The Geffen Film Company

The Geffen Film Company (also known as The Geffen Company, The Geffen Film Company, Inc., and later Geffen Pictures) was an American film distributor and production company founded by David Geffen, the founder of Geffen Records, and future co-founder of DreamWorks. The spherical Geffen Pictures logo (based on the logo of its record-label counterpart) was created by Saul Bass. Their most famous films are Risky Business (1983), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Beetlejuice (1988), and Interview with the Vampire (1994).

The Geffen Company
The Geffen Film Company, Inc.
Geffen Pictures
TypeFilm distributor and production company
IndustryMotion pictures
Founded1982 (1982)[1]
FounderDavid Geffen
Defunct1998 (1998)
FateClosed
SuccessorsDreamWorks Pictures
Library:
Warner Bros.
Paramount Pictures
(through MTV Entertainment Studios)
(Beavis and Butt-Head Do America only)
Disney–ABC Domestic Television
(Tales from the Crypt syndication rights only)
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, United States
Key people
David Geffen
Eric Eisner
OwnerWarner Bros. (1982–1994)
DreamWorks Pictures (1994–1998)
DivisionsGeffen Television

History

Geffen founded the company in 1982,[1] having recruited Eric Eisner as president,[2] and distributed its films through Warner Bros.[3] Geffen was operated as a division of Warner Bros., and as a result, following the company's shutdown in 1998, Warner Bros. now owns the company's library, with the exception of the 1996 Mike Judge comedy Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, which is owned by Paramount Pictures (via Paramount Animation, MTV Entertainment Studios and MTV Animation).[4]

In 1993, Geffen and MTV Productions struck a two-picture deal.[5]

In 1994, The Geffen Film Company was renamed and reorganized as DreamWorks Pictures, though the Geffen Pictures brand was continued to be used on films by David Geffen until 1998, when it was folded under the DreamWorks Pictures brand (including all of the company's library).

Filmography

1980s
Release Date Title Director Notes Names Budget Gross (worldwide)
February 5, 1982 Personal Best Robert Towne The Geffen Film Company $15 million $5.6 million
August 5, 1983 Risky Business Paul Brickman $6.2 million $63.5 million
March 15, 1985 Lost in America Albert Brooks $4 million $10.1 million
September 13, 1985 After Hours Martin Scorsese co-production with Double Play Productions $4.5 million $10.6 million
December 19, 1986 Little Shop of Horrors Frank Oz $25 million $39 million
March 30, 1988 Beetlejuice Tim Burton $15 million $74.2 million

1990s
Release Date Title Director Notes Names Budget Gross (worldwide)
February 2, 1990 Men Don't Leave Paul Brickman The Geffen Film Company $7 million $6 million
March 22, 1991 Defending Your Life Albert Brooks Geffen Pictures N/A $16.4 million
December 13, 1991 The Last Boy Scout Tony Scott co-production with Silver Pictures $43 million $114.5 million
October 1, 1993 M. Butterfly David Cronenberg N/A $1.4 million
November 11, 1994 Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles Neil Jordan $60 million $223.7 million
July 26, 1996 Joe's Apartment John Payson co-production with MTV Productions $13 million $4.6 million
October 11, 1996 Michael Collins Neil Jordan $25 million $27.5 million
December 20, 1996 Beavis and Butt-Head Do America Mike Judge co-production with Paramount Pictures and MTV Productions $12 million $63.1 million
April 3, 1998 The Butcher Boy Neil Jordan N/A $1.96 million

Television series
Years Title Networks Notes Names Seasons Episodes
1989–1996 Tales from the Crypt HBO Co-production with Tales from the Crypt Holdings Uncredited 7 93
1989–1991 Beetlejuice ABC (seasons 1–3)
Fox Kids (season 4)		 Co-production with Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Animation, Tim Burton, Inc. and Nelvana The Geffen Film Company (seasons 1–2)
Geffen Pictures (seasons 3–4)		 4 94

References
  1. "David Geffen Fast Facts". CNN. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  2. Shewey, Don (1985). "On the Go With David Geffen". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  3. Cieply, Michael (10 January 1989). "Sean Daniel Quits Universal to Head Geffen's Film Unit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  4. Dilworth, John R. (January 1997). "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America". Animation World Magazine. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  5. Marx, Andy (1993-07-07). "Geffen and MTV pair on 'Apartment'". Variety. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
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