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Troma Entertainment

From Alfawiki
Troma Entertainment
Company typeIndependent film production and distribution company
IndustryFilm production and distribution
Founded1974
FounderLloyd Kaufman, Michael Herz
Headquarters
Long Island City, New York
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Lloyd Kaufman (co-founder and CEO)
ProductsIndependent films, including The Toxic Avenger series, Class of Nuke 'Em High series, Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D., Tromeo and Juliet, Terror Firmer, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead
Websitetroma.com

Troma Entertainment is a U.S.-based independent film production and distribution company established in 1974 by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz. It holds the distinction of being the longest-operating independent film studio worldwide. The company focuses primarily on low-budget horror comedies aimed at mature audiences, frequently combining elements of 1950s horror with satire, parody, gore, and splatter.

Since its founding, Troma has been involved in producing, acquiring, and distributing more than 1,000 independent movies. Among its most recognized works are The Toxic Avenger (1984) along with its sequels, the Class of Nuke 'Em High series beginning in 1986, Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1990), Tromeo and Juliet (1996), Terror Firmer (1999), and Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006).

In 2012, Troma broadened its digital footprint by making many of its films available on YouTube; however, the channel was eventually shut down due to violations of community guidelines. The company now runs its own streaming service, Troma Now, which supports its direct-to-consumer distribution strategy.

Over time, Troma's slogans have evolved to reflect its brand ethos and business approach: starting from "30 Years of Reel Independent Cinema," progressing to "40 Years of Disrupting Media" in 2014, and as of 2023, "50 Years of Disrupting Media." The studio is headquartered in Long Island City, New York, maintaining a strong presence within its specialized segment of the independent film market.

Company information

Troma's productions are categorized as B-movies characterized by their surreal and shock exploitation style that prominently features explicit sexuality, nudity, and graphic violence. The phrase "Troma film" has become closely associated with these distinctive traits. To minimize expenses, the company frequently recycles props, actors, and footage—a practice that has become a recognizable signature. Examples include recurring appearances of a severed leg, a penis monster, and an exploding vehicle originally from Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. across multiple films.

The studio has played a pivotal role in launching the careers of numerous notable figures prior to their mainstream achievements. These include Oliver Stone, Paul Sorvino, Vanna White, Kevin Costner, J.J. Abrams, Vincent D'Onofrio, Michael Jai White, Billy Bob Thornton, Samuel L. Jackson, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, David Boreanaz, James Gunn, and Carmen Electra.

Troma operates under a set of "Rules of Production":

  1. Ensure human safety
  2. Protect property
  3. Create a quality film! (although this is considered less critical than the first two)

The most recent film produced by the company is Shakespeare's Shitstorm (2020).

History

Co-founder Lloyd Kaufman has explained that the name "Troma" was deliberately selected for its unpleasant connotation during the company's inception. In the mid-1970s, Kaufman and Michael Herz produced provocative sex comedies such as The First Turn-On! and Squeeze Play!, while also contributing production services for Louis Malle's My Dinner with Andre, where Kaufman served as production manager.

Troma achieved major success in 1984 with the release of the violent comedic superhero film The Toxic Avenger, which became the company’s flagship franchise. Although subsequent sequels and an animated television adaptation did not perform well financially after Troma's decline, the character remains the company’s emblematic mascot.

Building on this momentum, Kaufman co-directed Class of Nuke 'Em High, another commercial success that later generated sequels which failed to replicate its financial performance amid monetary challenges. This title was once Troma’s best-selling VHS release.

In 2008, The Toxic Avenger was transformed into a stage musical premiering in New Brunswick and New York City with a book by Joe DiPietro and music composed by David Bryan of Bon Jovi.

Following Class of Nuke 'Em High, Kaufman directed Troma's War, a film critical of Reagan-era military policies. The movie did not succeed at the box office. Subsequent productions such as Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. were also unable to restore financial health to the studio, leading Troma to downsize and continue operations on a smaller scale out of necessity.

Work since 1995

Between 1995 and 2000, Troma reached a creative high point, generating several noteworthy independent films that saw limited theatrical distribution. Kaufman helmed Tromeo and Juliet, a satirical take on Shakespeare's tragedy; Terror Firmer, a slasher movie influenced by his book All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned from The Toxic Avenger; and Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV, continuing the Toxic Avenger saga.

Financial difficulties worsened following the problematic financing of Tales from the Crapper, which had a budget of $250,000 despite much footage being unusable. Producer India Allen withdrew from the project and initiated legal action against Troma for breach of contract among other allegations. Kaufman managed reshoots and restructured the film into a double feature, eventually releasing it on DVD in 2004.

Although financial limitations persisted, Troma remained active in producing and acquiring independent films, distributing titles from other creators such as Trey Parker's Cannibal! The Musical. Kaufman has been a vocal advocate for indie filmmaking and made cameo appearances in low-budget horror projects, including collaborations with former associate James Gunn, notably in Slither and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Gabriel Friedman, Kaufman’s longtime editor, co-wrote and co-directed Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, a musical zombie comedy that premiered in New York in 2008. The film garnered favorable critiques from sources like Entertainment Weekly and The New York Times, with theatrical release in 2006 followed by a DVD launch in 2008.

During 2010 and 2011, Troma produced Father's Day, which Kaufman described as an answer to Mother's Day. Created by the Canadian collective Astron-6, it premiered at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival in 2011, securing Best Film along with five additional accolades. In 2012, it was featured on the cover of Rue Morgue magazine and won multiple awards at The Fantastic Planet/A Night of Horror International Film Festival. Notably, this film was produced on a modest $10,000 budget. Although initially banned in Australia in 2012, an edited R18+ version was later approved for release.

In August 2012, Troma made over 100 titles from its library available on YouTube, providing many either free or for limited-time paid access. The channel encountered shutdowns in 2020 and again in 2023 due to community standards violations but was reinstated afterward.

Hollywood

On April 7, 2010, Kaufman announced that a PG-13 remake of The Toxic Avenger had been approved for production under Akiva Goldsman’s oversight. This was not the first effort to create a family-friendly adaptation; an earlier agreement with New Line during the early 1990s aimed at developing a live-action version of Toxic Crusaders.

Another Troma cult favorite, Mother's Day (1980), was planned for a remake directed by Darren Lynn Bousman with Brett Ratner producing. Kaufman also pursued negotiations for a new version of Class of Nuke 'Em High. Subsequently, Troma collaborated with Starz Entertainment to produce Return to Nuke Em High as a two-part project. The first installment debuted both theatrically and on home video, while the second part encountered funding setbacks but was approaching completion by January 2017.

Troma Now

In 2015, Troma introduced Troma Now, a streaming platform that grants subscribers access to its extensive film library. This service offers a complimentary trial month, followed by a monthly fee of $4.99, thereby broadening Troma’s digital reach and enhancing its revenue opportunities.

TromaDance

The annual TromaDance Festival is organized by Troma and was originally hosted in Park City, Utah, coinciding with the Sundance Festival to highlight its independence from mainstream Hollywood. This event features independent films from around the globe, with standout entries frequently distributed on DVD by Troma or included in the Best of Tromadance collection. Kaufman actively supports new filmmakers through educational efforts, cameo appearances, and distribution help.

Starting in 2009, Tromadance moved from Utah to Asbury Park, New Jersey, and later relocated to New York City in 2014. Since 2020, the festival has taken place at The Mahoning Drive-In Theater, maintaining its commitment to showcasing indie film talent and expanding Troma’s influence in the indie film market.

Kaufman's books

Kaufman has achieved recognition with various non-fiction works as well as a novelization of The Toxic Avenger. His 1998 book, All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned from The Toxic Avenger, co-authored with James Gunn, functions as an autobiography chronicling the company’s history, films, and brand ethos. Drawing from his role as Troma’s CEO, Kaufman created an instructional series on filmmaking titled Make Your Own Damn Movie!, Direct Your Own Damn Movie!, Produce Your Own Damn Movie!, and Sell Your Own Damn Movie!, which are complemented by DVD sets featuring interviews with prominent filmmakers.

In 2006, Kaufman collaborated with longtime Troma staff member Adam Jahnke to co-write a novelization of The Toxic Avenger.

Mathew Klickstein’s 2025 publication, Lloyd Kaufman: Interviews, released by the University Press of Mississippi within the Conversations with Filmmakers Series, compiles over fifty years of interviews with Kaufman and delves into Troma’s development, providing valuable perspectives on the founder’s strategic vision.

Films distributed

For a complete list, see List of Troma Team Video titles. Below is a selection of significant films distributed by Troma Entertainment:

Previously Distributed Films

A number of movies once handled by Troma Inc. have since been removed from its collection. For instance, the U.S. theatrical release of My Neighbor Totoro was briefly managed by Troma’s affiliate, 50th Street Films. Additionally, titles such as Femme Fontaine Killer Babe for the C.I.A. were licensed for VHS distribution alongside early releases from Troma Team Video, including Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. and Class of Nuke 'em High Part III: The Good, The Bad and The Subhumanoid. Certain films like Maniac Nurses Find Ecstasy were formerly listed but no longer appear in Troma’s current catalog.


Subsidiaries

To broaden its distribution capabilities, Troma has established several specialized branches:

  • 50th Street Films: focuses on distributing mainstream independent cinema; notably handled the theatrical release of My Neighbor Totoro
  • TromaDance: responsible for distributing films showcased at Troma’s own festival
  • Roan Films:
    • Roan Archival Group Entertainment: specializes in digitally restored classic movies
  • EG Sports: markets golf instruction videos by Michael Jacobs


Tromaville

Central to Troma’s brand identity is Tromaville, an invented city situated in New Jersey, famously called the "Toxic Chemical Capital of the World." This fictional setting serves as the backdrop for many cornerstone productions such as the Toxic Avenger and Class of Nuke 'Em High franchises. By creating a consistent universe around Tromaville, Troma strengthens brand recognition and differentiates itself within its market niche.

Key productions set in Tromaville include:

This ongoing thematic emphasis provides Troma with a competitive edge by solidifying its position within the independent horror-comedy film sector.

External links

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