richard Spero
Andrew Stevens
$62 million$18,720,175distribution in North America, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, the Benelux and India with Warner Bros. only; produced by Franchise Pictures
May 18, 2001 Angel Eyes Luis Mandoki Gerald Di Pego Mark Canton
Elie Samaha
$53 million$29,715,606distribution in North and Latin America, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, the Benelux, Italy, Spain and India with Warner Bros. only; produced by Franchise Pictures and The Canton Company
August 17, 2001 American Outlaws Les Mayfield Roderick Taylor
John Rogers
James G. Robinson
Bill Gerber
$35 million$13,342,790
November 9, 2001 Heist David Mamet Art Linson
Elie Samaha
Andrew Stevens
$39 million$28,510,652distribution in North and Latin America, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, the Benelux, Italy and India with Warner Bros. only; produced by Franchise Pictures
June 21, 2002 Juwanna Mann Jesse VaughanBradley AllensteinJames G. Robinson
Bill Gerber
$15 million$13,802,599
August 1, 2003 I'll Be There Craig Ferguson Craig Ferguson
Philip McGrade
James G. RobinsonN/AN/A
August 20, 2004 Exorcist: The Beginning Renny Harlin William Wisher
Caleb Carr
Alexi HawleyJames G. Robinson$50 million$78,000,586
May 20, 2005 Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist Paul Schrader William Wisher
Caleb Carr
$30 million$251,495last Morgan Creek production distributed by Warner Bros.
October 7, 2005 Two for the Money D. J. Caruso Dan Gilroy $35 million$30,526,509first Morgan Creek production distributed by Universal Pictures since Coupe de Ville
October 13, 2006 Man of the Year Barry Levinson $20 million$41,237,658
December 22, 2006 The Good Shepherd Robert De Niro Eric Roth James G. Robinson
Jane Rosenthal
Robert De Niro
$85 million$99,480,480co-production with Universal Pictures, TriBeCa Productions and American Zoetrope
May 11, 2007 Georgia Rule Garry Marshall Mark Andrus David Robinson
James G. Robinson
$20 million$25,992,167
September 21, 2007 Sydney White Joe Nussbaum Chad Gomez CreaseyJames G. Robinson
David C. Robinson
Clifford Werber
N/A$13,620,075
March 3, 2009 Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective David Mickey Evans Jeffrey Sank
Jason Heimberg
Justin Heimberg
Jeffrey Sank
Jason Heimberg
Justin Heimberg
David Mickey Evans
James G. Robinson
David Robinson
$7.5 millionN/AReleased by Warner Home Video
September 30, 2011 Dream House Jim Sheridan David Loucka James G. Robinson
David C. Robinson
Daniel Bobker
Ehren Kruger
$50 million$38,502,340select international distribution by Warner Bros.
October 14, 2011 The Thing Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. Eric Heisserer Marc Abraham
Eric Newman
$38 million$31,505,287co-production with Universal Pictures and Strike Entertainment
June 16, 2017 All Eyez on Me Benny Boom David Robinson
L.T. Hutton
James G. Robinson
$45 million$54,876,855distributed by Lionsgate under Summit Entertainment; co-production with Program Pictures and Codeblack Films
October 6, 2023 The Exorcist: Believer David Gordon Green Scott Teems
Danny McBride
David Gordon Green
Peter Sattler
David Gordon Green
Jason Blum
David C. Robinson
James G. Robinson
$30 million$136,998,069co-production with Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions; direct sequel to the 1973 film [10] [11] [12]

Upcoming/In development

Release dateTitleDirectorStory byScreenwriter(s)Producer(s)Notes
TBAUntitled Exorcist film Mike Flanagan co-production with Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Intrepid Pictures, and Atomic Monster; reboot of the franchise [13] [14] [15]
TBADream HouseTBATBATBATBAremake of the 2011 film [16]

Television series

In development

References

  1. Masters, Kim (November 14, 2013). "Joe Roth's 'Third Act': From 'Gigli' to Billion-Dollar Producer and Pro Soccer Superstar". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Harmetz, Aljean (April 25, 1989). "Producer Defies Rules, and Succeeds". The New York Times . Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  3. Busch, Anita M. (December 13, 1996). "Creek toons 'King and I'". Variety. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  4. Busch, Anita M. (July 11, 1997). "Barber cuts out on Morgan Creek". Variety. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  5. Applefield Olson, Catherine (June 13, 1998). "It's Quite a Production" (PDF). Billboard . p. 78. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  6. Carver, Benedict (October 8, 1998). "Franchise, Morgan to ink distrib'n pact". Variety. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  7. Shprintz, Janet (July 3, 2001). "Morgan Creek sues Franchise". Variety. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  8. Marc Graser (October 7, 2014). "Revolution Buys Foreign Rights to Morgan Creek Films for $36.8 Million". Variety. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  9. Busch, Anita (September 24, 2015). "Morgan Creek To Sell Film Library: 'Major League,' 'Ace Ventura', 'Exorcist' Remakes Next?". Deadline. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  10. Couch, Aaron (December 20, 2020). "'Exorcist' Sequel in the Works with 'Halloween' Director David Gordon Green". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  11. Katz, Brandon (December 20, 2020). "Exclusive: David Gordon Green in Talks to Direct 'Exorcist' Sequel for Blumhouse". observer.com. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  12. Pulliam-Moore, Charles (December 24, 2020). "Blumhouse Is Summoning Another Exorcist Movie to the Mortal Plane". io9.gizmodo.com. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  13. D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 29, 2024). "Mike Flanagan Set To Direct 'Radical New Take' On 'Exorcist' For Blumhouse, Morgan Creek". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  14. Couch, Aaron (May 29, 2024). "Next 'Exorcist' Movie Shifts Gears With Mike Flanagan Set to Direct a New Take". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  15. Kroll, Justin (November 24, 2025). "Scarlett Johansson To Star In New 'Exorcist' Movie From Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, Morgan Creek And Universal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  16. Squires, John (March 19, 2021). "Morgan Creek Developing a Remake of the Daniel Craig-Starring 2011 Horror Movie 'Dream House'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  17. Ausiello, Michael (August 18, 2020). "Gender Swapped Dead Ringers Reboot Set at Amazon; Rachel Weisz to Star". TVLine . Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  18. Andreeva, Nellie (September 5, 2012). "Tribeca Sets Up 'The Good Shepherd' Series Adaptation At Showtime With Robert De Niro Directing & Eric Roth Writing". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  19. Squires, John (March 19, 2021). "Morgan Creek Turning the Michael Keaton-Starring '90s Thriller 'Pacific Heights' into a Series". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved March 19, 2021.