Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for clobbered parameters|check|nested=1|template=Infobox company|cat=Template:Main other|name; company_name|logo; company_logo|logo_alt; alt|trade_name; trading_name|former_names; former_name|type; company_type|predecessors; predecessor|successors; successor|foundation; founded|founders; founder|defunct; dissolved|hq_location; location|hq_location_city; location_city|hq_location_country; location_country|num_locations; locations|areas_served; area_served|net_income; profit|net_income_year; profit_year|owners; owner |homepage; website }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox company with unknown parameter "_VALUE_" | ignoreblank=y | alt | area_served | areas_served | assets | assets_year | aum | brands | company_logo | company_name | company_type | defunct | dissolved | divisions | embed | equity | equity_year | fate | footnotes | former_name | former_names | foundation | founded | founder | founders | genre | homepage | hq_location | hq_location_city | hq_location_country | incorporated | image | image_alt | image_caption | image_size | image_upright | income_year | industry | ISIN | key_people | location | location_city | location_country | locations | logo | logo_alt | logo_caption | logo_class | logo_size | logo_upright | members | members_year | module | name | native_name | native_name_lang | net_income | net_income_year | num_employees | num_employees_year | num_locations | num_locations_year | operating_income | owner | owners | parent | predecessor | predecessors | production | production_year | products | profit | profit_year | rating | ratio | revenue | revenue_year | romanized_name | services | subsid | successor | successors | traded_as | trade_name | trading_name | type | website| qid | fetchwikidata | suppressfields | noicon | nocat | demo | categories }}

Working Title Films Limited, formerly Visionensure Limited and Working Title Limited, is a British film and television production company that is a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, which is itself a division of Comcast. The company was founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. Bevan and Eric Fellner are now the co-chairmen of the company.

Company historyEdit

Bevan and Radclyffe were partners in pop music promotional company, Aldabra, and set up Working Title Films in London in 1983 where they were commissioned by newly created UK broadcaster, Channel 4, to make a television film, My Beautiful Laundrette (1985), directed by Stephen Frears. My Beautiful Launderette was a success at the Edinburgh Film Festival and received a theatrical release, where it was successful internationally. Accountant Graham Bradstreet joined as a third partner in 1986.<ref name=mile>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

A World Apart was entered in competition at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival and won the Special Grand Prize of the Jury. The Tall Guy (1988) saw the feature film debut of screenwriter Richard Curtis and director Mel Smith.<ref name=mile/>

In 1988, Michael Kuhn of PolyGram started to work with the company and in 1989 PolyGram acquired 49% of the company and they jointly launched Manifesto Film Sales.<ref name=WT15>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Manifesto's first third-party pick up for distribution was the Coen brothers' Barton Fink (1991).<ref>Template:AFI film</ref> Bradstreet left the company in 1990 and Radclyffe a year later, with Eric Fellner, a fellow independent film producer, joining the company in 1991.<ref name="The producers">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=WT15/><ref name=mile/> The same year, Kuhn set up PolyGram Filmed Entertainment which acquired 100% of Working Title in 1992.<ref name=WT15/><ref name=mile/>

Paul Webster set up an office in Los Angeles in 1991 and producer Liza Chasin was appointed as president of production.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Webster produced the company's first American films, Rubin & Ed and Drop Dead Fred. Working Title also made Tim Robbins' directorial debut, Bob Roberts (1992).<ref name=mile/>

The company was incorporated and registered as a private limited company in the UK on 14 October 1992, as Visionensure Limited. On 18 December 1992 its name was changed to Working Title Limited, before rebranding as Working Title Films Limited on 20 February 1995.<ref name="CompaniesHouse">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Gramercy Pictures began distributing the company's films in the United States, starting with Posse (1993). In 1994, the company's Four Weddings and a Funeral, written by Curtis, became the highest-grossing British film of all time with a gross of $245 million.<ref name=WT15/><ref name=mile/> They also made the Coen brothers' The Hudsucker Proxy (1994). In 1996, Robbins' Dead Man Walking was the company's first film to win an Academy Award, with Susan Sarandon winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. The Coen brothers' Fargo (1996) won two Academy Awards the following year. The company had another major success with Bean (1997) directed by Smith and co-written by Curtis, grossing $251 million.<ref name=mile/>

In 1998, PolyGram was sold to the Seagram company and merged with MCA Music Entertainment, to form Universal Music Group. PolyGram Films was folded into Universal Pictures. In 1999, Seagram sold the bulk of its library of PolyGram films released up until 31 March 1996 to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 1999 also saw the company's highest-grossing film to date with Notting Hill, again written by Curtis, with a gross of $364 million.Template:Cn

Around 2003, New Zealand-born producer Tim White was appointed head of the Australian branch of Working Title Films, and during this time executive produced Gregor Jordan's Ned Kelly.<ref name=bigscreen2018>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=nzscreen>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Although contractually allowed to produce any film with a budget of up to $35 million, on a practical basis, Bevan and Fellner consult with studio executives at Working Title's parent company NBCUniversal.<ref name=skillset>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Working Title company renewed its first look deal with Universal Pictures in 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

WT2 ProductionsEdit

In 1999, Bevan and Fellner launched a subsidiary company named Working Title 2 Productions, commonly known as WT2. The company is an independent film production arm run by Natascha Wharton, and has produced films that include Billy Elliot, Shaun of the Dead and The Calcium Kid.<ref name="The producers"/>

Television divisionEdit

Working Title has been active in television production since the beginning of the 1990s.<ref name="imdb.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In February 2010, Working Title officially launched its television division as a joint venture with parent company NBCUniversal, itself owned by Comcast.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since then, they have produced content for both British and American television.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Notable productions and co productions developed by Working Title Television (WTTV)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> include NBC's About a Boy, and Showtime's The Tudors.<ref name="imdb.com"/>

WTTV has offices in London and Los Angeles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

TV productionsEdit

Title Years Co-production(s) Network Notes
The Borrowers 1992 BBC Two
Tales of the City 1993 Propaganda Films Channel Four
The Baldy Man 1994–1999 Central Independent Television ITV
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) 2000–2002 BBC One
The Tudors 2007–2011 Reveville Erie
Octagon Entertainment
Peace Arch Entertainment
Showtime Networks
BBC Two
CBC Television
Showtime
TV3
Love Bites 2011 Loud Blouse Productions
Universal Television
NBC
Yonderland 2013–2016   Sky 1
About a Boy 2014–2015 True Jack Productions
TriBeCa Productions
Universal Television
NBC
You, Me and the Apocalypse 2015 BigBalls Films
British Sky Broadcasting
NBCUniversal International Studios
Sky 1
NBC
London Spy NBCUniversal International Studios
BBC America
BBC Two
Gypsy 2017 Rhythm Arts Entertainment
Pen and Paper Industries
Universal Television
Netflix
Hanna 2019–2021 Amazon Studios
Tomorrow Studios
Focus Features
NBCUniversal International Studios
Amazon Prime Video
The Case Against Adnan Syed 2019 Instinct Productions
Disarming Films
HBO Documentary Films
NBCUniversal International Studios
HBO
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City 2019 Sweatpants Productions
Universal Television
NBCUniversal International Studios
Netflix
The Luminaries 2020 Southern Light Films
TVNZ
Fremantle
Silver Reel
TVNZ
BBC One
We Are Lady Parts 2021–present Channel 4
Everything I Know About Love 2022 Universal International Studios BBC One
Too Much<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || TBA || Universal International Studios
Good Thing Going || Netflix ||

1991 ITV franchise bidEdit

In 1991, Working Title was involved in a bid for the London Weekend ITV licence. Working Title, Mentorn, Palace and PolyGram wanted to take over from London Weekend Television and broadcast to London under the name London Independent Broadcasting. In the event LWT retained its licence; London Independent Broadcasting's proposals were deemed by the Independent Television Commission, which was overseeing the bid process, to fail the quality threshold.<ref>Davidson, Andrew, Under the Hammer: The ITV Franchise Battle, William Heinemann Ltd., p. 297.</ref>

FilmsEdit

1980sEdit

Release date Title Notes
15 November 1985 My Beautiful Laundrette with Channel Four Films
24 July 1987 Wish You Were Here with Channel Four Films
30 October 1987 Sammy and Rosie Get Laid with Channel Four Films
17 June 1988 A World Apart
10 September 1988 Paperhouse with Vestron Pictures
13 April 1989 The Tall Guy with London Weekend Television
19 May 1989 For Queen and Country
14 November 1989 Diamond Skulls

1990sEdit

Release date Title Notes
22 June 1990 Fools of Fortune with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Channel Four Films
27 July 1990 Chicago Joe and the Showgirl with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and New Line Cinema
13 May 1991 Robin Hood
24 May 1991 Drop Dead Fred with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and New Line Cinema
21 August 1991 Barton Fink with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and 20th Century Fox
18 October 1991 Edward II
13 December 1991 London Kills Me with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Fine Line Features
15 May 1992 Rubin & Ed with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
17 July 1992 Dakota Road with Channel Four Films, British Screen Productions and Mayfair Entertainment
4 September 1992 Bob Roberts with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Miramax Films and LIVE Entertainment
23 April 1993 Map of the Human Heart with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Miramax Films
14 May 1993 Posse with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
8 October 1993 The Young Americans with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Live Entertainment
4 February 1994 Romeo Is Bleeding with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
9 March 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Channel Four Films and Gramercy Pictures
11 March 1994 The Hudsucker Proxy with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Warner Bros. and Silver Pictures
3 May 1995 Panther with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
5 May 1995 French Kiss with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and 20th Century Fox
29 September 1995 Moonlight and Valentino with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
29 December 1995 Dead Man Walking with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
8 March 1996 Fargo with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
22 March 1996 Land and Freedom with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
20 September 1996 Loch Ness with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
7 March 1997 The Eighth Day with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
2 August 1997 Bean with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Tiger Aspect Films and Gramercy Pictures
3 October 1997 The Matchmaker with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
5 December 1997 The Borrowers with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
6 March 1998 The Big Lebowski with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
22 November 1998 Elizabeth with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, StudioCanal, Channel Four Films and Gramercy Pictures
29 January 1999 The Hi-Lo Country with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures
28 May 1999 Notting Hill with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, StudioCanal and Universal Pictures
1 October 1999 Plunkett & Macleane with StudioCanal, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Gramercy Pictures

2000sEdit

Release date Title Notes
31 March 2000 High Fidelity with Touchstone Pictures
13 October 2000 Billy Elliot with BBC Films, Tiger Aspect Productions, StudioCanal and Universal Pictures
2 December 2000 O Brother, Where Art Thou? with Touchstone Pictures, Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
8 December 2000 The Man Who Cried with StudioCanal, Universal Pictures and Adventure Pictures
13 April 2001 Bridget Jones's Diary with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Miramax Films
17 August 2001 Captain Corelli's Mandolin with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Miramax Films
2 November 2001 The Man Who Wasn't There with USA Films, Gramercy Pictures and Good Machine
18 January 2002 Long Time Dead with Universal Pictures and Focus Features
1 March 2002 40 Days and 40 Nights with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Miramax Films
22 March 2002 Ali G Indahouse with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
17 May 2002 About a Boy with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and TriBeCa Productions
31 January 2003 The Guru co-production with StudioCanal and Universal Pictures
27 March 2003 Ned Kelly with Focus Features and StudioCanal
16 May 2003 The Shape of Things with Focus Features and StudioCanal
18 July 2003 Johnny English with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
14 November 2003 Love Actually with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and DNA Films
5 December 2003 Thirteen with Fox Searchlight Pictures, Universal Pictures and Antidote Films
30 July 2004 Thunderbirds with StudioCanal and Universal Pictures
17 September 2004 Wimbledon with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
24 September 2004 Shaun of the Dead with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Rogue Pictures
15 October 2004 Inside I'm Dancing with Focus Features and StudioCanal
19 November 2004 Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Miramax Films
25 March 2005 Mickybo and Me with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Irish Film Board, Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission, WT2 Productions and Moving Picture Company
22 April 2005 The Interpreter with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
23 November 2005 Pride & Prejudice with Focus Features and StudioCanal
27 January 2006 Nanny McPhee with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
28 April 2006 United 93 with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
27 October 2006 Catch a Fire with Focus Features and StudioCanal
26 January 2007 Smokin' Aces with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
20 April 2007 Hot Fuzz with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Rogue Pictures
24 August 2007 Mr. Bean's Holiday with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal and Tiger Aspect Films
12 October 2007 Elizabeth: The Golden Age with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
7 December 2007 Atonement with Focus Features and StudioCanal
14 February 2008 Definitely, Maybe with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
12 September 2008 Burn After Reading with Focus Features, Relativity Media and StudioCanal
5 December 2008 Frost/Nixon with Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and StudioCanal
17 April 2009 State of Play with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
24 April 2009 The Soloist<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>||with DreamWorks Pictures, Universal Pictures, Participant Media, StudioCanal and Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment<ref>https://cinemastudies.sas.upenn.edu/events/2010/October/RussKrasnoffProducer Template:Dead link</ref>

2 October 2009 A Serious Man with Focus Features, Relativity Media and StudioCanal
13 November 2009 The Boat That Rocked with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal

2010sEdit

Release date Title Notes
12 March 2010 Green Zone with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
20 August 2010 Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
18 March 2011 Paul with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
12 August 2011 Senna with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
21 October 2011 Johnny English Reborn with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
9 December 2011 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with Focus Features and StudioCanal
13 January 2012 Contraband with Universal Pictures
3 February 2012 Big Miracle with Universal Pictures and Anonymous Content
16 November 2012 Anna Karenina with Focus Features
25 December 2012 Les Misérables with Universal Pictures, Relativity Media and Cameron Mackintosh, Ltd.
8 February 2013 I Give It a Year with StudioCanal
23 August 2013 The World's End with Universal Pictures, Focus Features, and Relativity Media
28 August 2013 Closed Circuit with Focus Features
20 September 2013 Rush with Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Exclusive Media, Cross Creek Pictures and Revolution Films
1 November 2013 About Time with Universal Pictures and StudioCanal
28 August 2014 The Two Faces of January with StudioCanal and Magnolia Pictures
9 October 2014 Trash with StudioCanal, O2 Filmes and PeaPie Films
7 November 2014 The Theory of Everything with Focus Features
28 August 2015 We Are Your Friends with Warner Bros. Pictures, StudioCanal and RatPac Entertainment
18 September 2015 Everest with Universal Pictures, Walden Media and Cross Creek Pictures
14 October 2015 The Program with StudioCanal
20 November 2015 Legend with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Cross Creek Pictures and Anton Capital Entertainment
27 November 2015 The Danish Girl with Pretty Pictures, Revision Pictures, Senator Global Productions, Universal Pictures International and Focus Features
5 February 2016 Hail, Caesar! with Universal Pictures and Mike Zoss Productions
11 March 2016 The Brothers Grimsby with Columbia Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures Big Talk Productions and Four by Two Productions
16 September 2016 Bridget Jones's Baby<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with StudioCanal, Miramax and Universal Pictures
30 June 2017 Baby Driver with Big Talk Productions, TriStar Pictures and Media Rights Capital
15 September 2017 Victoria and Abdul with BBC Films, Focus Features and Universal Pictures
13 October 2017 The Snowman with Universal Pictures, Perfect World Pictures and Another Park Film
12 January 2018 Darkest Hour with Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Perfect World Pictures
16 March 2018 7 Days in Entebbe with Participant Media and Focus Features
26 October 2018 Johnny English Strikes Again with StudioCanal, Perfect World Pictures and Universal Pictures
7 December 2018 Mary Queen of Scots with Perfect World Pictures and Focus Features
25 January 2019 The Kid Who Would Be King with Big Talk Productions, TSG Entertainment and 20th Century Fox
28 June 2019 Yesterday with Universal Pictures, Perfect World Pictures and Decibel Films
20 December 2019 Cats with Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Monumental Pictures and Really Useful Group

2020sEdit

Release date Title Notes
14 February 2020 Emma. with Focus Features, Blueprint Pictures and Perfect World Pictures
29 May 2020 The High Note with Focus Features and Perfect World Pictures
24 July 2020 Radioactive with StudioCanal and Amazon Studios
21 October 2020 Rebecca with Netflix and Big Talk Productions
29 October 2021 Last Night in Soho with Focus Features, Film4 Productions and Complete Fiction
25 February 2022 Cyrano with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Bron Creative
23 September 2022 Catherine Called Birdy citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

21 October 2022 Ticket to Paradise with Universal Pictures, Red Om Films, and Smokehouse Pictures<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

11 November 2022 The Swimmers citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

9 December 2022 Matilda the Musical with Netflix, TriStar Pictures and the Roald Dahl Story Company<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

24 February 2023 What's Love Got to Do with It? with StudioCanal and Instinct Productions<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

8 April 2023 Polite Society with Focus Features and Parkville Pictures<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

22 November 2023 Genie with Peacock, Universal Pictures, and Linden Productions<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

23 February 2024 Drive-Away Dolls with Focus Features<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

20 September 2024 The Substance<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>||with Blacksmith and Mubi

1 November 2024 Blitz with Apple TV+, Regency Enterprises, New Regency and Lammas Park<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

14 February 2025 Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy<ref name="Deadline">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>||with Miramax, StudioCanal and Universal Pictures

UpcomingEdit

Release date Title Notes
22 August 2025 Honey Don't! with Focus Features<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

13 February 2026 Crime 101 with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Raw, and the Story Company<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

13 November 2026 Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Lord Miller Productions and Three Strange Angels<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

TBA CC: Emily with Focus Features and Parkville Pictures<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Falling with Universal Pictures<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Goodbye June with Netflix<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

In Five Years with New Line Cinema and Max<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Johnny English 4 with StudioCanal<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Pressure citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Relax citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Unreasonable Behaviour citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Untitled Anna May Wong biopic citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Untitled Baby Driver sequel with TriStar Pictures, MRC, and Big Talk Productions<ref name=Entcast>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

Further readingEdit

External linksEdit


Template:NBCUniversal Template:Cinema of the United Kingdom Template:BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award

Template:Authority control