History Creator / OrionPictures

Unfortunately, the end of the 80's heralded a number of costly bombs, most notably Music/WeirdAlYankovic's NonActorVehicle ''Film/{{UHF}}'', which Orion thought would be [[SarcasmMode a great idea]] to release in a blockbuster-heavy summer season; audiences weren't particularly interested in seeing the lighthearted comedy movie starring the "Eat It" guy when it was competing against ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}''. 1989 was an irreparably huge blow to the studio's wallets, and despite the successes of such films as ''Film/DancesWithWolves'' and ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' (which won back-to-back UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s for Best Picture) at the start of the next decade, Orion was losing money. With cash running low, it had no choice but to declare bankruptcy at the end of 1991. Studios like Creator/NewLineCinema, [[Creator/AmericanBroadcastingComoany ABC]], and Creator/RepublicPictures were interested in buying the floundering studio, but nothing came of it (ABC instead bought what remained of their TV division).

Unfortunately, the end of the 80's heralded a number of costly bombs, most notably Music/WeirdAlYankovic's NonActorVehicle ''Film/{{UHF}}'', which Orion thought would be [[SarcasmMode a great idea]] to release in a blockbuster-heavy summer season; audiences weren't particularly interested in seeing the lighthearted comedy movie starring the "Eat It" guy when it was competing against ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}''. 1989 was an irreparably huge blow to the studio's wallets, and despite the successes of such films as ''Film/DancesWithWolves'' and ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' (which won back-to-back UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s for Best Picture) at the start of the next decade, Orion was losing money. With cash running low, it had no choice but to declare bankruptcy at the end of 1991. Studios like Creator/NewLineCinema, Creator/{{ABC}}, and Creator/RepublicPictures were interested in buying the floundering studio, but nothing came of it (ABC instead bought what remained of their TV division).

* ''Film/{{Mermaids}}''

->''"Take that, Orion! ''[punch, then Orion's fanfare]'' That's right, all you are is a failed production company."''

->''"Take that, Orion. ''[punch, then Orion's fanfare]'' That's right, all you are is a failed production company."''
-->-- '''[[https://youtube.com/watch?v=Hb6mWt3SqIM Mayor West]]''' (in a HilariousInHindsight moment), ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''

-->--'''[[https://youtube.com/watch?v=Hb6mWt3SqIM Mayor West]]''' (in a HilariousInHindsight moment), ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''

* ''Film/NavySeals''

Despite its turbulent history and becoming a target of mockery among film enthusiasts and popular culture because of it, Orion Pictures was one of the first successful "mini-majors" to break out in Hollywood, proving that it didn't need the backing of a major film studio to make films with high production values, [[AcclaimedFlop even if said films ended up failing and hurting them financially]]. Many films produced and/or released by Orion have achieved a lasting impact, through cult followings, pop culture references in other media and numerous honors and accolades. In addition to the aforementioned Oscar wins its films achieved, Orion's portfolio received a total of at least 54 Oscar nominations during its lifetime, a number that other mini-majors during that period (such as Creator/CarolcoPictures and Creator/TheCannonGroup) could only dream of. Their focus on filmmaker-driven-and-controlled fare ended up serving as an influence on other mini-major studios, such as Creator/DreamWorks, Creator/{{Lionsgate}} and Creator/MiramaxFilms, for years to come.

Unfortunately, the end of the 80's heralded a number of costly bombs, most notably Music/WeirdAlYankovic's NonActorVehicle ''Film/{{UHF}}'', which Orion thought would be [[SarcasmMode a great idea]] to release in a blockbuster-heavy summer season; audiences weren't particularly interested in seeing the lighthearted comedy movie starring the "Eat It" guy when it was competing against ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}''. 1989 was an irreparably huge blow to the studio's wallets, and despite the successes of such films as ''Film/DancesWithWolves'' and ''Literature/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' (which won back-to-back UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s for Best Picture) at the start of the next decade, Orion was losing money. With cash running low, it had no choice but to declare bankruptcy at the end of 1991. Studios like Creator/NewLineCinema, Creator/{{ABC}}, and Creator/RepublicPictures were interested in buying the floundering studio, but nothing came of it (ABC instead bought what remained of their TV division).

* ''Literature/TheSilenceOfTheLambs''

The upstart studio wasted no time in acquiring talent and film deals, and got its first film out by April of the next year. However, the movies released in its first two years yielded no major successes outside of ''[[Film/Ten1979 10]]''. However, Orion managed to save some face by hiring back Creator/WoodyAllen.

* ''Film/TreesLounge''

* ''Film/NoWayOut''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/orion_6.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:A studio from the stars!]]

* ''Film/MysteryDate''

While the company finally got out of bankruptcy by 1996, the damage had been done. Only a select few Orion releases came out afterwards, as Metromedia instead chose to focus on the newly acquired Samuel Goldwyn Company. The final nail in Orion's coffin came in 1997, when Metromedia's filmed entertainment properties were bought out by Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer. While sister studio The Samuel Goldwyn Company got to stay around for a few more years before being replaced by Samuel Goldwyn Films independently of MGM, Orion's second chance wouldn't come until 2013. Its first show as a television production unit was ''Paternity Court'', a syndicated courtroom show that's become a decent ratings success, at least enough to justify not only its continued existence, but also led MGM to revive the brand in 2014 as a specialty and genre film division, returning to the movie theater with ''Film/ChildsPlay2019''. In 2020, the brand was shifted to serve as a label for historically underrepresented filmmakers[[note]]i.e. women, people of color, the LGBT community, and people with disabilities[[/note]]. It also exists as a copyright name under which to organize its films, as well as those of certain other companies whose libraries MGM has bought out over the years, such as Hemdale and most of the Creator/PolygramFilmedEntertainment library.