Gramercy Pictures
 Relaunch logo, used from 2015 to 2016 | |
| Type |
|
|---|---|
| Industry | Film |
| Founded |
|
| Defunct |
|
| Fate | Sold to USA Networks and merged with Interscope Communications and October Films to form USA Films (original) Closed (relaunch) |
| Successor | USA Films (original) Focus Features |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Products | Motion pictures |
| Parent | PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (1992–1998) Universal Studios (1992–1996, 1998–1999) USA Networks (1999) Focus Features (2015–2016) |
Gramercy Pictures was an American film production and distribution label of Focus Features. 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, Barry Diller acquired Gramercy, Interscope Communications, and October Films,[1] merging the three companies to form USA Films in 1999. On May 12, 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 again after the release of the film adaptation of the video game series Ratchet & Clank on April 29, 2016, and a shift from genre films by Focus Features.
History
[edit]Origins
[edit]Gramercy Pictures was formed on May 20, 1992 as a joint venture between PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Universal Pictures, the latter was Universal's arthouse wing, and the former was PolyGram's US distributor.[2] Before this, Universal had distributed similar films under smaller operations Universal Classics from 1982 to 1984 and the U.S. distribution branch of the Canadian distributor Cineplex Odeon Films (MCA had a 49% in Cineplex Odeon) from 1986 to 1989.[3] Cineplex Odeon would also distribute Gramercy's releases theatrically in Canada, including the PolyGram titles until 1997, when PolyGram would assume Canadian distribution of their titles.[4][5] Gramercy Pictures released its first film, the Mario Van Peebles western Posse, on May 14, 1993.[6][7]
On January 11, 1996, PolyGram bought the 50% stake owned by Universal thus assuming full control of Gramercy.[8] 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)[9] and Best Supporting Actor (Kevin Spacey).[10] Universal would later acquire rival October Films in 1997.[11]
In 1997, the company was reorganized. The main US distribution space was taken by PolyGram Films, with Gramercy demoted to arthouse status.[12]
When Seagram acquired PolyGram on May 22, 1998, PolyGram 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.[13][14][1] USA Films was then merged with Universal's own art-house division, Universal Focus, and transformed into Focus Features in 2002.[15] USA Network was formerly owned by Vivendi Universal from 2002 to 2004[16] and NBCUniversal from 2004 to 2026.[17] PolyGram Entertainment was founded by Universal Music Group on February 11, 2017 as the successor to both PolyGram and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and a revival of the "PolyGram" brand.[18]
Relaunch and second closure
[edit]On May 12, 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 and later films like Sinister 2 and London Has Fallen.[2] The revived label was later phased out again following the box-office failure of the film adaptation of Ratchet & Clank (2016) and a shift from genre films by Focus Features.
Filmography
[edit]Focus Features and Universal Pictures own the distribution rights to the original and relaunch of Gramercy's films unless otherwise mentioned.
1990s
[edit]| Release date | Title | Notes | Budget | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 1993 | Posse[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films | $10 million | $18,289,763 |
| August 20, 1993 | King of the Hill | distribution only; produced by Wildwood Enterprises and Bona Fide Productions | $8 million | $1,214,231 |
| September 3, 1993 | Kalifornia[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Viacom Pictures and Propaganda Films | $8.5 million | $2,395,231 |
| September 24, 1993 | Dazed and Confused | distribution only; produced by Alphaville and Detour Filmproduction | $6.9 million | $7,993,039 |
| November 5, 1993 | A Home of Our Own[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment | $12 million | $1,677,807 |
| December 3, 1993 | A Dangerous Woman | North American distribution only; produced by Amblin Entertainment, Island World and Rollercoaster Productions | $1,497,222 | |
| February 4, 1994 | Romeo Is Bleeding[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films | $10 million | $3,275,865 |
| February 25, 1994 | Savage Nights | U.S. and English-speaking Canadian theatrical co-distribution with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment only | $662,341 | |
| March 11, 1994 | Four Weddings and a Funeral[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Channel Four Films and Working Title Films Nominee of the Academy Award for Best Picture Nominee of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | $4.4 million | $245,700,832 |
| April 15, 1994 | Backbeat | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Scala Productions | $2,392,589 | |
| May 6, 1994 | Dream Lover[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Propaganda Films, Nicita/Lloyd Productions and Edward R. Pressman Productions | $256,264 | |
| July 29, 1994 | Foreign Student | North American, U.K., Irish, Australian and New Zealand distribution only; produced by Silvio Berlusconi Communications and Carthago Films | ||
| August 10, 1994 | The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Latent Image and Specific Films Nominee of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | $2 million | $29,679,915 |
| September 9, 1994 | A Good Man in Africa[b] | North American, U.K. and Irish distribution only; produced by Polar Entertainment, Capitol Films and Southern Sun | $20 million | $2,308,390 |
| September 28, 1994 | Jason's Lyric[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Propaganda Films and the Jackson/McHenry Company | $7 million | $20,851,521 |
| October 28, 1994 | Drop Squad | distribution only; produced by 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] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, A&M Films and Propaganda Films | $63,513 | |
| February 10, 1995 | Shallow Grave[d] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by Channel Four Films and Figment Films | $2.5 million | $19,779,614 |
| February 24, 1995 | Before the Rain | North American theatrical distribution only Nominee of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film | $763,847 | |
| March 17, 1995 | Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films | $13,940,383 | |
| April 19, 1995 | New Jersey Drive | distribution only; produced by 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks | $5 million | $3,565,508 |
| April 28, 1995 | The Underneath | distribution only; produced by Populist Pictures | $6.5 million | $536,023 |
| May 3, 1995 | Panther[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films, Tribeca Productions and MVP Films | $6,834,525 | |
| August 16, 1995 | The Usual Suspects[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Spelling Films International, Blue Parrot Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions | $6 million | $34,380,094 |
| September 22, 1995 | Canadian Bacon[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Propaganda Films, David Brown Productions and Maverick Picture Company | $11 million | $178,104 |
| September 29, 1995 | Moonlight and Valentino[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films | $2,484,226 | |
| October 20, 1995 | Mallrats | distribution only; produced by Alphaville and View Askew Productions | $6.1 million | $2,122,561 |
| November 10, 1995 | Carrington[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment | $3,242,342 | |
| December 29, 1995 | Dead Man Walking[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films and Havoc | $11 million | $83,080,768 |
| February 23, 1996 | Hate (La Haine)[e] | North American theatrical co-distribution with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Egg Pictures only | €2,590,000 | $309,811 |
| March 8, 1996 | Fargo[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films Nominee of the Academy Award for Best Picture Nominee of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Inducted into the National Film Registry in 2006 |
$7 million | $60,611,975 |
| March 22, 1996 | Jack and Sarah[a] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment | $218,626 (USA) $2,492,000 (UK) | |
| Land and Freedom | North American theatrical co-distribution with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment only | $228,800 | ||
| April 19, 1996 | Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie | distribution only; produced by Best Brains | $1,007,306 | |
| May 3, 1996 | Barb Wire | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Propaganda Films and Dark Horse Entertainment | $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 | distribution only; produced by Amblin Entertainment | $8 million | $3,622,979 |
| September 13, 1996 | Grace of My Heart | North American distribution only; distributed internationally by Universal Pictures | $5 million | $660,313 |
| October 4, 1996 | Bound[f] | North American theatrical co-distribution with Spelling Films only; produced by Dino De Laurentiis Company | $6 million | $3,802,260 |
| October 18, 1996 | Jude | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, BBC Films and Revolution Films | $7 million | $409,144 |
| October 25, 1996 | When We Were Kings[g] | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by Das Films Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature | $2,789,985 | |
| December 24, 1996 | The Portrait of a Lady | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films | $3,692,836 | |
| I'm Not Rappaport | distribution only; produced by GreeneStreet Films | $26,011 | ||
| January 29, 1997 | Gridlock'd | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Interscope Communications, Def Pictures, Webster and Dragon Pictures | $5 million | $5,571,205 |
| March 7, 1997 | The Eighth Day | U.S. theatrical distribution only | $416,401 | |
| April 11, 1997 | Keys to Tulsa[h] | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by ITC Entertainment | $57,252 | |
| May 2, 1997 | Commandments | distribution only; produced by Northern Lights Entertainment | $5 million | $548,562 |
| May 9, 1997 | Twin Town | North American theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Figment Films | $3.3 million | $127,923 |
| August 6, 1997 | Def Jam's How to Be a Player | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Island Pictures and Outlaw Productions | $12 million | $14,009,368 |
| September 19, 1997 | Going All the Way[i] | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by Lakeshore Entertainment | $113,069 | |
| October 3, 1997 | The Matchmaker | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films | $3,392,080 | |
| November 7, 1997 | Bean | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films and Tiger Aspect Films | $18 million | $251,212,670 |
| March 6, 1998 | The Big Lebowski | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films Inducted into the National Film Registry in 2014 |
$15 million | $46,129,927 |
| March 27, 1998 | No Looking Back | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by Marlboro Road Gang, Good Machine and South Fork Pictures | $5 million | $222,099 |
| May 1, 1998 | Go Now | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by Revolution Films and BBC Films | $25,695 | |
| May 29, 1998 | The Last Days of Disco | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by Castle Rock Entertainment | $8 million | $3,020,601 |
| June 12, 1998 | The Land Girls[b] | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by Intermedia Films, Channel Four Films, Greenpoint Films and West Eleven Films | $238,497 | |
| August 19, 1998 | Your Friends & Neighbors | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Propaganda Films | $5 million | $4,714,658 |
| September 25, 1998 | Clay Pigeons[b] | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by Intermedia Films and Scott Free Productions | $8 million | $2,253,139 |
| October 16, 1998 | Reach the Rock | distributed by Universal Pictures | $4,960 | |
| November 6, 1998 | Elizabeth | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Channel Four Films and Working Title Films Nominee of the Academy Award for Best Picture Nominee of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama | $30 million | $82,150,642 |
| December 30, 1998 | The Hi-Lo Country | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films and Cappa/De Fina | $166,082 | |
| March 5, 1999 | Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels | U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by the Steve Tisch Company and SKA Productions | $1.4 million | $28,172,686 |
| October 1, 1999 | Plunkett & Macleane | presenter credit only; produced by Working Title Films; distributed in the U.S. by USA Films | ||
| October 29, 1999 | Being John Malkovich | presenter credit only; produced by Propaganda Films and Single Cell Pictures; distributed in the U.S. by USA Films Nominee of the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | $13 million | $32,382,381 |
2000s
[edit]| Release date | Title | Notes | Budget | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 18, 2000 | Pitch Black | presenter credit only; produced by Interscope Communications; distributed in the U.S. by USA Films | $23 million | $53,187,659 |
| March 24, 2000 | Waking the Dead | presenter credit only; produced by Egg Pictures; distributed in the U.S. by USA Films | $8.5 million | $327,418 |
| April 14, 2000 | Where the Money Is[b] | presenter credit only; produced by Intermedia Films, Pacifica Film Distribution and Scott Free Productions; distributed in the U.S. by USA Films | $28 million | $7,243,669 |
| August 4, 2000 | Mad About Mambo | presenter credit only; produced by Phoenix Pictures, First City Features and Plurabelle Films; distributed in the U.S. by USA Films | $65,283 | |
| September 8, 2000 | Nurse Betty[b] | presenter credit only; produced by Pacifica Film Distribution, Propaganda Films and Ab'Strakt Pictures; distributed in the U.S. by USA Films | $25 million | $29,360,400 |
2010s
[edit]| Release date | Title | Notes | Budget | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 only; produced by Endgame Entertainment; distributed in the U.S. by Focus Features | $26 million | $30,523,226 |
| August 21, 2015 | Sinister 2 | U.S. distribution only; produced by Entertainment One, IM Global and Blumhouse Productions | $10 million | $52,882,018 |
| January 8, 2016 | The Forest | North American distribution only; produced by AI Film, Lava Bear Films and Phantom Four Films | $37,608,299 | |
| March 4, 2016 | London Has Fallen | U.S. distribution only; produced by Millennium Films and G-BASE | $60 million | $191,094,450 |
| April 29, 2016 | Ratchet & Clank | North American distribution only; produced by Rainmaker Entertainment and Blockade Entertainment; final film released before Gramercy's dissolution and only animated film | $20 million | $12,880,804 |
Notes
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Owned by MGM
- 1 2 3 4 5 Distribution rights co-owned by Resurgence Media Group
- ↑ Owned by Moonstone Entertainment, with distribution rights licensed to MVD Entertainment Group
- ↑ Owned by Film4 Productions
- ↑ Owned by Le Pacte and StudioCanal, with U.S. distribution rights licensed to The Criterion Collection and Janus Films
- ↑ Owned by Paramount Pictures (via Melange Pictures LLC)
- ↑ Owned by Das Films, with U.S. distribution rights licensed to Shout! Studios (via Westchester Films), which has sub-licensed it to Janus Films and the Criterion Collection
- ↑ Owned by ITV Studios
- ↑ Owned by Shamrock Holdings, with distribution rights licensed to Ultimate Media Group, which has sub-licensed U.S. rights to Shout! Studios
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Interscope Communications". Audiovisual Identity Database. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- 1 2 Petski, Denise (May 20, 2015). "Focus Features Revives Gramercy Pictures Label For Genre Films". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ↑ The Film Journal, Volume 94, Isuses 7-12, Page 22
- ↑ Staff, Variety (1993-06-02). "Cineplex Odeon to issue Gramercy pix in Canada". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-23.
- ↑ Enchin, Harvey (1997-02-03). "It's Summers time at Polygram Canada". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-23.
- ↑ 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]
- ↑ "Box office information for Posse (1993)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ↑ "Gramercy Sold To Polygram". Reuters. 11 January 1996 – via The New York Times.
- ↑ Boehm, Erich (April 29 – May 5, 1996). "Costume dramas win bulk of BAFTA awards". Variety.
- ↑ Carr, Jay (December 18, 1995). "Hub critics pick Sense and Sensibility". Boston Globe.
- ↑ Busch, Anita M. (1997-04-18). "U agrees to acquire October". Variety. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
- ↑ Hindes, Andrew (1997-06-27). "Polygram staffs its U.S. distribution arm". Variety. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
- ↑ "The Telegraph-Herald - Google News Archive Search".
- ↑ BATES, JAMES (28 September 1999). "Universal Adds Division for Specialty Films" – via LA Times.
- ↑ Hermmans, Grant (March 11, 2022). "'Focus Features Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary With This Wonderful Reel (& Logo)'". ScreenRant.
- ↑ L.A. Times Archives (May 8, 2002). "Vivendi Completes USA Deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ↑ Levy, Jean-Bernard (May 13, 2004). "Overview of NBC Universal Merger" (PDF). Vivendi Universal. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 18, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
- ↑ "Universal Music Relaunching Polygram, Announces 'Story of Motown' as First Production". Billboard. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
Categories:
- Gramercy Pictures films
- Film distributors of the United States
- Entertainment companies based in California
- Cinema of Southern California
- Companies based in Los Angeles County, California
- American companies established in 1992
- Entertainment companies established in 1992
- Entertainment companies disestablished in 2001
- 1992 establishments in California
- 2001 disestablishments in California
- Re-established companies
- Entertainment companies established in 2015
- Entertainment companies disestablished in 2016
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- Former joint ventures
- Universal Pictures subsidiaries