Miramax Films facts for kids
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| Subsidiary of Filmyard Holdings | |
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Bob Weinstein Harvey Weinstein |
| Headquarters | New York City, (1979–2010); Burbank, California (2010); Santa Monica, California (2010–present) |
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Key people
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Thomas J. Barrack, Jr. (Chairman) |
| Owner | Independent (1979-1993); The Walt Disney Company (1993-2010); Filmyard Holdings (2010-present) |
Miramax Films is an American company that makes and distributes movies. It was started in New York.
The company was created by two brothers, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, in Buffalo, New York in 1979. They named it after their parents, Max and Miriam. Miramax was made to share independent films. These were movies that bigger movie studios often didn't want to distribute.
Miramax's Early Success
Miramax had its first big success by working with a British producer named Martin Lewis. They got the rights to two concert movies in the United States. These movies were from benefit shows for a human rights group called Amnesty International. The Weinsteins and Lewis put the two movies together into one. This new movie, The Secret Policeman's Other Ball, was a big hit for Miramax in 1982.
The company became known for distributing movies like The Crying Game and Scandal. Miramax also made its own movies, such as the very popular Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare In Love.
Miramax made many movies that earned a lot of money. The company became a leader in the world of independent films during the 1990s. Seven of their movies earned over $100 million at the box office. Their most successful movie, Chicago, made more than $300 million.
Becoming Part of Disney
In 1993, The Walt Disney Company bought Miramax for $80 million. Harvey and Bob Weinstein continued to run Miramax. They managed the company separately from other Disney businesses. However, Disney had the final say on which movies Miramax could release. The Weinstein brothers left Miramax on September 30, 2005.
Miramax also had a special part of the company for family movies, called Miramax Family Films. Miramax is considered one of the Big Ten movie studios.
New Ownership and Film Library
In 2011, Disney sold Miramax's large collection of movies to Filmyard Holdings. The sale was for $663 million. This also changed who owned the rights to release Miramax movies on home video. In the United States, Echo Bridge now has the rights to 250 Miramax movies. Lions Gate Entertainment controls the other 550 Miramax films. Outside the United States, Studio Canal holds all the home video rights.
See also
In Spanish: Miramax para niños
