Editing PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

{{Short description|British-American film studio and film production company}}
{{For|the successor to this studio and Universal Music Group's current production company|PolyGram Entertainment}}
{{About|PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, who jointly owned Channel 5 Video|other uses|5 (disambiguation)|and|Channel 5 (disambiguation){{!}}Channel 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| name = PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
| logo = [[File:PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_caption = PolyGram Filmed Entertainment logo, used from 1997 until 1999
| former_name = {{ubl|Filmworks (1975–1976)|Casablanca Record & Filmworks (1976–1980)|PolyGram Pictures (1980–1983)|PolyGram Movies (1987–1990)}}
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| fate = Acquired by [[Seagram]] and folded into [[Universal Pictures]]; most of the pre-April 1996 library sold to [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]<br>Some of its North American distribution assets sold to [[USA Networks]]<br>[[ITC Entertainment|ITC]] library sold to [[Carlton Communications]]
| predecessor = [[Casablanca Records|Casablanca Filmworks]]
| successors = Studio:<br>[[Universal Pictures]]<br>USA Films<br>[[Focus Features]]<br>[[PolyGram Entertainment]]<br>Library:<br>[[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]{{efn|name=Orion|Copyright is owned by [[Orion Pictures]]}}<br>(pre-April 1996 films with exceptions)<br>Universal Pictures<br>(post-March 1996 films with exceptions and some pre-April 1996 films)<br>[[ITV Studios]]<br>(ITC Entertainment library with exceptions)
| location = 
| founder = [[Peter Guber]]
| key_people = 
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1975}}
| defunct = {{End date and age|1999}}
| owner = 
| parent = {{ubl|[[PolyGram]] (1980–1998)|Universal Pictures (1998–1999)}}
| divisions = [[PolyGram Films]]<br>[[PolyGram Film Distribution]]<br>[[PolyGram Television]]<br>[[PolyGram Video]]<br>[[PolyGram Visual Programming]]
| subsid = [[Gramercy Pictures]]<br>[[Working Title Films]]<br>[[Propaganda Films]]<br>[[Interscope Communications]]<br>[[ITC Entertainment]]
}}

'''PolyGram Filmed Entertainment''' (formerly known as '''Filmworks''', '''Casablanca Record & Filmworks''', '''PolyGram Films''' and '''PolyGram Pictures''' or simply '''PFE''') was a film [[production company]] founded in 1975 as an American film studio, which became a European competitor to [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] within two decades, but was eventually sold to [[Seagram]] in 1998 and was folded into [[Universal Pictures]] a year later. Among its most successful and well known films were ''[[The Deep (1977 film)|The Deep]]'' (1977), ''[[Midnight Express (film)|Midnight Express]]'' (1978), ''[[An American Werewolf in London]]'' (1981), ''[[Flashdance]]'' (1983), ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' (1989), ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral]]'' (1994), ''[[Trainspotting (film)|Trainspotting]] '' (1996), ''[[Dead Man Walking (film)|Dead Man Walking]]'' (1995), ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'' (1998), ''[[Fargo (1996 film)|Fargo]]'' (1996), ''[[The Usual Suspects]]'' (1995), ''[[The Game (1997 film)|The Game]]'' (1997), ''[[Candyman (1992 film)|Candyman]]'' (1992) and ''[[Notting Hill (film)|Notting Hill]]'' (1999).

== Overview ==
{{Evolution of Comcast NBCUniversal}}
In 1975, [[Peter Guber]] formed its own production company FilmWorks, then in 1976, it became Casablanca Record & FilmWorks after a merger with [[Casablanca Records]], which [[PolyGram]] got a 50% by 1977, and by 1980, PolyGram took the other 50% stake in the company and renamed the film unit as PolyGram Pictures.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, PolyGram continued to invest in a diversified film unit with the purchases of individual production companies. In 1995, PolyGram purchased [[ITC Entertainment]] for $156 million.

In May 1998, PolyGram was sold to [[Seagram]], which, at the time, owned both [[Universal Pictures]] and [[Universal Music Group]] (UMG), for $10 billion. Seagram however, was only interested in PolyGram's music division and immediately sold off some of PolyGram's film and television assets: The pre-March 1996 PFE library (including [[Trans World Entertainment (film company)|the Epic library]]) was sold to [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] for $250 million, the ITC Entertainment library was sold to [[Carlton Communications]] for £91 million, and PolyGram's US distribution operation was sold to [[USA Network]].

After many of its assets were sold, the remains of PolyGram's film division were folded into Universal Pictures. When the newly formed entertainment division of Seagram faced financial difficulties, it was sold to [[Vivendi]], and [[MCA Inc.|MCA]] became known as [[Universal Studios, Inc.|Universal Studios]], as Seagram ceased to exist.

Vivendi remained the majority owner of the UMG until 2021, when it sold most of its stake. MGM owns the rights to most of the pre-April 1996 library, and the remaining post-March 1996 film and television library is owned by [[NBCUniversal]].

On February 11, 2017, Universal Music Group established a film and television division and named it [[PolyGram Entertainment]], thus fully resurrecting the "PolyGram" name in the process.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7686198/universal-music-group-umg-polygram-entertainment-story-of-motown|title=Universal Music Relaunching Polygram, Announces 'Story of Motown' as First Production|magazine=Billboard|access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref>

== History ==
=== FilmWorks, Casablanca Record & FilmWorks and PolyGram Pictures ===
In 1975, [[Peter Guber]] quit [[Columbia Pictures]] to start out '''FilmWorks''' with a producing deal. A year later, during the production of ''[[The Deep (1977 film)|The Deep]]'', it was merged with [[Casablanca Records]] to form '''Casablanca Record & FilmWorks'''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1976-11-06 |title=Casablanca And Filmworks Merge Into New Combine |pages=3 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1976/1976-11-06-Billboard-Page-0003.pdf}}</ref> The company would enjoy success with ''[[The Deep (1977 film)|The Deep]]'' and ''[[Midnight Express (film)|Midnight Express]]''. The music company [[PolyGram]] (owned by [[Netherlands|Dutch]]-based [[Philips]] and [[Germany]]'s [[Siemens]]) bought out its share of Casablanca Record & FilmWorks in 1977. Two years later, in 1979, Casablanca Record & Filmworks left Columbia Pictures to join [[Universal Pictures]], and gave Casablanca Record & Filmworks creative control over the pictures.<ref name=":0" /> A year later, PolyGram took on its stake of the company and it was renamed to '''PolyGram Pictures''' in 1980.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1980-03-29 |title=PolyGram Insures Home Video Base |pages=9 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1980/1980-03-29-Billboard-Page-0009.pdf}}</ref> PolyGram reserved the finances and Guber would run as [[Chief executive officer|CEO]]. Guber would form a partnership with [[Barbra Streisand]]'s hairdresser [[Jon Peters]], who co-produced his client's ''[[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' remake. Peters would produce PolyGram's films, and eventually become a stockholder with Guber.<ref name="kom">Griffin, Nancy and Masters, Kim (1996). "Hit and Run" (pp. 100-116). New York: Touchstone, a Simon & Schuster company.</ref> He had intended to work with [[Boardwalk Records]], but he was forced to join PolyGram Pictures instead.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Medavoy |first=Mike |title=You're Only as Good as Your Next One: 100 Great Films, 100 Good Films, and 100 for Which I Should Be Shot |publisher=[[Atria Books]] |date=2013-06-25}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Masters |first1=Kim |title=Hit & Run |last2=Griffin |first2=Nancy |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |date=2016-01-12}}</ref>
[[File:PolyGram Pictures 1981.jpg | thumb|right | PolyGram Pictures logo, used in 1981.]]
[[File:PolyGram Pictures 1981-1982.jpg | thumb|right | Polygram Pictures logo, used from 1981 to 1982.]]
The first film under the Universal/PolyGram alliance was ''[[King of the Mountain (film)|King of the Mountain]]'' (1981), which was a box-office flop. More money-losers followed. Ancillary markets such as [[home video]] and [[pay television]] were not yet established, and broadcast television networks were paying less for licenses to films. PolyGram's European investors were not happy; they had lost about $80 million on its film division. Not long after, Siemens parted with Philips. Guber and Peters left PolyGram Pictures in 1982, taking their plans for a new [[Batman]] movie with them, along with a few other projects. The duo eventually found a home at [[Warner Bros.]] A part of their exit proceedings, PolyGram would still own 7.5% of profits from some of its projects, including the 1989 ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' film.<ref name="kom"/> Also in 1980, PolyGram launched a syndicated television division, PolyGram Television, to be headed by former [[Columbia Pictures Television]] syndication executive Norman Horowitz,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1980-11-03 |title=Horowitz to head new PolyGram television unit |pages=46 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting Magazine]] |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/80-OCR/1980-11-03-BC-OCR-Page-0046.pdf}}</ref> both the film and television units eventually closed down by 1983 after a string of first-run syndication strip flops.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1983-05-09|title=PolyGram to fold|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/83-OCR/BC-1983-05-09-OCR-Page-0062.pdf|access-date=2021-09-20}}</ref>

=== PolyGram Filmed Entertainment ===
[[File:PolyGram Filmed Entertainment 1992.jpg | thumb|right | Logo used from 1992 to 1999.]]
[[File:PolyGram Filmed Entertainment 1992.png | thumb|right | PolyGram Film Distribution logo, used in 1992.]]
[[File:PolyGram Filmed Entertainment 1992-1999.png | thumb|right | PolyGram Filmed Entertainment logo, used from 1992 to 1998.]]
In the early 1980s, PolyGram Video was launched. PolyGram Video, headed by Michael Kuhn and David Hockman, was created to distribute concert films and feature films acquired from third-parties, as well as long-form music videos and stand-up comedy videos from the likes of ''[[Roy Chubby Brown]]'', ''[[Jethro (comedian)|Jethro]]'' and ''[[Bernard Manning]]''; in 1986, a joint venture with Heron Communications, '''Channel 5 Video''' began operation.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|date=1986-01-01|title=Heron, PolyGram Set Joint Venture With Low Pricing|page=25|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Channel 5 Video later began to obtain the rights to titles from Heron's US children's arm, [[Hi-Tops Video]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 July 1987 |title=Channel Five Moves Into Music & Kid Vid |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-07-11-Billboard-Page-0058.pdf |access-date=5 May 2024 |website=World Radio History}}</ref> Kuhn and Hockman were able to parlay PolyGram Video's success into financing feature films. The first film produced by PolyGram's new film division was ''[[P.I. Private Investigations]]'' in 1987.<ref>Kuhn, pp. 17-23</ref> During the late 1980s and early 1990s, PolyGram continued to invest in a diversified film unit with the purchases of individual production companies.<ref name="4wf" /> In 1989, PolyGram launched Manifesto Film Sales to handle the licensing of films outside North America.<ref>Kuhn, pp. 40-41</ref> In 1991, PolyGram's Michael Kuhn became the head of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment,<ref name="4wf" /> with US$200 million pumped in with the intention of developing a European film studio that could produce and distribute films internationally on a scale to match the [[Major film studio|major Hollywood studios]].

Following the style of its music business, the company produced films through a number of creatively semi-autonomous 'labels', such as [[Working Title Films]] in the United Kingdom and [[Propaganda Films]] and [[Interscope Communications]] in the [[United States]]; it also built up its own network of distribution companies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Groves |first=Don |date=1991-01-14 |title=Polygram Plots Its Return To Film Biz |url=https://variety.com/1991/scene/markets-festivals/polygram-plots-its-return-to-film-biz-99128424/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Citron |first=Alan |date=1992-08-11 |title=Polygram Takes Over Interscope : Entertainment: The British record giant buys 51% of the successful Hollywood film production company. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-11-fi-5365-story.html |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Film production within PolyGram differed from traditional Hollywood studios, in that power to make ('green light') a film was not centralised in the hands of a small number of executives, but instead was decided by negotiations between producers, management and marketing. Kuhn claimed that "movies sort of green lit themselves."

In 1993, PolyGram purchased Vision Video Ltd (which was previously the video arm of [[Virgin Group]]) from [[General Electric Capital]] for $5.6 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/polygram-s-visionary-deal-103553/|title=PolyGram's Visionary Deal|publisher=Variety|date=31 January 1993|access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref>

PolyGram also built up a sizable film and television library that could be profitable. In 1995, the company purchased [[ITC Entertainment]] for $156 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-17-fi-21037-story.html |title=ITC Entertainment Sold to Polygram for $156 Million |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1995-01-17 |access-date=2012-10-22}}</ref> Through this purchase, PolyGram acquired 350 feature films, several thousand hours of television programming, and gained further access into the television market.<ref name="4wf">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-02-21-fi-34446-story.html |title=Screen Play : PolyGram Hopes to Bolster Its Hollywood Presence With Purchase of Once-Venerable ITC Entertainment |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1995-02-21 |access-date=2012-10-22 |first=Patrice |last=Apodaca}}</ref> That same year, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment acquired a 75% majority stake in British home video distributor [[Abbey Home Entertainment]]. In 1997, PFE agreed to purchase the [[Trans World Entertainment (film company)|Epic film library]], which included a thousand feature films from a variety of companies, from [[Crédit Lyonnais]] for $225 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/new-epic-librarian-1116678770/|title=New Epic librarian|first1=Rex|last1=Weiner|date=3 December 1997}}</ref> PolyGram also attempted purchasing [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/17/business/kerkorian-group-plans-to-buy-mgm-studio-for-1.3-billion.html |title=Kerkorian Group Plans to Buy MGM Studio for $1.3 Billion |work=The New York Times |date=1996-07-17 |access-date=2012-10-22 |first=Geraldine |last=Fabrikant}}</ref> and [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]]'s library,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/31/business/company-news-polygram-said-to-drop-goldwyn-offer.html |title=Company News;Polygram Said To Drop Goldwyn Offer|work=The New York Times |date=1996-01-31 |access-date=2012-10-22}}</ref>  but to no avail. In July 1998, PolyGram was in talks to sell their stake in Abbey Home Entertainment back to Ian and Anne Miles, letting AHE trade independently again. On December 7, 1997, PolyGram and [[Warner Bros.]] reached a deal to co-finance films produced by [[Castle Rock Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cox|first=Dan|date=1997-12-08|title=WB, Polygram to co-fund Castle Rock|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/wb-polygram-to-co-fund-castle-rock-1116679438/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:PolyGram Film Distribution 1998.png | thumb|right | PolyGram Film Distribution logo, used in 1998.]]
PFE's film distribution arm was based in the [[United Kingdom]], and invested heavily in British film making — some credit it with reviving the British film industry in the 1990s. Despite a successful production history, new Philips CEO [[Cor Boonstra]] began to draw back Philips' media operations, excepting their stake in PolyGram, in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Variety Staff |date=1997-07-22 |title=Philips quitting media biz, except for Polygram stake |url=https://variety.com/1997/biz/news/philips-quitting-media-biz-except-for-polygram-stake-1116676468/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> At the time, Philips was seen as a bloated conglomerate riddled with problems; Boonstra initially denied that PolyGram would be sold.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CAN HE FIX PHILIPS? HECK, CAN ANYONE? NEW CEO COR BOONSTRA IS AN OUTSIDER WHO TALKS A GOOD TURNAROUND GAME FOR THE ELECTRONICS GIANT--BUT MAY HAVE TO MOVE FASTER. - March 31, 1997 |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1997/03/31/224067/index.htm |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=money.cnn.com}}</ref> However, by early 1998, Boonstra's attitude had shifted and various bidders began to make themselves known, as Philips began to pursue a manufacturing-only business model.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Week |first=Marketing |date=1998-06-11 |title=Why Phillips must sharpen up its act |url=https://www.marketingweek.com/why-phillips-must-sharpen-up-its-act/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Marketing Week |language=en}}</ref> At the same time, PolyGram had been suffering from their own internal issues, chiefly a series of loss-making films and a lack of major pop music hits.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Eller |first1=Claudia |last2=Philips |first2=Chuck |date=1998-05-07 |title=Philips Puts PolyGram Empire Up for Sale |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-07-fi-47137-story.html |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In hindsight, analysts have also pointed to another reason for Boonstra's sale of the assets, namely Philips manufacturing blank CDs, as [[music piracy]] subsequently impacted the music industry hugely in the years afterwards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCullen |first=Aidan |date=2023-10-27 |title=Killing Your Business While It's Still Working: That (Kodak) Moment |url=https://theinnovationshow.io/killing-your-business-while-its-still-working-that-kodak-moment/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=The Innovation Show |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Philips ultimately decided to sell PolyGram to the beverage [[Conglomerate (company)|conglomerate]] [[Seagram]] in 1998 (Seagram had chosen PolyGram over EMI because of PolyGram's better management);<ref>{{Cite news |title=Suitors Buzz Around Polygram |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1998-05-24/suitors-buzz-around-polygram |access-date=2024-05-05 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Eller |first1=Claudia |last2=Philips |first2=Chuck |date=1998-05-15 |title=Seagram, Philips Confirm Talks for All of PolyGram |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-15-fi-49855-story.html |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> only interested in PolyGram's music operations, Seagram, which at the time controlled [[Universal Pictures]], looked forward to divesting in PFE. After being dissatisfied with offers to buy the studio (including a joint venture between [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]] and [[Artisan Entertainment]]), Seagram opted to sell off individual assets and folded whatever remained into Universal.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-09-fi-30635-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Claudia | last=Eller | title=Seagram May Settle for Sale of Film Library | date=October 9, 1998}}</ref> In October 1998, [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM) paid $235–250 million to acquire 1,300 films released before March 31, 1996, from PolyGram, however, the deal did not include the ITC library, which in 1999, was sold to [[Carlton Communications]] (now known as [[ITV Studios]]) for $150 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soundandvision.com/content/mgm-signs-250-million-agreement-acquire-polygram-film-library|title=MGM Signs $250 Million Agreement to Acquire PolyGram Film Library|date=25 October 1998|website=Sound & Vision}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-23-fi-35357-story.html |title=MGM Agrees to Acquire PolyGram Movie Library|work=Los Angeles Times |date=1998-10-23 |access-date=2012-10-22 |first=Claudia |last=Eller}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Thal |first=Peter |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/carlton-pays-150m-for-film-library-1075109.html |title=Carlton pays $150m for film library |work=The Independent |date=1999-01-20 |access-date=2012-10-22 |location=London}}</ref> Some of PFE's North American distribution assets, including PolyGram Video's US and Canada operations were sold to [[USA Network]]s.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-08-fi-25336-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | title=USA Will Buy Some Seagram Film Assets | date=April 8, 1999}}</ref> Universal would inherit the remaining titles, which included a third of the pre-April 1996 films, one-third of the post-April 1996 films, as well as PolyGram Television's library, and PolyGram Video's international operations. Universal would then set up their own international arm from the ashes of PFE's international division on February 9, 1999 that included theatrical and video distribution; pulling out of [[CIC Video]] and nearly pulling out of [[United International Pictures]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Carver|first1=Benedict|last2=Dawtrey|first2=Adam|date=1999-02-10|title=U to start int'l distrib|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/u-to-start-int-l-distrib-1117491165/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/u-par-s-cic-not-clicking-1117491103/|title=U-Par’s CIC not clicking|date=8 February 1999|access-date=31 January 2025}}</ref> After the box office failure of ''[[Mickey Blue Eyes]]'', a title inherited from PolyGram that ended up becoming one of the few titles that were self-distributed by Universal internationally until 2007, all the theatrical assets of Universal Pictures International were folded into United International Pictures, which continued to exist until 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Petrikin|first=Chris|date=1999-10-15|title=U, Par extend UIP pact|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/u-par-extend-uip-pact-1117756685/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>

PolyGram Video took over the distribution of [[Manga Entertainment]]'s titles in Australia and New Zealand in late 1996 after Siren Entertainment's license to the Manga Video catalog expired, but PolyGram lost the license to the Manga Video catalog in 1998 after [[Madman Entertainment]] took over the licenses. This was due to Manga Entertainment being moved from Island Records to Palm Pictures.

=== Relaunch as PolyGram Entertainment ===
{{Main|PolyGram Entertainment}}

== Production companies ==
* [[Working Title Films]] (UK), acquired by PFE in 1991.
* [[Propaganda Films]] (US), acquired by PFE in 1991.
* [[Interscope Communications]] (US), 51% acquired by PFE in 1992, remaining acquired in 1994.<ref name=":1" />
* [[Gramercy Pictures]] (US), launched by PFE and Universal in 1992.                                                                                    
* [[ITC Entertainment]] (UK), acquired by PFE in 1995.
* A&M Films (theatrical film division of [[A&M Records]])
* Island Pictures (theatrical film division of [[Island Records]]), acquired December 1994, closed 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/polygram-shutters-island-pictures-111747549/|title=Polygram shutters Island Pictures|first1=Nick|last1=Madigan|date=9 December 1997}}</ref>
* Cinéa (France)
* Meteor Film Productions (Netherlands), acquired by PFE in 1994.<ref>{{cite news|title=Polygram neemt het filmbedrijf MFP over|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1994/03/09/polygram-neemt-het-filmbedrijf-mfp-over-7216650-a1192625|date=9 March 1994|work=[[NRC Handelsblad]]|language=nl|access-date=2 February 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250202102729/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1994/03/09/polygram-neemt-het-filmbedrijf-mfp-over-7216650-a1192625#selection-1269.3-1269.42|archive-date=2 February 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
* PolyGram Video
** 4 Front Video
** Spectrum Video
** [[Abbey Home Media|Abbey Home Entertainment]] (UK), 75% majority stake acquired by PFE in 1995. Sold back to original owners in 1998.
** Channel 5 Video (initially a joint venture label with [[Heron Communications]])<ref name=":02"/>
** Vision Video Ltd
*** Astrion Plc
* PolyGram Television
* PolyGram Visual Programming

== US distribution ==
{{Main|Gramercy Pictures}}
In 1992, PolyGram partnered with [[Universal Pictures]] to create a [[joint venture]] called [[Gramercy Pictures]]. Gramercy primarily distributed PolyGram films in the United States, and it doubled as a specialty label for Universal. In 1993, the company also had another distribution deal with [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] to fund and distribute its films.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moerk |first=Christian |date=1993-11-02 |title=Lion's feast: Polygram pix |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/lion-s-feast-polygram-pix-115556/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In January 1996, PolyGram bought out Universal's 50% stake<ref name=game/> and in 1997, '''PolyGram Films''' was founded to release PFE's mainstream titles in the United States, while Gramercy became a low-budget/art-house sublabel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-03-fi-55129-story.html |title=PolyGram Unit to Distribute Films in U.S.|work= Los Angeles Times  |date=1997-05-03 |access-date=2012-10-22 |first=Claudia |last=Eller}}</ref><ref name=party>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=September 11, 1997|title=Partyers play 'Game'|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/partyers-play-game-1116674696/|access-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref> PolyGram Films' first release was ''[[The Game (1997 film)|The Game]]''.<ref name=party/><ref name=game>{{cite magazine|title=PolyGram joins the big Game|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=19 September 1997|page=33}}</ref> When PolyGram was acquired by Universal in 1999, the company merged Gramercy with [[October Films]], which included its subsidiary [[Rogue Pictures]]<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Roman|first=Monica|date=1998-04-03|title=Rogue of October|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/rogue-of-october-1117469445/|access-date=2022-01-01|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|language=en-US}}</ref> to create USA Films, which eventually became [[Focus Features]]. Gramercy was revived in 2015 as a label of Focus Features,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2015-05-20|title=Focus Revives Gramercy Pictures Label For Genre Films|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/focus-features-revives-gramercy-pictures-label-genre-films-1201430500/|access-date=2021-10-26|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> but shut down and went dormant the next year.

== Selected films ==
Among the films directly produced by PFE were:

=== 1970s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Release Date
! Title
! Notes
|-
| align="right"|17 June 1977 || ''[[The Deep (1977 film)|The Deep]]'' || co-production with [[Columbia Pictures]] and [[EMI Films]]
|-
| align="right"|19 May 1978 || ''[[Thank God It's Friday (film)|Thank God It's Friday]]'' || co-production with [[Columbia Pictures]] and [[De Passe Entertainment|Motown Productions]]
|-
| align="right"| 6 October 1978 || ''[[Midnight Express (film)|Midnight Express]]'' ||co-production with [[Columbia Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 9 February 1979 || ''[[Agatha (film)|Agatha]]'' || co-production with [[First Artists]] and [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]
|}

=== 1980s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Release Date
! Title
! Notes
|-
| align="right"| 29 February 1980 || ''[[Foxes (film)|Foxes]]'' || co-production with [[United Artists]]
|-
| align="right"| 30 May 1980 || ''[[The Hollywood Knights]]'' || co-production with [[Columbia Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 1 May 1981 || ''[[King of the Mountain (film)|King of the Mountain]]'' || co-production with [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 17 July 1981 || ''[[Endless Love (1981 film)|Endless Love]]'' || co-production with [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 14 August 1981 || ''[[Deadly Blessing]]'' || distributed by [[United Artists]]
|-
| align="right"| 21 August 1981 || ''[[An American Werewolf in London]]'' || co-production with [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 13 November 1981 || ''[[The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper]]'' || co-production with [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 12 March 1982 || ''[[Missing (1982 film)|Missing]]'' || co-production with [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 3 October 1982 || ''[[Split Image (film)|Split Image]]'' || distributed by [[Orion Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 24 December 1982 || ''[[Six Weeks]]'' || co-production with [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 15 April 1983 || ''[[Flashdance]]'' || co-production with [[Paramount Pictures]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"| 13 December 1985 || ''[[A Chorus Line (film)|A Chorus Line]]'' || co-production with [[Columbia Pictures]] and [[Embassy Pictures]]
|-
| ''[[Clue (film)|Clue]]'' || co-production with [[Paramount Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 5 June 1987 || ''[[P.I. Private Investigations]]'' || co-production with [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
|-
| align="right"| 22 April 1988 || ''[[The Blue Iguana]]'' || co-production with [[Paramount Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 24 March 1989 || ''[[Troop Beverly Hills]]'' || co-production with [[Weintraub Entertainment Group]]
|-
| align="right"| 23 June 1989 || ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' || co-production with [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]] and The Guber-Peters Company
|-
| align="right"| 27 October 1989 || ''[[Kill Me Again]]'' || co-production with [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
|-
| align="right"| 8 December 1989 || ''[[Fear, Anxiety & Depression]]'' || co-production with [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]]
|}

=== 1990s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Release Date
! Title
! Notes
! Distributor
|-
| align="right"| 27 July 1990 || ''[[Chicago Joe and the Showgirl]]'' || rowspan="4" | co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[New Line Cinema]]
|-
| align="right"| 17 August 1990 || ''[[Wild at Heart (film)|Wild at Heart]]'' 
| [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]]
|-
| align="right"| 14 September 1990 || ''[[Fools of Fortune]]''
|rowspan=2| [[New Line Cinema]]
|-
| align="right"| 24 May 1991 || ''[[Drop Dead Fred]]'' 
|-
| align="right"| 21 August 1991 || ''[[Barton Fink]]'' || international distribution only; produced by [[Ben Barenholtz|Circle Films]]
| [[20th Century Fox]]
|-
| align="right"| 15 November 1991 || ''[[Trabbi Goes to Hollywood|Driving Me Crazy]]'' || 
| [[Motion Picture Corporation of America]]
|-
| align="right"| 17 January 1992 || ''[[A Gnome Named Gnorm]]'' || co-production with Trilogy Entertainment Group and [[Interscope Communications]]
| [[Vestron Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 27 March 1992 || ''[[Ruby (1992 film)|Ruby]]'' || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| [[Triumph Films]]
|-
| align="right"| 15 May 1992 || ''[[Rubin & Ed]]''{{efn|name=Sony}} || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[I.R.S. Records|IRS Media]]
|-
| align="right"| 19 June 1992 || ''[[Batman Returns]]'' || studio credit only; produced by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], [[DC Comics]], [[Tim Burton Productions]] and [[Denise Di Novi|De Novi Pictures]]
| Warner Bros. Pictures
|-
| align="right"| 7 August 1992 || ''[[London Kills Me]]'' || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Fine Line Features]] (through [[New Line Cinema]])
|-
| align="right"| 4 September 1992 || ''[[Bob Roberts]]'' || international distribution only; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Paramount Pictures]]<br>[[Miramax Films]] (theatrical)<br>[[Artisan Entertainment|LIVE Entertainment]] (home video)
|-
| align="right"| 16 October 1992 || ''[[Candyman (1992 film)|Candyman]]''{{efn|name=Universal}} || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| [[TriStar Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 23 April 1993 || ''[[Map of the Human Heart]]'' || international distribution only; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Miramax Films]]
|-
| align="right"| 14 May 1993 || ''[[Posse (1993 film)|Posse]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 20 August 1993 || ''[[The Ballad of Little Jo]]'' || 
| [[Fine Line Features]] (through [[New Line Cinema]])
|-
| align="right"| 3 September 1993 || ''[[Kalifornia]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 1 October 1993 || ''[[Malice (1993 film)|Malice]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || U.K. and Irish distribution only; produced by [[Castle Rock Entertainment]], [[New Line Cinema]] and [[Nelvana]]
| [[Columbia Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 8 October 1993 || ''[[The Young Americans (film)|The Young Americans]]'' || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Artisan Entertainment|LIVE Entertainment]]
|-
| align="right"| 5 November 1993 || ''[[A Home of Our Own]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} ||
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 7 January 1994 || ''[[The Air Up There]]'' || co-production with [[Hollywood Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]]
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| align="right"| 4 February 1994 || ''[[Romeo Is Bleeding]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]<br>Most 1994–95 PolyGram films currently owned by MGM unless mentioned otherwise
| rowspan=2| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 9 March 1994 || ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Working Title Films]] and [[Film4 Productions|Channel Four Films]]
|-
| align="right"| 11 March 1994 || ''[[The Hudsucker Proxy]]'' || international distribution only; co-production with [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], [[Working Title Films]] and [[Silver Pictures]]
| Warner Bros. Pictures
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"| 8 April 1994 || ''[[Holy Matrimony (1994 film)|Holy Matrimony]]'' || international distribution only; co-production with [[Hollywood Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]]
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| ''[[Red Rock West]]''{{efn|name=Universal}} || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| [[Roxie Theater|Roxie Releasing]] (theatrical)<br>[[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment|Columbia TriStar Home Video]] (home video)
|-
| align="right"| 15 April 1994 || ''[[Backbeat (film)|Backbeat]]''{{efn|name=Universal}} ||
| rowspan=2| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 6 May 1994 || ''[[Dream Lover (1993 film)|Dream Lover]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
|-
| align="right"| 18 May 1994 || ''[[Final Combination]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| Rank Film Distributors
|-
| align="right"| 15 July 1994 || ''A Pig's Tale''{{efn|name=Universal}} ||  co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
|-
| align="right"| 10 August 1994 || ''[[The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || 
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 23 September 1994 || ''[[Terminal Velocity (film)|Terminal Velocity]]'' || co-production with [[Hollywood Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]]
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| align="right"| 28 September 1994 || ''[[Jason's Lyric]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 16 December 1994 || ''[[Nell (film)|Nell]]''{{efn|name=MGM2}} || international distribution outside Latin America only
| [[20th Century Fox]]
|-
| align="right"| 20 January 1995 || ''[[S.F.W.]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| rowspan=3| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 10 February 1995 || ''[[Shallow Grave (1994 film)|Shallow Grave]]''{{efn|name=Film4}} || North America and select international distribution only; produced by [[Film4 Productions|Channel Four Films]]
|-
| align="right"| 24 February 1995 || ''[[Before the Rain (1994 film)|Before the Rain]]''{{efn|name=Universal}} ||
|-
| align="right"| 3 March 1995 || ''[[Roommates (1995 film)|Roommates]]'' || co-production with [[Hollywood Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]]
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| align="right"| 17 March 1995 || ''[[Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 21 April 1995 || ''[[The Basketball Diaries (film)|The Basketball Diaries]]''{{efn|name=Basketball}} || co-production with [[Island Pictures]]
| [[New Line Cinema]]
|-
| align="right"| 3 May 1995 || ''[[Panther (film)|Panther]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 5 May 1995 || ''[[French Kiss (1995 film)|French Kiss]]''{{efn|name=MGM2}} || international distribution only; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[20th Century Fox]]
|-
| align="right"| 16 June 1995 || ''[[Batman Forever]]'' || studio credit only; produced by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], [[DC Comics]] and [[Tim Burton Productions]]
| Warner Bros. Pictures
|-
| align="right"| 30 June 1995 || ''[[Innocent Lies]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} ||
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 28 July 1995 || ''[[Operation Dumbo Drop]]'' || co-production with [[Walt Disney Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]]
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| align="right"| 16 August 1995 || ''[[The Usual Suspects]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || North American, U.K., Irish, French and Benelux distribution only; co-production with [[Spelling Television|Spelling Films International]], Blue Parrot Productions and [[Bad Hat Harry|Bad Hat Harry Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]] (North America)<br>[[Sony Pictures Releasing International|Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International]] (Germany)
|-
| align="right"| 8 September 1995 || ''[[The Tie That Binds (1995 film)|The Tie That Binds]]''{{efn|name=MGM2}} || international distribution only; co-production with [[Hollywood Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]]
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| align="right"| 15 September 1995 || ''[[Coldblooded (film)|Coldblooded]]''{{efn|name=Universal}} || co-production with [[Motion Picture Corporation of America]] and [[Propaganda Films]]
| [[I.R.S. Records|IRS Media]]
|-
| align="right"| 22 September 1995 || ''[[Canadian Bacon]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| rowspan=2| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 29 September 1995 || ''[[Moonlight and Valentino]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"| 3 November 1995 || ''[[Home for the Holidays (1995 film)|Home for the Holidays]]'' || international theatrical and worldwide home media distribution only; co-production with Egg Pictures
| [[Paramount Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 10 November 1995 || ''[[Carrington (film)|Carrington]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} ||
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 1 December 1995 || ''[[Two Much]]''{{efn|name=MGM2}} || international distribution only; co-production with [[Touchstone Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]]
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| align="right"| 28 December 1995 || ''[[12 Monkeys]]'' || U.K. and Irish distribution only; produced by [[Atlas Entertainment]] and [[Mutual Film Company|Classico]]
| [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 29 December 1995 || ''[[Dead Man Walking (film)|Dead Man Walking]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 29 December 1995 || ''[[Mr. Holland's Opus]]''{{efn|name=MGM2}} || international distribution only; co-production with [[Hollywood Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]]
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| align="right"| 9 February 1996 || ''[[Loch Ness (film)|Loch Ness]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| rowspan=6| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 23 February 1996 || ''[[La Haine]]''{{efn|name=LaHaine}} || North American distribution only; co-acquisition with [[Gramercy Pictures]] and [[Jodie Foster|Egg Pictures]] only; produced by [[StudioCanal|Le Studio Canal+]] and [[Arte France Cinéma]]<br>Most films released since this point are owned by [[Universal Pictures]]<ref>[https://cocatalog.loc.gov/ US Copyright Office] Document No. V3495D070 / 2003-03-06</ref>
|-
| align="right"| 8 March 1996 || ''[[Fargo (1996 film)|Fargo]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]<br>Inducted into the [[National Film Registry]] in 2006
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"| 22 March 1996 || ''[[Jack and Sarah]]''{{efn|name=MGM}} || co-production with [[ITV Studios|Granada Productions]] and [[StudioCanal|Le Studio Canal+]]
|-
| ''[[Land and Freedom (film)|Land and Freedom]]'' || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"| 3 May 1996 || ''[[Barb Wire (1996 film)|Barb Wire]]'' || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
|-
| align="right"| 10 May 1996 || ''[[Boys (1996 film)|Boys]]''{{efn|name=MGM2}} || international distribution only; co-production with [[Touchstone Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]]
| rowspan=2|[[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"|31 May 1996 || ''[[Eddie (film)|Eddie]]''{{efn|name=MGM2}} || international distribution only; co-production with [[Hollywood Pictures]] and [[Island Records|Island Pictures]]<ref>[https://cocatalog.loc.gov/ US Copyright Office] Document No. V15006D985 / 2022-04-22</ref><br>Last film in the pre-April 1996 library owned by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
|-
| ''[[The Arrival (1996 film)|The Arrival]]'' || studio credit only; produced by [[Artisan Entertainment|LIVE Entertainment]], Steelework Films and [[Interscope Communications]]
| [[Orion Pictures]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"|17 July 1996 || ''[[Walking and Talking]]'' || international distribution only; co-production with [[Film4 Productions|Channel Four Films]], [[Zenith Productions]], [[Pandora Film]], Mikado Films (France), Electric, TEAM Communications Group and [[Good Machine]]
| [[Miramax|Miramax Films]]
|-
| ''[[Kazaam]]'' || international distribution only; co-production with [[Touchstone Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]] 
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| align="right"|19 July 1996 || ''[[Trainspotting (film)|Trainspotting]]''{{efn|name=Trainspotting}} || distribution in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain and the Benelux only; produced by [[Film4 Productions|Channel Four Films]]
| [[Miramax|Miramax Films]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"|18 October 1996 || ''[[Sleepers (film)|Sleepers]]'' || international distribution only; co-production with [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] and [[Propaganda Films]]
| Warner Bros. Pictures
|-
| ''[[Jude (film)|Jude]]'' ||
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|25 October 1996 || ''[[The Associate (1996 film)|The Associate]]'' || international distribution only; co-production with [[Hollywood Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]]
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| align="right"|24 December 1996 || ''[[The Portrait of a Lady (film)|The Portrait of a Lady]]'' || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|10 January 1997 || ''[[The Relic (film)|The Relic]]'' || select international distribution only; produced by [[Mutual Film Company|Cloud Nine Entertainment]] and [[Valhalla Entertainment|Pacific Western Productions]]
| [[Paramount Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|29 January 1997 || ''[[Gridlock'd]]'' || co-production with [[Interscope Communications]]
| rowspan=5| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|14 February 1997 || ''[[When We Were Kings]]''{{efn|name=Shout!}} || distribution only
|-
| align="right"|7 March 1997 || ''[[The Eighth Day (1996 film)|The Eighth Day]]'' || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"|11 April 1997 || ''[[Keys to Tulsa]]''{{efn|name=ITV}} || co-production with [[ITC Entertainment]]
|-
| align="right"|9 May 1997 || ''[[Twin Town]]'' || 
|-
| align="right"|20 June 1997 || ''[[Batman & Robin (film)|Batman & Robin]]'' || studio credit only; produced by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] and [[DC Comics]]
| Warner Bros. Pictures
|-
| align="right"|6 August 1997 || ''[[Def Jam's How to Be a Player]]'' ||
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|24 August 1997 || ''[[Snow White: A Tale of Terror]]'' || co-production with [[Interscope Communications]]
|
|-
| align="right"|12 September 1997 || ''[[The Game (1997 film)|The Game]]'' || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| PolyGram Films
|-
| align="right"|19 September 1997 || ''[[Going All the Way]]'' || 
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|26 September 1997 || ''[[A Thousand Acres (film)|A Thousand Acres]]'' || international distribution only; co-production with [[Touchstone Pictures]], [[Beacon Pictures]] and [[Propaganda Films]]
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
|-
| align="right"|3 October 1997 || ''[[The Matchmaker (1997 film)|The Matchmaker]]'' || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|24 October 1997 || ''[[A Life Less Ordinary]]'' || distribution in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and the Benelux only; produced by Figment Films and [[Film4 Productions|Channel Four Films]]
| [[20th Century Fox]]
|-
| align="right"|7 November 1997 || ''[[Bean (film)|Bean]]'' || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right" |5 December 1997 || ''[[The Borrowers (1997 film)|The Borrowers]]'' || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| PolyGram Films
|-
| align="right"|16 January 1998 || ''[[Hard Rain (film)|Hard Rain]]'' || select international distribution only; produced by [[Mutual Film Company]]
| [[Paramount Pictures]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"|23 January 1998 || ''[[Spice World (film)|Spice World]]'' || distribution in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and the Benelux only; co-production Fragile Films and [[Icon Productions|Icon Entertainment International]]
| [[Columbia Pictures]] (through [[Sony Pictures Releasing]])
|-
| ''[[The Gingerbread Man (film)|The Gingerbread Man]]'' || co-production with [[Island Records|Island Pictures]] and Enchanter Entertainment
| PolyGram Films
|-
| align="right"|18 February 1998 || ''[[I Want You (1998 film)|I Want You]]'' ||
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|26 February 1998 || ''[[Dead Letter Office (film)|Dead Letter Office]]'' ||
| [[Southern Star Entertainment]]
|-
| align="right"|6 March 1998 || ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'' || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]<br>Inducted into the National Film Registry in 2014
| rowspan=2| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="3"|3 April 1998 || ''[[No Looking Back (1998 film)|No Looking Back]]'' || 
|-
| ''[[The Proposition (1998 film)|The Proposition]]'' || co-production with [[Interscope Communications]]
| rowspan=2| PolyGram Films
|-
| ''[[Barney's Great Adventure|Barney's Great Adventure: The Movie]]'' || co-production with [[Lyrick Studios]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"|1 May 1998 || ''[[Wilde (film)|Wilde]]''{{efn|name=Altitude}} || U.K. and Irish distribution only; produced by [[BBC Film]]s, [[Capitol Films]] and [[Pony Canyon]]
| [[Sony Pictures Classics]]
|-
| ''[[Go Now (film)|Go Now]]'' ||
| rowspan=3| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|29 May 1998 || ''[[The Last Days of Disco]]'' || North American, Australian and New Zealand distribution only; produced by [[Castle Rock Entertainment]]; international distribution handled by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]<ref name="Warner-PolyGram">{{cite web |title=Warner Bros. Teams Up with PolyGram to Co-Finance & Co-Distribute Castle Rock Pictures |url=https://www.warnermediagroup.com/newsroom/press-releases/1998/01/06/warner-bros-teams-up-with-polygram-to-co-finance-co-distribute |website=WarnerMedia |access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| align="right"|12 June 1998 || ''[[The Land Girls]]''{{efn|name=Resurgence}} || 
|-
| align="right"|14 August 1998 || ''[[Return to Paradise (1998 film)|Return to Paradise]]'' || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]] and Tetragram
| PolyGram Films
|-
| align="right"|21 August 1998 || ''[[Your Friends & Neighbors (film)|Your Friends & Neighbors]]'' || 
| rowspan=2| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|25 September 1998 || ''[[Clay Pigeons]]''{{efn|name=Resurgence}} ||
|-
| align="right"|2 October 1998 || ''[[What Dreams May Come (film)|What Dreams May Come]]'' || co-production with [[Interscope Communications]]
| PolyGram Films
|-
| align="right"|13 November 1998 || ''[[Thursday (film)|Thursday]]'' || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| [[Legacy Releasing]]
|-
| align="right"|22 November 1998 || ''[[Elizabeth (film)|Elizabeth]]'' || co-production with [[Working Title Films]] and [[Film4 Productions|Channel Four Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|25 November 1998 || ''[[Very Bad Things]]'' || North American, U.K. and Irish distribution only; co-production with [[Interscope Communications]] and [[GK Films|Initial Entertainment Group]]
| PolyGram Films
|-
| align="right"|22 January 1999 || ''[[The Hi-Lo Country]]'' || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| February 1999 || ''Choke'' || co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
| PolyGram Visual Programming
|-
| align="right"|5 March 1999 || ''[[Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels]]''{{efn|name=Lionsgate}} || distribution in North America, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Benelux and Spain only;<ref>{{Cite web |author=Variety Staff |date=1998-06-30 |title=World Briefs |url=https://variety.com/1998/biz/news/world-briefs-38-1117478011/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> produced by [[Steve Tisch|The Steve Tisch Company]], [[SKA Films]] and [[HandMade Films]]
| [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|1 April 1999 || ''Millionaire Dogs'' || co-production with [[Ostdeutscher Rundfunk Brandenburg]], EIV Entertainment Invest GmbH & Company KG, [[Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen]] and Benchmark Entertainment
| Pop Twist Entertainment
|-
| align="right"|28 May 1999 || ''[[Notting Hill (film)|Notting Hill]]'' || select international distribution only; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|9 July 1999 || ''[[Arlington Road]]'' || select international distribution only; produced by [[Lakeshore Entertainment]]
| [[Screen Gems]] (through [[Sony Pictures Releasing]])
|-
| align="right"|1 October 1999 || ''[[Plunkett & Macleane]]'' || international distribution only; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
| [[Focus Features|USA Films]]
|-
| align="right"|10 December 1999 || ''[[The Green Mile (film)|The Green Mile]]'' || as Universal Pictures International; produced by [[Castle Rock Entertainment]] and Darkwoods Productions
| [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] (North America, Latin America and Asia (excluding Japan))<br>Universal Pictures (International)
|}

== See also ==
* ''[[100 Films and a Funeral]]'', a documentary film about the rise and fall of PFE.

== Notes ==
{{notelist |refs=
{{efn|name=MGM|Owned by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]}}
{{efn|name=MGM2|International rights owned by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]}}
{{efn|name=Universal|Retained by [[Universal Pictures]]}}
{{efn|name=Film4|Owned by [[Film4 Productions]]}}
{{efn|name=Basketball|Owned by [[Palm Pictures]] in the U.S. and [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] internationally}}
{{efn|name=Trainspotting|Owned by [[Film4 Productions]], with certain distribution rights currently licensed to [[Miramax]]}}
{{efn|name=LaHaine|Owned by [[Le Pacte]] and [[StudioCanal]], with U.S. distribution rights licensed to [[The Criterion Collection]] and [[Janus Films]]}}
{{efn|name=Lionsgate|Select international rights to ''Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'' have since reverted back to [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]]}}
{{efn|name=Shout!|Owned by [[Shout! Studios]] (via Westchester Films)}}
{{efn|name=ITV|Owned by [[ITV Studios]]}}
{{efn|name=Sony|Owned by [[Sony Pictures]]}}
{{efn|name=Altitude|Owned by [[Altitude Film Distribution|Altitude]]}}
{{efn|name=Resurgence|Distribution rights co-owned by Resurgence Media Group}}
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Michael Kuhn, ''One Hundred Films and a Funeral: The Life and Death of Polygram Films'', Thorogood, 2002.  {{ISBN|1-85418-216-1}}.

{{Philips}}
{{NBCUniversal}}
{{Film Studio}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1975]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1975]]
[[Category:Film distributors of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Film distributors of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Film distributors of France]]
[[Category:Film distributors of Germany]]
[[Category:Film distributors of Spain]]
[[Category:Film distributors of Australia]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in London]]
[[Category:Companies based in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies based in California]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Re-established companies]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures]]
[[Category:Dutch companies disestablished in 1999]]
[[Category:Companies disestablished in 1999]]