Orion Pictures Corporation
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production and distribution |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Arthur B. Krim, Eric Pleskow, Robert Benjamin |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Films |
| Owner | Amazon MGM Studios (Amazon) |
| Parent | Amazon MGM Studios |
Orion Releasing, LLC, operating under the name Orion Pictures, is a U.S.-based film production and distribution firm owned by Amazon MGM Studios, a division of Amazon. Presently, Orion specializes in producing, distributing, and acquiring independent and niche films created by filmmakers from underrepresented communities.
Established in 1978 as Orion Pictures Corporation, the company emerged as a collaboration between Warner Bros. and three former executives from United Artists. From 1978 through 1999, Orion was active in film production and release, also engaging in television production and syndication during the 1980s and early 1990s. It ranked among the largest mini-major studios of its time, partnering with acclaimed directors such as Woody Allen, James Cameron, Jonathan Demme, and Oliver Stone. Notably, four films distributed by Orion earned the Academy Award for Best Picture: Amadeus (1984), Platoon (1986), Dances with Wolves (1990), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) acquired Orion in 1997 and fully integrated it by 1999. MGM later revived the Orion brand for television in 2013 and reintroduced Orion Pictures in 2014. In 2022, Amazon obtained Orion through its acquisition of MGM.
1978–1981: Origins
On February 6, 1978, three top executives at United Artists—Arthur B. Krim (chairman), Eric Pleskow (president and CEO), and Robert Benjamin (chairman of finance)—all resigned. Krim and Benjamin had been at UA since 1951, guiding the studio to critical acclaim and commercial success. After Transamerica acquired UA in 1967, friction developed between Krim and Transamerica chairman John R. Beckett regarding studio management. Krim suggested spinning off UA as an independent entity; however, Beckett declined.
The dispute escalated when Pleskow refused to provide UA department heads’ medical records to Transamerica on grounds of confidentiality. Matters worsened after Fortune magazine published Beckett’s remarks encouraging discontented executives to resign. On January 13, 1978, Krim, Benjamin, and Pleskow quit; three days later senior vice presidents William Bernstein and Mike Medavoy also departed. Following these exits, 63 notable Hollywood figures cautioned Transamerica that losing these five executives was a grave error—a prediction validated by the commercial failure of Heaven's Gate in 1980, which ultimately compelled Transamerica to sell UA to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
That same year, the five former executives joined forces with Warner Bros. to create Orion Pictures Company—named after the constellation featuring five prominent stars. The company’s strategy prioritized financing projects while offering filmmakers complete creative freedom—a model that had succeeded at United Artists. Orion secured a $100 million credit facility with Warner Bros. handling film distribution; however, Orion retained control over distribution strategies, marketing efforts, and project selection.
By late March 1978, Orion finalized a two-picture agreement with John Travolta’s production company. Soon after, contracts were signed with high-profile talents including Barbra Streisand; actors James Caan, Jane Fonda, Peter Sellers, Jon Voight, and Burt Reynolds; directors Francis Ford Coppola and Blake Edwards; writer-director John Milius; musician Peter Frampton; and producer Ray Stark. Additionally, Orion established co-financing and distribution partnerships with EMI Films. Within its inaugural year, Orion had fifteen films underway and attracted numerous actors, directors, and producers.
Robert Benjamin passed away in October 1979. The company’s first release was A Little Romance, which premiered that April. Subsequent titles included Blake Edwards’ commercially successful 10 (1979), comedies such as Caddyshack (1980) and Arthur (1981), critically acclaimed but modestly performing films like The Great Santini (1979) and Sidney Lumet’s Prince of the City (1981), plus works from emerging directors including Philip Kaufman’s The Wanderers (1979) and Nicholas Meyer’s directorial debut Time After Time (1979). Orion also handled U.S. distribution for Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979). Out of the 23 films released between April 1979 and December 1981, approximately one-third turned a profit. During this timeframe, the company was cautious about funding large-scale productions and notably declined to finance Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
1982–1986: Separation from Warner Bros.
By the beginning of 1982, Orion terminated its distribution agreement with Warner Bros., which continued to hold the rights to Orion's earlier film catalog. In pursuit of establishing an independent distribution system, Orion evaluated options such as Allied Artists and Embassy Pictures before ultimately acquiring Filmways. Following the acquisition, the company restructured Filmways by divesting non-core assets, including Grosset & Dunlap and Broadcast Electronics.
This merger signified Orion’s initial venture into television production, exemplified by the hit CBS series Cagney & Lacey. In 1983, Orion introduced its art-house division, Orion Classics, staffed by executives formerly from United Artists Classics.
Out of the 18 movies released under the Orion Pictures Corporation banner, ten turned a profit, five managed to break even, and three incurred losses below $2 million each. The Cotton Club, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, suffered a $3 million loss attributed to legal complications. Krim acknowledged the lack of blockbuster hits despite some moderate successes. In September 1984, Orion distributed Amadeus, which garnered eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
On April 3, 1984, Orion established the Orion Entertainment Group to manage four divisions: Orion Television, Home Video, Pay Television, and Television Syndication, appointing Jamie Kellner as president. Later that year, Orion released James Cameron’s The Terminator, which achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success, launching a franchise; however, Orion did not handle distribution of the subsequent sequels.
In 1985, most of Orion’s film releases underperformed at the domestic box office aside from Desperately Seeking Susan and Code of Silence. Efforts to initiate a franchise with Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins were unsuccessful. Ineffective marketing and distribution strategies contributed to these shortcomings. Furthermore, Orion temporarily halted sales of home-use rights to concentrate on expanding its video business. Production setbacks also delayed projects such as Rodney Dangerfield’s Back to School.
In January 1986, producers Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna attempted a $55 million acquisition of Orion through their company Anabasis with plans to assume control and reorganize management. During this period, Warburg Pincus reduced its holdings from 20% down to 5%, while Viacom International purchased the remaining shares aiming to utilize Orion’s content for its Showtime channel.
Orion extended its presence in home video by forming Orion Home Entertainment Corporation in 1985 and subsequently launching the Orion Home Video label in 1987. Prior to this initiative, home media releases were managed by HBO Video, Warner Home Video, Vestron Video, and Embassy Home Entertainment.
1986–1991: Metromedia period
On May 22, 1986, billionaire John Kluge's Metromedia acquired a 6.5% ownership stake in Orion, coinciding with the commercial success of Back to School, which grossed $90 million. By March 1987, Orion's reputation had grown thanks to acclaimed films such as the Best Picture Oscar winner Platoon, Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters, and Hoosiers. In 1986, Orion led all studios with 18 Academy Award nominations. The following year saw hits like RoboCop and No Way Out. Orion's television branch expanded its slate of syndicated game shows through Century Towers Productions, reviving popular formats including The New Hollywood Squares and High Rollers. In 1987, Len White was appointed president and CEO of Orion Home Video, overseeing planned home video releases.
In January 1987, National Amusements, owned by Sumner Redstone, acquired a 6.42% interest in Orion, which later increased to 26% following the acquisition of Viacom. This initiated a control struggle with Kluge, who ultimately amassed approximately 67% ownership by May 1988, firmly establishing Metromedia’s dominance.
Orion encountered notable difficulties in 1989 with several box office disappointments including Great Balls of Fire!, She-Devil, Speed Zone, and Miloš Forman’s Valmont. Although the comedy UHF received positive test audience reactions, it failed commercially but later developed a cult following through home video. That same year, Orion entered into an agreement with Nelson Entertainment for videocassette and theatrical distribution.
In February 1990, Orion secured a $175 million international distribution contract with Columbia Pictures Entertainment, replacing prior licensing arrangements on a territory-by-territory basis. That month also saw Mike Medavoy depart Orion to head Tri-Star Pictures.
Most of Orion’s 1990 film releases underperformed financially except for Kevin Costner’s western epic Dances with Wolves, which earned seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and generated $400 million globally. Shortly thereafter, Orion released another blockbuster with The Silence of the Lambs. Despite these hits, years of financial losses persisted; continued funding from Kluge was essential to keep Orion afloat until he eventually withdrew support.
1991–1995: Bankruptcy period
Initially, Kluge pursued selling Orion to businessman Marvin Davis and Sony, which had acquired Columbia Pictures. When these negotiations failed, production was suspended and projects such as The Addams Family (with international rights retained) were sold to generate funds. In spring 1991, Kluge’s management assumed control, resulting in Arthur Krim’s exit. The company’s financial troubles became widely publicized, exemplified by Billy Crystal’s joke at the 1991 Academy Awards referencing the studio’s “coma” condition.
During this time frame, ABC co-financed and took over numerous Orion Television productions including American Detective and Equal Justice. After shutting down its TV division, shows like The Chuck Woolery Show sought new producers while Gary Nardino transitioned to Lorimar Television, bringing several projects and talent contracts along. On November 25, 1991, following the closure of its television operations, Orion sold the rights to Hollywood Squares to King World Productions.
Orion filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on December 11, 1991. Acquisition talks with New Line Cinema collapsed due to pricing disagreements; Republic Pictures and Savoy Pictures also explored purchases without success. In February 1992, president and CEO Bernstein resigned to join Paramount Pictures.
At the March 1992 Academy Awards, Crystal again referenced Orion’s decline amidst its streak of Best Picture nominees. Though The Silence of the Lambs dominated major awards that year, departures among key executives and talent raised doubts about the studio’s future prospects. Chairman Eric Pleskow announced his resignation effective July 1992 due to a diminishing role.
Orion emerged from bankruptcy on November 5, 1992, implementing a reorganization plan focused on producing films financed externally while acquiring distribution rights after completion. The bankruptcy delayed releases such as Love Field, RoboCop 3, and Blue Sky; following reorganization, releases resumed with Blue Sky earning Jessica Lange an Academy Award in 1995.
In August 1994, Orion Home Video collaborated with Streamline Pictures to distribute licensed anime titles through mainstream retailers, marking a significant milestone in anime's expansion within American popular culture.
1995–1997: Metromedia International Group
In November 1995, Orion merged with two other Kluge-controlled entities and film and television producer MCEG Sterling to establish Metromedia International Group. Over the subsequent four years following bankruptcy protection, only a handful of released films garnered notable critical or box office recognition.
In 1996, Metromedia expanded by acquiring the Motion Picture Corporation of America, appointing its leaders Brad Krevoy and Steve Stabler as co-presidents of Orion. Both secured distribution agreements guaranteeing six-picture commitments. Afterward, Orion’s film production slowed considerably, mainly distributing titles produced by external companies such as LIVE Entertainment. Meanwhile, Orion Classics, having lost its original founders to Sony Pictures Classics, continued to acquire independent art-house films like Boxing Helena before merging with Samuel Goldwyn Entertainment later that same year.
1997–1999: Acquisition by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
By July 1997, Metromedia shareholders consented to sell Orion Pictures along with Samuel Goldwyn Entertainment and Motion Picture Corporation of America to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). This transaction resulted in the exit of 85 staff members, including Krevoy and Stabler, with plans for an additional 111 layoffs within nine months, ultimately retaining only 25 employees at MGM. The Orion catalog included approximately 2,000 films, ten completed features, and five direct-to-video projects. Krevoy and Stabler retained ownership of the Motion Picture Corporation of America name and its top three films, while Metromedia held onto Goldwyn's Landmark Theatre Group. The last film released by Orion prior to a prolonged pause was One Man's Hero in 1999.
MGM preserved Orion as a corporate entity primarily to bypass its existing home video distribution deal with Warner Home Video, continuing to release movies under the Orion Home Video brand. In 1999, MGM purchased two-thirds of the pre-1996 PolyGram Filmed Entertainment library—including the Epic film catalog—from Seagram for $250 million, thereby increasing its collection to around 4,000 titles. This acquisition was executed through Orion Pictures to avoid Warner Home Video’s distribution rights. Additionally, in March 1999, MGM paid $225 million to terminate its Warner Home Video distribution contract, lifting previous distribution restrictions.
2013–present: Revival
Orion re-entered television production in 2013 with the syndicated court show Paternity Court, marking its comeback after a period of inactivity due to bankruptcy.
By late 2014, the Orion Pictures brand was revived for smaller-scale multi-platform video on demand and limited theatrical releases, launching with the Brazilian film Vestido pra Casar.
In September 2015, Entertainment One Films relaunched the Momentum Pictures label through a collaboration with Orion Pictures to jointly acquire and distribute films across North America and selected international territories. Early titles under this partnership included The Wannabe, Fort Tilden, and Balls Out. Later releases featured Pocket Listing and Diablo.
Beginning in 2016, Orion Pictures teamed up with Samuel Goldwyn Films for acquiring and distributing multiple films starting with Burn Country.
Orion Television broadened its court show offerings in 2017 by introducing Couples Court With The Cutlers, starring Keith and Dana Cutler as adjudicators of romantic disputes.
On September 6, 2017, MGM reestablished Orion as an independent U.S. theatrical marketing and distribution label under the leadership of president John Hegeman. The label aimed to produce and release four to six moderately budgeted films annually across diverse genres and platforms. The first film released under this renewed strategy was the young adult romance drama Every Day in February 2018.
In May 2018, Orion Classics was relaunched as a multiplatform distribution label targeting approximately eight to ten releases yearly.
On February 5, 2019, MGM and Annapurna Pictures rebranded their joint distribution venture Mirror as United Artists Releasing (UAR). Starting in April 2019, Orion’s theatrical releases transitioned to UAR beginning with the remake of Child's Play.
In August 2020, Orion shifted its focus toward promoting films from underrepresented creators—including people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, and persons with disabilities—appointing Alana Mayo as president. This diversity initiative launched with Billy Porter’s directorial debut Anything's Possible. In 2021, Orion and Annapurna secured U.S. rights for Jerrod Carmichael’s Sundance award-winning film On the Count of Three.
On May 17, 2021, Amazon announced plans to acquire MGM for roughly $9 billion to enhance its Amazon Prime Video content portfolio; the deal closed on March 17, 2022 at $8.45 billion.
Following Amazon’s March 2023 closure of UAR operations and integration into MGM’s structure, MGM became Orion’s domestic distributor while Warner Bros. Pictures took over international distribution responsibilities. In May 2023, Amazon launched Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, an international distribution division handling MGM and Amazon projects including new releases from Orion.
On September 17, 2023, Orion’s film American Fiction received the People's Choice Award at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, representing a major achievement for the studio.
Prominent films
During the 1980s and early 1990s, Orion's catalog included works by Woody Allen, landmark Hollywood productions such as the inaugural Terminator and RoboCop franchises, as well as comedies like Throw Momma from the Train, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Caddyshack, Something Wild, and the Bill & Ted series. This lineup was complemented by Best Picture recipients including Amadeus, Platoon, Dances with Wolves, and The Silence of the Lambs.
The following table outlines key Academy Award achievements (Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Acting) associated with Orion productions:
| Film (Year) | Major Oscars | Nominee | Result | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Great Santini (1979) | Best Actor | Robert Duvall | Nominee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Supporting Actor | Michael O'Keefe | Nominee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A Little Romance (1979) | Best Adapted Screenplay | Allan Burns | Nominee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arthur (1981) | Best Actor | Dudley Moore | Nominee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Supporting Actor | John Gielgud | Winner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Original Screenplay | Steve Gordon | Nominee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prince of the City (1981) | Best Adapted Screenplay | Jay Presson Allen and Sidney Lumet | Nominee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amadeus (1984) | Best Picture | Winner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Actor | F. Murray Abraham | Winner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tom Hulce | Nominee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Director | Miloš Forman | Winner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Peter Shaffer | Winner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Broadway Danny Rose (1984) | Best Director | Woody Allen | Nominee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Original Screenplay | Woody Allen | Nominee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) | Best Original Screenplay | Woody Allen | Nominee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platoon (1986) | Best Picture | '\'Winner | '-
'|'Best Director' |
'Oliver Stone' | '\'Winner | '-
'|'Best Original Screenplay' |
'Oliver Stone' | 'Nominee' | '-
'|'rowspan="2"|Best Supporting Actor' |
'Tom Berenger' | 'Nominee' | '-
'|'Willem Dafoe' |
'Nominee' | '-
'|'rowspan="5"|Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)' |
'Best Picture' | 'Nominee' | '-
'|'Best Director' |
'Woody Allen' | 'Nominee' | '- | 'Best Supporting Actor' | 'Michael Caine' | Winner | '- | 'Best Supporting Actress' | 'Dianne Wiest' | Winner | '- | 'Best Original Screenplay' | 'Woody Allen' | Winner | '- | Hoosiers (1986)' | 'Best Supporting Actor' | 'Dennis Hopper' | 'Nominee' | '- | Radio Days (1987)' | 'Best Original Screenplay' | 'Woody Allen' | 'Nominee' | '- | Throw Momma from the Train (1987)' | 'Best Supporting Actress' | 'Anne Ramsey' | 'Nominee' | '- | Bull Durham (1988)' | 'Best Original Screenplay' | 'Ron Shelton' | 'Nominee' | '- | Mississippi Burning (1988)' | 'Best Picture' | 'Nominee' | '- | 'Best Director' | 'Alan Parker' | 'Nominee' | '- | 'Best Actor | ' Gene Hackman | ' Nominee | |||
| ' Best Supporting Actress | ' Frances McDormand | ' Nominee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Married to the Mob (1988) | ' Best Supporting Actor | ' Dean Stockwell | ' Nominee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) | ' Best Adapted Screenplay | ' Jean-Claude Carrière and Philip Kaufman | ' Nominee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| rowSpan="3" Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) | ' Best Director | ' Woody Allen | ' Nominee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ' Best Supporting Actor | ' Martin Landau | ' Nominee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ' Best Original Screenplay | ' Woody Allen | ' Nominee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[[Alice (1990 film)] ] (1990)
Best Original Screenplay Woody Allen Nominee - rowSpan="6" Dances with Wolves (1990) Best Picture Winner - Best Director rowSpan="2" Kevin Costner Winner - Best Actor Nominee - Best Supporting Actor Graham Greene (actor) Nominee - Best Supporting Actress Mary McDonnell Nominee - Best Adapted Screenplay Michael Blake (author) Winner - rowSpan="5" The Silence of the Lambs (film) (1991) Best Picture |
Winner - Best Director Jonathan Demme Winner - Best Actor Anthony Hopkins Winner - Best Actress Jodie Foster Winner - Best Adapted Screenplay Ted Tally Winner - Love Field (film) (1992) Best Actress Michelle Pfeiffer Nominee - Blue Sky (1994 film) (1994) Best Actress Jessica Lange Winner - Ulee's Gold (1997) Best Actor Peter Fonda Nominee - rowSpan="2" Women Talking (film) (2022) Best Picture |
Nominee - Best Adapted Screenplay Sarah Polley Winner - rowSpan="4" American Fiction (film) (2023) Best Picture |
Nominee - Best Adapted Screenplay Cord Jefferson Winner - Best Actor Jeffrey Wright Nominee - Best Supporting Actor Sterling K. Brown Nominee
-
rowSpan="2" [[Nickel Boys] ](2024)
Best Picture
|
Nominee
-
Best Adapted Screenplay
[[RaMell Ross] ] and [[Joslyn Barnes] ]
Nominee
|
Top-grossing Movies
| Position | Movie Title | Release Year | Global Revenue (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dances with Wolves | 1990 | $424.2 |
| 2 | The Silence of the Lambs | 1991 | $272.7 |
| 3 | The Addams Family | 1991 | $191.5 |
| 4 | First Blood | 1982 | $125.2 |
| 5 | The Terminator | 1984 | $78.3 |
| 6 | Throw Momma from the Train | 1987 | $57.2 |
| 7 | RoboCop | 1987 | $53.4 |
| 8 | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | 1988 | $42.5 |
| 9 | Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure | 1989 | $40.5 |
Current Status of Orion's Catalog
The majority of Orion’s films released after 1982, together with a significant portion of the AIP and Filmways archives and original Orion Television productions, are currently branded under MGM, frequently showcasing the distinctive Orion logo from the 1980s.
Warner Bros. retains most ancillary rights to the joint venture catalog from 1978 to 1982, which includes titles such as 10, Caddyshack, and Arthur. Additionally, Warner Bros. handles distribution for certain post-1982 Orion productions like Lionheart, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and Amadeus. Meanwhile, HBO possesses video distribution rights for Three Amigos. MGM maintains other rights and copyright ownership related to these films.
In some cases, ownership is divided; for example, with The Wanderers, producers control some rights while MGM/Orion holds the copyright. Orion holds a controlling stake in The Cotton Club, though primary rights belong to Lionsgate.
Among the original joint venture titles now under MGM’s control after rights acquisitions in 2000 are Woody Allen’s A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy and Zelig. MGM’s collection also includes films produced by Hemdale and Nelson Entertainment through its acquisition of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment’s pre-1996 library; however, Paramount Television retains certain television and digital rights for some Nelson films.
The Samuel Goldwyn Company’s film and television assets have been absorbed into the Orion collection within MGM’s holdings, except for select properties like The New Adventures of Flipper, which is copyrighted by MGM Television Entertainment.
MGM continues to distribute revived versions of classic game shows from the 1980s such as Hollywood Squares and High Rollers, along with remaining episodes from their original runs, although CBS Television Distribution owns the format rights.
While Orion originally released the inaugural Rambo film, First Blood (1982), ownership of the entire franchise now rests with StudioCanal following its purchase of Carolco Pictures’ library.
References
Further reading
- Medavoy, Mike; Young, Josh. You're Only as Good as Your Next One: 100 Great Films, 100 Good Films, and 100 for Which I Should Be Shot. Atria Books, 2002.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Orion Pictures
- United States film distributors
- Film production firms in the United States
- Television production entities in the United States
- California-based entertainment firms
- Los Angeles headquartered companies
- Past joint ventures
- American enterprises founded in 1978
- American enterprises dissolved in 1999
- Entertainment firms founded in 1978
- Entertainment firms dissolved in 1999
- Mass media enterprises founded in 1978
- Mass media enterprises dissolved in 1999
- 1978 establishments in California
- 1999 closures in California
- Companies that underwent Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1991
- Metromedia
- Mergers and acquisitions of 1997
- Companies re-established after closure
- American companies founded in 2014
- Entertainment companies founded in 2014
- Mass media companies founded in 2014
- 2014 establishments in California
- Former subsidiaries of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Amazon MGM Studios
- American companies established in 2013