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Spyglass Media Group, LLC (formerly Spyglass Entertainment) is an independent film and television production and finance company founded by Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum in 1998.
 | |
| Spyglass Media Group | |
| Formerly | Spyglass Entertainment (1998–2012) |
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | |
| Predecessors | Caravan Pictures The Weinstein Company Dimension Films (post-2005) |
| Founded | August 21, 1998 (original) March 13, 2019 (relaunch) |
| Founders | Gary Barber (original and relaunch) Roger Birnbaum (original) |
| Defunct | February 10, 2012 (original) |
| Headquarters | Century City, , United States[1] |
Key people | |
| Products | |
| Owners |
|
| Subsidiaries | Artists Road (minority stake) |
| Website | spyglassmediagroup.com |
Spyglass Entertainment
On August 21, 1998, Gary Barber, former vice chairman and COO of Morgan Creek Productions, together with Roger Birnbaum, co-founder and former head of Caravan Pictures, founded Spyglass Entertainment. The startup company signed a five-year distribution agreement with the Walt Disney Studios, which took an equity stake.
Birnbaum previously left Caravan at the prompting of then Disney studio chief Joe Roth; with Disney cutting its yearly production output, Roth recommended forming a self-financing production firm similar to New Regency Productions. After Caravan's remaining three films were released, Caravan went inactive.
Its slate of film projects and an initial financial advance of $10 million to $20 million against future overages were also contributed by Disney.[5] Spyglass's operations were formed and based at the Disney lot in Burbank.
On October 29, 1998, European media conglomerates Kirch Group and Mediaset invested in theatrical, video and television distribution rights to between 15 and 25 films in Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and the former Soviet Union for over five years.[6] M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense (released 1999), Spyglass's second film after Instinct, grossed $661 million at the global box office.[7]
By May 23, 2000, Disney took a 10% equity stake in Spyglass, along with Svensk Filmindustri of Scandinavia and Lusomundo of Portugal.[8][9] On March 7, 2003, Spyglass Entertainment agreed to a four-year distribution output deal with Village Roadshow for Australia, New Zealand and Greece.[10]
On August 6, 2002, Spyglass Entertainment launched a television division, and it was focused on small screen projects. One of its projects was the short-lived series Miracles.[11] That same year, it attempted to merge with smaller independent distributor Intermedia, but it failed.[12]
In December 2003, Spyglass ended its deal with Disney and agreed to a four-year first-look non-exclusive co-financing and production deal with DreamWorks. This deal was never finalized and the relationship was not working well. Thus on September 23, 2003, Spyglass instead made a similar deal with Sony Pictures. Spyglass did not move to the Sony lot, but to Murdoch Plaza in Westwood, Los Angeles.[7]
By March 25, 2010, Spyglass was acquired by Cerberus Capital Management.[13]
On December 20, 2010, Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum became co-chairmen and CEOs of the holding company of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), which had at that time recently emerged from bankruptcy. The original plan had the Spyglass library being added to MGM, but it was later removed from the plan.[14]
Spyglass Media Group
On March 13, 2019, Barber and Lantern Entertainment revived the company as Spyglass Media Group, bringing in Eagle Pictures and Cineworld as investors. Lantern made a majority investment and also transferred its film library and rights to Miramax film sequels to the Spyglass. Barber owns the Spyglass trademark and the sequel and remake rights to the old Spyglass library, which he has contributed. The company plans to produce content for all platforms.[1][15] Spyglass closed the former Lantern Entertainment/TWC office in New York City while laying off 15 staff members across divisions.[16] Unlike Spyglass Entertainment, Birnbaum is not the co-founder of Spyglass Media Group (though Birnbaum served as the producer of Eli Roth's Thanksgiving (released 2023)).
On April 1, 2019, Lauren Whitney, the president of television for Miramax, took on the same position for Spyglass.[2] Damien Marin followed Barber from MGM to be appointed Spyglass president of worldwide distribution and acquisitions on September 3, 2019.[3]
On April 16, 2019, Warner Bros. bought an equity stake in Spyglass, which signed a first-look deal with the studio.[17] Spyglass was involved on August 1, 2019, in a potential purchase of part of Miramax but dropped out in two weeks.[18][19]
Spyglass's first greenlit film since its revival is a revival of the Hellraiser franchise announced on May 6, 2019.[20] With the company winning the rights to Stephen King's The Institute book in November 2019, Jack Bender and David E. Kelley were paired to development and produce the book as a mini-series. Also, Bender was signed by Spyglass to a television first-look deal.[21]
MGM President of Physical Production Peter Oillataguerre was appointed President of Production for Spyglass Media Group reporting to Barber. He left in September 2023 for Amazon MGM Studios.[22]
On October 28, 2020, Spyglass teamed up with Propagate Content, Artists First and Off-Road Productions to form a new comedy joint-venture Artists Road, and it focuses on financing and producing mid-budgeted commercial comedy movies.[23]
On July 15, 2021, Lionsgate acquired 200 films from The Weinstein Company's film library for $191.4 million, which until then had been owned by Spyglass, with Lionsgate getting an 18.9% equity stake in Spyglass and Spyglass getting a first look TV deal with Lionsgate Television.[4][24]
In November 2023, Spyglass fired Melissa Barrera from Scream VII, as she showed support to Palestinians caught in the Israel–Hamas war, and their allegations that posts she made in support were antisemitic.[25][26] Her co-star Jenna Ortega departed the film shortly after due to scheduling conflicts with Wednesday,[27] forcing a recasting with Neve Campbell returning as the film's lead.[28]
- Village Roadshow: Australia, New Zealand and Greece (2003–2007)
- Canal+: France, Benelux, Sweden and Poland pay TV
- Sogecable: Spanish pay cable
- Toho-Towa: Japanese theatrical
- Pony Canyon: Japanese home video[29]
- Lusomundo: Portugal
- Forum: Israel
- SF Studios: Scandinavia
- Ster-Kinekor: South Africa[10]
As Spyglass Entertainment
1990s
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes | Budget | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instinct | June 4, 1999 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Barbara Boyle/Michael Taylor Productions; first film | $80 million | $34.1 million |
| The Sixth Sense | August 6, 1999 | Released through Disney label Hollywood Pictures; co-production with The Kennedy/Marshall Company and Barry Mendel Productions | $40 million | $672.8 million | |
| The Insider | November 5, 1999 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Forward Pass and Eric Roth Productions | $68 million | $60.2 million |
2000s
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes | Budget | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission to Mars | March 10, 2000 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Jacobson Company | $100 million | $111 million |
| Keeping the Faith | April 14, 2000 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Koch Co., Blumberg/Norton Productions and Triple Threat Talent | $29 million | $59.9 million | |
| Shanghai Noon | May 26, 2000 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Jackie Chan Films Ltd. | $55 million | $100.5 million | |
| Out Cold | November 21, 2001 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and The Donners' Company | $24 million | $14.8 million | |
| The Count of Monte Cristo | January 25, 2002 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $35 million | $75.4 million | |
| Dragonfly | February 22, 2002 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Gran Via Productions and Shady Acres Entertainment; international distribution through Buena Vista International | $60 million | $52.3 million |
| Reign of Fire | July 12, 2002 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and The Zanuck Company | $60 million | $82.2 million |
| Abandon | October 18, 2002 | Paramount Pictures | co-production with Lynda Obst Productions; international distribution through Buena Vista International | $25 million | $12.3 million |
| The Recruit | January 31, 2003 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Epsilon Motion Pictures | $46 million | $101.2 million |
| Shanghai Knights | February 7, 2003 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Jackie Chan Films Ltd. | $50 million | $88.3 million | |
| Bruce Almighty | May 23, 2003 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Shady Acres Entertainment and Pit Bull Productions; international distribution through Buena Vista International | $81 million | $484.6 million |
| Seabiscuit | July 25, 2003 | co-production with DreamWorks Pictures, The Kennedy/Marshall Company and Larger Than Life Productions; international distribution through Buena Vista International | $87 million | $148.3 million | |
| The Perfect Score | January 30, 2004 | Paramount Pictures | uncredited; co-production with MTV Films and Tollin/Robbins Productions | N/A | $10.5 million |
| Connie and Carla | April 16, 2004 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $27 million | $11.3 million |
| Mr. 3000 | September 17, 2004 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Dimension Films, Birnbaum/Barber Productions and The Kennedy/Marshall Company | $30 million | $21.8 million |
| The Pacifier | March 4, 2005 | Released through Disney label Walt Disney Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $56 million | $198.6 million | |
| The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | April 29, 2005 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Hammer & Tongs and Everyman Pictures | $45–50 million | $104.5 million | |
| Crazy Monkey Presents Straight Outta Benoni | September 30, 2005 | Sony Pictures Releasing | co-distribution with Sony label TriStar Pictures; co-production with Ster-Kinekor Pictures | $345,949 | |
| The Legend of Zorro | October 28, 2005 | Released through Sony label Columbia Pictures; co-production with Amblin Entertainment and Parkes/MacDonald Productions | $65 million | $142.4 million | |
| Memoirs of a Geisha | December 9, 2005 | Released through Sony label Columbia Pictures; co-production with DreamWorks Pictures, Amblin Entertainment and Red Wagon Entertainment | $85 million | $162.2 million | |
| Eight Below | February 17, 2006 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Walt Disney Pictures; co-production with Mandeville Films and The Kennedy/Marshall Company | $40 million | $120.5 million |
| Stay Alive | March 24, 2006 | Released through Disney label Hollywood Pictures; co-production with Endgame Entertainment, Wonderland Sound and Vision and Birnbaum/Barber Productions; international distribution through Universal Pictures | $20 million | $27.1 million | |
| Stick It | April 28, 2006 | Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Gail Lyon Productions and Jessica Bendinger Productions | $20 million | $31.9 million | |
| The Lookout | March 30, 2007 | Released through Disney label Miramax Films; co-production with Laurence Mark Productions, Parkes-MacDonald Productions and Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $16 million | $5.4 million | |
| The Invisible | April 27, 2007 | Released through Disney label Hollywood Pictures, co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and MacariEdelstein Productions | N/A | $26.8 million | |
| Evan Almighty | June 22, 2007 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Relativity Media, Original Film, Shady Acres Entertainment and Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $175 million | $173.4 million |
| Underdog | August 3, 2007 | Buena Vista Pictures | Released through Disney label Walt Disney Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Jay Polstein Productions and Classic Media | $25 million | $65.3 million |
| Balls of Fury | August 29, 2007 | Focus Features | co-production with Rogue Pictures, Intrepid Pictures and Birnbaum/Barber Productions | N/A | $41.1 million |
| 27 Dresses | January 18, 2008 | 20th Century Fox | Released through Fox label Fox 2000 Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Dune Entertainment III, LLC | $30 million | $160.3 million |
| Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins | February 8, 2008 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Stuber-Parent Productions | $35 million | $43.6 million |
| The Ruins | April 4, 2008 | Paramount Pictures | Released through Paramount label DreamWorks Pictures; co-production with Red Hour Films | $25 million | $22.3 million |
| The Happening | June 13, 2008 | 20th Century Fox | co-production with Dune Entertainment, UTV Motion Pictures and Blinding Edge Pictures | $48 million | $163.4 million |
| The Love Guru | June 20, 2008 | Paramount Pictures | co-production with Nomoneyfun Films and Michael de Luca Productions | $62 million | $40.9 million |
| Wanted | June 27, 2008 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Relativity Media, Marc Platt Productions, Kickstart Productions and Top Cow Productions | $75 million | $341.4 million |
| Ghost Town | September 19, 2008 | Paramount Pictures | Released through Paramount label DreamWorks Pictures; co-production with Pariah | $20 million | $27.1 million |
| Flash of Genius | October 3, 2008 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Strike Entertainment | $20 million | $4.8 million |
| Four Christmases | November 26, 2008 | Warner Bros. Pictures | Released through Warner label New Line Cinema; co-production with Wild West Picture Show Productions and Type A Films | $80 million | $163.7 million |
| Star Trek | May 8, 2009 | Paramount Pictures | co-production with Bad Robot | $150 million | $385.7 million |
| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | August 7, 2009 | co-production with Hasbro and di Bonaventura Pictures | $175 million | $302.5 million | |
| Invictus | December 11, 2009 | Warner Bros. Pictures | co-production with Revelations Entertainment, Mace Neufeld Productions and Malpaso Productions | $50–60 million | $122.2 million |
2010s
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes | Budget | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leap Year[30] | January 8, 2010 | Universal Pictures | co-production with BenderSpink and Birnbaum/Barber Productions | $19 million | $32.6 million |
| Get Him to the Greek[31] | June 4, 2010 | co-production with Relativity Media and Apatow Productions | $40 million | $91.3 million | |
| Dinner for Schmucks[32] | July 30, 2010 | Paramount Pictures | co-production with DreamWorks Pictures, Parkes/MacDonald Productions, Reliance Big Pictures and Everyman Pictures | $69 million | $86.9 million |
| The Tourist[33] | December 10, 2010 | Sony Pictures Releasing | Released through Sony label Columbia Pictures; co-production with GK Films and StudioCanal | $100 million | $278.3 million |
| The Dilemma[34] | January 14, 2011 | Universal Pictures | co-production with Imagine Entertainment and Wild West Picture Show Productions | $70 million | $69.7 million |
| No Strings Attached[35] | January 21, 2011 | Paramount Pictures | Released through Paramount label DW Studios, co-production with Cold Spring Pictures and The Montecito Picture Company | $25 million | $149.2 million |
| Footloose[36] | October 14, 2011 | co-production with MTV Films, Dylan Sellers Productions, Zadan/Meron Productions and Weston Pictures | $24 million | $63.5 million | |
| The Vow[37] | February 10, 2012 | Sony Pictures Releasing | Released through Sony label Screen Gems; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions; final film | $30 million | $196.1 million |
As Spyglass Media Group
2020s
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes | Budget | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scream[38] | January 14, 2022 | Paramount Pictures | co-production with Radio Silence Productions and Project X Entertainment[39] | $24 million | $138.9 million |
| Hellraiser[20][40] | October 7, 2022 | Hulu | co-production with Phantom Four Films and 20th Century Studios; international distribution through Paramount Pictures | $14 million | $12,640 |
| Scream VI[41] | March 10, 2023 | Paramount Pictures | co-production with Radio Silence Productions and Project X Entertainment | $33–35 million | $169.1 million |
| Spy Kids: Armageddon[42][43] | September 22, 2023 | Netflix[44] | co-production with Skydance Media and Troublemaker Studios | N/A | N/A |
| Thanksgiving[45] | November 17, 2023[46] | Sony Pictures Releasing | co-production with TriStar Pictures, Dragonfly Entertainment and Electromagnetic Productions[47] | $15 million | $46.5 million |
| The Boys in the Boat[48] | December 25, 2023 | Amazon MGM Studios | co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Smokehouse Pictures; international distribution through Warner Bros. Pictures; on-screen credit only | $40 million | $55.4 million |
| Reunion[49][50] | June 28, 2024 | Republic Pictures Lionsgate |
co-production with Artists Road and Unique Features | N/A | N/A |
| Incoming | August 23, 2024 | Netflix[51] | co-production with Artists Road, Broken Road Productions and Stoller Global Solutions[52] | N/A | N/A |
Upcoming
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Eyes[53] | February 7, 2025[54][55] | Sony Pictures Releasing (North America) Republic Pictures (International) |
co-production with Screen Gems and Divide/Conquer |
| Nawałnica | July 3, 2026 | Forum Film Poland | First Polish film from Spyglass Media Group; co-production with Polish Film Institute |
In development
| Title | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Back Together | TBA | |
| Cricket in Times Square | TBA | |
| D-Day | TBA | |
| Deadpoint[56] | TBA | co-production with Good Fear Content |
| Denali | TBA | |
| Knight Rider[57] | Universal Pictures | co-production with Atomic Monster |
| Perfect Strangers[58] | TBA | co-production with Eagle Pictures, 3 Marys Entertainment and Hoorae |
| Short Circuit[59] | TBA | co-production with Project X Entertainment and Rehab Entertainment |
| Testify | TBA | |
| Thanksgiving 2[60] | Sony Pictures Releasing | co-production with TriStar Pictures, Dragonfly Entertainment and Electromagnetic Productions |
| Untitled seventh Scream film[61] | Paramount Pictures | co-production with Radio Silence Productions and Project X Entertainment |
| Untitled Julie Krone/Larissa Bills documentary film | TBA | |
| Untitled Tanaquil Le Clercq film | TBA | |
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