Atlantic Entertainment Group
| Company type | Independent company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production and distribution |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founder | Tom Coleman, Michael Rosenblatt |
| Fate | Catalog sold to Island Pictures; rights now mostly owned by MGM |
Area served | United States, international (via Atlantic International) |
Key people | Jonathan Dana (appointed 1986 to oversee operations) |
| Products | Films, family-oriented films (via Clubhouse Pictures) |
Atlantic Entertainment Group—also referred to as Atlantic Releasing Corporation—was an independent company specializing in film production and distribution, established in 1974 by Tom Coleman and Michael Rosenblatt.
History
Atlantic initially concentrated on arthouse cinema, showcasing numerous Australian films and introducing American audiences to Brazilian actress Sonia Braga through works such as Eu Te Amo (1981) and Lady on the Bus (1978). During the early 1980s, the company pivoted toward low-budget independent projects, gaining significant attention with Martha Coolidge’s Valley Girl (1983). Their 1984 title Night of the Comet was notable for being their first movie to debut on more than 1,000 screens.
By 1984, Atlantic collaborated with CBS/Fox Video to create the Atlantic Video brand, distributing films including Alphabet City, Roadhouse 66, and Night of the Comet. Additionally, they launched Atlantic International to manage foreign licensing on a territory-by-territory basis.
In 1985, a partnership was formed with Paramount Pictures, wherein Paramount funded larger theatrical releases in return for home video and television distribution rights. That year saw the success of Teen Wolf, which led to a franchise. Atlantic also introduced the Clubhouse Pictures label aimed at family-oriented content and developed a corresponding theater network under this brand.
On July 30, 1986, Jonathan Dana was appointed to oversee all company sectors—Atlantic Releasing Corporation, Atlantic Television, Clubhouse Pictures, and Atlantic International—with the goal of streamlining operations to support growth towards mini-major status.
In November 1987, following the success of Wish You Were Here, Atlantic secured a $20 million three-picture co-production agreement with Zenith Productions. This venture involved shared global equity and distribution responsibilities for the films Patty, For Queen and Country, and The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.
By January 1989, Atlantic arranged home video rights through Kartes Video Communications for titles previously under Paramount’s control. Later that year, Island Pictures purchased Atlantic’s film catalog but encountered financial difficulties and was eventually absorbed by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment in 1998. When Seagram acquired PolyGram, it sold the pre-1996 library rights to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in October 1998.
Paramount retained certain television and video distribution rights due to earlier agreements and its merger with Viacom. Presently, MGM holds ownership of most of Atlantic’s film library as a result of acquiring PolyGram’s collection.
Filmography
Key titles within Atlantic’s collection include:
- Caddie (1976)
- Max Havelaar (1976)
- Madame Rosa (1977)
- The Getting of Wisdom (1978)
- The Hound of the Baskervilles (1978)
- Valley Girl (1983)
- Teen Wolf (1985)
- Water (1985; produced by Handmade Films)
- Echo Park (1986)
| Release Date | Title |
|---|---|
| January 29, 1975 | He Is My Brother |
| July 18, 1977 | The Murri Affair |
| April 17, 1987 | Wild Thing |
| May 8, 1987 | Steele Justice |
| May 14, 1987 | The Umbrella Woman |
| May 29, 1987 | Summer Heat |
| July 24, 1987 | Wish You Were Here |
| August 21, 1987 | The Garbage Pail Kids Movie |
| November 20, 1987 | Teen Wolf Too |
| December 4, 1987 | Home Is Where the Hart Is |
| January 8, 1988 | Cop |
| February 12, 1988 | A Tiger's Tale |
| March 18, 1988 | Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw |
| April 22, 1988 | Stormy Monday |
| June 17, 1988 | A World Apart |
| August 11, 1988 | A Summer Story |
| September 23, 1988 | Patty Hearst |
| November 18, 1988 | 1969 |
| May 19, 1989 | For Queen and Country |
| July 9, 1989 | A Soldier's Tale |
Clubhouse Pictures
The company managed a subsidiary named Clubhouse Pictures that focused on distributing family-oriented films. Theaters involved in this initiative were part of the "Clubhouse Family Network." The division's first slate of releases debuted on January 17, 1986, featuring titles such as The Adventures of Mark Twain, a re-release of Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! (1964), Heathcliff: The Movie, and The Adventures of the American Rabbit. Additional significant titles under this label included GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords (released March 21, 1986) and the television series Teen Wolf (aired September to December 1986), which was subsequently produced by Atlantic/Kushner-Locke. Through this division, the company broadened its offerings and strategically targeted the family entertainment market.