Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Fox Searchlight RIP

This is topic Fox Searchlight RIP in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mike Croaro (Member # 3123) on 05-07-2019, 01:48 PM:

Now that Fox Searchlight (the arthouse arm of 20th century Fox) is part of Disney, best to prepare for its demise. Miramax completely failed under Disney, so I prepare myself for history to repeat itself.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 05-07-2019, 03:06 PM:

They haven't had a lot on their calendar lately, only three coming up. If Disney is going to cut things, I can see that being one of them.
Or maybe Disney will revive one of it's old labels is Touchstone still around) and start their own art brand, just to wipe out every bit of competition in the universe.

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 05-07-2019, 05:53 PM:

quote: Mike Croaro
Miramax completely failed under Disney

Not true at all. Miramax of and by itself achieved their greatest successes under Disney. Made or released in the Disney era: The Crow, Pulp Fiction, Clerks, Mighty Aphrodite, Trainspotting, Emma, Swingers, Sling Blade, The English Patient, Good Will Hunting, Scary Movie, The Crying Game, Life is Beautiful, Shakespeare in Love, Bridget Jones' Diary, Amalie, Kill Bill and plenty more.

The problem was one of scale. When you have a blockbuster mentality studio like Disney holding your paper, respectable successes like the films above don't cut it bottom-line wise. Miramax's biggest ever film, Chicago, made about $170,000,000 in its entire run. On a Disney scale that isn't even a good opening weekend.

I suspect you are right, and Fox Searchlight will vanish much like Warner Independent and Paramount Vantage did. Failures? Hardly, but just not adding enough to a major's balance sheet.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 05-07-2019, 06:16 PM:

There are probably more examples like this, but, I shuddered when I realized that 'Alien' is now a property of the mouse madhouse...

- Carsten

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-07-2019, 08:30 PM:

A High School Classmate of mine (Nancy Utley) is Chairman of Fox Searchlight. Will have to try to contact her and find out if she knows yet if they are staying or going.

Mark

Posted by Mike Croaro (Member # 3123) on 05-11-2019, 11:56 AM:

Mark, maybe I'm confusing the date Disney acquired Miramax, with the date the Weinsteins left to form their own company.

I just remember there was a distinctive point where Miramax went downhill, and very rapidly.