Focus Features

History

Focus Features was formed in 2002 by James Schamus and David Linde and formed from the divisional merger of USA Films, Universal Focus and Good Machine, as well as several assets of the Vivendi-affiliated film studio StudioCanal. USA Films was created by Barry Diller in 1999 when he purchased Interscope Communications, certain assets of the film division of Propaganda Films, October Films and Gramercy Pictures from Seagram and merged the three labels together; USA Films was led by Scott Greenstein. Universal Focus was the specialty film arm of Universal Pictures that was created in 1999 as Universal Classics, which was led by Paul Hardart and Claudia Gray, to replace the October Films label in order to get a group of titles to be distributed by USA Films, focused on the marketing of niche-based acquisitions by Universal Pictures International, Working Title, WT2 Productions, Revolution Films and DNA Films, and eventually rebranded into Universal Focus by 2000.

In March 2004, Focus Features revived Rogue Pictures as a genre label, which was once used by October Films in the late 1990s. Rogue Pictures would be led by the same team who led the standard Focus management.

On October 2, 2013, James Schamus was fired from his position as CEO of Focus, with the New York offices being shut down in the process. He was succeeded by Peter Schlessel, whose company FilmDistrict would be merged into Focus and folded into the trade name High Top Releasing. This became effective in January 2014, and several titles developed under FilmDistrict would be released under Focus. Under Schlessel, the company began to acquire films with a wider commercial appeal, much like his previous company. In May 2015, Gramercy Pictures was revived by Focus as a genre label, that was on action, sci-fi, and horror films.

In February 2016, Focus merged with Universal Pictures International Productions as part of a new strategy to "align the acquisition and production of specialty films in the global market". Following this, along with several disappointing box office returns, Schlessel was let go from the company and replaced with Peter Kujawski.

In April 2017, Vine Alternative Investments re-acquired the pre-2008 Rogue film library from Focus Features.

Focus World

In August 2011, Focus Features launched Focus World, a label focusing on the video on demand market with initial plans to distribute 15 films per year, with one film being released per month.

Distribution partners

Australia

• Roadshow Entertainment (2003–2009)
• Icon Film Distribution (2004–2012)
• Universal Pictures International (2006–present)

United Kingdom

• Momentum Pictures (now Entertainment One) (2006–2014)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2002–2008)
• Universal Pictures International (2004–present)

Canada

• Alliance Atlantis/Alliance Films (2002–2013)
• Entertainment One (2013–2016)
• Universal Pictures (2016–present)

As a distributor, Focus' most successful release in North America to date is the 2019 film Downton Abbey, which earned $84.5 million during its first weekend at the box office and surpassing Brokeback Mountain, which earned $83 million at the North American box office while Fifty Shades of Grey is the studio's biggest success as a production company at over $569 million. However, this is not counting the domestic total of Traffic, which earned $124.1 million under the USA Films banner. The animated film Coraline was also highly profitable for the company. Although suffering its share of unsuccessful releases, Focus has been consistently profitable, and its international sales arm (unusual among studio specialty film divisions) allows it to receive the foreign as well as domestic revenues from its releases. Its DVD and movie rights revenues are boosted by cult classics including Wet Hot American Summer.

Filmography

Main article: List of Focus Features films

Highest-grossing films

Notes

References

References

1. "Interscope Communications".
2. (November 20, 2018). "How Focus Features Rediscovered Its Knack for Making Award-Winning Films".
3. (October 17, 2019). "'Downton Abbey' Becomes Focus Features' Highest-Grossing Pic At Domestic B.O. With $84M+, Unseating 'Brokeback Mountain'".
4. (2019-02-22). "The Envelope Please: Celebrating Focus At The Academy Awards®".
5. Davis, Clayton. (31 October 2024). "'Conclave' Prays for Oscar Attention: How Do Religious Movies Perform With Academy Voters?".
6. (2025). "The 97th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences..
7. Hermmans, Grant. (March 11, 2022). "'Focus Features Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary With This Wonderful Reel (& Logo)'".
8. (2002-02-25). "The new look at U".
9. "Diller gets back into movies". The Telegraph-Herald.
10. (September 28, 1999). "Universal Adds Division for Specialty Films". Los Angeles Times.
11. Carver, Martin Peers, Benedict. (1999-04-08). "Barry bags a bundle".
12. [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/16/movies/beauty-leads-wide-open-oscar-field.html "Beauty leads wide open Oscar field"], ''[[New York Times]]'' Accessed April 22, 2014.
13. Lyons, Charles. (1999-09-28). "Duo tapped to run U inhouse niche unit".
14. (2001-07-25). "Survival of the leanest".
15. Rooney, David. (2004-03-25). "Focus widens lens with Rogue".
16. Stewart, Andrew. (October 2, 2013). "Revamped Focus Features Led by Peter Schlessel Relocating to L.A.". Variety.
17. McNary, Dave. (October 2, 2013). "With FilmDistrict's DNA, Will Focus Get a Commercial Makeover?". Variety.
18. Bart, Peter. (May 1, 2014). "As Focus Moves Into More Commercial Territory, Indie Films Need a New Champion". Variety.
19. (May 20, 2015). "Focus Revives Gramercy Pictures Label For Genre Films".
20. (2016-02-04). "FOCUS FEATURES AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS TO MERGE OPERATIONS UNDER FOCUS FEATURES BANNER". NBCUniversal.
21. "Focus Features Shake-Up: Peter Schlessel Out". The Hollywood Reporter.
22. "Focus Features Shake-Up: What's Behind Peter Schlessel's Abrupt Exit". The Hollywood Reporter.
23. Lang, Brett. (February 4, 2016). "Why Focus Features is Again Getting a Drastic Reboot".
24. (April 27, 2017). "New Village Roadshow Co-Owner Vine Acquires Manchester Film Library".
25. (August 23, 2011). "Focus Features Launches VOD Premiere Label Focus World".
26. (October 17, 2019). "'Downton Abbey' Becomes Focus Features' Highest-Grossing Pic At Domestic B.O. With $84M+, Unseating 'Brokeback Mountain'".
27. Claudia Eller, [https://archive.today/20120904021201/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-focus-20100525,0,899089,full.story "Positive cash flow through hits and misses makes Focus Features an attractive asset"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', May 25, 2010.