{{About|the film studio|its parent corporation|Warner Bros. Entertainment|other "Warner Bros."-branded companies|Warner Bros.}} {{short description|American film studio}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = Warner Bros. Pictures | logo = Warner Bros Pictures 2023 Print color.svg | logo_size = 150px | logo_class = logo-nobg | logo_caption = Logo used since December 2023 | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | former_names = {{Plainlist| * Warner Features Company (1910-1923) * Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. (1923–1967) * Warner Bros. Productions, Inc. (1934–1937) * Warner Bros.-First National Pictures, Inc. (1936–1958) * Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, Inc. (1967–1969) * Warner Bros., Inc. (1969–2003) * Warner Bros., A Division of Time Warner Entertainment Company L.P. (1992–2001) }} | type = Division | industry = Film | predecessor = {{ubl|Warner Features Company|Leon Schlesinger Productions|First National Pictures|Vitagraph Company of America|Seven Arts Productions}} | founded = {{plainlist| * {{Start date and age|1910}} (as Warner Features Company) in New Castle, Pennsylvania, United States * {{Start date and age|1923|04|04}} (as Warner Bros. Pictures) in Los Angeles, United States }} | founders = {{Plainlist| * Harry Warner * Albert Warner * Sam Warner * Jack L. Warner }} | hq_location = 4000 Warner Boulevard | hq_location_city = Burbank, California | hq_location_country = United States | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = {{ubl|Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy (co-chairpersons and CEOs, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group)|Jesse Ehrman (president, production & development)}} | products = Motion pictures | services = {{ubl|Film distribution|Film promotion|Film production}} | parent = {{Plainlist| * Independent (1910–1967) * Warner Bros.-Seven Arts (1967–1969) * Kinney National Company (1969–1972) * Warner Communications (1972–1990) * Time Warner (1990–1992, 2003–2018) * Time Warner Entertainment (1992–2001) * AOL Time Warner (2001–2003) * Warner Bros. Entertainment (2003–present) * WarnerMedia (2018–2022) * Warner Bros. Discovery (2022–present) }} | divisions = Warner Bros. Pictures Animation | website = {{URL|https://www.warnerbros.com/movies}} | footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.warnerbros.com/studio/about-studio/company-history |title=Company history |publisher=Warnerbros.com |access-date=April 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016015905/http://www.warnerbros.com/studio/about-studio/company-history |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="OpenCorporates">{{Cite web |date=1923-04-04 |title=Warner Bros Pictures, Inc. |url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_de/150923 |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=OpenCorporates}}</ref> }} '''Warner Bros. Pictures''' is an American film studio and the distribution arm of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group division of Warner Bros. Entertainment, itself a namesake flagship subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. Headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, Warner Bros. Pictures is one of the "Big Five" major American film studios and is the third oldest film studio in the United States still in operation, after Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures, both founded in 1912. Animated films produced by Warner Bros. Pictures Animation are also released under the studio banner.<ref>{{Citation |title=1. The Chaplin Effect: Ghosts in the Machine and Animated Gags |date=2019-12-31 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/9780520950122-003 |work=Funny Pictures |pages=15–28 |access-date=2023-10-30 |publisher=University of California Press|doi=10.1525/9780520950122-003 |isbn=9780520950122 |s2cid=226722604 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Warner Bros. Pictures was founded on April 4, 1923, by the brothers Harry Warner, Albert Warner, Sam Warner, and Jack L. Warner. In addition to producing its own films, the studio handles filmmaking operations, theatrical distribution, marketing and promotion for films produced and released by other Warner Bros. labels. These labels include Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Clockwork, as well as various third-party producers.
Warner Bros. Pictures is currently one of four live-action film studios within the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, the others being New Line Cinema, Castle Rock Entertainment, and Spyglass Media Group (with a minority stake).
== History ==
=== Foundation, diversification and establishment (1910–1967)=== {{Main|History of Warner Bros. Pictures}}
The studio's predecessor (and the modern Warner Bros. media company and Warner Bros. Entertainment as a whole) was founded in 1910 as the '''Warner Features Company''' in New Castle, Pennsylvania, by filmmaker Sam Warner and his business partners and brothers, Harry, Albert, and Jack.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://russianheritagemuseum.com/en/RHM_Warner_Brothers/ |title=Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack Warner: the most famous Hollywood family, creators the Warner Bros. |publisher=Russian-American Heritage Museum |access-date=December 23, 2021 |archive-date=December 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204012208/http://russianheritagemuseum.com/en/RHM_Warner_Brothers/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> They produced their first film, the ''Peril of the Plains''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0234450/?ref_=ttco_co_tt |title= IMDb – Peril of the Plains (1912) |publisher=IMDb |access-date=December 23, 2021}}</ref> in 1912, which Sam directed for the St. Louis Motion Picture Company.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cBtbBAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Warner+Features+Company%22&pg=PT88 |title=Bringing Up Oscar |access-date=December 23, 2021 |first=Debra Ann |last=Pawlak|date=12 January 2012 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9781605982168 }}</ref> In 1918, during World War I, the four Warner brothers produced an adaptation of the book ''My Four Years in Germany'' by James W. Gerard as their first full-scale picture,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1115&context=vocesnovae|title=The Warner Brothers Prove Their Patriotism |first=Lara |last=Jacobson}}</ref> which was a box office hit and helped the brothers to establish themselves as a prestige studio.<ref>{{cite web |title=Warner's First Feature Film Turns 100 |url=https://www.warnerbros.com/news/articles/2018/03/09/warners-first-feature-movie-turns-100 |website=WarnerBros.com |access-date=8 May 2022 |language=en-US |date=9 March 2018 |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610043836/https://www.warnerbros.com/news/articles/2018/03/09/warners-first-feature-movie-turns-100 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On April 4, 1923, Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. was officially established, as the brothers focused entirely on the motion picture industry.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maas |first1=Jennifer |title=Warner Bros. Reveals 100th Anniversary Logo, Teases Rollout of Commemorative Content, Products and Events |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/warner-bros-100-anniversary-logo-1235212556/ |website=Variety |access-date=8 May 2022 |language=en-US |date=23 March 2022}}</ref> In 1927, Warner Bros. Pictures revolutionized the film industry by releasing its first sound film (or "talkie"), ''The Jazz Singer'', starring Al Jolson.<ref>{{cite news| title = Warner, Movie Magnate, Dies: Sam Warner, Former Youngstown Man, Rose from Obscurity to Leader in Field| work = The Youngstown Daily Vindicator| date = October 5, 1927}}</ref>
In the aftermath of the 1948 antitrust suit, uncertain times led Warner Bros. to sell most of its pre-1950<ref name="ymrt">{{Cite book |last1=Schickel |first1=Richard |last2=Perry |first2=George |title=You must remember this : the Warner Bros. story |date=2008 |publisher=Running Press |isbn=978-0-7624-3418-3 |location=Philadelphia, Pa. |oclc=191926490}}</ref><ref name="aap exceptions">WB retained a pair of features from 1949 that they merely distributed, and all short subjects released on or after September 1, 1948; in addition to all cartoons released in August 1948</ref><ref name="archive.org">{{cite web |title=Media History Digital Library |url=https://archive.org/details/mediahistory&tab=collection?and%5B%5D=subject%3A%22Motion%20pictures%20--%20Catalogues%22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325121444/https://archive.org/details/mediahistory%26tab%3Dcollection?and%5B%5D=subject%3A%22Motion%20pictures%20--%20Catalogues%22 |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |access-date=September 17, 2019 |work=archive.org}}</ref> films and cartoons to Associated Artists Productions (a.a.p.) in 1956. Two years later, a.a.p. was sold to United Artists (UA), which owned the company until 1981, when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) acquired UA.<ref name="Hoyt">{{Cite book |last=Hoyt |first=Eric |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ERsvBQAAQBAJ&q=1958+a.a.p.+was+sold+to+United+Artists&pg=PA182 |title=Hollywood Vault: Film Libraries Before Home Video |date=2014-07-03 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-95857-9 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Cole">{{Cite news |last=Cole |first=Robert J. |date=May 16, 1981 |title=M-G-M Is Reported Purchasing United Artists for $350 million |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/16/world/m-g-m-is-reported-purchasing-united-artists-for-350-million.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908011627/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/16/world/m-g-m-is-reported-purchasing-united-artists-for-350-million.html |archive-date=September 8, 2016 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
=== Warner Bros.-Seven Arts (1967–1969)=== {{Main|Warner Bros.-Seven Arts}}
In November 1966, Jack L. Warner acknowledged advancing age and changing times, selling 32% of control of the studio and music business to Seven Arts Productions for $32 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/11/15/archives/jack-l-warner-president-agrees-to-sell-his-interest-in-a-32million.html|title=Jack L. Warner, President, Agrees to Sell His Interest In a $32-Million Deal; 7 ARTS IS BUYING 33% OF WARNER|last=Sloane|first=Leonard|work=The New York Times |date=November 15, 1966|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311025721/https://www.nytimes.com/1966/11/15/archives/jack-l-warner-president-agrees-to-sell-his-interest-in-a-32million.html|archive-date=March 11, 2018}}</ref> (Seven Arts Productions was run by Canadian investors Elliot and Kenneth Hyman.) Eventually the company, including the studio, was renamed Warner Bros.-Seven Arts on July 14, 1967.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/06/18/archives/warner-meeting-scheduled.html|title=Warner Meeting Scheduled|work=The New York Times |date=June 18, 1967}}</ref>
=== Kinney National / Warner Communications era (1969–1990)=== Two years later the Hymans accepted a cash-and-stock offer from Kinney National Company for more than $64 million.<ref name="thomas288">{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Bob |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=SUocAQAAIAAJ}} |title=Clown Prince of Hollywood: The Antic Life and Time of Jack L. Warner |publisher=McGraw-Hill Ryerson |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-07-064259-1 |page=288}}</ref> In 1967, Kinney had previously acquired DC Comics (then officially known as National Periodical Publications), as well as a Hollywood talent agency, Ashley-Famous,<ref>William Poundstone, ''Fortune's Formula''</ref> whose founder Ted Ashley led Kinney head Steve Ross to purchase Warner Bros.
Ashley-Famous was soon spun off due to antitrust laws prohibiting the simultaneous ownership of a film studio and a talent agency. Ashley became the studio head and changed the name to '''Warner Bros., Inc.''' once again.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fleming |first=Karl |date=June 24, 1974 |title=Who Is Ted Ashley? Just the King of Hollywood, Baby! |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iOkCAAAAMBAJ |journal=New York |publisher=New York Media, LLC |pages=30–35 |access-date=January 14, 2018 |via=Google Books}}</ref> Jack Warner was outraged by the Hymans's sale, and decided to move into independent production (most successfully with ''1776'' at Columbia). He retired in 1973 and eventually died from serious health complications of heart inflammation in September 1978. [[File:Warner_logo_by_Saul_Bass_sans_text.svg|thumb|The logo, designed by Saul Bass, was used from 1972 until 1984. It is currently used by the separately spun-off Warner Music Group.]] Although movie audiences had shrunk, Warner's new management believed in the drawing power of stars, signing co-production deals with several of the biggest names of the day, including Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand, and Clint Eastwood, carrying the studio successfully through the 1970s and 1980s. Its hits in the early 1970s included those starring the aforementioned actors, along with comedian Mel Brooks' ''Blazing Saddles'', Stanley Kubrick's ''A Clockwork Orange'', ''The Exorcist'', John Boorman's ''Deliverance'', and the Martin Scorsese productions ''Mean Streets'' and ''Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore''. Warner Bros. also made major profits on films and television shows built around the characters of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and The Flash owned by Warner Bros. subsidiary DC Comics. The 1970s also saw Warner Bros. Records become one of the major record labels worldwide, and that company gained sister labels in Elektra Records and Atlantic Records. In 1971, Filmation and Warner Bros. entered into an agreement to produce and distribute cartoons for film and television, with its television subsidiary handling worldwide television rights.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 1, 1971 |title=Animator, Warner Bros. teams up for TV, movies |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/71-OCR/1971-02-01-BC-OCR-Page-0051.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217051410/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/71-OCR/1971-02-01-BC-OCR-Page-0051.pdf |archive-date=December 17, 2022 |access-date=December 17, 2022 |work=Broadcasting Magazine |page=51}}</ref>
In late 1973, Warner Bros. announced that it had partnered with 20th Century Fox to co-produce a single film: producer Irwin Allen's ''The Towering Inferno''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Erik |date=September 28, 2013 |title=Best Supporting Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures' Track Record in the Best Supporting Actor Category |url=http://awardswatch.com/predictions/best-supporting-studio-warner-bros-pictures-track-record-in-the-best-supporting-actor-category/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603090905/http://awardswatch.com/predictions/best-supporting-studio-warner-bros-pictures-track-record-in-the-best-supporting-actor-category/ |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |access-date=April 29, 2016 |website=Awards Watch |location=United States}}</ref> Both studios found themselves owning the rights to books about burning skyscrapers: Warner was attempting to adapt Thomas N. Scortia and Frank M. Robinson's ''The Glass Inferno'' and Fox was preparing an adaptation of Richard Martin Stern's ''The Tower''. Allen insisted on a meeting with the heads of both studios and announced that as Fox was already in the lead with their property it would be preferable to lump the two together as a single film, with Fox owning domestic rights and Warner Bros. handling the film's foreign distribution. The resulting partnership resulted in the second-highest-grossing film of 1974, turning profits for both studios, and influencing future co-productions between major studios. Although Allen would make further films for Warner Bros., he would not repeat the success he had with ''The Towering Inferno''.
Abandoning parking lots and funeral homes, the refocused Kinney renamed itself in honor of its best-known holding, Warner Communications. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s Warner Communications branched out into other business, such as video game company Atari, Inc. in 1976, and later the Six Flags theme parks.
In 1972, in a cost-cutting move, Warner and Columbia formed a third company called The Burbank Studios (TBS).<ref name="Bingen">{{Cite book |last1=Bingen |first1=Steven |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vjGPBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA194 |title=Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot |last2=Marc Wanamaker |date=2014 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-58979-962-2 |location=London |pages=194–202 |access-date=April 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101213403/https://books.google.com/books?id=vjGPBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA194 |archive-date=January 1, 2016 |url-status=live |via=Google Books}}</ref> They would share the Warner lot in Burbank.<ref name="Bingen" /> Both studios technically became production entities, giving TBS day-to-day responsibility for studio grounds and upkeep.<ref name="Bingen" /> The Columbia Ranch (about a mile north of Warner's lot) was part of the deal.<ref name="Bingen" />
The Warner–Columbia relationship was acrimonious, but the reluctance of both studios to approve or spend money on capital upgrades that might only help the other did have the unintended consequence of preserving the Warner lot's primary function as a filmmaking facility while it produced relatively little during the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="Bingen" /> One famous film that was filmed at the Warner lot during this era was ''Blade Runner'' (1982) by director Ridley Scott.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/68260 |access-date=October 14, 2023 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> Most films produced after 1968 were filmed on location after the failure of ''Camelot'' was partially attributed to the fact it was set in England but obviously filmed in Burbank.<ref name="Bingen" /> With control over its own lot tied up in TBS, Warner ultimately retained a significant portion of its backlot,<ref name="Bingen" /> while Fox sold its backlot to create Century City, Universal turned part of its backlot into a theme park and shopping center, and Disney replaced its backlot with office buildings and moved its animation department to an industrial park in Glendale.
In 1989, a solution to the situation became evident when Warner Bros. acquired Lorimar-Telepictures and gained control of the former MGM studio lot in Culver City, and that same year, Sony bought Columbia Pictures.<ref name="Bingen" /> Sony was flush with cash and Warner Bros. now had two studio lots.<ref name="Bingen" /> In 1990, TBS ended when Sony bought the MGM lot from Warner and moved Columbia to Culver City.<ref name="Bingen" /> However, Warner kept the Columbia Ranch, now known as the Warner Bros. Ranch.<ref name="Bingen" />
Robert A. Daly joined Warner Bros. on December 1, 1980, taking over from Ted Ashley. His titles were chairman of the board and Co-Chief Executive Officer. One year later, he was named chairman of the board and chief executive officer and appointed Terry Semel President and Chief Operating Officer. Warner Bros. Animation was established in March, 1980.
=== As part of Time Warner/Time Warner Entertainment/AOL Time Warner/TimeWarner (1990–2018) === right|thumb|A panoramic view over studio premises in 2007thumb|class=skin-invert|Warner Bros. Pictures logo and wordmark used from 1993 to 2020. This logo was used as the on-screen logo of the studio from 1984 to 2022.|alt=Warner Communications merged in 1989 with white-shoe publishing company Time Inc. Time claimed a higher level of prestige, while Warner Bros. provided the profits. The Time-Warner merger was almost derailed when Paramount Communications (formerly Gulf+Western, later sold to the first incarnation of Viacom), launched a $12.2 billion hostile takeover bid for Time Inc., forcing Time to acquire Warner with a $14.9 billion cash/stock offer. Paramount responded with a lawsuit filed in Delaware court to break up the merger. Paramount lost and the merger proceeded. Time Warner formed Time Warner Entertainment in 1992 by merging its entertainment operations for the first time.
In 1993, Warner Bros. Family Entertainment was established to produce various family-oriented films, plus animated films.<ref>{{cite news |last=Moerk |first=Christian |date=May 14, 1993 |title=Family volume at WB |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/family-volume-at-wb-106838/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250520200309/https://variety.com/1993/film/news/family-volume-at-wb-106838/ |archive-date=May 20, 2025 |access-date=May 20, 2025 |work=Variety}}</ref> The Family Entertainment label was dormant in 2011. In 1994, Jon Peters, whose Peters Entertainment company had a non-exclusive deal at Sony Pictures, received another non-exclusive, financing deal at Warner Bros., citing that then president Terry Samel and producer Peters were friends.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frook |first=John Evan |date=February 22, 1994 |title=Sony, Peters change nature of their deal |url=https://variety.com/1994/film/news/sony-peters-change-nature-of-their-deal-118478/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024000234/https://variety.com/1994/film/news/sony-peters-change-nature-of-their-deal-118478/ |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |access-date=October 24, 2021 |website=Variety}}</ref> [[File:Warner_Bros_logo.svg|thumb|The former Warner Bros. shield logo, which was used from 1993 to 2019, and extensively used in films and on its TV shows until 2022. Currently used as the on-screen logo for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment as of 2025, still seen on some licensed consumer products, and briefly revived for ''Coyote vs. Acme''.]] In 1995, Warner Bros. and television station owner Tribune Company of Chicago launched The WB Television Network, seeking a large share of the niche market of teenage viewers. The WB's early programming included an abundance of teenage fare, such as ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', ''Smallville'', ''Dawson's Creek'' and ''One Tree Hill''. Two dramas produced by Spelling Television, ''7th Heaven'' and ''Charmed'', helped bring The WB into the spotlight. ''Charmed'' lasted eight seasons, becoming the longest-running drama with female leads. ''7th Heaven'' ran for eleven seasons and was the longest-running family drama and longest-running show for the network. In 2006, Warner Bros. and CBS Corporation decided to close The WB and CBS's UPN and jointly launch The CW Television Network.
On October 10, 1996, Time Warner acquired Turner Broadcasting System, which allowed Warner Bros. to regain the rights to their pre-1950<ref>''You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story'' (2008), p. 255.</ref><ref>WB retained a pair of features from 1949 that they merely distributed, and all short subjects released on or after September 1, 1948; in addition to all cartoons released in August 1948.</ref> film library,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fabrikant |first=Geraldine |date=October 11, 1996 |title=Holders Back Time Warner-Turner Merger |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/11/business/holders-back-time-warner-turner-merger.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214040754/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/11/business/holders-back-time-warner-turner-merger.html |archive-date=February 14, 2015 |access-date=March 18, 2019 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The Turner deal also brought two separate film companies, New Line Cinema and Castle Rock Entertainment,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 August 1993 |title=TURNER ACQUIRING MOVIE COMPANIES |url=https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1993-08-18-2932606-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503041235/https://playlist.stnvideo.com/player/data/index.php?cmd=loadInitial&session=6ETCXjd7P9GAWYnu&instance=198184328&version=7.32.14-Z&age=240503&ESG_key=yDXFiiit&type=FULL&EXTREF=https://www.mcall.com/1993/08/18/turner-acquiring-movie-companies/&REF=https://www.mcall.com/1993/08/18/turner-acquiring-movie-companies/&ogSet=1 |archive-date=2024-05-03 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=The Morning Call |language=en}}</ref> both of which were eventually integrated into Warner Bros. Entertainment. The Turner deal also gave Time Warner access to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)'s pre-May 1986 library and the pre-1991 libraries of animation studios Hanna-Barbera and Ruby-Spears.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TBS holders approve Time Warner deal - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/10/10/TBS-holders-approve-Time-Warner-deal/8817844920000/ |agency=United Press International}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 11, 1996 |title=Turner, Time Warner complete merger | The Journal Record |url=https://journalrecord.com/1996/10/11/turner-time-warner-complete-merger/}}</ref> The merger brought projects such as ''City of Angels'' and ''You've Got Mail'' into the studio.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Ted |last2=Cox |first2=Dan |date=January 15, 1997 |title='ABSOLUTE POWER' (SORT OF) |url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/absolute-power-sort-of-1117433488/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912002101/https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/absolute-power-sort-of-1117433488/ |archive-date=September 12, 2021 |access-date=September 12, 2021 |website=Variety}}</ref> Later that year, Warner Bros. partnered with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment to distribute various movies produced by Castle Rock Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Dan |date=December 8, 1997 |title=WB, Polygram to co-fund Castle Rock |url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/wb-polygram-to-co-fund-castle-rock-1116679438/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912002246/https://variety.com/1997/film/news/wb-polygram-to-co-fund-castle-rock-1116679438/ |archive-date=September 12, 2021 |access-date=September 12, 2021 |website=Variety}}</ref>
Also that same year, Bruce Berman left Warner Bros. to begin Plan B Entertainment, then he subsequently headed Village Roadshow Pictures with a deal at the studio.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karon |first=Paul |date=December 10, 1997 |title=WB takes a Village |url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/wb-takes-a-village-111753045/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914000340/https://variety.com/1997/film/news/wb-takes-a-village-111753045/ |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |access-date=September 15, 2021 |website=Variety}}</ref>
In 1998, Time Warner Entertainment sold Six Flags to Premier Parks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shapiro |first=Eben |date=February 10, 1998 |title=Premier Parks to Buy Six FlagsFrom Time Warner and Partner |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB887059132285917500 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303123913/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB887059132285917500 |archive-date=March 3, 2017 |access-date=March 3, 2017 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> The takeover of Time Warner Entertainment in 2001 by then-high-flying America Online (AOL) did not prove a good match, and following the collapse in "dot-com" stocks, the AOL element was banished from the corporate name.
In 1998, Warner Bros. celebrated its 75th anniversary. In 1999, Terry Semel and Robert Daly resigned as studio heads after a career with 13 Oscar-nominated films. Daly and Semel were said to have popularized the modern model of partner financing and profit sharing for film production. In mid-1999, Alan F. Horn and Barry Meyer replaced Daly and Semel as new studio heads, in which the studio had continued success in movies, television shows, cartoons, that the previous studio heads had for the studio. In late 2003, Time Warner reorganized Warner Bros.'s assets under Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., in an effort to distinguish the film studio from its then-sister record label (which since became Warner Records in May 2019) and Warner Music Group.
The studio division was incorporated as '''Warner Bros. Pictures''' on March 3, 2003, to diversify film subjects and expand audiences for their film releases.<ref name="WarnerBrosPicturesLegal">{{cite web |title=Business Entity Detail: Warner Bros. Pictures (search on Entity Number: C2502930) |url=https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223134214/https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/ |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |access-date=June 19, 2019 |website=California Business Search |publisher=California Secretary of State}}</ref> The company became part of the Warner Bros. Pictures Group, which was established in 2008, and Jeff Robinov was appointed the first president of the company.<ref name="JeffNYT">{{cite news |last=Halbfinger |first=David |date=November 27, 2007 |title=Warner's Production Chief to Also Oversee Distribution |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/business/media/27studio.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219155719/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/business/media/27studio.html |archive-date=December 19, 2019 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>
In the late 1990s, Warner Bros. obtained rights to the ''Harry Potter'' novels and released feature film adaptations of the first in November 2001. Subsequently, they released the second film in November 2002, the third in June 2004, the fourth in November 2005, the fifth in July 2007, and the sixth in July 2009.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince Moves to Summer 2009 |date=August 14, 2008 |url=http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2008/08/14/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-moves-to-summer-2009 |access-date=September 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930083829/http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2008/08/14/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-moves-to-summer-2009 |archive-date=September 30, 2017}}</ref> The seventh (and at that time, final) book was released as two movies; ''Deathly Hallows — Part 1'' in November 2010 and ''Deathly Hallows — Part 2'' in July 2011.
From 2006, Warner Bros. operated a joint venture with China Film Group Corporation and HG to form '''Warner China Film HG''' to produce films in Hong Kong and China, including ''Connected'', a remake of the 2004 thriller film ''Cellular''.
Warner Bros. played a large part in the discontinuation of the HD DVD format. On January 4, 2008, Warner Bros. announced that they would drop support of HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray Disc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warner Bros Goes Blu Ray Exclusive |url=http://www.consolewatcher.com/warner-bros-goes-blu-ray-exclusive/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007012656/http://www.consolewatcher.com/warner-bros-goes-blu-ray-exclusive/ |archive-date=October 7, 2008 |access-date=June 30, 2012 |publisher=Consolewatcher.com}}</ref> HD DVDs continued to be released through May 2008, but only following Blu-ray and DVD releases.
Warner Bros.'s ''Harry Potter'' film series was the worldwide highest-grossing film series of all time without adjusting for inflation. Its ''Batman'' film series was one of only two series to have two entries earn more than $1 billion worldwide. ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2'' was Warner Bros.' highest-grossing movie ever (surpassing ''The Dark Knight'').<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 17, 2011 |title=Box Office: Final 'Harry Potter' film has highest-grossing domestic opening of all time [Updated] |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/07/box-office-harry-potter-deathly-hallow-part-2-winnie-the-pooh.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817060619/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/07/box-office-harry-potter-deathly-hallow-part-2-winnie-the-pooh.html |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |access-date=January 25, 2017 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> However, the Harry Potter movies have produced a net loss due to Hollywood accounting.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=July 6, 2010 |title=Studio Shame! Even Harry Potter Pic Loses Money Because Of Warner Bros' Phony Baloney Net Profit Accounting |url=https://deadline.com/2010/07/studio-shame-even-harry-potter-pic-loses-money-because-of-warner-bros-phony-baloney-accounting-51886/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807062206/http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/studio-shame-even-harry-potter-pic-loses-money-because-of-warner-bros-phony-baloney-accounting/ |archive-date=August 7, 2014 |access-date=September 2, 2015 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> IMAX Corp. signed with Warner Bros. Pictures in April 2010 to release as many as 20 giant-format films through 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Georgiades |first=Andy |date=April 28, 2010 |title=Imax, Warner Bros. Sign Pact |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703648304575211961881537030.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213907/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703648304575211961881537030.html |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |access-date=September 2, 2015 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>
In May 2011, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group acquired Flixster,<ref>{{cite web |date=2011-05-04 |title=Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group to Acquire Flixster |url=http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2011/05/Warner_Bros_Home_Entertainment_Group_to_Acquire_Flixster_05-04-2011.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506073227/http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2011/05/Warner_Bros_Home_Entertainment_Group_to_Acquire_Flixster_05-04-2011.php |archive-date=2011-05-06 |access-date=2025-07-20 |work=Time Warner}}</ref> a movie discovery application company. The acquisition also includes Rotten Tomatoes, a movie review aggregator.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knegt |first=Peter |date=2011-05-04 |title=Warner Brothers Buys Flixster, Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2011/05/warner-brothers-buys-flixster-rotten-tomatoes-54298/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505165518/https://www.indiewire.com/2011/05/warner-brothers-buys-flixster-rotten-tomatoes-54298/ |archive-date=2022-05-05 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=IndieWire}}</ref>
On March 6, 2013, Time Warner announced plans to spin off Time Inc. into a publicly traded company.<ref name="Time Inc. Lays Out Restructuring">{{cite web |last=Steigrad |first=Alexandra |date=February 5, 2014 |title=Time Inc. Lays Out Restructuring |url=http://www.wwd.com/media-news/fashion-memopad/time-inc-lays-out-restructuring-7407860?src=nl/mornReport/20140205 |access-date=February 5, 2014 |work=Women's Wear Daily}}</ref> Time Warner's chairman/CEO Jeff Bewkes said that the split would allow Time Warner to focus entirely on its television and film businesses, and Time Inc. to focus on its core print media businesses.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lieberman |first=David |date=March 6, 2013 |title=Time Warner plans to spin off Time Inc |url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/time-warner-publishing-magazines-spin-off-447281/ |access-date=April 20, 2013 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> It was announced in May 2014 that Time Inc. would become a publicly traded company on June 6 of that year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lieberman |first=David |date=May 8, 2014 |title=Time Inc To Go Public On June 6 |url=https://deadline.com/2014/05/time-inc-to-go-public-on-june-6-726790/ |access-date=July 28, 2014 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> The spin-off was completed on June 9, 2014.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 9, 2014 |title=Time Warner (TWX) Completes Time Inc. (TIME) Spinoff |url=http://www.thestreet.com/story/12737471/1/why-time-warner-twx-stock-is-down-today.html |access-date=July 28, 2014 |work=TheStreet.com}}</ref>
On October 21, 2014, Warner Bros. created a short form digital unit, Blue Ribbon Content, under Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series president Sam Register.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=October 21, 2014 |title=Warner Bros. Unveils Digital Short-Form Studio: Blue Ribbon Content |url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/warner-bros-unveils-digital-short-form-studio-blue-ribbon-content-1201335504/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022041206/http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/warner-bros-unveils-digital-short-form-studio-blue-ribbon-content-1201335504/ |archive-date=October 22, 2014 |access-date=October 22, 2014 |work=Variety}}</ref> Warner Bros. Digital Networks announced its acquisition of online video company Machinima, Inc. on November 17, 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lieberman |first=David |date=November 17, 2016 |title=Warner Bros Agrees To Buy Machinima |url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/warner-bros-agrees-buy-machinima-1201856472/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322111344/http://deadline.com/2016/11/warner-bros-agrees-buy-machinima-1201856472/ |archive-date=March 22, 2017 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>
As of 2015, Warner Bros. is one of only three studios to have released a pair of billion-dollar films in the same year (along with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Universal Studios); the distinction was achieved in 2012 with ''The Dark Knight Rises'' and ''The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey''.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Toy Story 3' Reaches $1 Billion |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2904&p=.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404003444/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2904&p=.htm |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |access-date=September 2, 2015 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Around-the-World Roundup: 'Avengers' Reaches $1 Billion Worldwide |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3443&p=.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905085147/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3443&p=.htm |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |access-date=September 2, 2015 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Universal Crosses $3 Billion at the Worldwide Box Office |url=http://geeknation.com/universal-crosses-3-billion-at-the-worldwide-box-office/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711032744/http://geeknation.com/universal-crosses-3-billion-at-the-worldwide-box-office/ |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=July 9, 2015 |website=GeekNation}}</ref> As of 2016, it is the only studio to cross $1 billion at the domestic box office every year since 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=June 26, 2015 |title='American Sniper,' 'San Andreas' Push Warner Bros. Past $1 Billion Domestically |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/american-sniper-san-andreas-push-warner-bros-past-1-billion-domestically-1201529536/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024153010/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/american-sniper-san-andreas-push-warner-bros-past-1-billion-domestically-1201529536/ |archive-date=October 24, 2016 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |website=Variety}}</ref>
In 2017, longtime New Line executive Toby Emmerich joined as President of Warner Bros. Pictures Group.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Toby Emmerich Named President and Chief Content Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures Group |url=https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/toby-emmerich-named-president-and-chief-content-officer-warner-bros-pictures-group |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326023244/https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/toby-emmerich-named-president-and-chief-content-officer-warner-bros-pictures-group |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=warnerbros.com}}</ref> In January 2018, he was promoted to chairman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=2018-01-09 |title=Warner Bros. Shake-Up: Toby Emmerich Named Film Chairman, Sue Kroll Out |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/warner-bros-shakeup-toby-emmerich-sue-kroll-1202658430/ |access-date=2020-02-07 |website=Variety |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=January 9, 2018 |title=Warner Bros. Shake-Up: Toby Emmerich Named Film Chairman, Sue Kroll Out |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/warner-bros-shakeup-toby-emmerich-sue-kroll-1202658430/ |work=Variety}}</ref> On October 23, 2018, it was announced that Lynne Frank, President of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, would be leaving the company to pursue new opportunities.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 23, 2018 |title=Warner Bros International Marketing President Lynne Frank To Exit |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/warner-bros-international-marketing-president-lynne-frank-leaves-studio-1202488028/ |publisher=Deadline}}</ref> In June 2019, Warner Bros. Pictures signed an agreement with SF Studios to have their films distributed in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 25, 2019 |title=Warner Bros, SF Studios Expand Distribution Deal Across Scandinavia |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/global/warner-bros-sf-studios-expand-distribution-deal-across-scandinavia-1203252636/ |work=Variety}}</ref>
=== As part of AT&T/WarnerMedia (2018–2022)=== In June 2018, Warner Bros. parent company Time Warner was acquired by U.S. telecom company AT&T, and renamed WarnerMedia, the former Time Inc. properties having been sold off to new owners.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stelter |first=Brian |date=June 15, 2018 |title=Time Warner's new name: WarnerMedia |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/06/15/media/warnermedia-john-stankey-announcements/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215081726/https://money.cnn.com/2018/06/15/media/warnermedia-john-stankey-announcements/index.html |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |access-date=March 8, 2019 |website=CNN Money}}</ref> On October 16, 2018, WarnerMedia shut down DramaFever, affecting 20% of Warner Bros.' digital networks staff.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Matt |date=October 16, 2018 |title=WarnerMedia Shuts Down DramaFever Streaming Service |url=https://www.thewrap.com/warner-media-shuts-down-dramafever-streaming-service/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016235357/https://www.thewrap.com/warner-media-shuts-down-dramafever-streaming-service/ |archive-date=October 16, 2018 |access-date=October 16, 2018}}</ref>
On March 4, 2019, WarnerMedia announced a planned reorganization that would break-up the Turner Broadcasting System by moving Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang, their respective production studios (Cartoon Network Studios and Williams Street), as well as Turner Classic Movies and Otter Media, directly under Warner Bros. (Turner's remaining television services and joint ventures would be divided into WarnerMedia Entertainment and WarnerMedia News & Sports respectively). Aside from Otter Media, these assets operate under a newly formed Global Kids & Young Adults division,<ref name="cnbc-reorganization">{{Cite news |last=Feiner |first=Lauren |date=March 4, 2019 |title=WarnerMedia reorganizes its leadership team after AT&T acquisition |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/04/warnermedia-reorganizes-its-leadership-team-after-att-acquisition.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304182211/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/04/warnermedia-reorganizes-its-leadership-team-after-att-acquisition.html |archive-date=March 4, 2019 |access-date=March 4, 2019 |publisher=CNBC}}</ref> renamed on April 7, 2020, to Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=April 7, 2020 |title=Tom Ascheim Joins Warner Bros As President of Global Kids, Young Adults And Classics |url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/tom-ascheim-warner-bros-president-of-global-kids-young-adults-and-classics-1202902994/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410164959/https://deadline.com/2020/04/tom-ascheim-warner-bros-president-of-global-kids-young-adults-and-classics-1202902994/ |archive-date=April 10, 2020 |access-date=April 10, 2020 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> On May 31, 2019, Otter Media was transferred from Warner Bros. to WarnerMedia Entertainment to oversee the development of HBO Max, a new streaming service that would feature content from HBO and WarnerMedia brands.<ref name="vty0">{{Cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=May 31, 2019 |title=WarnerMedia Reorg Gives Otter Media's Tony Goncalves Oversight of Streaming Service Development |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/warnermedia-streaming-unit-otter-media-tony-goncalves-1203230363/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710012811/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/warnermedia-streaming-unit-otter-media-tony-goncalves-1203230363/ |archive-date=July 10, 2019 |access-date=July 9, 2019 |work=Variety}}</ref> Tom Ascheim resigned as president of cable network Freeform to become the president of the Global Kids, Young Adults, and Classics division on July 1, 2020, until May 11, 2022, when Michael Ouweleen took over as the current president of The Cartoon Network, Inc.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Low |first1=Elaine |last2=Otterson |first2=Joe |date=April 7, 2020 |title=Freeform Boss Tom Ascheim Moves to Warner Bros. |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/tom-ascheim-to-depart-as-president-of-freeform-1234573597/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422092117/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/tom-ascheim-to-depart-as-president-of-freeform-1234573597/ |archive-date=April 22, 2020 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |work=Variety}}</ref>
{{multiple image | perrow = 2 | total_width = 300 | image_style = border:none | image1 = Warner Bros. 2019.svg | image2 = Warner Bros. (Dimensional Ver.) Logo 1.svg | footer = These are the two versions of Pentagram's 2019 Warner Bros. shield logo, which are used from 2019 to 2023. One is the regular logo on the left, and the other is the "dimensional" version on the right.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warner Bros. — Story |url=https://www.pentagram.com/work/warner-bros/story |access-date=March 26, 2023 |website=Pentagram |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326003537/https://www.pentagram.com/work/warner-bros/story |url-status=live}}</ref> }} On November 13, 2019, Warner Bros. unveiled an updated iteration of its shield logo by Pentagram in anticipation of the company's upcoming centennial, which features a streamlined appearance designed to make it better-suited for multi-platform usage and iterations. The company also commissioned a new corporate typeface that is modeled upon the "WB" lettering.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Lilly |date=November 13, 2019 |title=Warner Bros.' new brand is a glimpse at the future of entertainment |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90429745/warner-brotherss-new-logo-and-brand-are-a-glimpse-at-the-future-of-entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203001425/https://www.fastcompany.com/90429745/warner-brotherss-new-logo-and-brand-are-a-glimpse-at-the-future-of-entertainment |archive-date=December 3, 2019 |access-date=November 26, 2019 |website=Fast Company}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=November 13, 2019 |title=Warner Bros Refreshes Logo As Studio's 2023 Centennial Approaches |url=https://deadline.com/2019/11/warner-bros-refreshes-logo-as-studios-2023-centennial-approaches-1202785156/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114194819/https://deadline.com/2019/11/warner-bros-refreshes-logo-as-studios-2023-centennial-approaches-1202785156/ |archive-date=November 14, 2019 |access-date=November 15, 2019 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>
Warner Bros. and HBO Max announced the Warner Max film label on February 5, 2020, which was to produce eight-to-ten mid-budget movies per year for the streaming service starting in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=February 5, 2020 |title=Warner Bros., HBO Max Set New Film Division for Streaming Service |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/warner-bros-hbo-max-set-new-film-division-for-streaming-service-1203494178/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205213015/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/warner-bros-hbo-max-set-new-film-division-for-streaming-service-1203494178/ |archive-date=February 5, 2020 |access-date=February 5, 2020 |work=Variety}}</ref> However, the label was ultimately discontinued in October 2020 as part of a consolidation of the Warner Bros. Pictures group.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2020 |title=Warner Max Restructures as WarnerMedia Consolidates Film Production |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-max-shutting-down-as-warnermedia-reorganizes-film-production |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203021149/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-max-shutting-down-as-warnermedia-reorganizes-film-production |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |access-date=January 29, 2021 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=October 23, 2020 |title=WarnerMedia Film Group Streamline: HBO Max's Jessie Henderson To Exit, While Nikki Ramey Moves To New Line & WB |url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/warnermedia-movie-exec-streamlining-jessie-henderson-exit-nikki-ramey-new-line-wb-1234602566/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220034855/https://deadline.com/2020/10/warnermedia-movie-exec-streamlining-jessie-henderson-exit-nikki-ramey-new-line-wb-1234602566/ |archive-date=February 20, 2022 |access-date=January 29, 2021 |website=Deadline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |date=October 23, 2020 |title=HBO Max Film Shake-Up: Toby Emmerich Consolidates Power, Two Executives Depart |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/hbo-max-film-shakeup-toby-emmerich-warnermedia-1234814287/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220033412/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/hbo-max-film-shakeup-toby-emmerich-warnermedia-1234814287/ |archive-date=February 20, 2022 |access-date=January 29, 2021 |website=Variety}}</ref>
==== COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022) ==== Like most other film distributors, Warner Bros. Pictures struggled with releasing films during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic because of restrictions on opening theaters. After postponing several films planned for 2020 into 2021, Warner Bros. announced in December 2020 that they would take an unusual approach: planning their full slate of 2021 films for both theatrical release and simultaneous one-month availability on the HBO Max streaming service. This approach was similar to the studio's release of ''Wonder Woman 1984'' that month.
After one month, these films would still be shown in theaters and would later become available via home media on typical release schedules.<ref name="variety wb 2021 films">{{cite web | url = https://variety.com/2020/film/news/warner-bros-hbo-max-theaters-dune-matrix-4-1234845342/ | title = Warner Bros. to Debut Entire 2021 Film Slate, Including 'Dune' and 'Matrix 4,' Both on HBO Max and In Theaters | first1 = Rebecca | last1= Rubin | first2 = Matt | last2 = Donnelly | date = December 3, 2020 | access-date = December 3, 2020 | work = Variety }}</ref> The inclusion of streaming, dubbed "Project Popcorn", was criticized by production companies, directors, and actors. The criticism arose because Warner Bros. Pictures announced the streaming plan without informing these groups in advance, and because of concerns about lower payouts due to streaming options.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/business/media/warner-bros-hbo-max-movies-pay.html | title = Trading Box Office for Streaming, but Stars Still Want Their Money | first1= Brooks | last1= Barnes | first2 = Nicole | last2= Sperling | date = December 7, 2020 | access-date = January 18, 2021 | work = The New York Times }}</ref> These criticisms led Warner Bros. Pictures to alter compensation rates for the affected films by January 2021, in order to provide larger payouts to their casts and crews.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-09/warner-bros-guarantees-filmmakers-a-payday-for-hbo-max-movies | title = Warner Bros. Guarantees Filmmakers a Payday for HBO Max Movies | first1 = Lucas| last1 = Shaw | first2 = Kelly | last2 = Gilbolm | date = January 9, 2021 | access-date = January 18, 2021 | work = Bloomberg News }}</ref>
In March 2021, Warner Bros. announced that they would discontinue the model of same-day HBO Max and theatrical release in 2022; instead, they would use a 45-day theatrical exclusivity window.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=McClintock|first1=Pamela|date=2021-10-27|title="Project Popcorn": WarnerMedia's Box Office-HBO Max Experiment Gets Mixed Results|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/warnermedias-project-popcorn-box-office-hbo-max-experiment-gets-mixed-results-1235037096/|access-date=2021-12-22|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> This change is part of an agreement the studio reached with Cineworld (who operates Regal Cinemas).<ref>{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |last2=Tartaglione |first2=Nancy |date=March 23, 2021 |title=Regal Cinemas To Reopen In April; Parent Cineworld & Warner Bros Reach Multi-Year Deal To Show WB Films In U.S. & UK |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/cineworld-regal-warner-bros-deal-theatrical-windows-us-cinemas-reopening-1234719255/ |access-date=March 24, 2021 |website=Deadline}}</ref>
In February 2022, Village Roadshow Pictures, a co-financier of ''The Matrix Resurrections'', began a lawsuit against Warner Bros. over the hybrid release of the sci-fi sequel. Like all of Warner Bros.' 2021 films, the fourth ''Matrix'' film was given a simultaneous release on both HBO Max and in theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a complaint filed by Village Roadshow, the decision ruined any December box office hopes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Benjamin |date=February 7, 2022 |title=Warner Bros sued over 'abysmal' Matrix Resurrections release |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/feb/07/warner-bros-sued-over-abysmal-matrix-resurrections-release |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208003108/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/feb/07/warner-bros-sued-over-abysmal-matrix-resurrections-release |archive-date=February 8, 2022 |access-date=February 8, 2022 |work=The Guardian News |page=1}}</ref> In May of that same year, Village Roadshow agreed to arbitration with Warner Bros. over the release of ''The Matrix Resurrections''.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Patten |first1=Dominic |last2=Hayes |first2=Dade |date=May 27, 2022 |title=Village Roadshow Agrees To Arbitration With Warner Bros. In 'Matrix' Streaming Strategy Lawsuit – Update |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/warner-bros-slapped-by-village-roadshow-suit-matrix-streaming-1234927842/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611025735/https://deadline.com/2022/05/warner-bros-slapped-by-village-roadshow-suit-matrix-streaming-1234927842/ |archive-date=June 11, 2022 |access-date=June 11, 2022 |website=Deadline}}</ref>
=== As part of Warner Bros. Discovery (2022–present) === [[File:Warner Bros. Pictures 2023.svg|thumb|Alternate version of the 2023 Warner Bros. Pictures logo without the banner, used as the on-screen variant in only a few films. Although the late-2023 on-screen logo has been used since December 6, 2023, this logo remains in use for corporate and small-scale purposes. It is also the official current logo of Warner Bros. Pictures' parent company, Warner Bros. Entertainment and its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://brand.wbd.com/other-brands/warner-bros-brands/warner-bros-pictures#small-scale-logo | title=Warner Bros. Pictures | Warner Bros. Discovery Brand Guide }}</ref>]]On April 8, 2022, AT&T divested WarnerMedia to its shareholders, which in turn merged with Discovery Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery. The new company is led by Discovery's CEO David Zaslav.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last1=Meredith |first1=Sam |last2=Kovach |first2=Steve |date=May 17, 2021 |title=AT&T announces $43 billion deal to merge WarnerMedia with Discovery |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/17/att-to-combine-warnermedia-and-discovery-assets-to-create-a-new-standalone-company.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120133629/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/17/att-to-combine-warnermedia-and-discovery-assets-to-create-a-new-standalone-company.html |archive-date=January 20, 2022 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |publisher=CNBC}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=May 17, 2021 |title=David Zaslav And John Stankey Outline Plans For Merging Discovery And WarnerMedia, Addressing Future Of Jason Kilar, CNN, Streaming |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/discovery-warnermedia-att-merger-streaming-david-zaslav-1234758225/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517131711/https://deadline.com/2021/05/discovery-warnermedia-att-merger-streaming-david-zaslav-1234758225/ |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |website=Deadline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mass |first=Jennifer |date=April 5, 2022 |title=Discovery-WarnerMedia Merger Could Close as Early as This Friday (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/discovery-warnermedia-merger-friday-close-1235225258/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/discovery-warnermedia-merger-friday-close-1235225258/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406062156/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/discovery-warnermedia-merger-friday-close-1235225258/ |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref name="wbdlaunch">{{Cite news |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=April 8, 2022 |title=Discovery Closes $43 Billion Acquisition of AT&T's WarnerMedia |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/discovery-warnermedia-merger-close-warner-bros-discovery-1235200983/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408211723/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/discovery-warnermedia-merger-close-warner-bros-discovery-1235200983/ |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |access-date=April 8, 2022 |work=Variety}}</ref>
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is the legal successor to the company formerly known as Discovery, Inc. before its acquisition of WarnerMedia in April 2022. On June 1, 2022, WBD announced several changes:
* Toby Emmerich would step down as head of the Warner Bros. Pictures Group after a transition period. * The company would be divided into three units: Warner Bros. Pictures/New Line Cinema, DC Films, and Warner Animation Group. * Former MGM executives Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy would serve as co-chairs of Warner Bros. Pictures. They would also temporarily oversee the other two divisions until new executives were hired. * Emmerich would start his own production company; he would also enter into a five-year distribution and funding agreement with Warner Bros. Pictures.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-01 |title=Toby Emmerich Out As Warner Bros Motion Picture Group Chairman; Michael De Luca & Pam Abdy To Lead Studio |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/toby-emmerich-warner-bros-departure-1235036598/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-06-01 |title=David Zaslav "Thrilled" Toby Emmerich Remaining Part Of Warner Bros Discovery Family, Outlines New Structure; De Luca & Abdy Made Official |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/david-zaslav-thrilled-toby-emmerich-remaining-part-of-warner-discovery-family-outlines-new-studio-structure-1235036864/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
On June 8, COO Carolyn Blackwood announced that she was stepping down as well.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=2022-06-08 |title=Carolyn Blackwood Exits Warner Bros. Amid Ongoing Shake-Up |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/carolyn-blackwood-exits-warner-bros-amid-ongoing-shakup-1235161460/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
Steve Spira returned as president of business affairs for Warner Bros. in June 2022; De Luca and Abdy took over from Emmerich in July 2022. Former president Alan Horn was appointed as a consultant for WBD President David Zaslav, working with De Luca and Abdy.<ref>{{cite news |author=Kim Masters |date=July 28, 2022 |title=Alan Horn on Rejoining Warner Bros.: "I See Myself as a Consigliere" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/alan-horn-on-rejoining-warner-bros-i-see-myself-as-a-consigliere-1235188546/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>
In August 2022, Warner Bros. Pictures entered into a multi-year contract to distribute MGM films outside the United States, including on home entertainment. This contract included joint participation by both companies in marketing, advertising, publicity, film distribution, and relationship with exhibitors for future MGM titles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-08-14 |title=Warner Bros Forms Multi-Year Pact To Distribute MGM Movies Overseas Beginning With 'Bones And All', 'Creed III'; How Bond Will Be Handled |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/warner-bros-mgm-international-distribution-deal-james-bond-007-1235091889/ |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref> That same month, the studio's plans for film distribution were revised, with increased reliance on theatrical releases rather than releases on HBO Max only.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-08-24 |title='Aquaman 2' Heads To Christmas 2023, 'Shazam: Fury Of The Gods' Goes To March; HBO Max Pics 'House Party' & 'Evil Dead Rise' Going Theatrical – Warner Bros. Release Date Changes |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/aquaman-2-shazam-fury-of-the-gods-hbo-max-house-party-evil-dead-rise-1235099521/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
Walter Hamada, the president of DC Films, stepped down on October 19, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-10-19 |title=DC Films Boss Walter Hamada Has Departed Studio As Warner Bros Discovery Finalizes Exit: The Dish |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/dc-films-boss-walter-hamada-warner-discovery-david-zaslav-1235149111/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref> President of Production & Development Courtenay Valenti departed on October 28 and was replaced by Jesse Ehrman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |date=2022-10-20 |title=Warner Bros. Pictures Names Jesse Ehrman President of Production and Development; Ups Three to Senior VP (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/warner-bros-pictures-jesse-ehrman-president-production-1235410379/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-10-27 |title=As Courtenay Valenti Exits Warner Bros, Production Boss Won't Be Idle For Long: The Dish |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/courtenay-valenti-netflix-amazon-jobs-exits-warner-bros-1235157045/ |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref> On June 9, 2023, the Warner Bros. Pictures Group was renamed as the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-09 |title=Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Taps Animation Visionary Bill Damaschke to Lead Its Newly Rebranded Feature Animation Division, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230609005407/en/Warner-Bros.-Motion-Picture-Group-Taps-Animation-Visionary-Bill-Damaschke-to-Lead-Its-Newly-Rebranded-Feature-Animation-Division-Warner-Bros.-Pictures-Animation |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Business Wire |language=en-US}}</ref>
In March 2022, Warner Bros. soft launched a campaign for its centennial in 2023, with the tagline "100 Years of Storytelling". In December 2022, the centennial campaign was launched with the new tagline "Celebrating Every Story", which will include commemorative initiatives across all Warner Bros. divisions and properties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=March 23, 2022 |title=Warner Bros. Reveals 100th Anniversary Logo, Teases Rollout of Commemorative Content, Products and Events |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/warner-bros-100-anniversary-logo-1235212556/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508110056/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/warner-bros-100-anniversary-logo-1235212556/ |archive-date=May 8, 2022 |access-date=May 16, 2022 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=J. Kim |date=December 14, 2022 |title=Warner Bros. Discovery Launches Centennial Celebration for 100th Anniversary |url=https://variety.com/2022/biz/news/warner-bros-discovery-100th-anniversary-1235460543/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214172530/https://variety.com/2022/biz/news/warner-bros-discovery-100th-anniversary-1235460543/ |archive-date=December 14, 2022 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=Variety}}</ref> The campaign utilizes a commemorative logo featuring an updated shield by Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv (first introduced in the Warner Bros. Discovery logo), which was revised with a softer appearance, thicker outlines, and a return to using blue and gold as its corporate colors (if not rendered in different colors or textures to suit a specific property). The updated shield is used as a secondary logo, and is used concurrently with the 2019 logo (which is the main and primary logo) since May 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Del Valle |first=Rachel |date=April 23, 2022 |title=After embarrassing leak, Warner Bros. Discovery gets a modern new logo |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90743463/after-embarrassing-leak-warner-brothers-discovery-gets-a-modern-new-logo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629154402/https://www.fastcompany.com/90743463/after-embarrassing-leak-warner-brothers-discovery-gets-a-modern-new-logo |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |access-date=July 2, 2022 |website=Fast Company}}</ref> As part of the 100th anniversary campaign, the studio released new short features for the Max streaming service that recreates Warner Bros. classics with a focus on diversity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Rebecca |date=April 18, 2023 |title=Warner Bros. Studios Celebrates 100th Anniversary With Diverse Shorts Re-Creating Warner Bros. Classics (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/warner-bros-100-adapt-classic-films-diverse-shorts-1235391514/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513212323/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/warner-bros-100-adapt-classic-films-diverse-shorts-1235391514/ |archive-date=May 13, 2023 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> In November 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran became the co-chairpersons and CEOs of DC Films, which was renamed to DC Studios. The studio also become an independent division of Warner Bros. Discovery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-25 |title=James Gunn and Peter Safran Named Co-Chairmen and CEOs of DC Studios |url=https://www.wbd.com/james-gunn-and-peter-safran-named-co-chairmen-and-ceos-of-dc-studios |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Warner Bros. Discovery}}</ref>
==== Proposed acquisition by Paramount Skydance (2025–present) ==== {{Further|Proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance}} In 2025, Paramount Skydance made an unsolicited bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-12 |title=Warner Bros rebuffs Paramount takeover approach, Bloomberg News reports |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/12/warner-bros-rebuffs-paramount-takeover-approach-according-to-reports.html |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> After refusing the initial offer Warner Bros. Discovery began evaluating strategic alternatives to a previously planned corporate split.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-21 |title=Warner Bros. Discovery Initiates Review of Potential Alternatives to Maximize Shareholder Value {{!}} Warner Bros. Discovery |url=https://www.wbd.com/news/warner-bros-discovery-initiates-review-potential-alternatives-maximize-shareholder-value |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=www.wbd.com |language=en}}</ref> Ultimately, Paramount Skydance, Netflix, and Comcast each submitted bids in November 2025 to acquire all or part of the company.
In December 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it decided to sell its studio and streaming assets to Netflix for $82.7 billion.<ref name="Netflix">{{Cite news |last1=Szlalai |first1=Georg |last2=Weprin |first2=Alex |date=December 5, 2025 |title=It's Official: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. in Deal Valued at $82.7 Billion |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/netflix-warner-bros-deal-hollywood-1236443081/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251205125124/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/netflix-warner-bros-deal-hollywood-1236443081/ |archive-date=December 5, 2025 |access-date=December 5, 2025 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> The acquisition was expected to be completed after the previously announced separation of WBD's Global Networks division, Discovery Global, into a new publicly traded company in the third quarter of 2026.<ref name="NetflixPressRelease">{{Cite press release |title=Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. Following the Separation of Discovery Global for a Total Enterprise Value of $82.7 Billion (Equity Value of $72.0 Billion) |date=December 5, 2025 |url=https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-to-acquire-warner-bros |access-date=December 5, 2025 |work=Netflix}}</ref>
On February 23, 2026, Paramount's insiders told ''Variety'' that Paramount's revised offer for all of Warner Bros. Discovery would likely come in at $32 per share.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2026-02-23|title=Paramount Is Expected to Raise Price of Warner Bros. Discovery Bid. Will Netflix Walk Away?|url=https://variety.com/2026/film/news/paramount-warner-bros-discovery-higher-bid-will-netflix-walk-away-1236670140/|work=Variety|access-date=2026-02-23|language=en-US}}</ref> The following day, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed it had a received a revised offer from Paramount and would be reviewing it in consultation with their financial and legal advisors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=2026-02-24 |title=Warner Bros. Discovery Reviewing Paramount's Revised Takeover Offer |url=https://deadline.com/2026/02/warner-bros-discovery-reviewing-paramount-revised-proposal-1236734321/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=2026-02-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> On February 26, 2026, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that it considered Paramount’s updated bid to be superior to Netflix's current offer, triggering a four-business-day period during which Netflix could improve its offer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Warner Bros. Discovery deems Paramount's takeover bid superior to Netflix deal |url=https://www.local10.com/news/2026/02/26/warner-bros-discovery-deems-paramounts-takeover-bid-superior-to-netflix-deal/ |website=WPLG Local 10 |publisher=WPLG Local 10 |date=February 26, 2026 |access-date=February 26, 2026}}</ref> Netflix subsequently declined to increase its bid, stating that the deal was "no longer financially attractive."<ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros. |url=https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-declines-to-raise-offer-for-warner-bros |website=About Netflix |publisher=Netflix |date=February 26, 2026 |access-date=February 26, 2026}}</ref> On February 27, Paramount Skydance's revised bid was revealed to be worth $110 billion.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=2026-02-27 |title=Massive Merger Confirmed: Paramount And WBD Reveal Details Of $110 Billion Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2026/02/massive-merger-confirmed-paramount-and-wbd-reveal-details-1236738785/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=2026-02-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> In discussions with lawmakers, Paramount Skydance committed to keeping the two historic studios separate and said the merged company is committed to producing a minimum of 15 theatrical films per studio per year.<ref name=":0" />
== International arrangements ==
=== Film production === ==== Germany ==== In 1995, {{ill|Willi Geike|de}} was appointed as marketing director for Warner's operations in Germany. Around the same time, the studio began self-producing and distributing German films, starting with ''Dangerous Dowry''.<ref>{{cite news|title=WB TO GO DEUTSCH|last=Molner|first=David|url=https://variety.com/1995/scene/markets-festivals/wb-to-go-deutsch-99129843/|date=28 August 1995|work=Variety|access-date=7 June 2025}}</ref>
During Geike's tenue, the studio achieved various successes with Its German-language features such as the animated films such as ''The Little Polar Bear'' and ''Laura's Star'' and the live-action releases such as ''Rabbit Without Ears'', ''Men in the City'' and ''SMS für Dich'', as well with estabilishing partnerships with filmmakers such as {{ill|Thilo Graf Rothkirch|de|Thilo Graf Rothkirch}}, Til Schweiger, Matthias Schweighöfer, Caroline Link, Simon Verhoeven and Karoline Herfurth.<ref name=willigeike1/><ref>{{cite news|last=Dockhorn|first=Katharina|title=Die lokalen Talente abgreifen|url=https://www.welt.de/welt_print/article3050693/Die-lokalen-Talente-abgreifen.html|date=January 19, 2009|work=Die Welt|language=de|access-date=March 12, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211062435/https://www.welt.de/welt_print/article3050693/Die-lokalen-Talente-abgreifen.html|archive-date=December 11, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Willi Geike left Warner Bros. after 38 years.<ref name=willigeike1>{{cite web|title=Willi Geike verlässt Warner Bros.|url=https://the-spot-mediafilm.com/kino/willi-geike-verlaesst-warner-bros-d3ac6f785574d832b9923e512399542d|website=The SPOT media & film|date=January 13, 2021|language=de|access-date=March 12, 2026}}</ref>
==== Netherlands ==== In 1997, Warner Bros. signed an agreement with children's television producer Burny Bos and his production company BosBros. for the Benelux distribution rights of his films starting with ''The Flying Liftboy'', an adventure film based on the children's book by Annie M.G. Schmidt.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 1997 |title=Bos Bros en Warner Bros. (Holland) sluiten distributie-over-eenkomst voor Abeltje |url=https://www.film-bioscoopbranche.nl/issue/HFN/1997-12-01/edition/null/page/19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601201246/https://www.film-bioscoopbranche.nl/issue/HFN/1997-12-01/edition/null/page/15 |archive-date=1 June 2025 |access-date=2 June 2025 |pages=19 |language=nl |magazine=Holland Film Nieuws, nr. 19}}</ref> The film became the most-visited Dutch film of 1998, which led to a partnership where Warner distributed films from the company such as ''Miss Minoes'', ''Tow Truck Pluck'' and ''Winky's Horse''. BosBros. ended the partnership in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schenkius |first=Michiel |date=April 2011 |title=Op de set van Dolfje weerwolfje: Nieuwsgierigmakende metamorfoses |url=https://www.film-bioscoopbranche.nl/issue/HFN/2011-04-01/edition/null/page/18 |access-date=10 June 2025 |pages=20-21 |language=nl |magazine=Holland Film Nieuws, nr. 99|archive-date=February 18, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218204508/https://www.film-bioscoopbranche.nl/issue/HFN/2011-04-01/edition/null/page/18/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==== Japan ==== On July 14, 1998, Toshiba, Warner Bros. and Nippon Television launched production joint venture {{ill|TOWANI Corp|ja|トワーニ}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Herskovitz |first=Jon |date=July 15, 1998 |title=TW firms Japan venture with Nippon TV, Toshiba |url=https://variety.com/1998/biz/news/tw-firms-japan-venture-with-nippon-tv-toshiba-1117478457/ |access-date=September 8, 2025 |work=Variety}}</ref> with the goal to produce two Japanese films per year starting with ''{{ill|Sakuya: Slayer of Demons|ja|さくや妖怪伝}}'' on August 12, 2000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schilling |first=Mark |date=25 February 2000 |title=Toshiba joint venture cranks up first production |url=https://www.screendaily.com/toshiba-joint-venture-cranks-up-first-production/401530.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251114114704/https://www.screendaily.com/toshiba-joint-venture-cranks-up-first-production/401530.article |archive-date=14 November 2025 |access-date=14 November 2025 |work=Screen International}}</ref> However after producing four features, the company filed for bankruptcy after the box office failure of ''Cutie Honey'' on May 29, 2004.
==== India ==== In 2025, Warner Bros. Pictures signed a five-film agreement with Bhanushali Studios Limited and JOAT Films to co-create adaptations of Warner Bros. titles for the Indian market.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=June 15, 2025 |title=Warner Bros. Pictures Inks Five-Film Deal With Bhanushali Studios, JOAT Films for Indian Adaptations (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/warner-bros-pictures-bhanushali-studios-joat-films-five-film-deal-1236431260/ |access-date=December 17, 2025 |work=Variety}}</ref>
=== Film distribution === {{anchor|Columbia partnership}}From 1971 until the end of 1987, Warner Bros.' international distribution operations were a joint venture with Columbia Pictures. In some countries, this joint venture distributed films from other companies (such as EMI Films and Cannon Films in the United Kingdom). Warner Bros. ended the venture in 1988.
On May 4, 1987, The Walt Disney Company signed a theatrical distribution agreement with Warner Bros. International for the release of Disney and Touchstone films in overseas markets, with Disney retaining full control of all distribution and marketing decisions on their product.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 4, 1987 |title=Warner Bros. and Disney have a distribution pact. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-04-fi-4825-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129120124/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-05-04/business/fi-4825_1_warner-bros |archive-date=January 29, 2018 |access-date=January 17, 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> In 1992, Disney opted to end their joint venture with Warner Bros. to start autonomously distributing their films in the aforementioned markets.
In 2001, Warner Bros. began a partnership with German production company X Filme Creative Pool and its distribution arm {{Interlanguage link|X Verleih AG|de|X Verleih}}, were they would co-distribute their releases with the studio.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 6, 2001 |title=Arthouse und deutscher Film beim Berliner X Verleih |url=http://www.mediabiz.de/film/news/arthouse-und-deutscher-film-beim-berliner-x-verleih/101206 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002703/http://www.mediabiz.de/film/news/arthouse-und-deutscher-film-beim-berliner-x-verleih/101206 |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |access-date=September 16, 2025 |work=Blickpunkt:Film |language=de}}</ref> The partnership was later extended in 2004 with 20 additional features.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |date=February 18, 2004 |title=Warner Germany ties up X for a further 20 films |url=https://www.screendaily.com/warner-germany-ties-up-x-for-a-further-20-films/4017412.article |access-date=July 13, 2025 |work=Screen Daily}}</ref>
Before the 2008 merger, Warner Bros. already handled distribution of then-sister company's New Line Cinema titles in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Eastern Europe, Russia and select territories in Latin America and Asia.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carver |first=Benedict |date=March 25, 1999 |title=New Line lines up global distrib deals |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/new-line-lines-up-global-distrib-deals-1117492738/ |access-date=May 20, 2025 |work=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Goodridge |first=Mike |date=October 16, 2001 |title=Warner Bros takes over Kinowelt's New Line deals |url=https://www.screendaily.com/warner-bros-takes-over-kinowelts-new-line-deals/407207.article |access-date=May 20, 2025 |work=Screen International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250916212406/https://www.screendaily.com/warner-bros-takes-over-kinowelts-new-line-deals/407207.article|archive-date=September 16, 2025}}</ref>
From 2011 to 2023, Warner Bros. handled theatrical distribution of Sony Pictures Releasing films in Italy. Since then, Eagle Pictures, which was already distributing Sony's films on home video in the country, took over theatrical distribution as well. On February 6, 2014, Columbia TriStar Warner Filmes de Portugal Ltda., a joint venture with Sony Pictures which distributed both companies' films in Portugal, announced that it would close its doors on March 31, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=de Barros |first=Eurico |date=February 6, 2014 |title=Columbia Tristar Warner encerra escritórios em Portugal |trans-title=Columbia Tristar Warner closes offices in Portugal |url=https://www.dn.pt/artes/cinema/interior/columbia-tristar-warner-encerra-escritorios-em-portugal-3673331.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930083919/https://www.dn.pt/artes/cinema/interior/columbia-tristar-warner-encerra-escritorios-em-portugal-3673331.html |archive-date=September 30, 2017 |access-date=September 29, 2017 |website=Diário de Notícias |language=pt}}</ref> NOS Audiovisuais handles distribution of Warner Bros. films in Portugal since then, while the distribution duties for Sony Pictures films in the country were taken over by Big Picture Films.
Before the Disney merger in 2019, Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox had a strategic partnership to distribute both of their films theatrically in key territories in Southeast Asia<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox call media pitch in Singapore |url=https://www.campaignasia.com/article/warner-brothers-and-20th-century-fox-call-media-pitch-in-singapore/213016 |access-date=September 25, 2025 |publisher=Campaign Asia}}</ref> and the Benelux. The earliest known joint venture of the two companies was established in 1970 in Singapore.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FOX WARNER FILM DISTRIBUTORS |url=https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/government_records/record-details/80b4d4a7-1159-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad |access-date=September 25, 2025 |publisher=National Library Board}}</ref> In the Benelux, Warner distributed Fox titles in the Netherlands while Fox handled distribution of Warner Bros. titles in Belgium from 2008 until 2019, when Disney took over distribution duties in July.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mundell |first=Ian |date=March 11, 2008 |title=Fox, WB team in Benelux |url=https://variety.com/2008/biz/news/fox-wb-team-in-benelux-1117982239/ |access-date=September 25, 2025 |work=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Huijsdens |first=Jeroen |date=June 25, 2019 |title=Overname Fox grote klap voor team Warner |url=https://www.hollandfilmnieuws.nl/nieuwscategorieen/cast/overname-fox-grote-klap-voor-team-warner/ |access-date=September 25, 2025 |work=Holland Film Nieuws |language=nl}}</ref>
Since January 1, 2021, Warner Bros. films are distributed through Universal Pictures in Hong Kong, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand citing WarnerMedia's closure of its Hong Kong theatrical office starting with ''The Batman''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gómez Iniesta |first=Carlos |date=2009-03-09 |title=Desaparece Warner Bros. México |trans-title=Warner Bros. Mexico disappears |url=https://cinepremiere.com.mx/desaparece-warner-bros-mexico.html|website=cinepremiere.com.mx |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=21 September 2020 |title=Warner Bros. Cuts Village Roadshow Theatrical Ties in Australia, New Zealand |url=https://variety.com/2020/biz/asia/warner-ends-village-roadshow-theatrical-deal-australia-new-zealand-1234777255/ |access-date=18 July 2024 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=WarnerMedia Closing Hong Kong Theatrical Division; Universal To Release WB Pictures In Market |date=December 24, 2020 |publisher=Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/warnermedia-warner-bros-hong-kong-theatrical-division-closing-universal-pictures-1234661302/ |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref> As of 2024, Warner Bros. currently handles theatrical distribution of Universal Pictures films in Brazil, India and the Philippines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Portal Exibidor – CADE autoriza acordo entre Universal e Warner; saiba mais! |url=https://www.exibidor.com.br/noticias/mercado/11514-cade-autoriza-acordo-entre-universal-e-warner-saiba-mais |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618045127/https://www.exibidor.com.br/noticias/mercado/11514-cade-autoriza-acordo-entre-universal-e-warner-saiba-mais |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |access-date=May 19, 2022 |website=exibidor.com.br |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Warner and Universal join hands to sustain business |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/warner-and-universal-join-hands-to-sustain-biz/articleshow/78833590.cms |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title='No Time To Die' — Daniel Craig's Final Bond Film — Premieres in Cinemas This December 15 |date=November 21, 2021 |publisher=Universal Pictures/Warner Bros. (F.E.) Inc. |url=https://www.clickthecity.com/movies/article/108991/no-time-to-die-daniel-craigs-final-bond-film-premieres-in-cinemas-this-december-15/ |quote=From Universal Pictures International PH, distributed by Warner Bros., No Time To Die opens December 15 in Philippine cinemas. |via=Click the City |access-date=November 15, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112100151/https://www.clickthecity.com/movies/article/108991/no-time-to-die-daniel-craigs-final-bond-film-premieres-in-cinemas-this-december-15/ |archive-date=November 12, 2021}}</ref>
In August 2022, Warner Bros. Pictures entered into a multi-year deal for distributing MGM (later Amazon MGM Studios) films outside the United States, including on home entertainment. The contract included joint participation of both companies for marketing, advertising, publicity, film distribution, and relationship with exhibitors for future MGM titles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=August 14, 2022 |title=Warner Bros Forms Multi-Year Pact To Distribute MGM Movies Overseas Beginning With 'Bones And All', 'Creed III'; How Bond Will Be Handled |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/warner-bros-mgm-international-distribution-deal-james-bond-007-1235091889/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815015706/https://deadline.com/2022/08/warner-bros-mgm-international-distribution-deal-james-bond-007-1235091889/ |archive-date=August 15, 2022 |access-date=October 4, 2022 |website=Deadline}}</ref> The deal was concluded in 2025 when Sony Pictures Releasing International took over international distribution of Amazon MGM titles beginning with ''After the Hunt''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2025-06-27 |title=Amazon MGM Studios & Sony Pictures Ink Multi-Year International Theatrical Distribution Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2025/06/amazon-mgm-studios-sony-international-distribution-1236444141/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=Deadline}}</ref>
As of 2025, Warner Bros. had partnerships with local distribution companies to theatrically release local language and regionally acquired films such as Singapore-based Encore Films in Southeast Asia and India, Picturehouse Entertainment (unrelated to the previous sister studio of the same name) in the United Kingdom and PiperFilm in Italy.
On September 17, 2025, Warner Bros. Pictures signed a theatrical distribution deal with Toho-Towa for Japan that would take effect the following year with ''Wuthering Heights''. Warner Bros.' local distribution arm dissolved on December 31, 2025, but continued to handle distribution for its 2026 slate of local productions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2025 |title=Toho-Towa to release Warner Bros. Movies in Japan |url=https://www.tohokingdom.com/blog/toho-towa-to-release-warner-bros-movies-in-japan/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2025 |title=Warner Bros' Feature Slate To Be Released Theatrically In Japan By Toho-Towa Group Beginning 2026 |url=https://deadline.com/2025/09/warner-bros-japan-toho-towa-theatrical-distribution-deal-1236547733/}}</ref>
== Film library == {{Main|Lists of Warner Bros. films}}
thumb|right|Gate 4, Warner Bros. Studios, looking south towards the water towerMergers and acquisitions have helped Warner Bros. to accumulate a diverse collection of films, cartoons and television programs. As of 2022, Warner Bros. owned more than 145,000 hours of programming, including 12,500 feature films and 2,400 television programs comprising more than 150,000 individual episodes.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Warner Bros. Unveils Centennial Logo in Advance of the Iconic Studio's 100th Anniversary |url=https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/warner-bros-unveils-centennial-logo-in-advance-of-iconic-studios-100th-anniversary |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905204125/https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/warner-bros-unveils-centennial-logo-in-advance-of-iconic-studios-100th-anniversary |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=warnerbros.com}}</ref>
=== Acquired libraries === {{Main list|List of assets owned by Warner Bros. Discovery }} Mergers and acquisitions have helped Warner Bros. accumulate a diverse collection of films, cartoons and television programs. As of 2022, Warner Bros. owned more than 145,000 hours of programming, including 12,500 feature films and 2,400 television programs comprising more than tens of thousands of individual episodes.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Warner Bros. Unveils Centennial Logo in Advance of the Iconic Studio's 100th Anniversary |date=March 23, 2022 |publisher=Warner Bros. |url=https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/warner-bros-unveils-centennial-logo-in-advance-of-iconic-studios-100th-anniversary |access-date=September 12, 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905204125/https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/warner-bros-unveils-centennial-logo-in-advance-of-iconic-studios-100th-anniversary |archive-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref>
In the aftermath of the 1948 antitrust suit, uncertain times led Warner Bros. in 1956 to sell most of its pre-1950<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 5, 1956 |title=Warner Films Bought for $21 Million; Largest Library Yet for Television |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/56-OCR/1956-03-05-BC-OCR-Page-0040.pdf#search=%22prm%20inc%22 |magazine=Broadcasting |page=42}}</ref><ref name="ymrt2">{{harvnb|Schickel|Perry|2008|p=255}}</ref><ref name="aap exceptions"/><ref name="archive.org2">{{Cite web |title=Media History Digital Library |url=https://archive.org/details/mediahistory&tab=collection?and%5B%5D=subject%3A%22Motion%20pictures%20--%20Catalogues%22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325121444/https://archive.org/details/mediahistory%26tab%3Dcollection?and%5B%5D=subject%3A%22Motion%20pictures%20--%20Catalogues%22 |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |access-date=September 17, 2019 |via=archive.org}}</ref> films and cartoons to Associated Artists Productions (a.a.p.). In addition, a.a.p. also obtained the Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios ''Popeye'' cartoons, originally from Paramount Pictures. Two years later, a.a.p. was sold to United Artists (UA), which owned the company until 1981, when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) acquired United Artists.<ref name="Hoyt2">{{Cite book |last=Hoyt |first=Eric |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ERsvBQAAQBAJ&q=1958+a.a.p.+was+sold+to+United+Artists&pg=PA182 |title=Hollywood Vault: Film Libraries Before Home Video |date=July 3, 2014 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-95857-9 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="Cole2">{{Cite news |last=Cole |first=Robert J. |date=May 16, 1981 |title=M-G-M Is Reported Purchasing United Artists for $350 million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/16/world/m-g-m-is-reported-purchasing-united-artists-for-350-million.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908011627/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/16/world/m-g-m-is-reported-purchasing-united-artists-for-350-million.html |archive-date=September 8, 2016 |access-date=October 26, 2016 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In 1982, during their independent years, Turner Broadcasting System acquired Brut Productions, the film production arm of France-based then-struggling personal-care company Faberge Inc.<ref name="Faberge Sells Brut">{{Cite news |date=January 1982 |title=Faberge Sells Brut's Assets |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/01/business/faberge-sells-brut-s-assets.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701092705/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/01/business/faberge-sells-brut-s-assets.html |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |access-date=November 27, 2014 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>
In 1986, Turner Broadcasting System acquired MGM. Finding itself in debt, Turner Entertainment kept the pre-May 1986 MGM film and television libraries and a small portion of the United Artists library (including the a.a.p. library and North American rights to the RKO Radio Pictures library) while spinning off the rest of MGM.<ref name="Los Angeles Times">{{Cite news |date=December 20, 1985 |title=Turner Sells Fabled MGM but Keeps a Lion's Share |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-07-mn-9950-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801044732/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-06-07/news/mn-9950_1_turner-broadcasting |archive-date=August 1, 2017 |access-date=February 2, 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
In 1989, Warner Communications acquired Lorimar-Telepictures Corporation.<ref name="Merv">{{Cite web |title=Crash Landing Merv Adelson—TV mogul, multimillionaire, and friend of the famous—lived a show-business fantasy. His bankruptcy has shocked Hollywood. – November 10, 2003 |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2003/11/10/352823/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126093323/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2003/11/10/352823/index.htm |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |access-date=September 2, 2015 |publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref name="The Los Angeles Times">{{Cite news |title=Warner Completes Merger With Lorimar Telepictures |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-12-fi-413-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103031254/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-01-12/business/fi-413_1_lorimar-telepictures-corp |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Lorimar's catalogue included the post-1974 library of Rankin/Bass Productions, and the post-1947 library of Monogram Pictures/Allied Artists Pictures Corporation.
In 1991, Turner Broadcasting System acquired animation studio Hanna-Barbera and the Ruby-Spears library from Great American Broadcasting, and years later, Turner Broadcasting System acquired Castle Rock Entertainment on December 22, 1993,<ref name="Turner Broadcasting Company Report">{{Cite web |title=Turner Broadcasting Company Report |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100240/0000950144-94-000832.txt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710093510/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100240/0000950144-94-000832.txt |archive-date=July 10, 2017 |access-date=November 8, 2017 |publisher=Securities and Exchange Commission}}</ref><ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{Cite news |title=Done deal: Turner Broadcasting System Inc. said it closed..... |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/12/25/done-deal-turner-broadcasting-system-inc-said/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302115359/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-12-25/business/9312250085_1_turner-broadcasting-system-hollywood-producer-turner-spokesman |archive-date=March 2, 2016 |access-date=September 2, 2015 |work=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> and New Line Cinema on January 28, 1994.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web |date=January 28, 1994 |title=New Line to Join Ted Turner Empire Today : Film: With more money, the company is likely to add a few big movies to its annual production schedule. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-28-fi-16459-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325182644/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-28-fi-16459-story.html |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref name="Information on New Line Cinema">{{Cite web |title=New Line Cinema |url=http://ethicalbusinessbureau.com/NewLineCinema/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302115400/http://ethicalbusinessbureau.com/NewLineCinema/ |archive-date=March 2, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |website=ethicalbusinessbureau.com}}</ref> On October 10, 1996, Time Warner acquired Turner Broadcasting System, thus bringing Warner Bros.' pre-1950 library back home to the studio after 46 years. In addition, Warner Bros. owns pre-2010 libraries produced by Castle Rock Entertainment with few exceptions.
In 2008, Time Warner integrated New Line Cinema into Warner Bros. Pictures.
=== The Warner Bros. Archives === The University of Southern California Warner Bros. Archives is the largest single studio collection in the world. Donated in 1977 to USC's School of Cinema-Television by Warner Communications, the WBA houses departmental records that detail Warner Bros. activities from the studio's first major feature, ''My Four Years in Germany'' (1918), to its sale to Seven Arts in 1968. It presents a complete view of the production process during the Golden Age of Hollywood. UA donated pre-1950 Warner Bros. nitrate negatives to the Library of Congress and post-1951 negatives to the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Most of the company's legal files, scripts, and production materials were donated to the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research.
{{multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | width = | image1 = ClintEastwoodCannesMay08.jpg | width1 = 150 | caption1 = Clint Eastwood's relationship with Warner Bros. began in 1971, and he has directed several of the studios best known films, including ''Unforgiven'' (1992) and ''Million Dollar Baby'' (2004).<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/clint-eastwood-40-film-collection| work=Warner Bros.| title=About| access-date=September 16, 2020}}</ref> | image2 = Christopher_Nolan,_London,_2013_(crop).jpg | width2 = 150 | caption2 = Christopher Nolan wrote and directed several of Warner Bros.'s most profitable films in the early 21st century. Like Eastwood, Nolan has had a long creative partnership with the studio.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-eyes-slimmed-down-movie-budgets-under-toby-emmerich-1015390| work=The Hollywood Reporter| title=Warner Bros. Eyes Slimmed-Down Movie Budgets Under Toby Emmerich| first=Kim| last=Masters| date=June 21, 2017| access-date=September 16, 2020}}</ref> }}
=== Highest-grossing films === : ''{{legend|#B6FCB6;"|Indicates films currently in theatrical release in the week commencing {{Date of previous Friday}}.|text={{†|alt=film currently playing}}}}'' {| |- | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto; margin:auto;" |+Highest-grossing films in North America<ref name="BOM">{{cite web|title=Box Office by Studio – Warner Bros. All Time|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/studio/chart/?studio=warnerbros.htm|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=15 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816233320/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/studio/chart/?studio=warnerbros.htm|archive-date=August 16, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> |- ! Rank !! Title !! Year !! Gross |- ! 1 | ''Barbie'' | 2023 | $637,332,531 |- ! 2 | ''The Dark Knight'' {{double dagger}} | 2008 | $534,987,076 |- ! 3 | ''The Dark Knight Rises'' | 2012 | $448,149,584 |- ! 4 | ''A Minecraft Movie'' | 2025 | $424,087,780 |- ! 5 | ''Wonder Woman'' | 2017 | $412,845,172 |- ! 6 | ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2'' | 2011 | $381,447,587 |- ! 7 | ''The Batman'' | 2022 | $369,345,583 |- ! 8 | ''Superman'' | 2025 | $354,223,803 |- ! 9 | ''American Sniper'' | 2014 | $350,159,020 |- ! 10 | ''Joker'' | 2019 | $335,477,657 |- ! 11 | ''Aquaman'' | 2018 | $335,104,314 |- ! 12 | ''Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'' | 2016 | $330,360,194 |- ! 13 | ''It'' | 2017 | $328,874,981 |- ! 14 | ''Suicide Squad'' | 2016 | $325,100,054 |- ! 15 | ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' {{double dagger}} | 2001 | $317,871,467 |- ! 16 | ''The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'' {{ref|Note 1|1}} | 2012 | $303,030,651 |- ! 17 | ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'' | 2009 | $302,334,374 |- ! 18 | ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1'' | 2010 | $296,374,621 |- ! 19 | ''Beetlejuice Beetlejuice'' | 2024 | $294,100,435 |- ! 20 | ''Inception'' | 2010 | $292,587,330 |- ! 21 | ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'' | 2007 | $292,382,727 |- ! 22 | ''Man of Steel'' | 2013 | $291,045,518 |- ! 23 | ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'' | 2005 | $290,469,928 |- ! 24 | ''Dune: Part Two'' | 2024 | $282,144,358 |- ! 25 | ''The Matrix Reloaded'' | 2003 | $281,576,461 |} | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto; margin:auto;" |+Highest-grossing films worldwide |- ! Rank !! Title !! Year !! Gross |- ! 1 | ''Barbie'' | 2023 | $1,448,232,531 |- ! 2 | ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2'' | 2011 | $1,342,359,942 |- ! 3 | ''Aquaman'' | 2018 | $1,148,528,393 |- ! 4 | ''The Dark Knight Rises'' | 2012 | $1,081,153,097 |- ! 5 |''Joker'' | 2019 | $1,074,445,730 |- ! 6 | ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' {{double dagger}} | 2001 | $1,028,492,855 |- ! 7 | ''The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'' {{ref|Note 1|1}} | 2012 | $1,017,030,651 |- ! 8 | ''The Dark Knight'' {{double dagger}} | 2008 | $1,009,057,329 |- ! 9 | ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1'' | 2010 | $977,070,383 |- ! 10 | ''A Minecraft Movie'' | 2025 | $961,187,780 |- ! 11 | ''The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'' {{ref|Note 1|1}} | 2013 | $959,027,992 |- ! 12 | ''The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies'' {{ref|Note 1|1}} | 2014 | $956,019,788 |- ! 13 | ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'' | 2007 | $942,201,710 |- ! 14 | ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'' | 2009 | $934,483,039 |- ! 15 | ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'' | 2005 | $896,730,264 |- ! 16 | ''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'' | 2002 | $879,793,867 |- ! 17 | ''Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'' | 2016 | $873,637,528 |- ! 18 | ''Inception'' | 2010 | $836,848,102 |- ! 19 | ''Wonder Woman'' | 2017 | $822,854,286 |- ! 20 | ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' | 2016 | $814,037,575 |- ! 21 | ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' | 2004 | $796,907,323 |- ! 22 | ''The Batman'' | 2022 | $770,962,583 |- ! 23 | ''Interstellar'' {{double dagger}} | 2014 | $758,690,230 |- ! 24 | ''Suicide Squad'' | 2016 | $746,846,894 |- ! 25 | ''The Matrix Reloaded'' | 2003 | $741,847,937 |} |} {{double dagger}} — Includes theatrical reissue(s)
== See also == * Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank * Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood * Warner Bros. Home Entertainment * Warner Bros. Family Entertainment * Warner Bros. Television Studios * Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences * List of Warner Bros. short subjects * Warner Bros. Animation * Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden
== Notes == {{refbegin}} # {{note|Note 1}}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE THIS NOTE --> co-owned by New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (the film's producers) {{refend}} {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|url=https://www.warnerbros.com/company/divisions/motion-pictures/}} {{Film Studio}} {{Warner Bros.}} {{Academy Honorary Award}}{{Portal bar|Companies|United States|Greater Los Angeles|California|Film|1920s}}{{Authority control}}
Category:American companies established in 1923 Category:Entertainment companies based in California Category:Companies based in Burbank, California Category:Mass media companies established in 1923 Category:1923 establishments in California Pictures Category:Film distributors of the United States Category:Academy Award for Technical Achievement winners Category:Film production companies based in California