Davis Entertainment
{{Short description|American film and television production company}}
{{about|the American production company|the French independent production company|Davis Films}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Davis Entertainment
| logo = frameless
| logo_caption = On-screen logo used since 2010
| type = Film and television production company
| industry = Entertainment
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1984}}
| founder = John Davis
| defunct =
| hq_location_city =
| hq_location_country = United States
| area_served =
| key_people =
| products = Motion pictures
Television programs
| owner =
| parent =
| website =
}}
Davis Entertainment (also known as Davis Entertainment Company) is an American independent film and television production company, founded by John Davis in 1984.
Davis's three divisions–feature film, independent film, and television–develop and produce film and television projects for the major studios, independent distributors, networks and cable broadcasters. The company itself has enjoyed a long-standing first-look production deal at 20th Century Studios, although it also produces projects for all studios and mini-majors.
History
The company was founded in 1984 by filmmaker John Davis and it was incorporated in Nevada on December 2, 1985. The company was officially established on May 21, 1986, in order to produce mid-to-high budget action films that were financed entirely by a studio, starting with Predator, a co-production with Lawrence Gordon Productions and Silver Pictures, and a series of other films that were planned for release by 20th Century Fox. It was decided that it would be done independently with co-investors, and it would help anticipate the expansion of telefilms and sitcoms.{{Cite news|date=1986-05-21|title=John Davis Forms Prod. Outfit For Mid-To-Hi Budget Actioneers|page=17|work=Variety}}
On February 18, 1987, Davis Entertainment partnered with Mark L. Lester of his Mark Lester Films company in order to handle the development of action-adventure films which were produced by the company, directed by Mark L. Lester, and it was independently financed by the two companies. The films that were made by the Lester/Davis alliance had ranked in the $5–10 million range, and would expect the co-venture to handle the production of two films before the yearend.{{Cite news|date=1987-02-18|title=Davis, Lester Pair For Action Films|page=31|work=Variety}}
In 1994, it launched its first foray into interactive games, and launched Catapult Entertainment, Inc. to produce its interactive video games.{{Cite web|title=Company Town : In the Name of the Son : John Davis Is Working to Make His Own Mark|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-07-fi-1414-story.html|date=1994-06-07|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-04}} That same year, Davis Entertainment Company signed a production deal with 20th Century Fox to develop feature films.{{Cite web|title=Davis reups deal at Fox|url=https://variety.com/2005/film/news/davis-reups-deal-at-fox-1117929528/|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=2005-09-23|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-05-04}}{{Cite web|title=Fox ankles Fox for Davis Entertainment|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/fox-ankles-fox-for-davis-entertainment-1118035343/|last=Abrams|first=Rachel|date=2011-04-12|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-05-04}}
In 1995, Davis Entertainment launched its art-house division Davis Entertainment Classics,{{Cite web|title=Davis cranks up Classics arm|url=https://variety.com/1995/film/features/davis-cranks-up-classics-arm-99127696/|date=1995-05-22|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-05-04}} which was subsequently renamed Davis Entertainment Filmworks in 2002.{{Cite web|title=Davis redubs indie banner|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/news/davis-redubs-indie-banner-1117858535/|last=Harris|first=Dana|date=2002-01-15|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-05-04}} In 1998, Davis Entertainment struck a deal with 20th Century Fox Television to produce television shows for its networks, both broadcast and cable.{{Cite web|title=Davis, Fox ink TV pact|url=https://variety.com/1998/biz/news/davis-fox-ink-tv-pact-1117481598/|last=Hontz|first=Jenny|date=1998-10-20|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-05-04}}
In 2007, Michael Dorman joined its television division. At the same time, they signed a development pact with Fox Television Studios to produce series for television.{{Cite web|title=John Davis takes Fox TV deal|url=https://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/john-davis-takes-fox-tv-deal-1117974595/|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=2007-10-24|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-05-04}}
In 2011, John Fox, a former employee of 20th Century Fox, joined the company. In 2013, it signed a deal with Sony Pictures Television to develop television shows for platforms, broadcast, cable and streaming.{{Cite web|title='The Blacklist' Producers Ink First Look Deal at Sony TV (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/blacklist-producers-ink-first-look-594945|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=29 July 2013|language=en|access-date=2020-05-04}}
Filmography
= Theatrical films =
== 1980s ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Director !Distributor !Notes |
| rowspan="2" |1987
|Predator{{Cite news|last=Kinsey|first=Michelle|date=June 5, 2004|title=Hometown cat Garfield's movie opens next week|volume=105|pages=1, 6|work=The Star Press|issue=362|location=Muncie, Indiana|url=https://newspapers.com/clip/44013830/the_star_press/|via=Newspapers.com}} Note - the link provided is to part two of the article; [https://newspapers.com/clip/44013890/the_star_press/ part one is located here]. |co-production with Lawrence Gordon Productions and Silver Pictures |
| Three O'Clock High
|uncredited; co-production with Aaron Spelling Productions |
| 1988
|co-production with Licht/Mueller Productions |
| 1989
|Richard Alan Greenberg |co-production with Licht/Mueller Productions, Vestron Pictures and United Artists |
== 1990s ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Director !Distributor !Notes |
| rowspan="2" |1990
| |
| Predator 2
|co-production with Gordon Company and Silver Pictures |
| 1991
|co-production with Capella International, Palace Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| rowspan="2" |1992
|Dimension Films |co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures |
| Storyville
| |
| rowspan="3" |1993
| rowspan="2" |Paramount Pictures | |
| The Thing Called Love
| |
| Grumpy Old Men
| |
| rowspan="2" |1994
|Dimension Films | |
| Richie Rich
|co-production with The Harvey Entertainment Company and Silver Pictures |
| rowspan="4" |1995
| rowspan="2" |Universal Pictures |co-production with Bregman/Baer Productions, Inc. |
| Waterworld
|co-production with Gordon Company and Licht/Mueller Film Corporation |
| Grumpier Old Men
| |
| The Grass Harp
|co-production with Alliance Communications |
| rowspan="4" |1996
|co-production with Skyline Entertainment Partners, Dark Matters Productions, J. Thomas Harris Productions and Alliance Communications |
| The Chamber
| rowspan="2" |Universal Pictures |co-production with Imagine Entertainment |
| Daylight
|co-production with Joseph M. Singer Entertainment |
| Courage Under Fire
| rowspan="3" |20th Century Fox |co-production with Fox 2000 Pictures, Joseph M. Singer Entertainment and Friendly Films |
| 1997
|co-production with Friendly Films |
| 1998
|co-production with Joseph M. Singer Entertainment and Friendly Films |
| 1999
|co-production with Jay Ward Productions and Joseph M. Singer Entertainment |
== 2000s ==
== 2010s ==
== 2020s ==
== Upcoming ==
= Direct-to-video films =
== 1990s ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Director !Distributor !Notes |
| 1990
|Maurice Phillips |co-production with Vestron Pictures |
== 2000s ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Director !Distributor !Notes |
| rowspan="2" |2000
|Mark Steilen |co-production with CineTel Films, Dosgmile Pictures and JeanRoy Entertainment |
| Labor Pains
|Tracy Alexson |uncredited; co-production with Dogsmile Pictures and Prosperity Pictures |
| 2006
|Rich Thorne | rowspan="6" |20th Century Home Entertainment | |
| 2007
|co-production with The Animation Picture Company and Paws, Inc. |
| rowspan="2" |2008
|Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief | |
| Garfield's Fun Fest
|co-production with The Animation Picture Company and Paws, Inc. |
| rowspan="2" |2009
|Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts | |
| Garfield's Pet Force
|Mark A.Z. Dippé |co-production with The Animation Picture Company and Paws, Inc. |
= Television movies =
== 1990s ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Director !Network !Notes |
| rowspan="3" |1990
|Curiosity Kills |co-production with MTE |
| Dangerous Passion
|Michael Miller |ABC |co-production with Stormy Weather Productions and Carolco Pictures |
| Silhouette
| rowspan="2" |USA Network |co-production with Faye Dunaway Productions and MTE |
| 1992
|Wild Card |co-production with MTE |
| rowspan="2" |1993
|HBO |co-production with HBO Pictures |
| Voyage
|co-production with ITC Entertainment, Quinta Communications and USA Pictures |
| rowspan="4" |1994
|CBS |co-production with World International Network and Pacific Motion Pictures |
| One Christmas
| rowspan="2" |NBC |co-production with Karpf Productions |
| Tears and Laughter: The Joan and Melissa Rivers Story
| |
| New Eden
|co-production with MTE |
| rowspan="2" |1997
|Bradford May |NBC |co-production with NBC Studios |
| Volcano: Fire on the Mountain{{Cite news|last=Reich|first=Kenneth|date=March 3, 1997|title=Mammoth Area Avoids Fallout From 'Volcano'|edition=Valley|volume=CXVI|pages=F9, F15|work=Los Angeles Times|issue=90|url=https://newspapers.com/clip/44017677/the_los_angeles_times/|via=Newspapers.com}} Note - [https://newspapers.com/clip/44017720/the_los_angeles_times/ Link to second part of the article].
| rowspan="2" |ABC |co-production with Pacific Motion Pictures and World International Network |
| 1998
|co-production with Walt Disney Television |
| 1999
|NBC |co-production with NBC Studios |
== 2000s ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Director !Network !Notes |
| 2000
|NBC |co-production with Fox Television Studios |
| 2001
|Sunk on Christmas Eve |Bill Jardine | |
| rowspan="2" |2005
|Nadine in Date Land |Amie Steir |co-production with Departure Studios |
| Life Is Ruff
| rowspan="2" |Disney Channel |co-production with Salty Pictures |
| 2007
|co-production with Hop, Skip and Jump Productions |
== 2010s ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Director !Network !Notes |
| 2011
| rowspan="2" |Fox |television pilot; co-production with 20th Century Fox Television, DreamWorks Television and K/O Paper Products |
| 2017
|Behind Enemy Lines{{cite web|title='Behind Enemy Lines' Series Adaptation Of Movie Thriller Set At Fox As Put Pilot|url=https://deadline.com/2015/09/behind-enemy-lines-tv-series-fox-1201527059/|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|website=Deadline|date=15 September 2015|access-date=7 December 2015}} |McG |television pilot; co-production with 20th Century Fox Television and Temple Hill Entertainment |
== 2020s ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Director !Network !Notes |
| 2020
|Echo{{cite web|title=NBC Picks Up Drama Pilots 'At That Age' & 'Echo'|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/nbc-orders-drama-pilots-at-that-age-echo-good-girls-producer-1202838610/|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|last2=Petski|first2=Denise|date=January 22, 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 9, 2020}} |TBA |NBC |pilot order; co-production with Universal Television |
= Television series =
== 2010s ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Creators !Network !Notes |
| 2013–2023
| rowspan="3" |NBC |co-production with Open 4 Business Productions, Universal Television and Sony Pictures Television |
| 2013
|based on the 1967 series by: |co-production with Post 109, Yellow Brick Road Productions and Universal Television |
| 2015
|John Rogers |co-production with Kung Fu Monkey Productions, Universal Television and Sony Pictures Television |
| 2015–2017
|Jared Stern |ABC |co-production with Old Charlie Productions, ABC Studios and Sony Pictures Television |
| 2016–2018
| rowspan="2" |NBC |co-production with Kripke Enterprises, MiddKid Productions, Universal Television and Sony Pictures Television |
| 2017
|Jon Bokenkamp |co-production with John Eisendrath Productions, Flatwater Scribe, Open 4 Business Productions, Universal Television and Sony Pictures Television |
| 2018
|Matt Tarses |ABC |co-production with Two Soups Productions, ABC Studios and Sony Pictures Television |
| 2018–2024
|based on the 1980 TV series by: |co-production with 101st Street Entertainment, Perfect Storm Entertainment, Universal Television and CBS Studios |
== 2020s ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Creators !Network !Notes |
| 2021–present
|based on the 1985 TV series by: |CBS |co-production with Flavor Unit Entertainment, Martin Chase Productions, Milmar Pictures (seasons 1—2), Wilson Avenue (season 3), Shattered Glass (season 3), Universal Television and CBS Studios |
| 2021
|ABC |co-production with ABC Signature, Sony Pictures Television and Trip The Light Productions |
| 2022
|co-production with Universal Television, Fat Paws and Shark vs. Bear Productions |
| 2024
|Laid |based on the 2011 Australian TV series by: |co-production with Universal Television, Porchlight Films, All3Media International, That's Bananas and Fierce Baby Productions |
== Upcoming ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Creators !Network !Notes |
| TBA
|Blank Slate{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=Matt Passmore & Floriana Lima To Headline NBC Drama Pilot 'Blank Slate'|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/matt-passmore-floriana-lima-nbc-drama-pilot-blank-slate-1234989349/|date=March 28, 2022|access-date=January 14, 2025|website=Deadline}} |Dean Georgaris |NBC |co-production with Universal Television |
Highest-grossing films
| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto; margin:auto;"
|+Highest-grossing films | ||||
| Rank | Title | Year | Domestic gross | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
| 2004 | $144,801,023 | co-produced by Overbrook Entertainment | ||||
| 2
| 1998 | $144,156,605 | co-produced by Friendly Films | ||||
| 3
| 2021 | $116,987,516 | co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures, Flynn Picture Company and Seven Bucks Productions | ||||
| 4
| 2001 | $112,952,899 | | ||||
| 5
| 2003 | $104,297,061 | co-produced by Revolution Studios | ||||
| 6
| Norbit | 2007 | $95,673,607 | co-produced by DreamWorks Pictures and Tollin/Robbins Productions | ||||
| 7
| 1995 | $88,246,220 | co-produced by Gordon Company and Licht/Mueller Film Corporation | ||||
| 8
| 2017 | $84,410,380 | co-produced by Blue Sky Studios | ||||
| 9
| 2004 | $80,282,231 | co-produced by Brandywine Productions | ||||
| 10
| 2004 | $75,369,589 | co-produced by Paws, Inc. |
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{Cite news|last=McDougal|first=Dennis|url=https://newspapers.com/clip/44012605/hollywood_tv_producers_claim_rights_to/|title=Hollywood TV producers claim rights to secret KGB intelligence files|date=January 21, 1992|work=Democrat and Chronicle|agency=Los Angeles Times|issue=21|location=Rochester, New York|edition=Metro/East|volume=160|page=13C|via=Newspapers.com}}
External links
- [https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/series/DavisEntertainment.php Box office grosses for Davis Entertainment releases] (The Numbers)
{{Film Studio}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Mass media companies established in 1984
Category:Film production companies of the United States
Category:Television production companies of the United States