Briarcliff Entertainment is an independent American film production and distribution company founded by former Open Road Films CEO Tom Ortenberg. Launched in 2018, the studio debuted with Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 11/9 as their first film.[1] They went on to distribute mainly action films in the ensuing several years, including Honest Thief and Blacklight with Liam Neeson, and Copshop with Gerard Butler.[2][3][4]
 | |
| Industry | Entertainment |
|---|---|
| Genre | Independent film |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Tom Ortenberg |
| Headquarters | , United States of America |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Tom Ortenberg (CEO) |
| Services | |
| Website | www |
In addition to Fahrenheit 11/9, the company has released other high-profile political documentaries, including the critically acclaimed The Dissident,[5] about the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, and Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down.[6]
During the summer of 2024, it was reported that Briarcliff was close to a deal to release the controversial Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice[7] after it initially languished without a distributor following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, and a deal was later confirmed with an October 11 release date set.[8]
A few months later it was announced they would acquire Magazine Dreams,[9] the Sundance hit that was dropped by Searchlight Pictures[10] following the controversy surrounding its star Jonathan Majors.
History
editBriarcliff was founded as an independent theatrical film studio in late 2018 by veteran executive Tom Ortenberg, who was the founding CEO of Open Road Films and formerly the President of Theatrical Films at Lionsgate, where he was the company's first employee in Los Angeles.[11] Their first films were 2018's Fahrenheit 11/9[12] and 2019's Don't Let Go, a collaboration with Blumhouse Productions.[13]
In 2020, it was announced that Briarcliff would partner with a recently re-launched Open Road to acquire and release films jointly.[14] The partnership distributed films like Kandahar with Gerard Butler and Studio 666, a 2022 horror-comedy made by and starring Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters.
The company has been noted for their frequent collaboration with Liam Neeson on action films, including Marlowe, Memory, Blacklight and Honest Thief, all released between 2020 and 2023. Also in 2023 they distributed the inspirational baseball film The Hill starring Dennis Quaid, which grossed $7.6 million at the domestic box office.[15]
In 2024, it was reported that they would release The Apprentice, the controversial Donald Trump biopic starring Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong that played the Cannes Film Festival and was sent a cease and desist by the former president's legal team.[16] Despite the Trump campaign's attempts to block a sale, it was slated for a release on October 11 shortly before the 2024 United States presidential election.[17]
Due to the legal threats, Briarcliff was the only distribution company to make a serious offer for the film, with Ortenberg slamming the "cowardice" of the rest of the industry.[18] In October of that year, Bloomberg reported that the studio was looking to raise between $25-50 million for a minority stake in the company.[19]
Also in 2024, it was announced that they would release Magazine Dreams, which was dropped by Searchlight Pictures following the controversy surrounding star Jonathan Majors despite strong reviews out of Sundance, in early 2025.[9] The same year the company also acquired South by Southwest Audience Award winner My Dead Friend Zoe, starring Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris and executive produced by Travis Kelce, for release in 2025.[20]
Filmography
editReleased
edit| Release date | Title | Co-production with | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 21, 2018 | Fahrenheit 11/9 | Midwestern Films | First film distributed by Briarcliff |
| May 3, 2019 | El Chicano | WarParty Films and WarChest Productions | |
| August 30, 2019 | Don't Let Go | Blumhouse Productions | co-distributed with OTL Releasing and BH Tilt |
| August 18, 2020 | Emperor | Sobini Films and Hudlin Entertainment | |
| October 16, 2020 | Honest Thief | The Solution Entertainment Group, Zero Gravity Management, Samuel Marshall Films, and Ingenious Media | co-distributed with Open Road Films |
| December 25, 2020 | The Dissident | Orwell Productions and Human Rights Foundation | |
| April 30, 2021 | Separation | RainMaker Films and Yale Productions | co-distributed with Open Road Films |
| September 17, 2021 | Copshop | Sculptor Media, Zero Gravity Management, G-BASE Film Production, Raven Capital Management, and WarParty Films | U.S. distribution with Open Road Films only |
| February 11, 2022 | Blacklight | Zero Gravity Management, Footloose Productions, The Solution Entertainment Group, Sina Studios, Fourstar Films, Elevate Production Finance, Film Victoria, Lightstream Pictures Australia, and Screen Australia | U.S. distribution only |
| February 25, 2022 | Studio 666 | Roswell Films and Therapy Studios | |
| April 29, 2022 | Memory | Black Bear Pictures, Welle Entertainment, and Saville Productions | U.S. distribution with Open Road Films only |
| May 20, 2022 | Good Mourning | Cedar Park Studios and Raven Capital Management | co-distributed with Open Road Films |
| July 15, 2022 | Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down | CNN Films, Time Studios, Storyville Films, and Lisa Espramer Entertainment | |
| February 15, 2023 | Marlowe | Parallel Films, Hills Productions, and Davis Films | U.S. distribution only |
| April 14, 2023 | Sweetwater | Sunset Pictures and Reserve Entertainment | |
| August 25, 2023 | The Hill | Vitamin A Films, Rescue Dog Productions, Piney Pictures | |
| October 13, 2023 | The Lost Weekend: A Love Story | ||
| March 15, 2024 | Dogman | Luc Besson Production, EuropaCorp, and TF1 Films Production | U.S. distribution only |
| May 10, 2024 | Not Another Church Movie | JMC Media and Monty the Dog Productions | |
| October 11, 2024 | The Apprentice | Scythia Films, Profile Pictures, Tailored Films, Rich Spirit, AQuest Films, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology, AC Films Inc., and Wild7 Films | U.S. distribution only |
Upcoming
edit| Release date | Title | Co-production with | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 6, 2024[21] | Werewolves | Burke Management, Monty the Dog Productions, and Solution Entertainment Group | |
| January 24, 2025[22] | Valiant One | Factory Underground and Monarch Media | |
| February 28, 2025[20] | My Dead Friend Zoe | Legion M and Radiant Media Studios | |
| Q1 2025[9] | Magazine Dreams | Los Angeles Media Fund and Tall Street Productions | |
| April 18, 2025[23] | Sneaks | Lengi Studios, Cinema Gypsy Productions, and House of Cool | First animated film to be released by Briarcliff |
| TBA[24] | 10 Lives | GFM Animation, Align, Caramel Films, and L'Atelier Animation | U.S. distribution only |
References
edit- ^ Kilday, Gregg (August 15, 2018). "Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 11/9' Poster Takes Aim at "Tyrant" Trump". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Jr, Mike Fleming (January 22, 2020). "Briarcliff Entertainment Acquires U.S. Rights To 'Honest Thief;' Action Thriller Stars Liam Neeson & Kate Walsh". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 23, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Jr, Mike Fleming (September 21, 2021). "Liam Neeson Action Thriller 'Blacklight' Set For Wide U.S. Release Through Briarcliff; Solution Entertainment Group Pic Gets February 2022 Release Date". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Chang, Tom (September 17, 2021). "Copshop Review: Talented Core Lead Fun Psychological Action Romp". bleedingcool.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Lang, Brent (September 2, 2020). "Jamal Khashoggi Doc 'The Dissident' Sells to Briarcliff Entertainment". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Ted (June 7, 2022). "Briarcliff Entertainment Drops Trailer For Betsy West-Julie Cohen Documentary 'Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down' – Update". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Barnes, Brooks (June 27, 2024). "Trump Biopic 'The Apprentice' Nears Distribution Deal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Yuan, Jada; Chery, Samantha (August 30, 2024). "Controversial Trump film 'The Apprentice' finally gets a release date". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c Jr, Mike Fleming (October 2, 2024). "Briarcliff Gives Jonathan Majors Sundance Drama 'Magazine Dreams' Chance To Flex On Big Screen". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Couch, Aaron; Kit, Borys (January 17, 2024). "Jonathan Majors' 'Magazine Dreams' Leaves Searchlight as Filmmakers Shop for New Home (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Finke, Nikki (January 26, 2009). "Tom Ortenberg Exits Lionsgate For TWC". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 30, 2018). "How Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 11/9' Landed Its Release Date". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 10, 2019). "Blumhouse Tilt, Universal OTL & Briarcliff Entertainment Team To Release Supernatural Thriller 'Don't Let Go'". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Jr, Mike Fleming (June 22, 2020). "Open Road Re-Launches With Raven Capital Funding & Return Of Founding CEO Tom Ortenberg; First Release Will Be Liam Neeson-Thriller 'Honest Thief'". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ "The Hill". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on July 12, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (May 24, 2024). "Trump Lawyers Send Cease-and-Desist Letter to 'The Apprentice' Producers to Block Sale". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ "Donald Trump biopic 'The Apprentice' sets pre-election release date". NBC News. August 30, 2024. Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Keegan, Rebecca (October 10, 2024). "Exec Bringing 'The Apprentice,' Jonathan Majors' 'Magazine Dreams' to Screens Decries Hollywood's "Cowardice"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ "'The Apprentice' Distributor Backs the Films Hollywood Won't". Bloomberg.com. October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Lang, Brent (June 18, 2024). "Briarcliff Entertainment Buys SXSW Audience Award Winner 'My Dead Friend Zoe' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (June 11, 2024). "Frank Grillo Horror-Thriller 'Werewolves' Set For December U.S. Release Via Briarcliff & The Solution". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (April 24, 2024). "Briarcliff Entertainment Acquires Action Thriller 'Valiant One' Starring Chase Stokes & Lana Condor – First Look". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (November 7, 2024). "Briarcliff Picks Up 'Sneaks' Voiced By Laurence Fishburne, Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Chloe Bailey, Mustard & More; Easter 2025 Theatrical Launch Set — AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (May 16, 2024). "Briarcliff Entertainment & GFM Animation Take North America On Animated Family Comedy '10 Lives'; Zayn Malik, Bill Nighy & More Among Voice Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
