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RatPac Entertainment

From Alfawiki
RatPac Entertainment, LLC
Company typePrivate
IndustryMedia, Entertainment
Founded2013
FounderBrett Ratner, James Packer
FateIntegrated into Access Entertainment (2018)
Key people
Steven Mnuchin (partner in Dune Entertainment), Brett Ratner, James Packer
ProductsFilms, television programs, documentaries, stage productions, podcasts
OwnerAccess Entertainment (majority ownership acquired 2017)
ParentAccess Entertainment (from 2018)

RatPac Entertainment, LLC was a U.S.-based media firm focusing on funding and producing films, television programs, documentaries, stage productions, and podcasts. Established by Brett Ratner and James Packer, it became a notable player in the Hollywood financing landscape.

History

Dune Entertainment, launched by Steven Mnuchin in 2004, initially provided financing for major motion pictures for 20th Century Fox, such as the X-Men series and Avatar. When Dune's agreement with Fox concluded in 2012, Mnuchin joined forces with Ratner and Packer to combine Dune with their RatPac Entertainment initiative, resulting in the creation of RatPac-Dune Entertainment in 2013.

Between 2013 and 2018, RatPac-Dune co-financed Warner Bros. projects exceeding $1 billion in value, including titles like American Sniper and Mad Max: Fury Road. Mnuchin also held a co-chair position at Relativity Media but departed before its insolvency.

In September 2013, RatPac-Dune secured a long-term co-financing arrangement with Warner Bros., supporting 75 films. Subsequently, in December 2013, RatPac committed to funding productions for Plan B Entertainment and New Regency starting from January 2014.

RatPac contributed to financing 81 theatrical releases that amassed over $17 billion worldwide. Its film portfolio earned 59 Academy Award nominations with 25 wins, alongside numerous Golden Globe and BAFTA accolades.

Towards the end of 2017, Access Entertainment purchased James Packer's majority ownership. By 2018, RatPac's activities were integrated into Access Entertainment.

In 2021, RatPac obtained the life rights of Jaime Rogozinski, creator of Reddit's r/wallstreetbets, following the GameStop stock event. The documentary "The New Americans: Gaming a Revolution," directed by Ondi Timoner, debuted on Netflix on January 1, 2024.

Dune Entertainment partnership

Under the leadership of Steven Mnuchin, Dune Entertainment had been co-financing films for Fox since 2006. On March 17, 2006, Viacom sold a controlling stake in the live-action film library of DreamWorks Pictures to Soros Strategic Partners and Dune Entertainment II, with the transaction completing on May 8, 2006.

Dune Entertainment films

Dune Entertainment collaborated extensively with 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox Atomic, and Fox 2000 Pictures to produce numerous films. Notable projects include:


RatPac-Dune Entertainment collaboration

RatPac-Dune Entertainment, LLC was established in September 2013 as a joint venture between RatPac and Dune, entering into a multi-year agreement to co-finance 75 films with Warner Bros. Pictures. On November 26, 2013, the partnership secured a $300 million credit line led by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, with an option to increase the facility to $400 million. This alliance came about after Dune's talks with 20th Century Fox fell through, prompting it to join forces with Warner Bros., thereby replacing Legendary Pictures as Warner Bros.' main co-financing collaborator.

In November 2018, investors began offering RatPac-Dune's minority ownership in a portfolio of 76 Warner Bros. films for sale. Although Vine Alternative Investments submitted a leading bid, Warner Bros. exercised its right to match the proposal in January 2019, purchasing RatPac-Dune's stakes for an estimated $290-300 million.

The agreement covering 75 films excluded productions financed under a separate deal with Village Roadshow Pictures, as well as titles from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Legendary Pictures, all Alcon Entertainment releases between 2014 and 2017, and the 2016 release Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Films financed by RatPac-Dune Entertainment

In partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures

In partnership with both Regency Enterprises/New Regency and 20th Century Fox

  • Aloha   (2015; co-produced alongside Columbia Pictures, LStar Capital, Vinyl Films; Fox handled international distribution exclusively)
  • The Revenant   (2015; co-produced alongside New Regency, Appian Way, Anonymous Content, M Productions)
  • Rules Don't Apply   (2016; co-produced alongside New Regency, Worldview Entertainment, Shangri-La Entertainment)
  • Assassin's Creed   (2016; co-produced alongside Ubisoft Motion Pictures, New Regency, DMC Films, The Kennedy/Marshall Company)

Collaborations involving Universal Pictures

  • The Water Diviner   (2015; co-produced alongside Entertainment One, Mister Smith Entertainment, Seven Network, Hopscotch Features, Fear of God Films)
  • Central Intelligence   (Internationally co-financed in ২০১৬ with New Line Cinema , Perfect World Pictures , Bluegrass Films , Principato-Young Entertainment)

Projects financed through partnerships with Sony Pictures

  • Aloha] (U.S. distribution only; produced in conjunction with Columbia Pictures , Regency Enterprises/LStar Capital/Vinyl Films )
  • (Truth]  (co-production involving Sony Classics , Echo Lake Entertainment , Blue Lake Media Fund , Mythology Entertainment , Dirty Films )
* (I Saw the Light]  (produced jointly with Sony Classics , Bron Studios , CW Media Finance )
* (Land of Mine] (studio credit exclusively for Sony Classics ; produced by Nordisk Film / Amusement Park Film )

Financed through collaboration with  [ [RKO pictures ]] 

* Barely lethal  (in २०१५ )

RatPac Documentary Productions

RatPac Television Projects

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