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American film and television production company
Spyglass Media Group, LLC is an American independent film and television production and finance company based in Los Angeles, California.
The company was founded by Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum on August 21, 1998 as Spyglass Entertainment and became dormant in 2012. In the wake of the sexual abuse allegations that involved former The Weinstein Company chairman Harvey Weinstein, Spyglass was relaunched in 2019 in conjunction with Lantern Entertainment.
Spyglass Entertainment[edit]On August 21, 1998, Gary Barber, former vice chairman and COO of Morgan Creek Productions, together with Roger Birnbaum, co-founder and former head of Caravan Pictures, founded Spyglass Entertainment. The startup company signed a five-year distribution agreement with the Walt Disney Studios, which took an equity stake.
Birnbaum previously left Caravan at the prompting of then Disney studio chief Joe Roth; with Disney cutting its yearly production output, Roth recommended forming a self-financing production firm similar to New Regency Productions. After Caravan's remaining three films were released, Caravan went inactive.
Its slate of film projects and an initial financial advance of $10 million to $20 million against future overages were also contributed by Disney.[5] Spyglass's operations were formed and based at the Disney lot in Burbank.
On October 29, 1998, European media conglomerates Kirch Group and Mediaset invested in theatrical, video and television distribution rights to between 15 and 25 films in Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and the former Soviet Union for over five years.[6] M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense (released 1999), Spyglass's second film after Instinct, grossed $661 million at the global box office.[7]
By May 23, 2000, Disney took a 10% equity stake in Spyglass, along with Svensk Filmindustri of Scandinavia and Lusomundo of Portugal.[8][9] On March 7, 2003, Spyglass Entertainment agreed to a four-year distribution output deal with Village Roadshow for Australia, New Zealand and Greece.[10]
On August 6, 2002, Spyglass Entertainment launched a television division, and it was focused on small screen projects. One of its projects was the short-lived series Miracles.[11] That same year, it attempted to merge with smaller independent distributor Intermedia, but it failed.[12]
In December 2003, Spyglass ended its deal with Disney and agreed to a four-year first-look non-exclusive co-financing and production deal with DreamWorks. This deal was never finalized and the relationship was not working well. Thus on September 23, 2003, Spyglass instead made a similar deal with Sony Pictures. Spyglass did not move to the Sony lot, but to Murdoch Plaza in Westwood, Los Angeles.[7]
By March 25, 2010, Spyglass was acquired by Cerberus Capital Management.[13]
On December 20, 2010, Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum became co-chairmen and CEOs of the holding company of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), which had at that time recently emerged from bankruptcy. The original plan had the Spyglass library being added to MGM, but it was later removed from the plan.[14]
Spyglass Media Group[edit]On March 13, 2019, Barber and Lantern Entertainment revived the company as Spyglass Media Group, bringing in Eagle Pictures and Cineworld as investors. Lantern made a majority investment and also transferred its film library and rights to Miramax film sequels to the Spyglass. Barber owns the Spyglass trademark and the sequel and remake rights to the old Spyglass library, which he has contributed. The company plans to produce content for all platforms.[1][15] Spyglass closed the former Lantern Entertainment/TWC office in New York City while laying off 15 staff members across divisions.[16] Unlike Spyglass Entertainment, Birnbaum is not the co-founder of Spyglass Media Group (though Birnbaum served as the producer of Eli Roth's Thanksgiving (released 2023)).
On April 1, 2019, Lauren Whitney, the president of television for Miramax, took on the same position for Spyglass.[2] Damien Marin followed Barber from MGM to be appointed Spyglass president of worldwide distribution and acquisitions on September 3, 2019.[3]
On April 16, 2019, Warner Bros. bought an equity stake in Spyglass, which signed a first-look deal with the studio.[17] Spyglass was involved on August 1, 2019, in a potential purchase of part of Miramax but dropped out in two weeks.[18][19]
Spyglass's first greenlit film since its revival is a revival of the Hellraiser franchise announced on May 6, 2019.[20] With the company winning the rights to Stephen King's The Institute book in November 2019, Jack Bender and David E. Kelley were paired to development and produce the book as a mini-series. Also, Bender was signed by Spyglass to a television first-look deal.[21]
MGM President of Physical Production Peter Oillataguerre was appointed President of Production for Spyglass Media Group reporting to Barber. He left in September 2023 for Amazon MGM Studios.[22]
On October 28, 2020, Spyglass teamed up with Propagate Content, Artists First and Off-Road Productions to form a new comedy joint-venture Artists Road, and it focuses on financing and producing mid-budgeted commercial comedy movies.[23]
On July 15, 2021, Lionsgate acquired 200 films from The Weinstein Company (TWC)'s film library for $191.4 million, which until then had been owned by Spyglass, with Lionsgate getting an 18.9% equity stake in Spyglass and Spyglass getting a first look television deal with Lionsgate Television.[4][24]
In November 2023, Spyglass fired Melissa Barrera from Scream 7, as she showed support to Palestinians caught in the Gaza war, and their allegations that posts she made in support were antisemitic.[25][26] Her co-star Jenna Ortega departed the film shortly after due to what was claimed at the time to be scheduling conflicts with Wednesday.[27] Ortega refuted that in an April 2025 interview with The Cut, stating the departure of Barrera, along with directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, then new director Christopher Landon due to conflicts with Spyglass's retooling of Scream 7, made her return untenable.[28][29] The film was then completely overhauled and recast with Neve Campbell returning as that film's lead.[30]
As Spyglass Entertainment[edit] Title Release date Distributor Notes Budget Gross Mission to Mars March 10, 2000 Buena Vista Pictures Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Jacobson Company $100 million $111 million Keeping the Faith April 14, 2000 Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Koch Co., Blumberg/Norton Productions and Triple Threat Talent $29 million $59.9 million Shanghai Noon May 26, 2000 Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Jackie Chan Films Ltd. $55 million $100.5 million Out Cold November 21, 2001 Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and The Donners' Company $24 million $14.8 million The Count of Monte Cristo January 25, 2002 Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions $35 million $75.4 million Dragonfly February 22, 2002 Universal Pictures co-production with Gran Via Productions and Shady Acres Entertainment; international distribution through Buena Vista International $60 million $52.3 million Reign of Fire July 12, 2002 Buena Vista Pictures Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and The Zanuck Company $60 million $82.2 million Abandon October 18, 2002 Paramount Pictures co-production with Lynda Obst Productions; international distribution through Buena Vista International $25 million $12.3 million The Recruit January 31, 2003 Buena Vista Pictures Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Epsilon Motion Pictures $46 million $101.2 million Shanghai Knights February 7, 2003 Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Jackie Chan Films Ltd. $50 million $88.3 million Bruce Almighty May 23, 2003 Universal Pictures co-production with Shady Acres Entertainment and Pit Bull Productions; international distribution through Buena Vista International $81 million $484.6 million Seabiscuit July 25, 2003 co-production with DreamWorks Pictures, The Kennedy/Marshall Company and Larger Than Life Productions; international distribution through Buena Vista International $87 million $148.3 million The Perfect Score January 30, 2004 Paramount Pictures uncredited; co-production with MTV Films and Tollin/Robbins Productions N/A $10.5 million Connie and Carla April 16, 2004 Universal Pictures co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions $27 million $11.3 million Mr. 3000 September 17, 2004 Buena Vista Pictures Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Dimension Films, Birnbaum/Barber Productions and The Kennedy/Marshall Company $30 million $21.8 million The Pacifier March 4, 2005 Released through Disney label Walt Disney Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions $56 million $198.6 million The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy April 29, 2005 Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Hammer & Tongs and Everyman Pictures $45–50 million $104.5 million Crazy Monkey Presents Straight Outta Benoni September 30, 2005 Sony Pictures Releasing co-distribution with Sony label TriStar Pictures; co-production with Ster-Kinekor Pictures $345,949 The Legend of Zorro October 28, 2005 Released through Sony label Columbia Pictures; co-production with Amblin Entertainment and Parkes/MacDonald Productions $65 million $142.4 million Memoirs of a Geisha December 9, 2005 Released through Sony label Columbia Pictures; co-production with DreamWorks Pictures, Amblin Entertainment and Red Wagon Entertainment $85 million $162.2 million Eight Below February 17, 2006 Buena Vista Pictures Released through Disney label Walt Disney Pictures; co-production with Mandeville Films and The Kennedy/Marshall Company $40 million $120.5 million Stay Alive March 24, 2006 Released through Disney label Hollywood Pictures; co-production with Endgame Entertainment, Wonderland Sound and Vision and Birnbaum/Barber Productions; international distribution through Universal Pictures $20 million $27.1 million Stick It April 28, 2006 Released through Disney label Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Gail Lyon Productions and Jessica Bendinger Productions $20 million $31.9 million The Lookout March 30, 2007 Released through Disney label Miramax Films; co-production with Laurence Mark Productions, Parkes-MacDonald Productions and Birnbaum/Barber Productions $16 million $5.4 million The Invisible April 27, 2007 Released through Disney label Hollywood Pictures, co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and MacariEdelstein Productions N/A $26.8 million Evan Almighty June 22, 2007 Universal Pictures co-production with Relativity Media, Original Film, Shady Acres Entertainment and Birnbaum/Barber Productions $175 million $173.4 million Underdog August 3, 2007 Buena Vista Pictures Released through Disney label Walt Disney Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions, Jay Polstein Productions and Classic Media $25 million $65.3 million Balls of Fury August 29, 2007 Focus Features co-production with Rogue Pictures, Intrepid Pictures and Birnbaum/Barber Productions N/A $41.1 million 27 Dresses January 18, 2008 20th Century Fox Released through Fox label Fox 2000 Pictures; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions and Dune Entertainment III, LLC $30 million $160.3 million Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins February 8, 2008 Universal Pictures co-production with Stuber-Parent Productions $35 million $43.6 million The Ruins April 4, 2008 Paramount Pictures Released through Paramount label DreamWorks Pictures; co-production with Red Hour Films $25 million $22.3 million The Happening June 13, 2008 20th Century Fox co-production with Dune Entertainment, UTV Motion Pictures and Blinding Edge Pictures $48 million $163.4 million The Love Guru June 20, 2008 Paramount Pictures co-production with Nomoneyfun Films and Michael de Luca Productions $62 million $40.9 million Wanted June 27, 2008 Universal Pictures co-production with Relativity Media, Marc Platt Productions, Kickstart Productions and Top Cow Productions $75 million $341.4 million Ghost Town September 19, 2008 Paramount Pictures Released through Paramount label DreamWorks Pictures; co-production with Pariah $20 million $27.1 million Flash of Genius October 3, 2008 Universal Pictures co-production with Strike Entertainment $20 million $4.8 million Four Christmases November 26, 2008 Warner Bros. Pictures Released through Warner label New Line Cinema; co-production with Wild West Picture Show Productions and Type A Films $80 million $163.7 million Star Trek May 8, 2009 Paramount Pictures co-production with Bad Robot $150 million $385.7 million G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra August 7, 2009 co-production with Hasbro and di Bonaventura Pictures $175 million $302.5 million Invictus December 11, 2009 Warner Bros. Pictures co-production with Revelations Entertainment, Mace Neufeld Productions and Malpaso Productions $50–60 million $122.2 million Title Release date Distributor Notes Budget Gross Leap Year[31] January 8, 2010 Universal Pictures co-production with BenderSpink and Birnbaum/Barber Productions $19 million $32.6 million Get Him to the Greek[32] June 4, 2010 co-production with Relativity Media and Apatow Productions $40 million $91.3 million Dinner for Schmucks[33] July 30, 2010 Paramount Pictures co-production with DreamWorks Pictures, Parkes/MacDonald Productions, Reliance Big Pictures and Everyman Pictures $69 million $86.9 million The Tourist[34] December 10, 2010 Sony Pictures Releasing Released through Sony label Columbia Pictures; co-production with GK Films and StudioCanal $100 million $278.3 million The Dilemma[35] January 14, 2011 Universal Pictures co-production with Imagine Entertainment and Wild West Picture Show Productions $70 million $69.7 million No Strings Attached[36] January 21, 2011 Paramount Pictures Released through Paramount label DW Studios, co-production with Cold Spring Pictures and The Montecito Picture Company $25 million $149.2 million Footloose[37] October 14, 2011 co-production with MTV Films, Dylan Sellers Productions, Zadan/Meron Productions and Weston Pictures $24 million $63.5 million The Vow[38] February 10, 2012 Sony Pictures Releasing Released through Sony label Screen Gems; co-production with Birnbaum/Barber Productions; final film $30 million $196.1 million As Spyglass Media Group[edit] Title Release date Distributor Notes Budget Gross Scream[39] January 14, 2022 Paramount Pictures co-production with Project X Entertainment and Radio Silence Productions[40] $24 million $138.9 million Hellraiser[20][41] October 7, 2022 Hulu (United States)RetroSearch is an open source project built by @garambo | Open a GitHub Issue
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