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Gramercy Pictures

Gramercy Pictures was an American film production and distribution label of Focus Features. It was founded on May 20, 1992 as a joint venture between PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Universal Pictures. Gramercy was the distributor of PolyGram films in the United States and Canada and also served as Universal's art-house division. After Seagram's buyout of PolyGram, Barry Diller acquired Gramercy, Interscope Communications, and October Films,[1] merging the three companies to form USA Films in 1999. On May 12, 2015, Focus Features (the current art-house division for Universal) revived the name as a label for action, horror and sci-fi genre films; the label was phased out again after the release of the film adaptation of the video game series Ratchet & Clank on April 29, 2016, and a shift from genre films by Focus Features.

History

Origins

Gramercy Pictures was formed on May 20, 1992 as a joint venture between PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Universal Pictures, the latter was Universal's arthouse wing, and the former was PolyGram's US distributor.[2] Before this, Universal had distributed similar films under smaller operations Universal Classics from 1982 to 1984 and the U.S. distribution branch of the Canadian distributor Cineplex Odeon Films (MCA had a 49% in Cineplex Odeon) from 1986 to 1989.[3] Gramercy Pictures released its first film, the Mario Van Peebles western Posse, on May 14, 1993.[4][5]

On January 11, 1996, PolyGram bought the 50% stake owned by Universal thus assuming full control of Gramercy.[6] The distributor also had box office hits in 1994's Four Weddings and a Funeral, 1996's Fargo and 1997's Bean. Several Gramercy releases of the 1990s have grown in stature to become cult classics in the present day: The Big Lebowski, Dazed and Confused, Clay Pigeons and Mallrats. In addition, 1995's The Usual Suspects won two Oscars, for Best Original Screenplay (Christopher McQuarrie)[7] and Best Supporting Actor (Kevin Spacey).[8] Universal would later acquire rival October Films in 1997.[9]

In 1997, the company was reorganized. The main US distribution space was taken by PolyGram Films, with Gramercy demoted to arthouse status.[10]

When Seagram acquired PolyGram on May 22, 1998, PolyGram was merged and folded into Universal; as a result, it reacquired Gramercy as it controlled Universal. In turn, Seagram sold the bulk of the PolyGram film library titles released up until March 31, 1996 to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1999, and later on, it sold Gramercy and two other specialty divisions, Interscope Communications and October Films, to Barry Diller's USA Networks, which merged all three companies into USA Films.[11][12][1] USA Films was then merged with Universal's own art-house division, Universal Focus, and transformed into Focus Features in 2002.[13] USA Network was formerly owned by Vivendi Universal from 2002 to 2004[14] and NBCUniversal from 2004 to 2026.[15] PolyGram Entertainment was founded by Universal Music Group on February 11, 2017 as the successor to both PolyGram and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and a revival of the "PolyGram" brand.[16]

Relaunch and second closure

On May 12, 2015, Focus Features announced that the Gramercy label has been revived to release action, horror and sci-fi genre films. Its first release was Insidious: Chapter 3 on June 5, 2015.[2] The revived label was later phased out again following the box-office failure of the film adaptation of Ratchet & Clank (2016) and a shift from genre films by Focus Features.

Filmography

Focus Features and Universal Pictures own the distribution rights to the original and relaunch of Gramercy's films unless otherwise mentioned.

1990s

2000s

2010s

References

  1. Interscope Communications Audiovisual Identity Database, 2023-10-09, retrieved 2023-10-09^
  2. Denise Petski. Focus Features Revives Gramercy Pictures Label For Genre Films Deadline Hollywood, May 20, 2015, retrieved May 20, 2015^
  3. The Film Journal, Volume 94, Isuses 7-12, Page 22^
  4. Staff. In Winner's Circle; Miramax's 'Crying Game' paces indies; New Line still running strong Variety, Reed Business Information, August 17, 1993^
  5. Box office information for Posse (1993) Box Office Mojo, retrieved November 5, 2010^
  6. Gramercy Sold To Polygram 11 January 1996^
  7. Erich Boehm. Costume dramas win bulk of BAFTA awards Variety, April 29 – May 5, 1996^
  8. Jay Carr. Hub critics pick Sense and Sensibility Boston Globe, December 18, 1995^
  9. Anita M. Busch. U agrees to acquire October Variety, 1997-04-18, retrieved 2026-02-08^
  10. Andrew Hindes. Polygram staffs its U.S. distribution arm Variety, 1997-06-27, retrieved 2026-02-08^
  11. The Telegraph-Herald - Google News Archive Search^
  12. JAMES BATES. Universal Adds Division for Specialty Films 28 September 1999^
  13. Grant Hermmans. 'Focus Features Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary With This Wonderful Reel (& Logo)' ScreenRant, March 11, 2022^
  14. L.A. Times Archives. Vivendi Completes USA Deal Los Angeles Times, May 8, 2002, retrieved December 3, 2021^
  15. Jean-Bernard Levy. Overview of NBC Universal Merger Vivendi Universal, May 13, 2004, retrieved December 24, 2009^
  16. Universal Music Relaunching Polygram, Announces 'Story of Motown' as First Production Billboard, retrieved 17 February 2017^