Mattel Films
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production |
| Predecessor | Mattel Playground Productions |
| Founded | September 6, 2018 |
| Defunct | June 2, 2025 |
| Fate | Merged with Mattel Television to form Mattel Studios |
| Headquarters | Not specified , United States |
Key people | Robbie Brenner (Executive Producer) |
| Parent | Mattel |
Mattel Films served as the cinematic production branch of the American toy and entertainment corporation Mattel from September 6, 2018, until June 2, 2025. This division followed Mattel Playground Productions, which was established on October 16, 2013, under the umbrella of Mattel Global Brands, a consolidated media strategy unit that itself replaced earlier entertainment divisions known as Mattel Entertainment and Mattel Studios.
On March 31, 2016, Mattel folded this division into the newly formed Mattel Creations, absorbing its functions. However, after the live-action film Max Steel underperformed at the box office, the unit was shuttered seven months later. The division was subsequently reinstated on September 6, 2018, under the name Mattel Films.
On June 2, 2025, Mattel combined this film division with its television counterpart, Mattel Television, to create Mattel Studios. Robbie Brenner, who had previously led Mattel Films, was elevated to oversee the newly formed entity. This rebranding revived the Mattel Studios name, which had been intermittently used between 2011 and 2013 in credits for properties such as Monster High, Ever After High, and Polly Pocket.
History
In May 1970, a collaboration between Mattel and producer Robert B. Radnitz commenced, resulting in family-oriented films like Sounder, Where the Lilies Bloom, and A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich.
Prior to its acquisition by Mattel in 2012, HIT Entertainment launched HIT Movies in Los Angeles in March 2009 under Julia Pistor’s leadership to develop motion pictures based on its franchises. The initial project planned was a live-action adaptation of Thomas & Friends, targeted for release in late 2010.
On October 26, 2013, Mattel introduced Playground Productions (Mattel PGP), an internal film studio dedicated to worldwide multi-platform distribution of content derived from its brands. Its inaugural animated feature was Team Hot Wheels: The Origin of Awesome!. Concurrently, Mattel was advancing live-action adaptations including Hot Wheels projects at Legendary Entertainment and Universal Pictures; Masters of the Universe and Barbie at Columbia Pictures; a Monster High film with Universal; and a Max Steel movie with Dolphin Entertainment. Playground Productions aimed to implement three-year narrative strategies that integrated toy design with consumer products and marketing efforts. David Voss was appointed Senior Vice President and head of the division.
In collaboration with WWE, Mattel PGP launched the online short-form series WWE Slam City on March 17, 2014, which was supported by a corresponding toy line. The series later aired on Nicktoons’ NickSports programming block starting October 22, 2014.
Following David Voss’s departure in January 2016 to join Loot Crate, Mattel merged Playground Productions into Mattel Creations, bringing it together with HIT Entertainment and the American Girl content group. After the October 14, 2016 release of the live-action Max Steel, which failed both critically and commercially, Mattel Playground Productions was fully integrated into Mattel Creations.
Revitalization as Mattel Films
On September 6, 2018, Mattel inaugurated Mattel Films, a dedicated film production division focused on adapting its toy properties into movies. This initiative replaced the previous Mattel PGP unit. Robbie Brenner, an Academy Award-nominated producer, was appointed as executive producer and reports directly to CEO Ynon Kreiz.
The division’s early slate included the live-action features Barbie and Masters of the Universe. On January 7, 2019, it was revealed that Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling would headline Barbie, a co-production with Warner Bros. Pictures and Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment. Upon its release on July 21, 2023, Barbie earned over $1.4 billion globally, marking it as Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing film to date.
Following the reacquisition of film rights for Hot Wheels from Legendary Entertainment, Mattel Films partnered with Warner Bros. in January 2019 to develop a Hot Wheels feature. In July 2020, a collaboration with Universal Pictures was announced to create a movie adaptation of Wishbone.
In October 2020, Mattel Films unveiled plans for a live-action/animated hybrid Thomas & Friends film directed by Marc Forster. On April 19, 2021, the company joined forces with Universal Pictures and Vin Diesel’s One Race Films to produce a live-action version of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, featuring Diesel in the lead role. Other projects in development included a Barney film starring Daniel Kaluuya and a Polly Pocket movie with Lena Dunham and Lily Collins attached.
On June 24, 2021, Mattel Films entered into an agreement with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to develop a live-action Polly Pocket feature.
December 2021 marked Mattel Films’ announcement of its first project derived from external intellectual property: Christmas Balloon, a family drama inspired by real events.
In July 2022, Mattel Films collaborated with Skydance to create a live-action film based on the Matchbox die-cast cars.
On June 2, 2025, Mattel consolidated this unit with its existing filming division to establish Mattel Studios, appointing Robbie Brenner as head of the new entity. This rebranding revives the Mattel Studios name formerly used between 2011 and 2013 for media related to Monster High, Ever After High, and Polly Pocket. All current productions from both divisions will proceed under the Mattel Studios banner.
Filmography
| Under Mattel Playground Productions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Release date(s) | Format | Production partners |
Distributor | Remarks | |
| Monster High | October 20, 2013 – April 3, 2016 | 2D-animated shorts and web series | Nerd Corps Entertainment | YouTube | ||
| Monster High | 2013–2016 | Animated films | DHX Media Vancouver Nerd Corps Entertainment |
Television:
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (Home video) |
Duration: 61–75 minutes | |
| Barbie and the Secret Door | October 16, 2014 | Animated film | Rainmaker Entertainment | Television:
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (Home video) |
||
| Team Hot Wheels | June 7, 2014 | Animated series | Mercury Filmworks Titmouse, Inc. |
Digital platforms YouTube |
| |
| WWE Slam City | March 17, 2014 | Stop motion series | Stoopid Buddy Stoodios | Digital platforms Nicktoons |
Series consisting of twenty-six two-minute episodes | |
| Ever After High | May 30, 2013 – June 20, 2016 | "Legacy Day" special lasting 15 minutes | Guru Studio | Netflix | Web series | |
| "True Hearts Day" special webisode lasting approximately 22 minutes |
| |||||
| "Thronecoming" television special with a runtime of about 44 minutes | ||||||
| Sixty-six webisodes each around three minutes long | ||||||
| Barbie in Princess Power | March 3, 2015 | Animated film | Rainmaker Entertainment | Nickelodeon (U.S. broadcast) Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (Home video) |
||
| Barbie in Rock 'N Royals | August 13, 2015 | |||||
| Barbie & Her Sisters in The Great Puppy Adventure | October 8, 2015 | |||||
| Barbie: Spy Squad | January 15, 2016 | |||||
| Max Steel | October 26, 2016 | Live-action film | Dolphin Films Ingenious Media |
Open Road Films | Last title produced before Mattel PGP merged into Mattel Television. | |
|- style="background:#b0c4de;"
! colspan="7"| Under Mattel Films
|}
|-
! Title
! Release date(s)
! Format
! Production partners
! Distributor
! Remarks
|}
|-
|
Barbie
|
July 21, 2023
|
Live-action film
|
Heyday Films
LuckyChap Entertainment
NB/GG Pictures
|
Warner Bros. Pictures
|
First film from the division rated PG-13.
|}
|-
|
Masters of the Universe
|
June 5, 2026
|
Live-action film
|
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Escape Artists
|
Amazon MGM Studios
|
|}
|-
|
Matchbox
|
Template:TBA
|
Live-action film
|
Skydance Media
|
Apple Studios
|
John Cena is confirmed to star.
|}
|-
|
Thomas & Friends
|
|
Live-action film
|
Directed by Marc Forster#2Dux²
|
|}
|-
|
Barney
|
|
Live-action film
|
Valparaiso Pictures
59% Productions
|
Distributed by A24
|}
|-
|
American Girl
|
|
Live-action film
|
Produced by Temple Hill Entertainment
|
Released via Paramount Pictures
|}
|-
|
Bob the Builder
|
|
Animated film
|
In collaboration with ShadowMachine
Nuyorican Productions
|
Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, starring Anthony Ramos.
|}
|-
|
Christmas Balloon
'
'Undated'
'Live-action film'
'Produced by Vital Pictures'
'Distributor not specified'
|}
|-
|
Hot Wheels
'
'Undated'
'Live-action film'
'Produced by Bad Robot'
'Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures'
|}
|-
|
Magic 8 Ball
'
'Undated'
'Live-action film'
'Production details not disclosed'
'Distributor not disclosed'
|}
|-
|
Major Matt Mason
'
'Undated'
'Live-action film'
'Produced by Playtone
Weed Road Pictures'
'Distributed by Paramount Pictures'
'Scheduled to feature Tom Hanks.'
|}
|-
|
Monster High
'
'Undated'
'Live-action film'
'Produced by Weed Road Pictures'
'Distributed by Universal Pictures'
|}
|-
|
Polly Pocket
'
'Undated'
'Live-action film'
'Co-produced with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Good Thing Going (Lena Dunham)'
'Airing through Amazon MGM Studios'
|}
|-
|
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
'
‘Undated’
‘Live-action film’
‘Produced by [One Race Films]’
‘Distributed by [Universal Pictures]’
‘Vin Diesel is attached as lead actor.’
|}
|-
|
Uno
' 'Undated’ ' Live-action film ' 'Produced by Quality Films ' 'Distribution details unavailable '
|} |- | View-Master
' 'Undated’ ' Live-action film ' 'Produced by Escape Artists ' 'Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing '
|} |- | Wishbone
' 'Undated’ ' Live-action film ' 'Production details undisclosed ’ '[Universal Pictures]’
|}
See also
References
- Articles with short description
- Mattel subsidiaries
- Companies founded in California in 2013
- Organizations closed in California in 2016
- Enterprises reestablished in California in 2018
- American firms founded in 2013
- American firms founded in 2018
- American firms closed in 2016
- American firms closed in 2025
- Companies that have been reestablished
- Businesses headquartered in El Segundo, California
- Mass media firms founded in 2013
- Mass media firms closed in 2016
- Mass media firms founded again in 2018
- United States film production companies
- American studios specializing in animation
- American companies disestablished in 2016