Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is an American motion picture distributor owned by The Walt Disney Company. Established in 1953 as Buena Vista Film Distribution, the company handles distribution for films produced by the Walt Disney Studios; including Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, 20th Century Studios, Disneynature, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Blue Sky Studios, and Lucasfilm.
History[]
Prior to 1953, Walt Disney Productions' short films and feature films were distributed by Celebrity Productions, Columbia Pictures, United Artists and RKO Radio Pictures. A dispute with RKO over the value of Disney's True-Life Adventures series of live-action documentary featurettes in 1953 led to Walt and his older brother Roy Oliver Disney to form its wholly owned subsidiary Buena Vista Film Distribution Company, Inc. (BVD) to handle the U.S. distribution of their own films. Despite this, RKO would continue to distribute some of Disney's theatrical shorts until 1956. Buena Vista's first release was the Academy Award winning live-action feature The Living Desert on November 10, 1953 along with Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, Buena Vista's first animated release. Notable subsequent releases include the foreign film, Yang Kwei Fei (Most Noble Lady), released in US theaters in September of 1956, The Missouri Traveler in March 1958, and The Big Fisherman in July 1959 (the first third-party production financed by Disney). In 1961, Disney incorporated Buena Vista International, distributing its first PG rated film Take Down in January 1979.
Other names for the division were Buena Vista Distribution Company, Inc. (April 1960-July 1987) and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. (July 1987-April 2007).[1]
In April 2007, Disney dissolved the Buena Vista moniker in its distribution branding and re-branded itself as Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
On October 12, 2020, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced the founding of Disney Media Distribution, as the result, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Music Group, and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment are all transferred to this new division.[2]
Distribution[]
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is noteworthy for releasing 27 films that have surpassed the $1-billion-mark and 4 films of the $2-billion-mark in worldwide ticket sales:
- Avengers: Endgame (2019; $2,797,800,564)
- Avatar: The Way of Water (2022; $2,317,514,386)
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015; $2,068,223,624)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018; $2,048,359,754)
- The Lion King (2019; $1,656,821,650)
- Inside Out 2 (2024; $1,649,011,114)
- The Avengers (2012; $1,518,594,910)
- Frozen II (2019; $1,450,026,933)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015; $1,402,805,868)
- Black Panther (2018; $1,347,280,838)
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017; $1,332,539,889)
- Frozen (2013; $1,280,802,282)
- Beauty and the Beast (2017; $1,263,521,126)
- Incredibles 2 (2018; $1,242,805,359)
- Iron Man 3 (2013; $1,214,811,252)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024; $1,211,303,366)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016; $1,153,304,495)
- Captain Marvel (2019; $1,128,274,794)
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019; $1,074,144,248)
- Toy Story 4 (2019; $1,073,394,593)
- Toy Story 3 (2010; $1,066,969,703)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006; $1,066,179,725)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016; $1,056,057,273)
- Aladdin (2019; $1,050,693,953)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011; $1,045,713,802)
- Finding Dory (2016; $1,028,570,889)
- Alice in Wonderland (2010; $1,025,467,110)
- Zootopia (2016; $1,023,784,195)
Disney is the only major Hollywood studio that has released more than four films that have crossed the $1-billion-mark (in worldwide grosses). In addition, Disney is the first of only two studios to have released two $1-billion films in the same year (the other being Warner Bros.). The top three highest grossing animated films have been released by Disney (4 films if counted The Lion King). Seventeen of the twenty highest grossing G-rated films were also distributed by Disney. In 2012, Disney achieved its largest yearly box-office gross in North America.
The company distributes all features produced by The Walt Disney Studios except Searchlight Pictures (which operates its own distribution unit in the US only), other Disney film units and some third-parties including:
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Current units |
Former units
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Active producer/distribution deals
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Former producer deals |
International arrangements[]
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International was formed in 1961 as Buena Vista International, Inc.[6], which is the owner of Disney Channel Asia.[7] In 1992, Disney opted to end a previous joint venture with Warner Bros., that began in 1988 to distribute their films in select overseas markets (UK, Ireland, Benelux, Scandinavia, Brazil among others). In those territories from 1993-2007, Disney reactivated the Buena Vista International name, and also sent distribution under it in countries that did not have any current arrangements with other companies. Distribution rights in West Germany were given to MGM (under CIC in the early 1970s) and later to 20th Century Fox before the Warner Bros. joint venture. In Russia and CIS, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, Greece, Singapore and the Philippines, Disney films had been distributed in a joint venture with Sony Pictures Entertainment.[8]
- Other international distributors
- UK and Ireland — Rank Film Distributors (1954–1986) and Warner Bros. (1987–1992)
- Brazil — Rank Film, Cinema International Corporation, MGM, United International Pictures, Warner Bros., Buena Vista International
- Turkey — Warner Bros. (prior to 1994), United International Pictures (1994–present)
- Ukraine — United International Pictures, and Sony Pictures Releasing (2007–present)
- Kazakhstan — United International Pictures, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Releasing International (1997–present)
- Finland — Suomi-Filmi
- France — Cinedis (1954-1959), Discifilm (1959-1961), Athos Films (1961-1963), Walt Disney Productions France (1963-1987), Warner Bros (Transatlantic) Inc. (1988-1992), Gaumont Buena Vista International (1992–2004)
- Belgium/Netherlands/Benelux — Warner Bros. (1987–1992), United International Pictures (1993–present)
- Australia and New Zealand — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1959–1968; through in 1973–86), Greater Union Organization (1968–1972), CIC-Fox (1973–1981), United International Pictures (under UIP-Fox) (1982–1986), Village Roadshow (1987–1992)
- Germany — Herzog Filmverleih (1954-1957), UFA (1957-1958), Rank-Film (1959-1963), Walt Disney Filmverleih (1964-1968)
- Italy — Cinema International Corporation (1974–1981), United International Pictures (1982–1987), Warner Bros. (1987–1991) and Columbia TriStar Films Italia (1992–1995)
- Japan - Daiei Film (1950-1959), Toho, Toei, and Warner Bros. Japan (both 1994-2000)
- China — China Film Group Corporation and/or Huaxia Film Distribution (1994-present)
Note that in Japan, Disney combined both theatrical and home media distribution (include licensed feature films and stage play lives) under Walt Disney Japan (Japanese: ウォルト・ディズニー・ジャパン, as Walt Disney Studios Japan between 2010 and 2016) name since 2000.
Film franchises[]
| Title | Years |
|---|---|
| Mickey Mouse & Friends | 1928–present |
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | 1937–present |
| Pinocchio | 1940–2022 |
| Fantasia | 1940–2018 |
| Dumbo | 1941–2019 |
| Bambi | 1942–present |
| Cinderella | 1950–2015 |
| Alice in Wonderland | 1951–2024 |
| Peter Pan | 1953–present |
| Lady and the Tramp | 1955–2019 |
| The Shaggy Dog | 1959–2006 |
| Sleeping Beauty | 1959–present |
| 101 Dalmatians | 1961–present |
| The Absent-Minded Professor | 1961–1997 |
| The Parent Trap | 1961–1998 |
| The Incredible Journey | 1963–1996 |
| Mary Poppins | 1964–2018 |
| Winnie the Pooh | 1966–present |
| The Jungle Book | 1967–present |
| Herbie | 1968–2005 |
| Witch Mountain | 1975–2009 |
| The Apple Dumpling Gang | 1975–1982 |
| Freaky Friday | 1976–2025 |
| The Rescuers | 1977–1990 |
| The Muppets | 1979–present |
| The Fox and the Hound | 1981–2006 |
| Tron | 1982–present |
| Oz | 1985–2013 |
| Who Framed Roger Rabbit | 1988–present |
| Honey, I Shrunk the Kids | 1989–1997 |
| The Little Mermaid | 1989–present |
| White Fang | 1991–1994 |
| Beauty and the Beast | 1991–present |
| The Mighty Ducks | 1992–1996 |
| Aladdin | 1992–present |
| The Lion King | 1994–2024 |
| Angels in the Outfield | 1994–2000 |
| The Santa Clause | 1994-present |
| Pocahontas | 1995–1998 |
| Toy Story | 1995–present |
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | 1996–present |
| Hercules | 1997–present |
| George of the Jungle | 1997–2003 |
| Air Bud | 1997–2013 |
| Mulan | 1998–present |
| Tarzan | 1999–2005 |
| Inspector Gadget | 1999–present |
| The Emperor's New Groove | 2000–2008 |
| Atlantis: The Lost Empire | 2001–2003; TBA |
| Monsters, Inc. | 2001–present |
| The Princess Diaries | 2001–2004; TBA |
| Lilo & Stitch | 2002–present |
| Finding Nemo | 2003–present |
| Pirates of the Caribbean | 2003–present |
| Brother Bear | 2003–2006 |
| The Incredibles | 2004–present |
| National Treasure | 2004–present |
| The Chronicles of Narnia | 2005–2008 |
| Hocus Pocus | 1993–present |
| Bridge to Terabithia | 2007–present |
| Enchanted | 2007-2022 |
| Cars | 2006–present |
| Bolt | 2008–2009 |
| Marvel Animated Features | 2009–2011 |
| Beverly Hills Chihuahua | 2008–2012 |
| Up | 2009–2023 |
| The Princess and the Frog | 2009–present |
| Tangled | 2010–2020 |
| Marvel Cinematic Universe | 2012–present |
| Wreck-It Ralph | 2012–present |
| Planes | 2013–2014 |
| Frozen | 2013–2027 |
| Guardians of the Galaxy | 2014–2023 |
| Star Wars | 2014–present |
| Big Hero 6 | 2014–present |
| Disney Fairies | 2008–2015 |
| Inside Out | 2015–present |
| Descendants | 2015–present |
| Zootopia | 2016–present |
| Moana | 2016–present |
| The Last Warrior | 2017–present |
| Stargirl | 2020–2022 |
| The Kingsman | 2021–present |
| Encanto | 2021–present |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid | 2021–present |
| Turning Red | 2022–present |
| Avatar | 2022–present |
| Alien | 2024–present |
- Short films
- Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (1953)
- Ben and Me (1953)
- Grand Canyonscope (1954)
- How to Have an Accident in the Home (1956)
- Jack and Old Mac (1956)
- A Cowboy Needs a Horse (1956)
- The Story of Anyburg, U.S.A. (1957)
- The Truth About Mother Goose (1957)
- Paul Bunyan (1958)
- Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)
- How to Have an Accident at Work (1959)
- Noah's Ark (1959)
- Goliath II (1960)
- Aquamania (1961)
- The Saga of Windwagon Smith (1961)
- Donald and the Wheel (1961)
- The Litterbug (1961)
- A Symposium on Popular Songs (1962)
- Freewayphobia (1965)
- Steel and America (1965)
- Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966)
- Donald's Fire Survival Plan (1966)
- Scrooge McDuck and Money (1967)
- Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968)
- It's Tough to Be a Bird (1969)
- Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974)
- The Small One (1978)
- Vincent (1982)
- Fun with Mr. Future (1982)
- Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore (1983)
- Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
Gallery[]
,_Walt_Disney_Studios_Motion_Pictures.jpg "Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. (1990), Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.jpg (54 KB)")
_Disney_Platform_Distribution.jpg "Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (2007) Disney Platform Distribution.jpg (10 KB)")
_Walt_Disney_Studios_Motion_Pictures.jpg "Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. (1990) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.jpg (5 KB)")
_Disney_Platform_Distribution.png "Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (1996-2007) Disney Platform Distribution.png (77 KB)")
Notes[]
- Disney retains all the distribution rights to these 14 DreamWorks films in perpetuity.
- Buena Vista is only a distribution studio working for Disney, and does not exist as a separate company.
- Some home video prints of Disney movies released under RKO instead rely on later re-release under Buena Vista.
References[]
- ↑ California Business Entity #: C0246226
- ↑ "Disney to Reorganize, Prioritize Streaming In New Leadership Structure" (October 12, 2020).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 International distribution only.
- ↑ In 2011, independent distributor GKIDS acquired the North American theatrical distribution rights to Studio Ghibli's films. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment retained the home media distribution rights to 13 Ghibli films before those films transitioned to GKIDS in 2017. Disney retained the rights to The Wind Rises as Disney's rights had not expired yet, and would transition to GKIDS in 2020. Disney retains home media distribution rights to Studio Ghibli's catalogue in Japan and China.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ California Business Entity #: C0412021
- ↑ The Disney Studio Story, by Richard Holliss and Brian Sibley, 1988.
- ↑ Disney, Sony team up for Russian content, The Hollywood Reporter, December 27, 2006.
External links[]
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