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MGM Home Entertainment

From Alfawiki
MGM Home Entertainment LLC
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryHome video distribution
PredecessorMGM Home Video, MGM/CBS Home Video, MGM/UA Home Video
Founded1978
Headquarters
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Products4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD releases of film and television content
OwnerAmazon MGM Studios (subsidiary of Amazon)
ParentAmazon MGM Studios

MGM Home Entertainment LLC—also recognized as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment, operating under the trade name MGM Home Entertainment, and previously known as MGM Home Video, MGM/CBS Home Video, and MGM/UA Home Video—serves as the home video distribution arm of the American media corporation Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). This entity is currently owned by Amazon MGM Studios, a subsidiary within the Amazon corporate family.

Since 2020, the distribution of its titles has been managed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, with a transition completed in 2021 through Studio Distribution Services. Significantly, MGM Home Entertainment handles physical media releases such as 4K UHD and Blu-ray for Amazon MGM Studios-produced television series, including Fallout.

1978–1982

Established in 1978 under the name MGM Home Video, the company initially focused on bringing MGM’s film and television content to home video formats. In 1980, it formed a partnership with CBS Video Enterprises, creating the joint venture MGM/CBS Home Video. That year marked their first releases on Betamax and VHS formats.

The early product packaging was distinguished by premium features such as leather-bound clamshell cases for MGM’s first 24 film releases. Subsequently, these were replaced with large gray book-style boxes prominently displaying MGM or CBS logos. Additionally, MGM/CBS distributed certain titles from Lorimar, which retained their original branding.

In 1981, a co-marketing agreement was established between MGM/CBS and Samuel Goldwyn Home Entertainment to jointly promote selected Goldwyn titles. CBS took responsibility for distribution, broadening the reach of these releases.

1982–1998

Following MGM’s acquisition of the financially troubled United Artists (UA) in 1982, CBS ended its video partnership with MGM and instead collaborated with 20th Century Fox to form CBS/Fox Video. Consequently, MGM’s home video division was rebranded as MGM/UA Home Entertainment Group, Inc. (also known as MGM/UA Home Video). Despite this change, MGM/UA continued licensing pre-1981 UA films and pre-1950 Warner Bros. titles to CBS/Fox under existing contracts. That same year, a partnership with The Cannon Group was initiated to release titles through 1985, alongside a collaboration with Rene Malo Video for distribution within Canada.

In 1986, Ted Turner acquired ownership of MGM's film library created before May 1986, which included the pre-1950 Warner Bros. catalog and rights to RKO Pictures films. MGM/UA maintained a home video distribution agreement with Turner for these assets. Moreover, the company secured global distribution rights to Concorde Pictures’ movies through an arrangement with Roger Corman’s studio.

After Pathé Communications took control of MGM in 1990, MGM/UA Home Video entered into an exclusive worldwide distribution contract with Warner Home Video. The Pathé acquisition also brought Cannon Films’ library under MGM’s umbrella, complementing its earlier distribution of Cannon titles during the 1980s. Following the expiration of its contract with CBS/Fox, MGM/UA resumed distributing the United Artists catalog. In 1994, it introduced the MGM/UA Family Entertainment label aimed at family-oriented content. By 1996, Warner had partnered with Image Entertainment to release MGM/UA titles on LaserDisc.

In 1997, studios distributed by Warner—including MGM/UA—began issuing titles on DVD format; this included films from the Turner library retained after Turner merged into Time Warner. Also in that year, MGM acquired Orion Pictures and integrated Orion Home Video into MGM/UA as a nominal subdivision until the acquisition was finalized in 1998, at which point the company was renamed MGM Home Entertainment.

1998–2005

After acquiring Orion, MGM retained Orion Pictures as a separate entity to uphold its video distribution contract with Warner Home Video, continuing to release Orion titles under the Orion Home Video brand. In 1999, MGM broadened its catalog by purchasing approximately two-thirds of the pre-1996 PolyGram Filmed Entertainment collection from Seagram for $250 million, expanding its total holdings to around 4,000 titles. To circumvent Warner's home video agreement, these assets—including the Epic film library—were managed under Orion Pictures.

In March 1999, MGM paid $225 million to end its distribution agreement with Warner Home Video ahead of schedule, concluding the partnership in February 2000 instead of 2003. This termination enabled Warner Home Video to acquire home video rights for MGM/UA films owned by Turner. Following this, MGM entered into an international home video distribution arrangement with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

In 2001, MGM collaborated with Amazon.com to introduce the "MGM Movie Vault," a service offering select VHS titles that were either previously unreleased or out-of-print exclusively through Amazon. On March 3, 2003, MGM Home Entertainment launched the MGM Kids sub-label aimed at catering to the children's entertainment market.

By May 27, 2003, MGM had regained comprehensive distribution rights in major territories including the UK, Australia, Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany, while still relying on 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment for most emerging markets. This strategic move enhanced MGM’s global operational control and bolstered its influence within the home entertainment sector.

2005–2019

Following MGM’s acquisition in 2005 by a Sony-led consortium supporting the Blu-ray format, MGM began distributing content through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment under the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc. banner, thereby retiring the MGM Home Entertainment name. Despite this transition, Sony’s DVD sales lagged amid a shrinking market. When Harry Sloan assumed the role of MGM chairman, he separated MGM from Sony Pictures’ oversight to reestablish it as an independent entity. Due to internal disagreements and lackluster performance, MGM terminated its home media distribution partnership with Sony in May 2006 and instead signed a global agreement with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

After emerging from bankruptcy in 2010 as MGM Holdings, the company suspended self-distribution and marketing activities from 2011 through 2018, opting instead to collaborate with other studios for these functions. Significant releases during this timeframe—including Skyfall, Red Dawn, Carrie, RoboCop, If I Stay, Poltergeist (co-produced with Fox 2000 Pictures), and Spectre—were distributed on DVD and Blu-ray via 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Additional titles such as The Hobbit trilogy, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Hercules, Tomb Raider, the Creed franchise, the Jump Street films, and The Magnificent Seven were released through various co-distributors like Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (currently overseeing MGM’s catalog), Paramount Home Entertainment, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

In 2011, MGM introduced the "MGM Limited Edition Collection," a manufactured-on-demand DVD service providing access to unreleased and out-of-print titles from its archive, available via the Warner Archive Collection.

On April 14, 2011, Fox extended its distribution agreement for MGM's library through 2016 and renewed it again on June 27, 2016, prolonging the deal until June 30, 2020.

2019–present

After Disney finalized its purchase of 21st Century Fox in March 2019, MGM declared it would not extend its distribution agreement with Fox and began searching for a new distribution partner. In 2020, MGM appointed Warner Bros. Home Entertainment as its new distributor for home media. This partnership does not cover certain co-produced titles that remain under the ownership of other distributors. On May 26, 2021, Amazon revealed its intention to acquire MGM for $8.45 billion, with MGM operating as a label within Amazon's structure. The acquisition was officially completed on March 17, 2022.

Catalog and distribution deals

In the United States and Canada, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment distributes MGM’s catalog through Studio Distribution Services—a joint venture established in 2020 with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and branded in 2021. Outside these territories, Warner Bros. handles international distribution except for Japan, where Warner Bros. Japan retains rights while distribution is managed by Happinet. Through Turner Entertainment Co., Warner Bros. owns MGM’s library dating before May 1986 and expanded its role to distribute MGM’s remaining catalog along with select titles from United Artists Releasing after UAR ended its distribution partnership with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in 2020. Universal Pictures distributed some UAR releases beginning with Operation Finale in 2018 and concluding with Licorice Pizza.

MGM licenses portions of its film and television archives to companies such as Kino Lorber, Criterion Collection, Shout! Studios, Vinegar Syndrome, Visual Entertainment Inc., Twilight Time, Arrow Films, Severin Films, Olive Films, and Sandpiper Pictures. Manufacture-on-demand titles are handled through Allied Vaughn. Streaming rights for the pre-May 1986 library are available on HBO Max, while post-May 1986 content streams via Amazon Prime Video and MGM+.

Following Orion Pictures’ revival, numerous Orion films have been released by third-party distributors rather than through MGM or Fox—for instance, Image Entertainment released the remake of The Town That Dreaded Sundown. However, home video distribution for Orion titles released under UAR is managed by 20th Century Fox and later transitioned to Warner Bros. via Studio Distribution Services.

Current distribution deals

  • Studio Distribution Services
    • Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment (1990–1999; 2020–present) responsible for the MGM catalog including films released after April 1986; pre-May 1986 MGM titles and pre-1950 Warner Bros. libraries remain with Warner Bros. through Turner Entertainment Co.
  • Allied Vaughn (manufacture-on-demand releases exclusively)

Past distribution deals

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