Becker Group
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film and television distribution |
| Predecessor | R. A. Becker & Co. |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | Russell Becker |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Fate | Acquired by Prime Television |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, United Kingdom |
Key people | Russell Becker (founder), Richard Becker (former managing director), Tim Keens (managing director from 2007) |
| Products | Film and television distribution, film production |
Becker Group, originally known as R. A. Becker & Co., was an independent Australian company specializing in film and television distribution. It was founded by Russell Becker in 1965 and later acquired by Prime Television in 2007.
Following this, Richard Becker launched Becker Film Group in 2008. A decade later, in 2018, he collaborated with Robert Slaviero to create a fresh distribution enterprise named R & R Films.
History
The origins of Becker Group trace back to 1965 when Russell Becker established R. A. Becker & Co. In 1976, his son Richard Becker assumed control of Fremantle International’s Australian division and expanded operations into television production by the following year.
By 1987, the business had branched into two distinct units: PRO Films, focused on film production based in Los Angeles, and REP Distribution (Richard Entertainment Partners), which handled film distribution within Australia. These entities were unified under the banner of Becker Entertainment in 1995.
In 2002, the company acquired Dendy Films and created Dendy/Becker; however, both brands continued to function independently. The group’s portfolio also included OnSite Broadcasting, Moonlight Cinemas, and Dendy Cinemas, with operational offices located throughout New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, and London.
In April 2006, Richard Becker declared his intention to step down as managing director, with Tim Keens announced as his successor effective July 2007. That same year marked the sale of the group to Prime Television, while the Dendy cinema chain was divested to Icon Film Distribution.
Becker Film Group
Richard Becker founded Becker Film Group in 2008, taking on the role of managing director.[1]
R & R Films
In 2018, after deciding to "put Becker Films to the side," Richard Becker joined forces with Robert Slaviero—former CEO of Hoyts Distribution prior to its acquisition by StudioCanal in 2012—to establish R & R Films, a company specializing in distribution and consultancy.[2] Officially registered as R & R Films Pty Ltd in April 2018, it remained active as of April 2022.[3] This firm emphasizes Australian cinema and manages distribution for feature films such as Black Water: Abyss, H Is for Happiness, and The Wishmas Tree, alongside DVD and digital releases like Angel of Mine.[4]
Films
Becker Group has been involved in either producing or distributing a range of significant films including:
- Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
- Scream (1996)
- Two Hands (1999)
- The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- Emma (1996)
- FairyTale: A True Story (1997)
- Rabbit Proof Fence (2002)
- Margin Call (2011)
- Amélie (2001)
- Brassed Off (1997)
- Black Dog (1998)
- An American Werewolf in Paris (1997)
- Enigma (2001)
- Dungeons & Dragons (2000)
- Swingers (1996)
- Vera Drake
- A Simple Plan
- Primary Colors
- Supersize Me
- Wonder Boys (2000)
- Waking Ned Devine (1998)
- Candy (2006)
- Control
- Like Minds
- December Boys
- Feed