Savoy Pictures

Savoy Pictures Entertainment, Inc.

Company type	Independent film company
Industry	Film production, film distribution, television broadcasting
Founded	1992
Founder	Victor A. Kaufman
Defunct	1997
Fate	Acquired by Silver King Communications
Successor	Silver King Communications
Headquarters	United States , United States
Area served	United States, Canada, United Kingdom (distribution)
Key people	Victor A. Kaufman (Chairman and CEO), Lewis J. Korman (Vice Chairman), Robert N. Fried (Motion picture division head)
Products	Motion pictures, television production, broadcasting

Savoy Pictures Entertainment, Inc. operated as an independent American film company from 1992 until 1997. Among its notable productions were No Escape and Last of the Dogmen.

History

In 1992, Victor A. Kaufman, who previously served as chairman of Columbia Pictures Entertainment and founded TriStar Pictures, assumed the roles of chairman and CEO at Savoy, with Lewis J. Korman appointed as vice chairman. The company’s strategy focused on financing and distributing motion pictures with budgets ranging from $12 million to $25 million, committing up to $15 million per project. That same year, in June, Savoy secured an agreement with HBO granting home video, pay television, and pay-per-view rights.

Although production budgets grew over time, ineffective marketing efforts contributed to financial struggles within three years. The studio experienced several box office disappointments including titles like Exit to Eden and Getting Away with Murder. Meanwhile, competitors such as Miramax and New Line Cinema strengthened their positions after acquisitions by major corporations (The Walt Disney Company and Turner Broadcasting, respectively). In response, Savoy redirected its focus toward producing low-budget films alongside occasional high-budget projects reaching up to $80 million. The company also pursued high-profile talent like Sylvester Stallone, offering substantial deals for projects that ultimately did not materialize.

In 1994, Savoy diversified into broadcasting by forming SF Broadcasting in collaboration with Fox Television Stations, where Kaufman and Korman held controlling interests. SF Broadcasting acquired Fox-affiliated stations including WALA-TV (Mobile), WLUK-TV (Green Bay), WVUE (New Orleans), and KHON-TV (Honolulu). Concurrently, Savoy established a television production arm.

January 1995 saw Kaufman appoint Robert N. Fried to oversee the motion picture division, bringing on executives such as Alan Sokol along with filmmakers like Sam Raimi and George Tillman Jr. Later that year, a dedicated television division was launched under Stanley Brooks. By September 1995, Kaufman announced a strategic pivot away from film production toward operating primarily as a television station holding company.

Savoy began divesting its film assets; New Line Cinema acquired several titles including Martin Lawrence’s directorial debut A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, American History X, and The Adventures of Pinocchio. Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures secured rights for A Simple Plan as well as distribution for Private Parts. The only remaining unreleased film was Mariette in Ecstasy, which eventually premiered in 2019 at the Camerimage International Film Festival.

In November 1995, Silver King Communications, led by Barry Diller, agreed to purchase Savoy for $210 million; the transaction finalized in 1997. Following the acquisition, Kaufman became vice chairman of IAC and joined its board of directors. The SF Broadcasting stations were sold to Silver King Broadcasting in 1997.

Distribution in Canada shifted from Cineplex Odeon Films to Alliance Films after New Line Cinema took over several later Savoy titles.

Today, the majority of Savoy’s film catalog is owned by Universal Pictures and Focus Features, resulting from Diller’s sale of USA Networks’ entertainment holdings to Vivendi Universal in 2002. Titles produced under New Line Cinema belong to Warner Bros. Discovery, while Rysher Entertainment’s productions are controlled by Paramount Global. Specific films have different rights holders: No Escape is owned by Pathé, A Bronx Tale reverted to Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Productions, and Joel B. Michaels retains ownership of Last of the Dogmen.

Films

Release date	Title	Notes
September 29, 1993	A Bronx Tale	Debut film from Savoy, distributed in the US; produced jointly with TriBeCa Productions
December 25, 1993	Shadowlands	Distributed in the US; co-produced alongside Price Entertainment and Spelling Films International; UK distribution by Paramount Pictures
March 11, 1994	Lightning Jack	Distribution limited to the US; co-production with Village Roadshow and Buena Vista Pictures
April 13, 1994	Serial Mom	Produced in collaboration with Polar Entertainment Corporation
April 29, 1994	No Escape	Distributed in US/Canada and UK markets; co-produced with Allied Filmmakers and Pacific Western; international rights managed by Columbia Pictures under the title Escape from Absolom
October 14, 1994	Exit to Eden
February 24, 1995	The Walking Dead
March 15, 1995	Circle of Friends	Distribution in the US; UK distribution by Rank Organisation; Canadian distribution handled by Cineplex Odeon Films
April 28, 1995	Destiny Turns on the Radio	Distribution role; co-production with Rysher Entertainment
May 24, 1995	Tales from the Hood	Distribution only; co-produced with 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks
August 25, 1995	Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde	US distribution; co-produced with Rastar and Rank Organisation
August 25, 1995	The Show	Produced jointly with Rysher Entertainment
September 8, 1995	Last of the Dogmen	Distributed within the United States
September 22, 1995	Bleeding Hearts	Distribution responsibilities; co-production with Peacock Films
September 29, 1995	Steal Big Steal Little
October 27, 1995	Three Wishes	Co-produced alongside Rysher Entertainment
November 17, 1995	Let It Be Me
December 1, 1995	White Man's Burden	Joint production with Rysher Entertainment and UGC
April 3, 1996	Faithful	Co-producer role; collaborated with New Line Cinema, Miramax Films, and TriBeCa Productions
April 5, 1996	A Thin Line Between Love and Hate	Co-produced with New Line Cinema
April 12, 1996	Getting Away with Murder
May 17, 1996	Heaven's Prisoners	Produced and distributed by New Line Cinema
July 26, 1996	The Adventures of Pinocchio	International distribution; co-production involving New Line Cinema and The Kushner-Locke Company
August 30, 1996	The Stupids	Joint production with New Line Cinema and Rank Organisation
December 11, 1998	A Simple Plan	Final credit for Savoy Film; produced collectively with Mutual Film Company, Paramount Pictures, Tele-München, and BBC
Unreleased	Mariette in Ecstasy	Produced in partnership with Price Entertainment and Rastar