| Logo used as of 2001 | |
| Company type | Film production company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film & television |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | James 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 |
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.
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.
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]
| Release date | Title | Director | Story by | Screenwriter(s) | Producer(s) | Budget | Gross (worldwide) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 12, 1988 | Young Guns | Christopher Cain | John Fusco | Christopher Cain Joe Roth | $11 million | $45,661,556 | first 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 | $8,038,508 | co-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 | $49,797,148 | co-production with Mirage Productions; U.S. distribution by Paramount Pictures | ||
| June 2, 1989 | Renegades | Jack Sholder | David Rich | David Madden | $16 million | $9,015,164 | co-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 | $715,983 | second 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 | $44,926,706 | last 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 | $390,493,908 | first 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 Burch | Andre Morgan Albert S. Ruddy | $20 million | $14,796,494 | international distribution only; distributed in North America by Paramount Pictures | |
| April 24, 1992 | White Sands | Roger Donaldson | Daniel Pyne | William 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 | $75,505,856 | international distribution only; distributed in North America by 20th Century Fox | |
| April 2, 1993 | The Crush | Alan Shapiro | James G. Robinson | $6 million | $13,609,396 | |||
| September 10, 1993 | True Romance | Tony Scott | Quentin Tarantino | Samuel Hadida Steve Perry Bill Unger | $13 million | $12,281,551 | co-production with Davis Films and A Band Apart | |
| February 4, 1994 | Ace Ventura: Pet Detective | Tom Shadyac | Jack Bernstein | Jack Bernstein Tom Shadyac Jim Carrey | James G. Robinson | $12 million | $107,217,396 | |
| March 30, 1994 | Major League II | David S. Ward | R.J. Stewart Tom S. Parker Jim Jennewein | R.J. Stewart | James 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. Robinson | N/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 Wieger | James G. Robinson Irby Smith Mark Stouffer | $17 million | $7,324,662 | ||
| March 13, 1998 | Incognito | John Badham | Jordan Katz | James G. Robinson | N/A | N/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 | $9,623,329 | co-production with Constantin Film | ||
| October 23, 1998 | Soldier | Paul W. S. Anderson | David Webb Peoples | Jerry Weintraub | $60 million | $14,594,226 | co-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 | $11,993,021 | Morgan 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 Kapner | Allan Kaufman David Willis | $41.3 million | $106,371,651 | North 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 | $29,725,663 | distribution 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 Beach | Wayne Beach Simon Barry | Nicolas Clermont | $60 million | $40,400,425 | U.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 | $19,412,993 | distribution 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 | $29,419,291 | distribution 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 Lichtenstein | Richard Recco Demian Lichtenstein | Demian Lichtenstein Eric Manes Elie Samaha Richard Spero Andrew Stevens | $62 million | $18,720,175 | distribution 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 | $29,715,606 | distribution 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 | $28,510,652 | distribution 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 Vaughan | Bradley Allenstein | James G. Robinson Bill Gerber | $15 million | $13,802,599 | ||
| August 1, 2003 | I'll Be There | Craig Ferguson | Craig Ferguson Philip McGrade | James G. Robinson | N/A | N/A | ||
| August 20, 2004 | Exorcist: The Beginning | Renny Harlin | William Wisher Caleb Carr | Alexi Hawley | James G. Robinson | $50 million | $78,000,586 | |
| May 20, 2005 | Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist | Paul Schrader | William Wisher Caleb Carr | $30 million | $251,495 | last Morgan Creek production distributed by Warner Bros. | ||
| October 7, 2005 | Two for the Money | D. J. Caruso | Dan Gilroy | $35 million | $30,526,509 | first 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 | $99,480,480 | co-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 Creasey | James 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 million | N/A | Released 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 | $38,502,340 | select international distribution by Warner Bros. | |
| October 14, 2011 | The Thing | Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. | Eric Heisserer | Marc Abraham Eric Newman | $38 million | $31,505,287 | co-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 | $54,876,855 | distributed 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 | $136,998,069 | co-production with Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions; direct sequel to the 1973 film [10] [11] [12] |
| Release date | Title | Director | Story by | Screenwriter(s) | Producer(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | Untitled Exorcist film | Mike Flanagan | co-production with Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Intrepid Pictures, and Atomic Monster; reboot of the franchise [13] [14] [15] | |||
| TBA | Dream House | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | remake of the 2011 film [16] |