MGM Home Entertainment facts for kids

MGM Home Entertainment is the part of the famous American movie company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) that handles home video releases. This means they are in charge of putting MGM movies and TV shows onto formats like DVDs and Blu-rays. Today, MGM Home Entertainment is owned by Amazon, through its Amazon MGM Studios company.

History of MGM Home Entertainment

Early Years (1978–1982)

MGM Home Entertainment started in 1978 as MGM Home Video. Their first job was to release MGM movies and TV shows for people to watch at home.

In 1980, MGM teamed up with CBS Video Enterprises. This was the home video part of the CBS TV network. Together, they formed MGM/CBS Home Video. In October of that year, they released their very first movies on Betamax and VHS tapes.

The first 24 movies came in special brown cases that looked like leather. Later tapes came in bigger gray boxes, like books. These boxes had either the MGM lion logo or the CBS Video logo on them.

Partnering and Changes (1982–1998)

In 1982, MGM bought another movie company called United Artists (UA). Around the same time, CBS left the partnership with MGM. CBS then joined with 20th Century Fox to create a new video company. MGM's video division then became known as MGM/UA Home Video.

In 1986, a big change happened. A businessman named Ted Turner bought many of MGM's older movies. This included classic films and cartoons. Even after this sale, MGM/UA still helped distribute these older movies on video for Turner's company.

In 1990, MGM/UA Home Video made a deal with Warner Home Video. Warner Home Video then helped distribute MGM/UA movies on home video. In 1994, MGM/UA also started a special label called MGM/UA Family Entertainment for movies suitable for families.

By 1997, MGM/UA started releasing its movies on DVD. This was a new and exciting way to watch movies at home. That same year, MGM bought Orion Pictures. Orion's home video division then became part of MGM/UA. In 1998, the company's name changed to MGM Home Entertainment.

New Deals and Digital Age (1998–2005)

After buying Orion, MGM also bought a large collection of films from PolyGram Filmed Entertainment in 1999. This made MGM's library much bigger.

In 1999, MGM ended its distribution deal with Warner Home Video. Then, MGM signed a new deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Fox started distributing MGM's films on home video around the world.

In 2001, MGM and Amazon.com launched something called the "MGM Movie Vault." This allowed people to buy VHS copies of rare or out-of-print MGM movies only through Amazon. In 2003, MGM Home Entertainment also started a special label for kids called MGM Kids.

Shifting Partnerships (2005–2019)

In 2005, a group of companies led by Sony bought MGM. For a short time, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released MGM's newest movies. However, this partnership didn't last long. In 2006, MGM signed a new worldwide distribution deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

From 2011 to 2018, MGM often shared the distribution of its movies with other studios. This meant that movies like Skyfall or The Hobbit trilogy were released on DVD and Blu-ray by companies like 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, or Paramount Home Entertainment.

In 2011, MGM also started the "MGM Limited Edition Collection." This service made older, unreleased, or hard-to-find movies from MGM's library available on DVD.

Recent Changes (2019–present)

In 2019, Disney bought Fox's parent company. Because of this, MGM decided not to renew its deal with Fox when it ended in 2020. MGM then chose Warner Bros. Home Entertainment as its new home video distributor.

On May 26, 2021, it was announced that Amazon would buy MGM. This big deal was completed on March 17, 2022. MGM continues to make movies and shows as part of Amazon.

How MGM Movies are Distributed Today

In the United States and Canada, MGM's movies are currently distributed by Studio Distribution Services, LLC. This company is a partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Warner Bros. also handles the distribution of MGM's movies internationally.

It's interesting to know that Warner Bros. already owns and distributes many of MGM's older movies (made before May 1986). This is because of their ownership of Turner Entertainment Co.. However, Warner Bros. also has a deal to distribute MGM's newer movies.

MGM also allows some of its movies and TV shows to be released by other special companies. These companies include Kino Lorber, the Criterion Collection, Shout! Factory, and Vinegar Syndrome.

Current Distribution Partners

• Studio Distribution Services
  • Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment (from 1990–1999 and again from 2020–present) for most of the MGM library.

Past Distribution Partners

• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005–2006)
• 20th Century Home Entertainment (1999–2005 internationally, and 2006–2020 worldwide)
• Studio Distribution Services
  • Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2018–2022)