Annapurna Pictures

Annapurna Pictures

Annapurna Pictures, LLC is an American independent media company founded by Megan Ellison on April 2, 2011, and based in Los Angeles, California. It is active in film, television and theatrical production, and video game publishing.

History

Annapurna Pictures

Annapurna Pictures was founded in 2011 by Megan Ellison as a production and financing company focusing on high-end auteur-driven cinema. Ellison had attended University of Southern California’s film school for two semesters and then left in 2005 and traveled the world. Among her stops was Nepal, where she trekked in the Annapurna Range of the Himalayas, for which her production company is named.

By 2014 Annapurna had produced and/or financed the films Lawless, The Master, Killing Them Softly, Zero Dark Thirty, Spring Breakers, The Grandmaster, Her, Foxcatcher, and American Hustle, and was starting production on Joy, Sausage Party, Wiener-Dog, 20th Century Women, and Everybody Wants Some!!.

In December 2016, the company announced its new division, Annapurna Interactive, to produce, develop, and distribute video games. Annapurna Interactive has become a major publisher of independently made games.

In January 2017, the company announced it would begin distributing films, with the first being Detroit directed by Kathryn Bigelow. In May 2017, Plan B Entertainment and Annapurna announced a three-year production deal to partner on at least three films a year, with Annapurna handling distribution and marketing. As part of the deal, Annapurna received the rights to Adam McKay's film Vice starring Christian Bale as Dick Cheney. Annapurna then won domestic distribution rights for the James Bond series beating Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures. In October 2017, Annapurna and MGM announced the formation of a US distribution joint venture in which each studio would release its films individually. Annapurna's distribution and marketing teams supported the MGM titles, which were distributed under the MGM banner while Annapurna-produced films continued to be distributed under its own banner.

In October 2018, Annapurna signed a music publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music, which administered the studio's film and TV compositions and scores.

In February 2019, Annapurna and MGM rebranded and expanded their US distribution joint venture to release both MGM and Annapurna films under United Artists Releasing. After taking financial losses from distributing Vice, Detroit, and Destroyer, Annapurna had to leave Bombshell just two weeks before it would start production, and also unattached itself from Hustlers.

On March 4, 2023, it was revealed by The Hollywood Reporter that Amazon had shut down the operations of United Artists Releasing and folded it into MGM.

In August 2024 Annapurna announced a "strategic cooperation agreement" with video game developer Remedy Entertainment during which Annapurna will co-produce and co-finance Control 2, and will also develop film and television projects involving Remedy's Alan Wake and Control.

On September 12, 2024 news broke that the entire Annapurna Interactive Team of 25 resigned following a dispute with its owner to spin off the video-game division as an independent entity.

Annapurna produced The Testament of Ann Lee which received a 15 minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. It was purchased by Searchlight Pictures in September 2025. A partnership between Moomins and Annapurna was announced the next month to release the first film based on the characters to be produced in the United States.

Filmography

Annapurna Pictures

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Film title</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2012</td><td>Lawless</td><td>co-production with FilmNation Entertainment, Benaroya Pictures, and Red Wagon Entertainment; distributed by the Weinstein Company</td></tr><tr><td>The Master</td><td>co-production with the Weinstein Company, JoAnne Sellar Productions, and Ghoulardi Film Company Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture Nominated – Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature</td></tr><tr><td>Killing Them Softly</td><td>co-production with Plan B Entertainment, Chockstone Pictures, 1984 Private Defense Contractors, and Inferno Entertainment; distributed by the Weinstein Company</td></tr><tr><td>Zero Dark Thirty</td><td>co-production with First Light Productions; distributed by Columbia Pictures National Board of Review Award for Best Film National Board of Review: Top Ten Films Nominated – AACTA Award for Best International Film Nominated – Academy Award for Best Picture Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama Nominated – Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Film</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>Spring Breakers</td><td>co-production with Hero Entertainment and Muse Productions; distributed by A24 Nominated – Venice Film Festival for Golden Lion</td></tr><tr><td>The Grandmaster</td><td>co-production with Block 2 Pictures, Jet Tone Films, Sil-Metropole Organization, and Bona International Film Group; distributed by the Weinstein Company Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award for Best Film Nominated – Golden Horse Award for Best Feature Film</td></tr><tr><td>Her</td><td>distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures National Board of Review Award for Best Film National Board of Review: Top Ten Films Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film Nominated – Academy Award for Best Picture Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Nominated – Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture</td></tr><tr><td>American Hustle</td><td>co-production with Atlas Entertainment; distributed by Columbia Pictures Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated – AACTA Award for Best International Film Nominated – Academy Award for Best Picture Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Movie of the Year Nominated – Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Motion Picture Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie – Drama</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Foxcatcher</td><td>co-production with Likely Story; distributed by Sony Pictures Classics Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama Nominated – Palme d'Or Nominated – Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>Terminator Genisys</td><td>co-production with Paramount Pictures and Skydance Media</td></tr><tr><td>Joy</td><td>co-production with 20th Century Fox and Davis Entertainment Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Comedy Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy</td></tr><tr><td>The Click Effect</td><td>co-production with Vrse</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Everybody Wants Some!!</td><td>distributed by Paramount Pictures Nominated – Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature</td></tr><tr><td>Wiener-Dog</td><td>co-production with Killer Films; distributed by Amazon Studios and IFC Films</td></tr><tr><td>Sausage Party</td><td>co-production with Columbia Pictures, Point Grey Pictures, and Nitrogen Studios</td></tr><tr><td>20th Century Women</td><td>produced by; distributed by A24 National Board of Review: Top Ten Independent Films Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>The Bad Batch</td><td>co-production with VICE Films and Human Stew Factory; distributed by Neon Venice Film Festival for Special Jury Prize</td></tr><tr><td>Detroit</td><td>co-production with First Light Productions and Page 1 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture Nominated – Black Reel Award for Outstanding Film Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture</td></tr><tr><td>Brad's Status</td><td>U.S. co-distribution with Amazon Studios only; produced by Plan B Entertainment and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment</td></tr><tr><td>Professor Marston and the Wonder Women</td><td>U.S. theatrical distribution only; produced by Stage 6 Films, Topple and BoxMedia Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture</td></tr><tr><td>Phantom Thread</td><td>co-production with Focus Features and Ghoulardi Film Company National Board of Review: Top Ten Films Nominated – Academy Award for Best Picture</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Sorry to Bother You</td><td>distribution only; produced by Significant Productions, MNM Creative, MACRO, Cinereach and the Space Program National Board of Review: Top Ten Independent Films Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture</td></tr><tr><td>The Sisters Brothers</td><td>co-production with Michael De Luca Productions, Why Not Productions, Page 114 Productions, and Apache Films Nominated – César Award for Best Film Nominated – Golden Lion</td></tr><tr><td>If Beale Street Could Talk</td><td>co-production with Plan B Entertainment and Pastel Productions Independent Spirit Award for Best Film National Board of Review: Top Ten Films Satellite Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama Nominated – Black Reel Award for Outstanding Film Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama Nominated – Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture</td></tr><tr><td>The Ballad of Buster Scruggs</td><td>co-production with Netflix and Mike Zoss Productions National Board of Review: Top Ten Films</td></tr><tr><td>Destroyer</td><td>U.S. distribution only; produced by 30West and Automatik</td></tr><tr><td>Vice</td><td>co-production with Plan B Entertainment and Gary Sanchez Productions Nominated – AACTA Award for Best International Film Nominated – Academy Award for Best Picture Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Nominated – Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Missing Link</td><td>U.S. distribution only; produced by Laika Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film Nominated – Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Nominated – Annie Award for Best Animated Feature Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature Nominated – Producers Guild of America Award for Best Animated Motion Picture</td></tr><tr><td>Booksmart</td><td>co-production with Gloria Sanchez Productions GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Wide Release Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature</td></tr><tr><td>Where'd You Go, Bernadette</td><td>co-production with Color Force</td></tr><tr><td>Hustlers</td><td>credit only; produced by Gloria Sanchez Productions, Nuyorican Productions and STX Entertainment Nominated – Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature Nominated – Satellite Awards for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical</td></tr><tr><td>Wounds</td><td>produced by Two & Two Pictures and AZA Film; distributed by Hulu</td></tr><tr><td>Bombshell</td><td>credit only; produced by Bron Studios, Denver and Delilah Productions, Lighthouse Media & Management, Creative Wealth Media; distributed by Lionsgate Nominated – GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Wide Release Nominated – Satellite Awards for Best Motion Picture – Drama</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Kajillionaire</td><td>co-production with Plan B Entertainment; distributed by Focus Features</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>On the Count of Three</td><td>North American co-distribution with Orion Pictures only; produced by Valparaiso Pictures, Werner Entertainment and Morningside Entertainment</td></tr><tr><td>She Said</td><td>co-production with Plan B Entertainment; distributed by Universal Pictures</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Nimona</td><td>an Annapurna Animation film; co-production with Vertigo Entertainment and DNEG Animation; distributed by Netflix; first Annapurna Animation film Nominated – Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Nominated – Annie Award for Best Animated Feature Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature</td></tr><tr><td>Landscape with Invisible Hand</td><td>co-production with Plan B Entertainment; distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Nightbitch</td><td>co-production with Searchlight Pictures, Bond Group Management, Archer Grey, and Defiant by Nature; distributed by Searchlight Pictures</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>The Testament of Ann Lee</td><td>co-production with Mid March Media, Kaplan Morrison, Intake Films and Proton Cinema; distributed by Searchlight Pictures Nominated – Golden Lion</td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>I Love Boosters</td><td>co-production with Ryder Picture Company and Savage Rose Films; distributed by Neon</td></tr><tr><td>The Invite</td><td>co-production with FilmNation Entertainment and Permut Presentations; distributed by A24</td></tr></tbody></table>

Animation

Annapurna Pictures

Annapurna Animation logo

Annapurna Animation is an American animation studio and division of Annapurna Pictures, founded by former Blue Sky Studios executives Robert L. Baird and Andrew Millstein on December 1, 2022 and based in North Stamford, Connecticut. The studio's first film, Nimona, was released on June 30, 2023, on Netflix. In September 2023, Annapurna Animation announced an animated film adaptation of Annapurna Interactive's video game Stray was in development following the success of Nimona, with other games being considered to have potential adaptations.

Released

Release date	Film	Directors	Co-production	Animation services	Distribution
June 30, 2023	Nimona	Nick Bruno Troy Quane	Vertigo Entertainment	DNEG Animation	Netflix

In development

Film	Director	Notes	Refs
Foo	Chris Wedge	—N/a
Untitled film	Nick Bruno
Stray	TBA	Based on the game by BlueTwelve Studio
Untitled Moomin film	Rebecca Sugar	Based on the series by Tove Jansson Co-production with Moomin Characters and Pistor Productions

Television

Annapurna Pictures

Annapurna Television is the television production company of Annapurna Pictures, launched on September 27, 2016, and was formerly headed by HBO executive Sue Naegle. In January 2017, it was reported that Annapurna Television would produce the Coen brothers' first TV project, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Co-production</th><th>Network</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2019</td><td>Search and Destroy</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Hulu</td><td>TV pilot</td></tr><tr><td>Half-Empty</td><td></td><td>Amazon Prime Video</td></tr><tr><td>Soundtrack</td><td></td><td>Netflix</td><td>Canceled after one season</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>The Plot Against America</td><td></td><td>HBO</td><td>Miniseries</td></tr><tr><td>Monsterland</td><td></td><td>Hulu</td><td>Canceled after one season</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Hot Pink</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Amazon Prime Video</td><td>TV pilot</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Pam & Tommy</td><td></td><td>Hulu</td><td>Miniseries</td></tr><tr><td>The Staircase</td><td>Emipop What's Up Films</td><td>HBO Max</td></tr><tr><td>I Love That for You</td><td></td><td>Showtime</td><td>Canceled after one season</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Paul T. Goldman</td><td></td><td>Peacock</td><td>Miniseries</td></tr><tr><td>Dead Ringers</td><td>Morgan Creek Entertainment Astral Projection Amazon Studios</td><td>Amazon Prime Video</td></tr><tr><td>The Changeling</td><td>Dela Revoluciøn August 17 Apple Studios</td><td>Apple TV+</td><td>Canceled after one season</td></tr><tr><td>2024–present</td><td>Sausage Party: Foodtopia</td><td></td><td>Amazon Prime Video</td><td>Animated television series</td></tr></tbody></table>

Video games

Annapurna Pictures

Annapurna Interactive published its first video game, What Remains of Edith Finch, on April 25, 2017. What Remains of Edith Finch received "universal acclaim" on PC and "generally positive" reviews on PS4, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. Since 2017, Annapurna Interactive has also been responsible for publishing games including Twelve Minutes, Donut County, Kentucky Route Zero, Outer Wilds, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Wattam, Telling Lies, Neon White and Stray. The publisher has also provided funding and publication support for The Artful Escape by Beethoven & Dinosaur, Ashen by A44 and Gorogoa by Jason Roberts. Annapurna Pictures is partnering with Remedy Entertainment for the release of Control Resonant, a sequel to the 2019 action-adventure game Control.

Theatre

Annapurna Pictures

Annapurna Theatre produces plays and live shows on and off-Broadway, and on London's West End.

<table><thead><tr><th>Show date(s)</th><th>Title</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2018–2019</td><td>Nine Night</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Network</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Home I'm Darling</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019–ongoing</td><td>American Utopia</td><td>Also viewable in film format from HBO Max.</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</td><td>Also viewable in film format from National Theatre Live.</td></tr><tr><td>Fleabag</td></tr><tr><td>2019–ongoing</td><td>The Lehman Trilogy</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Death of a Salesman</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Betrayal</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021–ongoing</td><td>Company</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>A Strange Loop</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Reception

Annapurna Pictures

Some of the films produced by the company have received widespread critical acclaim. In 2013 alone, Her, American Hustle and The Grandmaster received a combined seventeen Academy Award nominations. Commercially, results have been mixed. Some films, such as The Master, Foxcatcher, Joy, Detroit and Vice, did not recoup their budgets while others, including Zero Dark Thirty, Sausage Party and American Hustle, grossed more than $100 million, with the latter earning more than $250 million worldwide.