| 1 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/image_2022_07_20_193953134.png]] |
| 2 | [[caption-width-right:350:A studio from the stars!]] |
| 3 | |
| 4 | ->''"Take that, Orion! That's right, all you are is a failed production company."'' |
| 5 | -->-- '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF_GEy8iHnA Mayor West]]''' (in a HilariousInHindsight moment), ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' |
| 6 | |
| 7 | Orion Pictures was founded in 1978 by Arthur B. Krim, Eric Pleskow, and Robert S. Benjamin, three Creator/UnitedArtists expatriates who found themselves dissatisfied over decisions made by that studio's then-owner Transamerica. They chose to finance independently-produced films and release them via a distribution deal with Creator/WarnerBros The studio was known for allowing its filmmakers a lot of control over its projects; unfortunately, such business ideals did not equal profits. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | 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 Creator/WoodyAllen away from United Artists. |
| 10 | |
| 11 | In 1981, Orion severed ties with WB, who kept most of the fruits of the deal (such as ''Film/Arthur1981'', 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). |
| 12 | |
| 13 | 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. 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. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | 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/AmericanBroadcastingCompany 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). |
| 16 | |
| 17 | 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]], a move that (intentionally or not) has once again made them a significant player during awards season as ''Film/WomenTalking'' and ''Film/AmericanFiction'' earned consecutive Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and earned a slew of other awards and nominations elsewhere. 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[[note]]this was in part a tactic by MGM to avoid a distribution deal they had with Creator/WarnerBros for home video at the time; they'd instead distribute their newly-acquired library titles through Orion's still-extant home video arm. WB saw through this and began litigation; ultimately both parties broke their deal early, which enabled MGM to merge Orion Home Video into MGM Home Entertainment[[/note]]. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | 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/DreamWorksSKG, Creator/{{Lionsgate}} and Creator/MiramaxFilms, for years to come. |
| 20 | ---- |
| 21 | [[folder:Films produced and/or released by Orion Pictures]] |
| 22 | [[index]] |
| 23 | * ''Film/EightHeadsInADuffelBag'' |
| 24 | * ''[[Film/Ten1979 10]]'' (during WB deal) |
| 25 | * ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'' (International distribution, shared with Creator/{{Paramount}}) |
| 26 | * ''Film/{{Alice|1990}}'' |
| 27 | * ''Theatre/{{Amadeus}}'' (currently owned by the estate of Saul Zaentz; licensed to WB) |
| 28 | * ''Film/AmericanFiction'' |
| 29 | * ''Film/AmityvilleIIThePossession'' (with the [[Film/TheAmityvilleHorror1979 first]] having been inherited from Creator/{{Filmways}}) |
| 30 | ** ''Film/Amityville3D'' |
| 31 | * ''Film/AnnaAndTheApocalypse'' (US distribution) |
| 32 | * ''Film/AnotherCountry'' |
| 33 | * ''Film/Arthur1981'' (during WB deal) |
| 34 | * ''Film/AvasPossessions'' |
| 35 | * ''Film/BabettesFeast'' |
| 36 | * ''Film/BackToSchool'' |
| 37 | * ''Film/BadTrip'' (distributed by Creator/{{Netflix}}) |
| 38 | * ''Film/BattleBeyondTheStars'' (international distribution, originally from New World Pictures) |
| 39 | * ''Film/BeatStreet'' |
| 40 | * ''Film/TheBelievers'' |
| 41 | * ''Film/BestSeller'' |
| 42 | * The ''Franchise/BillAndTed'' series (co-production with Nelson Entertainment, MGM co-own rights with Paramount) |
| 43 | ** ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure'' |
| 44 | ** ''Film/BillAndTedsBogusJourney'' |
| 45 | ** ''Film/BillAndTedFaceTheMusic'' |
| 46 | * ''Film/BlueSky1994'' |
| 47 | * ''Film/{{Bottoms}}'' |
| 48 | * ''Film/TheBounty'' |
| 49 | * ''Film/BoxingHelena'' |
| 50 | * ''Film/{{Breathless}}'' (1983) |
| 51 | * ''Film/BroadwayDannyRose'' |
| 52 | * ''Film/BullDurham'' |
| 53 | * ''Film/{{Caddyshack}}'' (during WB deal) |
| 54 | * ''Film/CadillacMan'' |
| 55 | * ''Film/CheechAndChongsTheCorsicanBrothers'' |
| 56 | * ''Film/Cherry2000'' |
| 57 | * ''Film/ChildsPlay2019'' |
| 58 | * ''Film/ChinaMoon'' |
| 59 | * ''Film/{{Class|1983}}'' |
| 60 | * ''Film/{{Clifford}}'' |
| 61 | * ''Film/CodeOfSilence'' |
| 62 | * ''Film/{{Colors}}'' |
| 63 | * ''Film/TheCottonClub'' |
| 64 | * ''Film/CrimesAndMisdemeanors'' |
| 65 | * ''Film/DancesWithWolves'' |
| 66 | * ''Literature/TheDarkHalf'' |
| 67 | * ''Film/DesperatelySeekingSusan'' |
| 68 | * ''Film/DirtyRottenScoundrels'' |
| 69 | * ''Film/DominickAndEugene'' |
| 70 | * ''Film/EasyMoney'' |
| 71 | * ''Film/EightMenOut'' |
| 72 | * ''Film/EuropaEuropa'' (US distribution only) |
| 73 | * ''Film/EveOfDestruction'' |
| 74 | * ''Literature/EveryDay'' |
| 75 | * ''Film/{{Excalibur}}'' |
| 76 | * ''Film/TheExpert'' |
| 77 | * ''Film/TheFalconAndTheSnowman'' |
| 78 | * ''Film/FarewellToTheKing'' |
| 79 | * ''Film/TheFiendishPlotOfDrFuManchu'' (during WB deal) |
| 80 | * ''Film/FirstBlood'' (first movie of the ''Franchise/{{Rambo}}'' franchise only, with Creator/CarolcoPictures) |
| 81 | * ''Film/TheFirstPower'' |
| 82 | * ''Film/FleshAndBlood1985'' |
| 83 | * ''Film/FXMurderByIllusion'' |
| 84 | * ''Film/GangRelated'' |
| 85 | * ''Literature/GorkyPark'' |
| 86 | * ''Film/GreatBallsOfFire'' |
| 87 | * ''Film/TheGreatSantini'' (during WB deal) |
| 88 | * ''Film/{{Gretel and Hansel|2020}}'' |
| 89 | * ''Film/GetTheGirl'' |
| 90 | * ''Film/GodsOwnCountry'' |
| 91 | * ''Film/{{Hammett}}'' (During WB deal. Film produced by Zoetrope.) |
| 92 | * ''Film/TheHand'' |
| 93 | * ''Film/HannahAndHerSisters'' |
| 94 | * ''Film/HauntedHoneymoon'' |
| 95 | * ''Film/TheHeavenlyKid'' |
| 96 | * ''Film/{{Hoosiers}}'' (from Hemdale, rights then went to Polygram via their buy-out of Hemdale then to MGM and incorporated into Orion's library) |
| 97 | * ''Literature/TheHotelNewHampshire'' |
| 98 | * ''Film/HouseOfGames'' |
| 99 | * ''Film/IShotAndyWarhol'' (US distribution only) |
| 100 | * ''Film/JaneWantsABoyfriend'' |
| 101 | * ''Film/Jeffrey1995'' |
| 102 | * ''Film/JohnnyBeGood'' |
| 103 | * ''Film/LittleManTate'' |
| 104 | * ''Film/ALittleRomance'' (Orion's very first picture) |
| 105 | * ''Film/LoneWolfMcQuade'' |
| 106 | * ''Film/LoveField'' |
| 107 | * ''Film/MacAndMe'' (US distribution only) |
| 108 | * ''Film/Madhouse1990'' |
| 109 | * ''Film/MakingMrRight'' |
| 110 | * ''Film/MarriedToIt'' |
| 111 | * ''Film/MarriedToTheMob'' |
| 112 | * ''Film/{{Maxie}}'' |
| 113 | * ''Film/Mermaids1990'' |
| 114 | * ''Film/MiamiBlues'' |
| 115 | * ''Film/AMidsummerNightsSexComedy'' |
| 116 | * ''Film/MississippiBurning'' |
| 117 | * ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'' (US distribution only) |
| 118 | * ''Film/MyNameIsEmily'' (US distribution) |
| 119 | * ''Film/MysteryDate1991'' |
| 120 | * ''Film/MysteryTrain'' |
| 121 | * ''Film/NavySeals1990'' |
| 122 | * ''Film/NoWayOut1987'' |
| 123 | * ''Film/OneMansHero'' (Final film released by Orion until 2013, a year after its purchase by MGM) |
| 124 | * ''Film/OnTheCountOfThree'' (with Creator/AnnapurnaPictures) |
| 125 | * ''Film/OverTheEdge'' (during WB deal) |
| 126 | * ''Film/{{Platoon}}'' |
| 127 | * ''Film/{{Prancer}}'' |
| 128 | * ''Film/PrinceOfTheCity'' |
| 129 | * ''Film/ThePurpleRoseOfCairo'' |
| 130 | * ''Film/RadioDays'' |
| 131 | * ''Film/RemoWilliamsTheAdventureBegins'' |
| 132 | * ''Film/{{Retroactive}}'' |
| 133 | * ''Film/TheReturnOfTheLivingDead'' |
| 134 | * The ''Franchise/{{RoboCop}}'' series |
| 135 | ** ''Film/RoboCop1987'' |
| 136 | ** ''Film/RoboCop2'' |
| 137 | ** ''Film/RoboCop3'' |
| 138 | * ''Film/SecretAdmirer'' |
| 139 | * ''Film/{{September}}'' |
| 140 | * ''Film/ShadowsAndFog'' |
| 141 | * ''Film/SharkysMachine'' (during WB deal) |
| 142 | * ''Film/SheDevil'' |
| 143 | * ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' |
| 144 | * ''Film/{{Slacker}}'' |
| 145 | * ''Film/SomethingWild'' |
| 146 | * ''Film/SpeedZone'' (A SpiritualSuccessor to ''Film/TheCannonballRun''.) |
| 147 | * ''Film/StateOfGrace'' |
| 148 | * ''Film/StrangeInvaders'' |
| 149 | * ''Film/TheSubstitute'' |
| 150 | * ''Film/SummerLovers'' (inherited from Filmways) |
| 151 | * ''Film/TheTerminator'' (The original only, 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) |
| 152 | * ''Film/ThisIsSpinalTap'' |
| 153 | * ''Film/ThreeAmigos'' |
| 154 | * ''Film/ThrowMommaFromTheTrain'' |
| 155 | * ''Film/{{Till}}'' |
| 156 | * ''Film/TheTownThatDreadedSundown'' (the 2014 remake, Orion's first film since its revival under MGM; the original film was also inherited from Filmways) |
| 157 | * ''Film/TreesLounge'' |
| 158 | * ''Literature/TheUnbearableLightnessOfBeing'' |
| 159 | * ''Film/{{UHF}}'' |
| 160 | * ''Film/UnderFire'' |
| 161 | * ''Film/UnderTheRainbow'' (during WB deal) |
| 162 | * ''Film/UpTheCreek'' |
| 163 | * ''Film/{{Valmont}}'' |
| 164 | * ''Film/TheWanderers'' (during WB deal) |
| 165 | * ''Film/WishUpon'' |
| 166 | * ''Film/WitchfinderGeneral'' |
| 167 | * ''Film/{{Wolfen}}'' (during WB deal) |
| 168 | * ''Film/TheWomanInRed'' |
| 169 | * ''Film/WomenTalking'' |
| 170 | * ''Film/{{Yellowbeard}}'' |
| 171 | * ''Film/{{Zelig}}'' (during WB deal) |
| 172 | [[/index]] |
| 173 | [[/folder]] |
| 174 | |
| 175 | |
| 176 | [[folder: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]]]] |
| 177 | [[index]] |
| 178 | * ''Series/CagneyAndLacey'' (inherited from Filmways) |
| 179 | * ''WesternAnimation/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventures'' (1990-92; first season with Creator/HannaBarbera Productions on CBS; second season with Creator/DICEntertainment on Creator/FoxKids) |
| 180 | * ''Series/EqualJustice'' (1990-91; with Creator/{{ABC}} Productions and The Thomas Carter Company) |
| 181 | * ''Series/{{Gambit}}'' (1990 pilot for ABC, with Merrill Heatter Productions) |
| 182 | * ''[[Series/TheHollywoodSquares The New Hollywood Squares]]'' (1986-89; inherited from Filmways and [[Creator/MerrillHeatter Heatter-Quigley]]; format rights currently owned by CBS) |
| 183 | * ''Series/HighRollers'' (1987-88; with Merrill Heatter Productions) |
| 184 | * ''Just Men!'' (1983, on Creator/{{NBC}}; only network game show, hosted by Creator/BettyWhite, with Rosner Television) |
| 185 | [[/index]] |
| 186 | [[/folder]] |
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