FILM

Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures creates and distributes theatrical and non-theatrical filmed entertainment. A high quality and diverse product mix is delivered to the growing global marketplace through a variety of internally developed titles, co-productions, local acquisitions, specialty motion pictures, direct-to-video titles, specialty video, classic titles, and consumer products. These films and videos then provide content for television, and further drive the recreation business, consumer products and other ancillary businesses.

Balancing growth and cost containment, Universal Pictures has implemented a clearly defined business strategy—based on diversification, international expansion, maximization of distribution channels and risk management—that balances gross production spending against the total investment.

Universal has achieved both popular success and critical acclaim with its recent Academy Award winners Atonement, The Bourne Ultimatum, King Kong, Brokeback Mountain, Ray, A Beautiful Mind, The Pianist and Lost in Translation. Classic, Academy Award-winning films from Universal include All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), The Deer Hunter (1978) and Schindler’s List (1993).

In order to create the best, most memorable films, Universal Pictures has forged production agreements with some of the world’s finest filmmakers and production companies including Imagine Entertainment (Brian Grazer, Ron Howard), Tribeca Films (Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal), The Kennedy/Marshall Company (Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall), Playtone Company (Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman), Cha Cha Cha (Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, Alejandro González Iñárritu), Strike Entertainment (Marc Abraham), Depth of Field (Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz), Hasbro, Stephen Sommers, Timur Bekmambetov and Working Title Films (Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner), Europe’s foremost film production company.

In 2007, Universal Pictures enjoyed the most successful year in the studio’s long history, with American Gangster, The Bourne Ultimatum, Evan Almighty, Knocked Up and I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry all surpassing the $100 million mark in domestic ticket sales. The year’s releases also earned a number of accolades, including eight Academy Award nominations, as well as a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama (Atonement).

Focus Features

Focus Features is a motion picture production, financing, and worldwide distribution company committed to bringing moviegoers the most original stories from the world’s most innovative filmmakers. Formed in May 2002, Focus has quickly emerged as a premier film company, with Academy Award-winning movies including Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain, Roman Polanski’s The Pianist, Fernando Meirelles’ The Constant Gardener, Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Walter Salles’ The Motorcycle Diaries. Current and upcoming from Focus are Joe Wright’s Atonement, starring James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, and Romola Garai; Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges, starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes, which world-premiered as the Opening-Night film of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival; Bharat Nalluri’s Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, starring Frances McDormand and Amy Adams; Shane Acker’s animated fantasy epic 9, starring Elijah Wood and Jennifer Connelly; Henry Selick’s stop-motion animated feature Coraline, starring Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher; Cary Fukunaga’s immigrant thriller Sin Nombre; Joel and Ethan Coen’s Burn After Reading, starring George Clooney, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, and Brad Pitt; writer/director Jim Jarmusch’s new film, tentatively titled The Limits of Control, starring Isaach De Bankolé; Gus Van Sant’s Milk, starring Sean Penn as Harvey Milk; and Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution, winner of the Best Picture [Golden Lion] Award at the 2007 Venice International Film Festival.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE) markets and distributes NBC Universal's contemporary and classic theatrical and television product, spanning properties from the company's Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Rogue Pictures, and NBC Universal Media Studios, as well as DVD Original titles from Universal Studios Home Entertainment Family Productions and select third-party productions, including entertainment from Mattel. The Company is also leading the way in exploring innovative technologies and in developing and adapting dynamic new initiatives for the burgeoning home entertainment market, including the adoption of the next generation high-definition format, Blu-ray.

USHE’s vast 4,000-title catalog is among the largest and most celebrated in the industry, comprising a wide variety of titles and genres. Among its most-prized properties are the film franchises: The Bourne series, The Fast and The Furious, The Mummy, The Hulk, American Pie, Bring It On, Jurassic Park, Curious George, The Land Before Time, and the legendary monster movies.

Some of USHE 's latest high-profile offerings include American Gangster, Atonement, The Bourne Ultimatum, Knocked Up, The Kingdom, Eastern Promises, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, American Pie Presents: Beta House and Bring It On: In It To Win It, as well as Heroes Season One and Battlestar Galactica: Razor.