United Artists

For the cinema chain, see Regal Cinemas. For the former record label, see United Artists Records. For its joint venture successor, see United Artists Releasing.

United Artists
United Artists Digital Studios (2018–2019)
Company typeLabel
Industry
FoundedFebruary 5, 1919; 105 years ago (1919-02-05) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (original; as United Artists Corporation)
July 26, 2024; 2 months ago (2024-07-26) (relaunch; under the United Artists label)
Founders
HeadquartersCulver City, California, United States
Key people
Scott Stuber
Products
Parent
Divisions
Websitewww.mgm.com

United Artists (UA) is an American film production company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, UA was founded in 1919 by Charlie Chaplin, D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks as a venture premised on allowing actors to control their own financial and artistic interests rather than being dependent upon commercial studios.[1]

After numerous ownership and structural changes and revamps, United Artists was acquired by media conglomerate Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1981 for a reported $350 million ($1.2 billion today).[2] On September 22, 2014, MGM acquired a controlling interest in One Three Media and Lightworkers Media and merged them to revive the television production unit of United Artists as United Artists Media Group (UAMG). MGM itself acquired UAMG on December 14, 2015, and folded it into their own television division.[3]

MGM briefly revived the United Artists brand as United Artists Digital Studios for the Stargate Origins web series as part of its Stargate franchise, but retired the name after 2019 and instead used its eponymous brand for subsequent releases.

A local joint distribution venture between MGM and Annapurna Pictures launched on October 31, 2017[4] was rebranded as United Artists Releasing on February 5, 2019, in honor of its 100th anniversary.[5][6] However, Amazon, MGM's now-parent company, folded UAR into MGM on March 4, 2023, citing "newfound theatrical release opportunities" following the box-office opening success of Creed III.[7]

In July 2024, Amazon MGM Studios announced the company's revival, entering a multi-year first look deal with film producer Scott Stuber, who will also be involved with all releases under the freshly revived banner, marking a return for the brand after more than a decade of dormancy.

  1. ^ Woo, Elaine (September 29, 2011). "Mo Rothman dies at 92; found new audience for Chaplin". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  2. ^ Cole, Robert J. (May 16, 1981). "M-G-M is Reported Purchasing United Artists for $350 Million". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 8, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  3. ^ McNary, Dave (December 14, 2015). "Mark Burnett Named President of MGM Television". Variety. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference MFound was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rebrand was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Galuppo, Mia (February 5, 2019). "MGM, Annapurna Team for Distribution Label United Artists Releasing". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  7. ^ McClintock, Pamela (March 4, 2023). "Box Office: 'Creed III' Wins Title with Series-Best $51M Opening". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023. Amazon protected its newfound theatrical apparatus by folding United Artists Releasing into MGM.