History Creator / OrionPictures

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/orion_pictures_logo.png]]

* ''Film/{{Arthur}}'' (during WB deal)

In 1981, Orion severed ties with WB, who kept most of the fruits of the deal (such as ''Film/{{Arthur}}'', one of Orion's biggest hits up to that point), and got its hands on ailing film studio Creator/{{Filmways}}, gaining the company's extensive film library, including the near-entire Creator/AmericanInternationalPictures library, as well as many television shows including ''Series/PetticoatJunction'', ''Series/GreenAcres'', and the Creator/MerrillHeatter game shows (including ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' and ''Series/HighRollers'' which Orion produced syndicated revivals of in the mid-'80s; the rights to the former show are now owned by Creator/{{CBS}}). By 1983, Orion had not only a full distribution arm and ambitious dreams, but also its own television unit and an arthouse subsidiary known as Orion Classics. They even briefly operated a video game publishing division near the end of their lifespan-- emphasis on briefly, as they only published two games, ''Blue Heat: The Case of the Cover Girl Murders'' and ''VideoGame/SonicsSchoolhouse'' (yes, really).

----

!!Films released by Orion Pictures:

!!Television shows/movies produced by Orion Television/Century Towers Productions[[note]]nameplate used for game shows, named after Orion's headquarters address at the time[[/note]]

In 1981, Orion severed ties with WB, who kept most of the fruits of the deal (such as ''Film/{{Arthur}}'', one of Orion's biggest hits up to that point), and got its hands on ailing film studio Creator/{{Filmways}}, gaining the company's extensive film library, including the near-entire American International Pictures library, as well as many television shows including ''Series/PetticoatJunction'', ''Series/GreenAcres'', and the Creator/MerrillHeatter game shows (including ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' and ''Series/HighRollers'' which Orion produced syndicated revivals of in the mid-'80s; the rights to the former show are now owned by Creator/{{CBS}}). By 1983, Orion had not only a full distribution arm and ambitious dreams, but also its own television unit and an arthouse subsidiary known as Orion Classics. They even briefly operated a video game publishing division near the end of their lifespan-- emphasis on briefly, as they only published two games, ''Blue Heat: The Case of the Cover Girl Murders'' and ''VideoGame/SonicsSchoolhouse'' (yes, really).

In 1981, Orion severed ties with WB, who kept most of the fruits of the deal (such as ''Film/{{Arthur}}'', one of Orion's biggest hits up to that point), and got its hands on ailing film studio Creator/{{Filmways}}, gaining the company's extensive film library, including the near-entire American International Pictures library, as well as many television shows including ''Series/PetticoatJunction'', ''Series/GreenAcres'', and the Creator/MerrillHeatter game shows (including ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' and ''Series/HighRollers'' which Orion produced syndicated revivals of in the mid-'80s; the rights to the former show are now owned by Creator/{{CBS}}). By 1983, Orion had not only a full distribution arm and ambitious dreams, but also its own television unit and an arthouse subsidiary known as Orion Classics. They even briefly operated a video game publishing division near the end of their lifespan--emphasis on briefly, as they only published two games, ''Blue Heat: The Case of the Cover Girl Murders'' and ''VideoGame/SonicsSchoolhouse'' (yes, really).

In September of 1984, Orion released ''Theatre/{{Amadeus}}'', the success of which inspired that of numerous other films later on in the decade, putting the studio into the league of success. This inspired Metromedia to take a stake in the company in 1986, then buying it all in 1988. Unfortunately, the next year heralded a number of costly bombs, putting Orion in jeopardy. By 1987, they had also established their own video label, after having gone through other firms (e.g. Creator/WarnerHomeVideo, Creator/{{HBO}} Video and its predecessors, Embassy Home Entertainment, and Vestron Video) for home video releases, while internationally their releases were distributed by Creator/ColumbiaPictures.

Despite the successes of such films as ''Film/DancesWithWolves'' and ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' (which won back to back UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s for Best Picture), 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 Republic Pictures were interested in buying the floundering studio, but nothing came of it (ABC instead bought what remained of their TV division).

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. 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.

->''"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''

** ''Film/BillAndTedFaceTheMusic''

* ''Film/OneMansHero'' (Final film released by Orion, a year after its purchase by MGM)

* ''Film/FirstBlood'' (first movie of the ''Franchise/{{Rambo}}'' franchise only, with Creator/CarolcoPictures, movies 2 and 3 went through Tri-Star, and movie 4 went through Creator/{{Lionsgate}} and Studiocanal, successors to Carolco)

* ''Film/TheTerminator'' (The original, for Hemdale, rights then went to Polygram via their buy-out of Hemdale (and was briefly licensed by Live Entertainment in the mid-'90s), then to MGM and incorporated into Orion's library, while other films are now in hands of: Lionsgate/Studiocanal for T2 (Carolco/Tri-Star was the original distributor), and movies 3 and 4 are in the hands of WB and Columbia)

Despite its turbulent history and becoming [[SnarkBait 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.

* ''Film/GretelAndHansel''

* ''Film/HanselAndGretel''

* ''Just Men!'' (1983-84, on Creator/{{NBC}}; only network game show, hosted by Creator/BettyWhite, with Rosner Television)

* The ''Film/BillAndTed'' series (co-production with Nelson Entertainment, MGM co-own rights with Paramount)

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/{{Ten}} 10]]''. However, Orion managed to save some face by hiring back Creator/WoodyAllen.

* ''[[Film/{{Ten}} 10]]'' (during WB deal)

-->--'''[[https://youtube.com/watch?v=Hb6mWt3SqIM Mayor West]]''', ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''

* ''[[Film/{{Ten}} 10]]''