FilmNation Entertainment
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production, film financing, film distribution |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Glen Basner, Steven Samuels |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Glen Basner (Founder), Steven Samuels (Founder) |
| Products | Motion pictures |
FilmNation Entertainment, LLC is a U.S.-based company focused on the production, financing, and distribution of motion pictures.
2008–2012: Establishment
Founded in 2008 by Glen Basner and Steven Samuels, FilmNation Entertainment started as an independent entity dedicated to film production and distribution. Initially, the company operated primarily as a foreign sales agency, marketing distribution rights to international territories.
2012–2018: Initial Expansion
FilmNation produced its debut feature film, Mud, in 2012, which was selected to compete at the Cannes Film Festival. The company made its inaugural appearance at the American Film Market on November 6, 2013. In December 2014, Village Roadshow acquired an $18 million investment for a 33% ownership share, aiming to incorporate film production into its main business activities. The company's rising prominence prompted the Los Angeles Times to describe it as "the emerging Oscar powerhouse you've never heard of."
By April 2018, FilmNation had arranged a $120 million revolving credit line with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and co-led by MUFG Union Bank. This funding was intended to facilitate higher-budget films, broaden acquisitions, and expand into television, theater, digital media, virtual reality content, and other strategic ventures.
At the start of 2019, FilmNation collaborated with Nordic Entertainment Group to create a UK-based TV joint venture under the FilmNation brand. Nordic Entertainment Group obtained first rights on exclusive distribution for the joint venture’s productions within Nordic markets. Kirstie Macdonald was appointed head of the London office.
In September 2022, FilmNation introduced Infrared Pictures, a production label designed to develop and finance feature films with franchise potential. Drew Simon assumed the role of president of production while Sam Speiser was named vice president of production.
In November 2025, FilmNation entered into a long-term international distribution agreement with 101 Studios. Through its newly formed distribution division, FilmNation will oversee global sales for upcoming feature projects from 101 Studios.
2009
2010s
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chernobyl Diaries | May 25, 2012 | Warner Bros. Pictures | co-produced with Alcon Entertainment and Oren Peli/Brian Witten Pictures |
| House at the End of the Street | September 21, 2012 | Relativity Media | co-produced alongside A Bigger Boat Productions |
| Gambit |
|
co-produced with Crime Scene Pictures and ArtPhyl | |
| Under the Skin |
|
|
co-produced with Film4 Productions, British Film Institute, Creative Scotland, Nick Wechsler Productions, Silver Reel, JW Films |
| A Most Wanted Man |
|
|
co-produced with Film4 Productions, Demarest Films, Senator Film, Amusement Park Film, Potboiler Productions, The Ink Factory |
| A Most Violent Year | December 31, 2014 | A24 | co-produced alongside Participant Media, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Before the Door Pictures, Washington Square Films, Old Bull Pictures |
| Knight of Cups | March 4, 2016 | Broad Green Pictures | co-produced with Waypoint Entertainment and Dogwood Films |
| Genius | June 10, 2016 | Summit Entertainment & Roadside Attractions | co-produced with Riverstone Pictures, Pinewood Pictures, Reliance Entertainment, Desert Wolf Productions, Michael Grandage Company |
| Café Society | July 15, 2016 | Amazon Studios & Lionsgate | co-produced alongside Gravier Productions and Perdido Productions |
| Indignation | July 29, 2016 | Summit Entertainment & Roadside Attractions | |
| Late Night | June 7, 2019 | Amazon Studios | co-produced with 30West, Imperative Entertainment, 3 Arts Entertainment and Kaling International |
2011
2012
- Act of Valor
- Aftershock
- Lawless
- Lola Versus
- Looper
- Magic Mike
- Midnight's Children
- Mirror Mirror
- Mud
- The Raven
- Red Dawn
- To the Wonder
- To Rome with Love
2013
- 21 & Over
- All Is Lost
- Blue Jasmine
- Crush
- The Bling Ring
- I'm So Excited!
- Nebraska
- Side Effects
- Safe Haven
2014
- Clown
- The Imitation Game
- Magic in the Moonlight
- Premature
- The Rover
- The Rewrite
- Top Five
- While We're Young
2015
2016
- Arrival
- The Promise
- The Founder
- Julieta
- Midnight Special
- Miss Sloane
- Sing Street
- Sully
- The Whole Truth
- Zero Days
2017
- The Big Sick
- Beatriz at Dinner
- The Children Act
- Disobedience'
- Gifted'*
- Kill Switch'*
- ''Last Flag Flying''*
- ''Logan Lucky''*
- The Man with the Iron Heart*
- [ [The Only Living Boy in New York ]]*
- [ [The Sense of an Ending ]]*
- [ [Sleepless ]]*
- [ [The Wall ]]*
- [ [Song to Song ]]*
- [ [Wonderstruck ]]*
- [ [Wonder Wheel ]]
2018
'* The Nightingale ' '* Beautiful Boy ' '* The Catcher Was a Spy ' '* Life Itself ' '* Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot' '* Suspiria ' '* Wildlife '
2019
'* Pain and Glory ' '* The Lodge ' '* The Day Shall Come ' '* 47 Meters Down: Uncaged ' '* Lucky Day ' '* 7500 ' '* The Irishman ' '* The Aeronauts '
2020s
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Personal History of David Copperfield |
|
produced in partnership with Film4 Productions | |
| The Courier |
|
Lionsgate Films & Roadside Attractions | collaboration with SunnyMarch |
| Promising Young Woman | December 25, 2020 | Focus Features | joint production with LuckyChap Entertainment |
| Palm Springs | July 10, 2020 | ||
| Greyhound | Apple TV+ | initially planned for Columbia Pictures co-produced alongside Stage 6 Films, Bron Creative, Playtone, Sycamore Pictures, Zhengfu Pictures | |
| The Nest |
|
|
co-created with BBC Films, Telefilm Canada, Element Pictures, Substitute Films |
| The Map of Tiny Perfect Things | February 12, 2021 | Amazon Studios | collaborative effort with Weed Road Pictures, Wishmore Productions |
| Reminiscence | August 20, 2021 | Warner Bros. Pictures | co-production involving Kilter Films, Michael De Luca Productions |
| Red Rocket | December 10, 2021 | A24 | produced jointly with Cre Film |
| Operation Mincemeat |
|
|
co-produced alongside See Saw Films, Cross City Films, Cohen Media Group, Archery Films |
| Spencer | November 5, 2021 |
|
joint production with Fábula, Shoebox Films, Komplizen Film |
| The 355 | January 7, 2022 | Universal Pictures | collaboration with Freckle Films, Kinberg Genre Films, Huyai Brothers |
| Dog | February 18, 2022 | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (via United Artists Releasing) | co-produced with Free Association |
| The Outfit | March 18, 2022 | Focus Features | |
| Sharp Stick | July 29, 2022 | Utopia | co-created with Good Thing Going Productions |
| Three Thousand Years of Longing |
|
|
produced in partnership with Kennedy Miller Mitchell, Elevate Production Finance, Sunac Culture |
| The Crow |
|
|
co-production involving Davis Film, 30West, Hassell Free Productions, The Electric Shadow Company, Pressman Film, Ashland Hill Media Finance, Maze Pictures, Occupant Entertainment |
| Maria |
|
|
collaboration with Fremantle, The Apartment Pictures, Fábula, Komplizen Film |
| Novocaine | March 14, 2025 | Paramount Pictures | first project under Infrared Pictures; co-produced with Circle of Confusion and Safehouse Pictures |
| The Life of Chuck | June 6, 2025 | Neon | co-created alongside Intrepid Pictures, QWGmire and Red Room Pictures |
2021
- Larry Flynt for President
- Parallel Mothers
2022
2023
- You Hurt My Feelings
- Knock at the Cabin
- Down Low
- To Catch a Killer
- Asphalt City
- Firebrand
- Fingernails
- Finally Dawn
- Knox Goes Away
- Flora and Son
- Waitress: The Musical
- One Life
2024
2025
Upcoming
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painter | TBA | 20th Century Studios | Produced under Infrared Pictures; collaboration with Lightstorm Entertainment, Circle M + P |
| I Play Rocky | Amazon MGM Studios | Joint production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Baha Productions, Eden Rock Media, Fireside Films | |
| The Uprising |
|
Formerly titled The Hood, co-produced alongside Blumhouse Productions, Electric Shadow Company, Supernix, Thank You Pictures |
- 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank
- 47 Meters Down: The Wreck
- Brides
- I Play Rocky
- La Ola
- Reykjavik
- Switzerland
- The Uprising
- Bad Bridgets
- King Snake, directed by Jeff Nichols
External links
- Articles with short description
- 2008 establishments in New York City
- American companies established in 2008
- American independent film studios
- Mass media companies based in New York City
- Film distributors of the United States
- International sales agents
- Mass media companies established in 2008
- Film production companies based in New York (state)
- Privately held companies based in New York (state)