Constantin Film

Constantin Film is one of Germany’s best-known independent film companies, with activities spanning theatrical production, film distribution, television production, international sales, licensing, home entertainment and digital exploitation. The company is headquartered in Munich and operates within the Swiss media group Highlight Communications. Its modern corporate history began in 1978, when producer Bernd Eichinger and Bernd Schaefers established Neue Constantin Film after acquiring assets associated with the bankrupt original Constantin Film business. The predecessor, Constantin Filmverleih GmbH, had been founded in West Germany on 1 April 1950 by Preben Philipsen and Waldfried Barthel. It initially distributed Columbia Pictures and United Artists titles in Germany, later combining imported films with domestic productions and international co-productions. During the 1950s and 1960s, the original Constantin developed a broad commercial profile. It distributed popular and art-house releases from several countries, maintained relationships with actors and filmmakers, and participated in internationally oriented productions, including Italian-shot genre films. Its domestic successes included the Jerry Cotton series. The company was renamed Constantin Film GmbH in 1964, but an attempt to increase output without proportionate investment weakened its production base. Bertelsmann became majority shareholder in 1965 and sold its interest in 1969; the original company was declared bankrupt in 1977. Under Eichinger, the new Constantin developed from a distributor into a vertically integrated production and distribution company. It expanded into international cinema, created or acquired production subsidiaries, and built a portfolio of German-language commercial films alongside large-scale English-language projects. Its German successes include The NeverEnding Story, The Name of the Rose, Downfall, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, The Baader Meinhof Complex, Manitou’s Shoe, Dreamship Surprise – Period 1 and the Fack ju Göhte trilogy. By 2019, Constantin-related releases accounted for 36 of the 100 most successful German films released during the previous two decades, according to the referenced company history. The company’s most internationally prominent property is the Resident Evil film franchise, produced in association with external partners and based on the Capcom video-game series. The films became a major global commercial franchise and helped establish Constantin as an international genre and franchise producer. Constantin has also participated in the Fantastic Four film series and produced or co-produced adaptations such as The Silence and Monster Hunter. Its television activities have included scripted series such as Shadowhunters and the live-action Resident Evil series, as well as German entertainment and drama production. Constantin broadened its business model in the 2000s by adding license trading, home-entertainment exploitation and expanded television services. It acquired full control of Constantin Entertainment in 2005 and developed specialist production companies including Rat Pack Filmproduktion and MOOVIE. Later expansion included Nadcon Film, created in 2012 with producer Peter Nadermann for internationally oriented drama and crime programming, and the acquisition of Hager Moss Film in 2018. Constantin sold 49 percent of Nadcon Film to ZDF Enterprises in 2019. The company’s public-market phase began with its 1999 listing on the German stock market and inclusion in the Nemax 50 in 2000. Its listing ended in October 2009 after Highlight Communications completed a squeeze-out. In the 2020s, Constantin continued to pursue international partnerships, including a 2021 relationship with Upgrade Productions and a long-term exclusive partnership with Netflix announced in 2023. Its positioning combines German-language mass-market entertainment with internationally marketable franchises, literary adaptations, tele…

Constantin Film’s roots reach back to Constantin Filmverleih GmbH, founded in West Germany in 1950 by Preben Philipsen and Waldfried Barthel. The distributor initially represented Columbia Pictures and United Artists in the German market, then developed a mixed slate of imported popular films, art-house releases, domestic productions and international co-productions. During the 1950s and 1960s, Constantin cultivated contract relationships with actors, directors and producers and became associated with commercially successful genre projects, including the Jerry Cotton films. The business was renamed Constantin Film GmbH in 1964. Bertelsmann became its majority shareholder in 1965, but sold its shares in 1969. The original company was ultimately declared bankrupt in 1977. Producer Bernd Eichinger and Bernd Schaefers founded Neue Constantin Film in 1978 after acquiring assets of the former business. The new company combined distribution with proprietary production and soon became an important German producer-distributor. The Kirch Group acquired a minority stake in 1986. Constantin created production capacity in several European markets during the 1990s and acquired interests in Olga Film, Engram Pictures and MOOVIE. In 1999, EM.TV acquired a stake in Constantin Film and the company became publicly traded as Constantin Film AG. It entered the Nemax 50 in 2000. The company expanded beyond theatrical production and distribution in the early 2000s. In 2000 it briefly established ProCon Films with Propaganda Films. In 2001 it founded Rat Pack Filmproduktion with producer Christian Becker. Highlight Communications acquired an initial 23 percent stake in Constantin Film in 2002. From 2003, Constantin added license trading, home entertainment and expanded television production to its strategic focus. It also acquired a majority interest in KirchMedia Entertainment, renamed Constantin Entertainment, and completed the acquisition in 2005. Constantin’s output during this period combined major German-language hits, literary and historical dramas, animation, comedy, adaptations and international genre films. The company participated in or distributed titles such as The NeverEnding Story, The Name of the Rose, Dances with Wolves, The Sixth Sense, Downfall, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Nowhere in Africa, The Wave, Manitou’s Shoe and Dreamship Surprise – Period 1. The Resident Evil films became its most visible international franchise, while the Fack ju Göhte films became a defining German-language commercial series. At the end of 2009, Constantin Film’s stock-market listing ended after a squeeze-out and transfer of shares to Highlight Communications. In 2012, Constantin and Peter Nadermann founded Nadcon Film to develop high-end international drama, crime and Nordic Noir projects. Constantin acquired Munich drama producer Hager Moss Film in 2018 and sold 49 percent of Nadcon Film to ZDF Enterprises in 2019. Leadership responsibilities were reorganized in 2017, with Bernhard Burgener becoming supervisory-board chairman, Martin Moszkowicz leading the executive board and Oliver Berben taking responsibility for television, entertainment and digital media. The company continued international expansion through its 2021 partnership with Upgrade Productions and its relationship with Bron Releasing. In 2023, Constantin and Netflix entered an exclusive long-term partnership. Constantin remains positioned as a German-origin production and distribution group with international franchise, television, licensing and co-production capabilities.

1. 2023Netflix partnership is announced

   Constantin Film and Netflix sign an exclusive long-term partnership.

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2. 2017Executive leadership is reorganized

   Bernhard Burgener becomes supervisory-board chairman, Martin Moszkowicz leads the executive board and Oliver Berben joins the managing board.

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3. 2009Stock-market listing ends

   Constantin Film is delisted after a squeeze-out and transfer of shares to Highlight Communications.

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4. 2002Highlight Communications acquires a stake

   Highlight Communications acquires an initial 23 percent of Constantin Film AG.

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5. 1999Constantin Film AG goes public

   The company lists on the German stock market.

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6. 1978Neue Constantin Film is established

   Bernd Eichinger and Bernd Schaefers create the successor company using assets of the former business.

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7. 1977Original company enters bankruptcy

   The original Constantin Film business is declared bankrupt.

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8. 1964Business is renamed Constantin Film GmbH

   The original distribution company adopts the Constantin Film GmbH name.

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9. 1950Original Constantin Filmverleih is founded

   Preben Philipsen and Waldfried Barthel establish Constantin Filmverleih GmbH in West Germany.

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A vertically integrated German entertainment company combining domestic commercial filmmaking with international franchise production, co-production, distribution and television content.

• Resident EvilFilm franchise

  Constantin’s best-known international film franchise is based on the Capcom video-game property. The series combines action, science fiction and horror and became a major worldwide theatrical property, establishing Constantin as a producer of globally marketable genre franchises.

• Fack ju GöhteGerman comedy film trilogy

  The German comedy trilogy follows an unconventional teacher and became one of Constantin’s strongest domestic commercial properties. The third film, released in 2017, completed the series, which was described in the reference material as Germany’s most successful film series.

• German theatrical productionsFeature films

  Constantin produces and distributes German-language theatrical films across comedy, drama, historical fiction, literary adaptation, animation and youth entertainment. Notable titles include Manitou’s Shoe, Dreamship Surprise – Period 1, Downfall, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer and The Wave.

• Television and digital productionsTelevision and streaming

  Through its television, entertainment and digital-media operations, Constantin develops scripted series, television films and entertainment formats for German and international markets. Referenced examples include Shadowhunters and the live-action Resident Evil television series.

• 2023Enter an exclusive long-term partnership with NetflixStrategy

  Constantin sought a durable relationship with a major global streaming platform.

  What changed. Constantin Film and Netflix signed an exclusive long-term partnership for future content.

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• 2021Partner with Upgrade ProductionsStrategy

  Constantin pursued internationally scalable local-language content.

  What changed. The company partnered with Upgrade Productions and Bron Releasing to develop and produce projects for worldwide audiences.

  Aftermath. The partnership focused on projects from Eastern Europe, Latin America and Japan.

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• 2012Create Nadcon Film for international dramaStrategy

  Constantin aimed to strengthen its international production base and television portfolio.

  What changed. It partnered with Peter Nadermann to establish Nadcon Film in Cologne for high-end international drama, crime series and Nordic Noir projects.

  Aftermath. Nadcon later brought ZDF Enterprises into its ownership structure through a 49 percent sale in 2019.

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• 2003Expand beyond production and theatrical distributionStrategy

  Constantin sought to build a broader entertainment platform rather than rely primarily on cinema production and distribution.

  What changed. The company added license trading, home-entertainment exploitation and expanded television production to its core activities.

  Aftermath. The change established a more diversified business model covering multiple stages of content exploitation.

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• 2023Constantin Film signs exclusive long-term partnership with Netflix

  The agreement expanded the relationship between Constantin and Netflix for future content.

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• 2021Constantin Film partners with Upgrade Productions

  The partnership targeted quality local-language productions for global audiences, with projects planned across several international regions.

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• 2021Writers Guild of America West issues work advisory concerning Upgrade Productions

  The guild advised members not to work for the company because it was not a signatory to the 2020 Minimum Basic Agreement. The company stated that required WGA fringe payments had been made and accepted.

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• 2019Constantin Film sells 49 percent of Nadcon Film to ZDF Enterprises

  The transaction brought ZDF’s commercial production and distribution arm into the ownership structure of the Cologne-based subsidiary.

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• 2012Constantin Film launches Nadcon Film with Peter Nadermann

  The company established a subsidiary with producer Peter Nadermann to develop internationally oriented television drama and feature films.

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1. Constantin Film