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{{Short description|American film and television and distribution company}}
{{Redirect|MGM|the divested Las Vegas–based hotel and casino company|MGM Resorts International|other uses}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|MGM Distribution Co.|MGM Distribution}}
{{Pp-sock|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
| logo = [[File:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 2021.png|frameless]]
| logo_size = 250
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2021, featuring [[Leo the Lion (MGM)|Leo the Lion]]
| trade_name = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
| former_name = {{ubl|
* Metro-Goldwyn Pictures (1924)
* Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation (1924–1938)
* Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. (1938–1980)
* Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Co. (1980–1982)
* MGM/UA Entertainment Co. (1981–1986)
* MGM Entertainment Co. (1986–1987)
* MGM/UA Communications Co. (1987–1990)
* [[MGM-Pathé Communications|MGM-Pathé Communications Co.]] (1990–1992)
* Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (1993)}}
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = {{ubl|[[Film]]|[[Television]]}}
| predecessors = {{ubl|[[Metro Pictures|Metro Pictures Corporation]]|[[Goldwyn Pictures]]|[[Louis B. Mayer Pictures]]|[[United Artists]] (original)|[[Orion Pictures]] (original)}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1924|4|17}}
| founders = {{ubl|[[Marcus Loew]]|Frank Joseph Godsol<ref name="GoldwynMerger" />|[[Louis B. Mayer]]}}
| hq_location =
| hq_location_city = [[Culver City, California]]
| hq_location_country = United States
| area_served = Worldwide
| num_locations = 4
| key_people = Jennifer Salke ([[CEO]])<br>[[Mark Burnett]] ([[chairman]], [[MGM Television]])
| products = {{ubl|[[film|Motion pictures]]|[[Television show|Television programs]]|[[Broadcast network]]}}
| num_employees = 4,200
| num_employees_year = 2022
| owner =
| parent = {{ubl|[[Loews Cineplex Entertainment|Loew's, Inc.]] (1924–1959)|[[Turner Broadcasting System]] (1986)|[[Crédit Lyonnais]] (1992–1996)|[[MGM Holdings]] (2005–2023)|[[Amazon MGM Studios]] (2023–present)}}
| divisions = {{ubl|[[MGM Television]]|[[MGM+]]|[[MGM Home Entertainment]]}}
| subsid =
| website = {{URL|mgm.com}}
}}
'''Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.''' (also known as '''Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures''', commonly referred to as '''Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer''', commonly shortened to '''MGM''') is an American [[Film production|film]] and [[television production]] and [[film distribution|distribution]] company headquartered in [[Culver City, California]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Corporate – Contact Us |url=http://www.mgm.com/#/about/contactus |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206140638/http://mgm.com/#/about/contactus |archive-date=December 6, 2012 |access-date=January 19, 2003 |website=Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer}}</ref> Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was founded on April 17, 1924, and has been owned by the [[Amazon MGM Studios]] subsidiary of [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] since 2022.
MGM was formed by [[Marcus Loew]] by combining [[Metro Pictures]], [[Goldwyn Pictures]] and [[Louis B. Mayer Pictures]] into one company.<ref name="Eyman">{{cite book |last=Eyman |first=Scott |url=https://archive.org/details/lionofhollywoodl00eyma |title=Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer |date=2005 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=0743204816 |___location=New York |page=78}}</ref><ref name="Balio">{{cite book |last=Balio |first=Tino |url=https://archive.org/details/americanfilmindu0000unse |title=The American film industry |date=1985 |publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |isbn=0299098745 |edition=Revised |___location=Madison, Wisconsin |url-access=registration}}</ref> It hired a number of well-known actors as contract players—its slogan was "more stars than there are in heaven"—and soon became Hollywood's most prestigious filmmaking company, producing popular [[musical film]]s and winning many [[Academy Awards]]. MGM also owned film studios, movie lots, movie theaters and technical production facilities. Its most prosperous era, from 1926 to 1959, was bracketed by two productions of ''[[Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ#Film, radio, and television|Ben Hur]]''. It divested itself of the Loews movie theater chain and, in 1956, expanded into television production.
In 1969, businessman and investor [[Kirk Kerkorian]] bought 40% of MGM and dramatically changed the operation and direction of the studio.<ref name="mango-madness/MGM">{{cite web |title=A Brief History of MGM in Pictures |url=https://www.mango-madness.com/personal/MGM/index.php |website=mango-madness.com |access-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820222321/https://www.mango-madness.com/personal/MGM/index.php |url-status=live }}</ref> He hired new management, reduced the studio's output to about five films per year, and diversified its products, creating [[MGM Resorts International]] as a [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]]–based [[Megaresort|hotel and casino]] company. In 1980, the original incarnation of MGM spun off its film and television studio division to focus on its hotels and resorts, rebranding the company to '''Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Co.''' and in the following year, the studio acquired [[United Artists]] (UA). In 1986, Kerkorian sold MGM to [[Ted Turner]], who retained the rights to the MGM film library, sold the [[Sony Pictures Studios|studio lot in Culver City]] to [[Lorimar Television|Lorimar]], and sold the remnants of MGM back to Kerkorian a few months later. After Kerkorian sold and reacquired the company again in the 1990s, he expanded MGM by purchasing [[Orion Pictures]] and [[the Samuel Goldwyn Company]], including both of their film libraries. Finally, in 2005, Kerkorian sold MGM to a [[consortium]] that included [[Sony Pictures]].
MGM was listed on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] until 1986 when it was sold to Turner. The company had its third IPO on the same exchange in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/biz/news/lion-s-stock-offering-just-scratches-surface-111637108/|title= Lion's stock offering just scratches surface|first=Martin|last=Peers|date=1997-11-13|access-date=2025-04-08|work=Variety}}</ref>
In 2010, MGM filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization]].<ref name="businessweek.com">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-11-03/mgm-files-bankruptcy-rejecting-lions-gate-icahn-bid.html |title=Business News, Stock market & Financial Advice |magazine=Businessweek |access-date=August 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424215409/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-11-03/mgm-files-bankruptcy-rejecting-lions-gate-icahn-bid.html |archive-date=April 24, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="bankruptcy">{{cite web |url=http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2010/11/03/mgm-officially-file-bankruptcy |title=MGM Officially File for Bankruptcy |work=The Hollywood News |date=November 3, 2010 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=January 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104231137/https://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2010/11/03/mgm-officially-file-bankruptcy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After reorganization, it emerged from bankruptcy later that year under its creditors' ownership. Two former executives at [[Spyglass Entertainment]], [[Gary Barber]] and [[Roger Birnbaum]], became co-chairmen and co-CEOs of [[MGM Holdings|MGM's new holding company]].<ref name=MGM-2010-Restruc-00>{{cite news| url=https://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/CopyMGM.pdf| title=MGM 2010 Restructuring| publisher=online.wsj.com| access-date=January 5, 2012| archive-date=June 25, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625031118/https://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/CopyMGM.pdf| url-status=live}}</ref> After Barber's departure in 2018, the studio sought to be acquired by another company to pay its creditors.<ref>{{cite news |work=Los Angeles Times |title=James Bond studio MGM is exploring a sale. So who's buying? |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-12-21/james-bond-studio-mgm-is-exploring-a-sale |date=December 20, 2020 |first=Ryan |last=Faughnder |accessdate=May 9, 2021 |archive-date=December 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217045833/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-12-21/james-bond-studio-mgm-is-exploring-a-sale |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2021, Amazon acquired MGM for {{USD|8.45 billion}};<ref name="auto">{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |last2=Lang |first2=Brent |title=Amazon Buys MGM, Studio Behind James Bond, for $8.45 Billion |url=https://variety.com/2021/biz/news/amazon-buys-mgm-studio-behind-james-bond-for-8-45-billion-1234980526/ |access-date=May 26, 2021 |work=Variety |date=May 26, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125014617/https://variety.com/2021/biz/news/amazon-buys-mgm-studio-behind-james-bond-for-8-45-billion-1234980526/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the deal closed in March 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=March 17, 2022 |title=Amazon Closes $8.5 Billion Acquisition of MGM |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/amazon-mgm-merger-close-1235207852/ |access-date=March 17, 2022 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404000745/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/amazon-mgm-merger-close-1235207852/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2023, Amazon Studios absorbed MGM Holdings and rebranded itself as Amazon MGM Studios.<ref name=":2" /> As of 2023, its most commercially successful film franchises include ''[[James Bond]]'' and ''[[Rocky (franchise)|Rocky]]'', while its most recent television productions include ''[[Fargo (TV series)|Fargo]]'' and ''[[The Handmaid's Tale (TV series)|The Handmaid's Tale]]''.
As a subsidiary of Amazon MGM Studios, MGM is a member of the [[Motion Picture Association]] (MPA); it was a founding member before leaving in the 2005 acquisition.
{{Toclimit|3}}
==Overview==
[[File:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo.svg|thumb|class=skin-invert|Alternative MGM logo]]
MGM was the last studio to convert to sound pictures—nonetheless, from the end of the [[silent film|silent film era]] through the late 1950s, it was the dominant motion picture studio in Hollywood.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Johnson|first1=Daniel H.|last2=Bohn|first2=Thomas W.|last3=Stromgren|first3=Richard L.|title=Light & Shadows|date=1978|publisher=Alfred|___location=Sherman Oaks, California|isbn=0882840576|edition=2nd}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Gomery|first=Douglas|title=The Coming of Sound|date=2005|publisher=Routledge|___location=New York|isbn=0415969018}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}} It was slow to respond to the changing legal, economic, and demographic nature of the motion picture industry during the 1950s and 1960s;<ref name="Maltby">{{cite book|last=Maltby|first=Richard|title=Hollywood Cinema|date=2003|publisher=Blackwell Publishing|___location=Oxford, UK|isbn=0631216154|edition=2nd}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}}<ref name="Wyatt">{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Jon|title=The New American Cinema|date=1999|publisher=Duke University Press|___location=Durham|isbn=0822321157|edition=3rd|page=[https://archive.org/details/newamericancinem00lewi/page/93 93]|url=https://archive.org/details/newamericancinem00lewi/page/93}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}}<ref name="Browne">{{cite book|last1=Browne|first1=Ray B.|last2=Browne|first2=Pat|title=Defining Concise Guide to United States Popular Culture|date=2000|publisher=Bowling Green State University Popular Press|___location=Bowling Green, Ohio|isbn=0879728213}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}} and although its films often did well at the box office, it lost significant amounts of money throughout the 1960s.<ref name="Wyatt"/><ref name="Browne"/> In 1966, MGM was sold to Canadian investor [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]], whose son [[Edgar Bronfman Jr.|Edgar Jr.]] would later buy [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2014}} Three years later, an increasingly unprofitable MGM was bought by [[Kirk Kerkorian]], who slashed staff and production costs, forced the studio to produce low-quality, low-budget fare, and then ceased theatrical distribution in 1973.<ref name="Browne"/> The studio continued to produce five to six films a year that were distributed through other studios, usually [[United Artists]] (UA). Kerkorian did, however, commit to increased production and an expanded film library when he bought UA in 1981.{{Citation needed|date=August 2014}}
MGM ramped up internal production, and kept production going at UA, which was continuing to thrive, particularly with the lucrative [[James Bond (film series)|James Bond]] film franchise.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cook|first=David A.|title=Lost Illusions: American Cinema in the Shadow of Watergate and Vietnam, 1970–1979|date=2000|publisher=Scribner|___location=New York|isbn=0684804638|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofamerica0000unse_x8l5}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}} It also incurred significant amounts of debt to increase production.<ref>{{cite book|last=Prince|first=Stephen|title=A New Pot of Gold: Hollywood Under the Electronic Rainbow, 1980–1989|date=1999|publisher=Macmillan Library Reference|___location=Old Tappan, New Jersey|isbn=068480493X|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofamerica0000unse_x8l5}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}} The studio took on additional debt as a series of owners took charge in the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1986, [[Ted Turner]] bought MGM, but a few months later, sold the company back to Kerkorian to recoup massive debt, while keeping the library assets for himself. The series of deals left MGM even more heavily in debt.<ref name="Bart"/> MGM was bought by [[Pathé|Pathé Communications]] (led by Italian publishing magnate [[Giancarlo Parretti]]) in 1990, but Parretti lost control of Pathé and defaulted on the loans used to purchase the studio.<ref name="Browne"/><ref name="Bart"/> The French banking conglomerate [[Crédit Lyonnais]], the studio's major creditor, then took control of MGM.<ref name="Browne"/><ref name="Bart"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/08/business/the-media-business-bank-takes-mgm-pathe.html|title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Bank Takes MGM-Pathe|date=May 8, 1992|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 31, 2019|agency=Associated Press|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325121451/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/08/business/the-media-business-bank-takes-mgm-pathe.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Even more deeply in debt, MGM was purchased by a joint venture between Kerkorian, producer [[Frank Mancuso Sr.|Frank Mancuso]], and Australia's [[Seven Network]] in 1996.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/18/business/international-briefs-seven-network-criticized-for-mgm-purchase.html|title=INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS;Seven Network Criticized For MGM Purchase|date=July 18, 1996|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 20, 2014|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211534/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/18/business/international-briefs-seven-network-criticized-for-mgm-purchase.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
The debt load from these and subsequent business deals negatively affected MGM's ability to survive as an independent motion picture studio. After a bidding war which included [[Time Warner]] (the current parent of [[Turner Broadcasting System|Turner Broadcasting]]) and [[General Electric]] (the owners of the [[NBC]] television network at the time), MGM was acquired on September 23, 2004, by a partnership consisting of [[Sony Corporation of America]], [[Comcast]], [[TPG Capital|Texas Pacific Group]] (now TPG Capital, L.P.), [[Providence Equity Partners]], and other investors.<ref>{{cite news |author=Andrew Ross Sorkin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/01/business/time-warner-is-said-to-join-mgm-bidding.html |title=Time Warner Is Said to Join MGM Bidding – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=July 1, 2004 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426210954/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/01/business/time-warner-is-said-to-join-mgm-bidding.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E7DF1E39F937A1575AC0A9629C8B63&scp=24&sq=MGM+Sony&st=nyt |title=Company News – Consortium Led By Sony Locks Up Mgm Deal |website=The New York Times |date=September 24, 2004 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211839/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E7DF1E39F937A1575AC0A9629C8B63&scp=24&sq=MGM+Sony&st=nyt |url-status=live }}</ref>
After its bankruptcy in 2010, MGM reorganized, with its creditors' $4 billion debt transferred to ownership. MGM's creditors controlled MGM through MGM Holdings, a private company. New management of its film and television production divisions was installed.
==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2014}}
===Founding and early years===
[[File:1925 MGM Studio Tour.webm|thumb|thumbtime=49|left|The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio in 1925]]
In 1924, movie theater magnate [[Marcus Loew]] had a problem. He had bought [[Metro Pictures|Metro Pictures Corporation]] in 1919 for $3 million, to provide a steady supply of films for his large [[Loews Cineplex Entertainment|Loew's Theatres]] chain.{{sfn|Hay|1991|p=15}} However, he found that his new property only provided a lackluster assortment of films. Seeking to solve this problem, Loew purchased [[Goldwyn Pictures]] in 1924 for $5 million to improve the quality of the theaters' products.{{sfn|Hay|1991|p=15}} Loew acquired the Goldwyn studio - including its [[Culver City]] studio lot, its [[Leo the Lion]] "Ars Gratia Artis" slogan, and its contracted stars and projects - after negotiations with its president, Frank Joseph Godsol, as [[Samuel Goldwyn]] had lost control of the company he'd renamed himself after in 1922.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eyman |first=Scott |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jid5xNh89wgC&dq=frank+godsol+goldwyn+pictures&pg=PA71 |title=Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer |date=2008-06-23 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-4391-0791-1 |pages=71–73 |language=en}}</ref> Goldwyn reluctantly sold his remaining interest in Goldwyn Pictures to Loew for $1 million.<ref name="GoldwynMerger">{{Cite book |last=Berg |first=A. Scott |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YjwTszlu7DsC&q=godsol |title=Goldwyn: A Biography |date=1998-10-01 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-101-49735-7 |pages=117–119 |language=en}}</ref>
However, these purchases created a need for someone to oversee his new Hollywood operations, since longtime assistant [[Nicholas Schenck]] was needed in New York headquarters to oversee the 150 theaters. A solution came in the person of [[Louis B. Mayer]], head of Louis B. Mayer Pictures. Loew bought the Mayer studio for $75,000.{{sfn|Hay|1991|p=15}} Loews Incorporated completed the merger of the Loews theater chain and the three studios on April 17, 1924, celebrated with a fete on April 26, 1924.{{sfn|Hay|1991|pp=19–20}} Mayer became head of the renamed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, with 24-year-old [[Irving Thalberg]] as head of production.<ref name=fu/> Final approval over budgets and contracts rested with New York City-based Loews Inc., while production decisions rested with the production headquarters in Culver City.{{sfn|Hay|1991|p=15}}
MGM produced more than 100 feature films in its first two years. In 1925, MGM released the extravagant and successful ''[[Ben-Hur (1925 film)|Ben-Hur]]'', taking a $4.7 million profit that year, its first full year.<ref name=fu/> Also in 1925, MGM, [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[UFA GmbH|UFA]] formed a joint German distributor, [[Parufamet]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Brettin |first=Michael |title=100 Jahre Ufa: Traum ab! |url=https://www.berliner-kurier.de/berlin/kiez---stadt/100-jahre-ufa-traum-ab--28423160 |access-date=January 31, 2019 |work=Berliner-Kurier.de |date=September 17, 2017 |language=de-DE }}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.berliner-kurier.de%2Fberlin%2Fkiez---stadt%2F100-jahre-ufa-traum-ab--28423160 Translation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325121442/https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.berliner-kurier.de%2Fberlin%2Fkiez---stadt%2F100-jahre-ufa-traum-ab--28423160 |date=March 25, 2019 }}</ref>
Marcus Loew died in 1927, and control of Loew's passed to Nicholas Schenck. In 1929, [[William Fox (producer)|William Fox]] of [[Fox Film|Fox Film Corporation]] bought the Loew family's holdings with Schenck's assent. Mayer and Thalberg disagreed with the decision. Mayer was active in the [[California Republican Party]] and used his political connections to persuade the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] to delay final approval of the deal on [[Competition law|antitrust]] grounds. During this time, in the summer of 1929, Fox was badly hurt in an automobile accident. By the time he recovered, the [[Wall Street Crash of 1929|stock market crash]] in the fall of 1929 had nearly wiped Fox out and ended any chance of the Loew's merger going through. Schenck and Mayer had never gotten along (Mayer reportedly referred to his boss as "Mr. Skunk"),{{sfn|Hay|1991}}{{Page needed|date=February 2017}} and the abortive Fox merger increased the animosity between the two men.
===1920s and 1930s===
[[File:Clark Gable - publicity.JPG|right|thumb|upright|[[Clark Gable]]]]
From the outset, MGM tapped into the audience's need for glamor and sophistication. Having inherited few big names from their predecessor companies, Mayer and Thalberg began at once to create and publicize a host of new stars, among them [[Joan Crawford]], [[Greta Garbo]], [[John Gilbert (actor)|John Gilbert]], [[William Haines]], and [[Norma Shearer]] (who followed Thalberg from Universal and eventually married him). Established names such as [[Wallace Beery]], [[Lon Chaney]], [[Buster Keaton]], and [[William Powell]] were hired from other studios. They also hired top directors such as [[Clarence Brown]], [[Tod Browning]], [[Victor Seastrom]], [[King Vidor]] and [[Erich von Stroheim]]. The arrival of talking pictures in 1928–29 gave opportunities to other new stars, many of whom would carry MGM through the 1930s: [[Clark Gable]], [[Nelson Eddy]], [[Jean Harlow]], [[Myrna Loy]], [[Jeanette MacDonald]] (often paired with Eddy), [[Robert Montgomery (actor)|Robert Montgomery]], [[Robert Taylor (American actor)|Robert Taylor]], and [[Spencer Tracy]] among them.
MGM was one of the first studios to experiment with filming in [[Technicolor]]. Using the two-color Technicolor process then available, MGM filmed portions of ''[[The Uninvited Guest (1924 film)|The Uninvited Guest]]'' (1924), ''[[The Big Parade]]'' (1925), and ''[[Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' (1925), among others, in the process. MGM released ''[[The Viking (1928 film)|The Viking]]'' (1928), the first complete Technicolor feature with a synchronized score and sound effects, but no spoken dialogue.
With the arrival of "[[talkies]]", MGM moved slowly and reluctantly into the sound era, releasing features such as ''[[White Shadows in the South Seas]]'' (1928) with music and sound effects, and ''[[Alias Jimmy Valentine (1928 film)|Alias Jimmy Valentine]]'' (1928) with limited dialogue sequences. Their first full-fledged talkie, the musical ''[[The Broadway Melody]]'' (1929), however, was both a box-office success and won the [[Academy Award]] as Best Picture of the Year.
MGM was the last major studio to convert to sound. The studio's first all-color, "all-talking" sound feature with dialogue was the musical ''[[The Rogue Song]]'' in 1930. MGM included a sequence made in Technicolor's superior new three-color process, a musical number in the otherwise black-and-white ''[[The Cat and the Fiddle (film)|The Cat and the Fiddle]]'' (1934), starring Jeanette MacDonald and [[Ramon Novarro]]. The studio then produced a number of three-color short subjects including the musical ''[[La Fiesta de Santa Barbara]]'' (1935); the first complete Technicolor feature was ''[[Sweethearts (1938 film)|Sweethearts]]'' (1938) with MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, the earlier of the popular singing team's two films in color. From then on, MGM regularly produced several films a year in Technicolor with ''[[Northwest Passage (film)|Northwest Passage]]'' (1939) being one of the most notable of this era.
[[File:DresslerBeeryJordanMinBill1930Trailer.jpg|thumb|[[Marie Dressler]] and [[Wallace Beery]] in ''[[Min and Bill]]'' (1930)]]
In addition to a large short-subjects program of its own, MGM also distributed the shorts and features produced by [[Hal Roach#Hal Roach Studios|Hal Roach Studios]], including comedy shorts starring [[Laurel and Hardy]], [[Our Gang]] and [[Charley Chase]]. The studio's distribution deal with Roach lasted from 1927 to 1938, and MGM benefited in particular from the success of the popular Laurel and Hardy films. In 1938, MGM purchased the rights to the Our Gang series from Roach and production of the successful series moved to the MGM studios, where it continued until 1944.<ref name="OurGangSale">{{cite book|last=Ward|first=Richard Lewis|title=A History of the Hal Roach Studios|date=2005|publisher=Southern Illinois U.P.|___location=Carbondale|isbn=080932637X|pages=116, 225}}</ref> From 1929 to 1931, MGM produced a series of comedy shorts called ''[[Dogville Comedies|All Barkie Dogville Comedies]]'', in which trained dogs were dressed up to parody contemporary films and were voiced by actors. One of the shorts, ''[[The Dogway Melody]]'' (1930), spoofed MGM's hit 1929 musical ''[[The Broadway Melody]]''.
MGM entered the music industry by purchasing the "Big Three" starting with [[Miller Music Publishing Co.]] in 1934, then Robbins Music Corporation.<ref name=tpa>{{cite book|last=Jasen|first=David A.|title=Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of American Song|date=2003|publisher=[[Routledge]]|___location=London|isbn=9780203502464|page=127|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=65zkcD3O6w8C&pg=PA127|access-date=January 8, 2016|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510143117/https://books.google.com/books?id=65zkcD3O6w8C&pg=PA127|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1935, MGM acquired a controlling interest in the capital stock of [[Leo Feist, Inc.]], the last of the Big Three.<ref name=tpa/> In the [[1934 California gubernatorial election]] Democratic nominee [[Upton Sinclair]] ran against Republican incumbent [[Frank Merriam]], the latter of whom MGM supported. MGM and other film studios deducted a day's pay from each of their employees to raise an anti-Sinclair fund that amounted to $500,000. [[Irving Thalberg]] was to lead MGM's anti-Sinclair campaign and the studio recruited [[Carey Wilson (writer)|Carey Wilson]] to create a series of anti-Sinclair propaganda films. These films, directed by [[Felix E. Feist]], included fake newsreels of Sinclair supporters who were portrayed as bums and criminals. They were shown in California movie theaters, with one episode featuring hired actors as Sinclair supporters speaking with foreign accents.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Critchlow |first1=Donald T. |title=When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics |date=2013 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=26–27}}</ref>
[[File:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 1924-1964.png|left|thumb|class=skin-invert|The first print logo of MGM used from 1924 to 1964.]]
During the 1930s, MGM produced approximately 50 pictures a year, though it never met its goal of releasing a new motion picture each and every week (it was only able to release one feature film every nine days). Loew's 153 theaters were mostly located in New York, the Northeast, and Deep South; ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'' (1939) had its world premiere at [[Loew's Grand Theatre]] in Atlanta, Georgia. A fine reputation was gained for lavish productions that were sophisticated and polished to cater to an urban audience. Still, as the [[Great Depression]] deepened, MGM began to economize by "recycling" existing sets, costumes, and furnishings from previous projects. This recycling practice never let up once started. In addition, MGM saved money because it was the only one of the big five studios that did not own an off-site [[movie ranch]]. Until the mid-1950s, MGM could make a claim its rivals could not: the studio never lost money, although it did produce an occasional disaster such as ''[[Parnell (film)|Parnell]]'' (1937), Clark Gable's biggest flop. MGM was the only Hollywood studio that continued to pay dividends during the 1930s.
[[File:Spencer tracy fury.jpg|thumb|[[Spencer Tracy]] in ''[[Fury (1936 film)|Fury]]'' (1936)]]
MGM stars dominated the box office during the 1930s, and the studio was credited for inventing the Hollywood stable-of-stars system as well. MGM contracted with the American Musical Academy of Arts Association to handle all of their press and artist development. The AMAAA's main function was to develop the budding stars and to make them appealing to the public. Stars such as Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Myrna Loy, Jeanette MacDonald and Norma Shearer, reigned as the top-paid figures at the studio. Another MGM actress of the era, [[Jean Harlow]], who had previously appeared in the [[Howard Hughes]] film ''[[Hell's Angels (film)|Hell's Angels]]'' (1930), now had a big break and became a Hollywood sex symbol and one of MGM's most admired stars. Despite Harlow's gain, Garbo arguably remained the biggest star at MGM. Shearer was still a money maker despite her screen appearances becoming scarce, and Crawford continued her box-office popularity until 1937. MGM also received a boost through the man who would become known as "King of Hollywood", Clark Gable. Gable's career took off to new heights after he won an Oscar for the [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]] film ''[[It Happened One Night]]'' (1934).
Mayer and Irving Thalberg's association began warmly, but eventually relations between the two became strained; Thalberg preferred literary works and expensive costume pictures over the lower-budget, family-oriented crowd pleasers Mayer wanted. Thalberg, always physically frail, was removed as head of production in 1932. Mayer encouraged other staff producers, among them his son-in-law [[David O. Selznick]], but no one seemed to have the sure touch of Thalberg. As Thalberg's health deteriorated in 1936, Mayer could now serve as his temporary replacement. Rumors had begun circulating for some time that Thalberg was leaving MGM to set up his own independent company;{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} his premature death at age 37 in September 1936 cost MGM dearly.<ref name=fu/>
After Thalberg's untimely death, Mayer became head of production, as well as studio chief, becoming the first million-dollar executive in American history. The company remained profitable, and an increase in MGM's "series" pictures (''[[Andy Hardy]]'' starring [[Mickey Rooney]], ''[[Maisie (1939 film)|Maisie]]'' starring [[Ann Sothern]], ''[[The Thin Man (film)|The Thin Man]]'' starring [[William Powell]] and [[Myrna Loy]], and ''[[Dr. Kildare]]/[[Dr. Gillespie]]'' with [[Lew Ayres]] and [[Lionel Barrymore]]) is cited as evidence of Mayer's restored influence. Also playing a huge role was [[Ida Koverman]], Mayer's secretary and right hand.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bernadotte |first=Sigvard |author-link=Sigvard Bernadotte |title=Krona eller klave |date=1976 |publisher=Bonnier |___location=Stockholm |isbn=9100404152|page=151}}</ref>
[[File:The Wizard of Oz Lahr Garland Bolger Haley 1939.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8| [[Bert Lahr]], [[Judy Garland]], [[Ray Bolger]] and [[Jack Haley]] in ''[[The Wizard of Oz]]'' (1939), which since its release became one of MGM's most iconic and beloved films.]]
In 1937, Mayer hired [[Mervyn LeRoy]], a former [[Warner Bros.]] producer/director as MGM's top producer and Thalberg's replacement.{{sfn|Hay|1991|pp=169-70}} LeRoy convinced Mayer to acquire the film rights to the popular children's book ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]''; MGM purchased the rights from [[Samuel Goldwyn]] for $75,000 in 1938.<ref>{{cite book|last=Harmetz|first=Aljean|title=The Making of the Wizard of Oz|date=1977|publisher=Alfred K. Knopf|___location=New York|page=3|postscript=,}} cited in {{cite journal|last=Rudolph|first=Kalie|title=The Golden Era of Hollywood: The Making of ''The Wizard of Oz'' and ''Gone with the Wind''|journal=Voces Novae: Chapman University Historical Review|date=June 28, 2011|volume=3|issue=1|url=http://journals.chapman.edu/ojs/index.php/VocesNovae/article/view/203/481|access-date=May 12, 2017|language=en|archive-date=May 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502181157/http://journals.chapman.edu/ojs/index.php/VocesNovae/article/view/203/481|url-status=dead}}</ref>
MGM's hits in 1939 included ''[[The Wizard of Oz]]''; ''[[Ninotchka]]'', starring [[Greta Garbo]]; ''[[The Women (1939 film)|The Women]]'', starring [[Joan Crawford]] and [[Norma Shearer]]; and ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'', starring [[Vivien Leigh]] as [[Scarlett O'Hara]] and Clark Gable as [[Rhett Butler]]. Although ''Gone With the Wind'' was produced by [[Selznick International Pictures]], the film was distributed by MGM as part of a deal for producer [[David O. Selznick]], Mayer's son-in-law, to obtain the services of Gable as well as financial assistance necessary for Selznick to complete the film. After Selznick International foundered in 1944, MGM acquired the full rights to ''Gone With the Wind''.<ref name=fu/> While ''The Wizard of Oz'' was a critical hit, the production costs for the film were so expensive it took 20 years before it turned a profit.<ref>{{cite book |first=Susan |last=Sacket |title=The Hollywood Reporter Book of Box Office Hits |___location=New York |publisher=Billboard Books |date=1996 |page=18 |postscript=,}} cited in {{cite journal |last=Rudolph |first=Kalie |title=The Golden Era of Hollywood: The Making of ''The Wizard of Oz'' and ''Gone with the Wind'' |journal=Voces Novae: Chapman University Historical Review |date=June 28, 2011 |volume=3 |issue=1 |url=http://journals.chapman.edu/ojs/index.php/VocesNovae/article/view/203/481 |access-date=May 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502181157/http://journals.chapman.edu/ojs/index.php/VocesNovae/article/view/203/481 |archive-date=May 2, 2017}}</ref>
===1940s===
Within one year, beginning in 1942, Mayer released his five highest-paid actresses from their MGM contracts: Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Myrna Loy, Jeanette MacDonald and Norma Shearer. After being labeled "[[Box Office Poison (magazine article)|box office poison]]", Crawford's MGM contract was terminated and she moved to Warner Brothers, where her career took a dramatic upturn. Garbo and Shearer never made another film after leaving the lot. Of the five stars, Loy and MacDonald were the only two whom Mayer later rehired, in 1947 and 1948 respectively; Crawford returned to MGM after Mayer's departure for the musical drama ''[[Torch Song (1953 film)|Torch Song]]'' in 1953.
Increasingly, before and during World War II, Mayer came to rely on his "College of Cardinals"—senior producers who controlled the studio's output. This management-by-committee resulted in MGM losing its momentum, developing few new stars, and relying on the safety of sequels and bland material. ([[Dorothy Parker]] memorably referred to the studio as "Metro-Goldwyn-Merde".<ref>{{cite book|last=Silverstein|first=Stuart Y.|title=Not Much Fun: The Lost Poems of Dorothy Parker|date=2001|publisher=Scribner Poetry|___location=New York|isbn=0743211480|edition=1st|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/notmuchfunlostpo0000park}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}}) Production values remained high, and even [[B movie|"B" pictures]] carried a polish and gloss that made them expensive to mount. After 1940, production was cut from 50 pictures a year to a more manageable 25 features per year. During this period, MGM released several very successful [[musical film|musicals]] with stars such as [[Fred Astaire]], [[Judy Garland]], [[Gene Kelly]], and [[Frank Sinatra]].
===1950s===
Audiences began drifting to television in the late 1940s, and MGM and the other studios were finding it increasingly difficult to attract them to theaters. With its high overhead expenses, MGM's profit margins continued to decrease. Word came from [[Nicholas Schenck]] in New York to find "a new Thalberg" who could improve quality while paring costs. Mayer thought he had found this savior in [[Dore Schary]], a writer and producer who had found success at running [[RKO Pictures]]. Lavish musicals were Schary's focus, and hits like ''[[Easter Parade (film)|Easter Parade]]'' (1948), ''[[Annie Get Your Gun (film)|Annie Get Your Gun]]'' (1950) and the popular musical films of tenor [[Mario Lanza]], including ''[[That Midnight Kiss]]'' (1949) and ''[[The Great Caruso]]'' (1951), helped to keep MGM profitable during this period.<ref name=fu/>
In August 1951, Louis B. Mayer was fired by MGM's East Coast executives<ref>{{cite web |url=http://biography.yourdictionary.com/louis-burt-mayer |title=Louis Burt Mayer Facts |publisher=Biography.yourdictionary.com |access-date=February 24, 2015 |archive-date=February 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224035516/http://biography.yourdictionary.com/louis-burt-mayer |url-status=live }}</ref> and he was replaced by Schary. Gradually cutting loose expensive contract players (including $6,000-a-week Judy Garland in 1950 and "King of Hollywood" Clark Gable in 1954), saving money by recycling existing movie sets instead of building costly new scenery, and reworking expensive old costumes, Schary managed to keep the studio running much as it had through the early 1940s, though his sensibilities for hard-edged, message movies would never bear much fruit. One bright spot continued to be MGM's musical pictures, under the aegis of producer [[Arthur Freed]], who was operating what amounted to an independent unit within the studio. During the 1950's, MGM produced some well-regarded and profitable musicals that would later be acknowledged as classics, among them ''[[An American in Paris (film)|An American in Paris]]'' (1951), ''[[Singin' in the Rain]]'' (1952), and ''[[Seven Brides for Seven Brothers]]'' (1954). However, ''[[Brigadoon (film)|Brigadoon]]'' (1954), ''[[Deep in My Heart (1954 film)|Deep in My Heart]]'' (1954), ''[[It's Always Fair Weather]]'' (1955), ''[[Invitation to the Dance (film)|Invitation to the Dance]]'' (1956), and ''[[Les Girls]]'' (1957) were extravagant song and dance flops, and even ''[[The Band Wagon]]'' (1953) and ''[[Silk Stockings (1957 film)|Silk Stockings]]'' (1957), two musicals that are now considered classics and among the studio's best, lost money upon their initial releases.
[[File:Singin' in the Rain trailer.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Gene Kelly]], [[Donald O'Connor]] and [[Debbie Reynolds]] in ''[[Singin' in the Rain]]'' (1952)]]
In 1952, as a settlement of the government's restraint-of-trade action, ''[[United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc.]]'' 334 US 131 (1948), [[Loews Cineplex Entertainment|Loews, Inc.]] gave up control of MGM.<ref name=fu/> It would take another five years before the interlocking arrangements were completely undone, by which time both Loews and MGM were losing money. In 1956, Schary was ousted from MGM in another power struggle against the New York-based executives.<ref>{{cite web|last=Murphy |first=Mekado |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/110121/Dore-Schary |title=Movies – The New York Times |access-date=June 1, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527173723/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/110121/Dore-Schary |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2008 |archive-date=May 27, 2008}}</ref> Cost overruns and the failure of the big-budget epic ''[[Raintree County (film)|Raintree County]]'' (1957) prompted the studio to terminate Schary's contract.
Schary's reign at MGM had been marked with few legitimate hits, but his departure (along with the retirement of Schenck in 1955) left a power vacuum that would prove difficult to fill. Initially [[Joseph Vogel (executive)|Joseph Vogel]] became president and [[Sol Siegel]] head of production. In 1957 (by coincidence, the year Mayer died), the studio lost money for the first time in its 34-year history.<ref name=fu/> After [[Spencer Tracy]] left MGM in 1955, the only major star remaining under contract from MGM's heyday was [[Robert Taylor (American actor)|Robert Taylor]]; by 1960, MGM had released Taylor and the last of its contract players, with many either retiring or moving on to television.
In 1958, MGM released what is generally considered its last great musical, Arthur Freed's Cinemascope color production of ''[[Gigi (1958 film)|Gigi]]'', starring [[Leslie Caron]], [[Maurice Chevalier]], and [[Louis Jourdan]]. It was adapted from the novel by [[Colette]], and written by the team of [[Lerner and Loewe]], who also wrote ''My Fair Lady'' and ''Camelot''. ''Gigi'' was a box-office and critical success which won nine [[Academy Award]]s, including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]. From it came several hit songs, including "Thank Heaven For Little Girls", "I Remember It Well", the "Waltz at Maxim's", and the Oscar-winning title song. The film was the last MGM musical to win a Best Picture Oscar, an honor that had previously gone to ''[[The Broadway Melody]]'' (1929), ''[[The Great Ziegfeld]]'' (1936), and ''[[An American in Paris (film)|An American in Paris]]'' (1951). The last musical film produced by the "[[Arthur Freed|Freed Unit]]" was an adaptation of the Broadway musical ''[[Bells Are Ringing (film)|Bells Are Ringing]]'' (1960) with [[Judy Holliday]] and [[Dean Martin]]. However, MGM did release later musical films, including an adaptation of [[Meredith Willson]]'s ''[[The Unsinkable Molly Brown (film)|The Unsinkable Molly Brown]]'' (1964) with [[Debbie Reynolds]] and [[Harve Presnell]].
===MGM enters television===
MGM's first television program, ''[[MGM Parade|The MGM Parade]]'', was produced by MGM's trailer department as one of the compilation and promotional shows that imitated Disney's series ''[[Walt Disney anthology television series|Disneyland]]''<ref>{{cite book|last=Segrave|first=Kerry|title=Movies at Home: How Hollywood Came to Television|date=1999|publisher=McFarland|___location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=0786406542|pages=33, 34|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IZTehB3M1_kC&q=In+1955,+MGM+launched+Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer+Television+-wiki&pg=PA31|access-date=January 8, 2016|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510142532/https://books.google.com/books?id=IZTehB3M1_kC&q=In+1955,+MGM+launched+Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer+Television+-wiki&pg=PA31|url-status=live}}</ref> which was also on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. ''Parade'' was canceled by ABC in the second quarter of 1956.<ref name=bb>{{cite news|title=M-G-M Makes Triple Move into TV Field|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=20QEAAAAMBAJ&q=MGM-TV&pg=PA8|access-date=January 7, 2016|magazine=Billboard|date=June 30, 1956|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126135818/https://books.google.com/books?id=20QEAAAAMBAJ&q=MGM-TV&pg=PA8|url-status=live}}</ref> MGM took bids for its movie library in 1956 from Lou Chesler and others, but decided on entering the television market itself. Chesler had offered $50 million for the film library.<ref name=bb/> [[MGM Television]] was started with the hiring of Bud Barry to head up the operation in June 1956. [[MGM Television]] was to distribute its films to television (starting with the networks), television production and purchasing television stations. Television production was expected to start with the 1957–58 season and was to include half-hour remakes of, or series based on, its pictures. Initial feature film sales focused on selling to the networks.<ref name=bb/>
The year 1957 also marked the end of MGM's animation department, as the studio determined it could generate the same amount of revenue by reissuing older cartoons as it could by producing and releasing new ones.<ref>Barbera, J: ''How Bill & Joe met Tom & Jerry'', interviews with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Warner Home Video, 2005</ref> William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, by then the heads of the MGM cartoon studio, took most of their unit and made their own company, [[Hanna-Barbera|Hanna-Barbera Productions]], a successful producer of television animation.
In 1956, MGM sold the television rights for ''The Wizard of Oz'' to [[CBS]], which scheduled it to be shown in November of that year. In a landmark event, the film became the first American theatrical fiction film to be shown complete in one evening on prime time television over a major American commercial network. ([[Laurence Olivier]]'s version of ''[[Hamlet (1948 film)|Hamlet]]'' was shown on prime time network television a month later, but split in half over two weeks, and the 1950 film, ''[[The Titan: Story of Michelangelo]]'' was telecast by ABC in 1952, but that was a documentary.) Beginning in 1959, and lasting until 1991, telecasts of ''The Wizard of Oz'' became an annual tradition, drawing huge audiences in homes all over the United States and earning additional profits for MGM. The studio was all too happy to see ''Oz'' become, through television, one of the two or three most famous films MGM has ever made, and one of the few films that nearly everybody in the United States has seen at least once. Today ''The Wizard of Oz'' is regularly shown on the [[Ted Turner|Turner]]-owned channels, no longer just once a year.
===
{{Main|Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio}}
In animation, MGM purchased the rights in 1930 to distribute a series of cartoons that starred a character named [[Flip the Frog]], produced by [[Ub Iwerks]]. The first cartoon in this series (titled ''[[Fiddlesticks (1930 film)|Fiddlesticks]]'') was the first sound cartoon to be produced in two-color Technicolor. In 1933, Ub Iwerks canceled the unsuccessful Flip the Frog series and MGM began to distribute its second series of cartoons, starring a character named [[Willie Whopper]], that was also produced by Iwerks.{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}}
In 1934, after Iwerks' distribution contract expired, MGM contracted with animation producers/directors [[Harman and Ising|Hugh Harman and Rudolph Ising]] to produce a new series of color cartoons. Harman and Ising came to MGM after breaking ties with [[Leon Schlesinger]] and Warner Bros. and brought with them their popular ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' character, [[Bosko]]. These were known as ''[[Happy Harmonies]]'', and in many ways resembled the ''Looney Tunes''{{'}} sister series, ''[[Merrie Melodies]]''. The ''Happy Harmonies'' regularly ran over budget, and MGM dismissed Harman and Ising in 1937 to start its own [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio|animation studio]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/harman-isings-little-buck-cheeser-1937/|title=Harman-Ising's "Little Buck Cheeser" (1937) {{!}}|website=cartoonresearch.com|access-date=February 8, 2019|archive-date=March 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314005007/http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/harman-isings-little-buck-cheeser-1937/|url-status=live}}</ref>
After initial struggles with a poorly received series of ''[[The Captain and the Kids (MGM animated series)|The Captain and the Kids]]'' cartoons, the studio rehired Harman and Ising in 1939, and Ising created the studio's first successful animated character, [[Barney Bear]]. However, MGM's biggest cartoon stars would come in the form of the cat-and-mouse duo [[Tom and Jerry]], created by [[William Hanna]] and [[Joseph Barbera]] in 1940. The ''Tom and Jerry'' cartoons won seven [[Academy Award]]s between 1943 and 1953. In 1941, [[Tex Avery]], another Schlesinger alumnus, joined the animation department. Avery gave the unit its image, with successes such as ''[[Red Hot Riding Hood]]'', ''[[Swing Shift Cinderella]]'', and the ''[[Droopy]]'' series.
Avery left the studio in 1953, leaving Hanna and Barbera to focus on the popular ''Tom and Jerry'' and ''Droopy'' series. After 1955, all cartoons were filmed in [[CinemaScope]] until MGM closed its cartoon division in 1957.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://blog.bcdb.com/animation-history-timeline-5/|title=Animation History 5 – Feature Films through TV Series {{!}} Big Cartoon News|access-date=April 27, 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200524002131/https://blog.bcdb.com/animation-history-timeline-5/|archive-date=May 24, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 1961, MGM resumed the release of new ''Tom and Jerry'' shorts, and production moved to Rembrandt Films in [[Prague]], [[Czechoslovakia]] (now the Czech Republic) under the supervision of [[Gene Deitch]], who had been hired away from [[Terrytoons]]. Although Deitch's ''Tom and Jerry'' cartoons were considered to be vastly inferior to the earlier Hanna and Barbera shorts, they did receive positive reviews in some quarters.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rotoscopers.com/2015/06/21/tom-and-jerry-the-gene-deitch-collection-dvd-review/ | title='Tom and Jerry: The Gene Deitch Collection' – DVD Review| publisher= Rotoscopers.com | first= Jonathan |last=North |date= June 21, 2015|access-date= November 6, 2015| archive-date= September 12, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912040746/http://www.rotoscopers.com/2015/06/21/tom-and-jerry-the-gene-deitch-collection-dvd-review/ | url-status=live}}</ref> In 1963, the production of ''Tom and Jerry'' returned to Hollywood under [[Chuck Jones]] and his [[MGM Animation/Visual Arts|Sib Tower 12 Productions]] studio (later absorbed by MGM and renamed [[MGM Animation/Visual Arts]]). Jones' group also produced its own works, winning an [[Academy Award|Oscar]] for ''[[The Dot and the Line]]'' (1965), as well as producing the classic television version of [[Dr. Seuss]]'s ''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas!]]'' (1966) featuring the voice of [[Boris Karloff]]. ''Tom and Jerry'' folded in 1967, and the animation department continued with [[television special]]s and one feature film, ''[[The Phantom Tollbooth (film)|The Phantom Tollbooth]]''. A revived [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation]] was in existence from 1993 to 1999.
===Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.===
====MGM in the 1960s====
In 1959, MGM enjoyed what is quite probably its greatest financial success of later years, with the release of its nearly four-hour [[Technicolor]] epic ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben–Hur]]'', a remake of its 1925 silent film hit, loosely based on a true story{{emdash}}despite being adapted from the novel by [[Lew Wallace|General Lew Wallace]]. Starring [[Charlton Heston]] in the title role, the film was critically acclaimed, and won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, a record that held until ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' matched it in 1997 and ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'' also did in 2003.
During this period, MGM fell into a questionable practice that eventually nearly doomed the studio: an entire year's production schedule relied on the success of one big-budget epic film each year.{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}} This policy began in 1959, when ''Ben–Hur'' proved profitable enough to carry the studio through 1960. However, four succeeding big-budget epics—like ''Ben–Hur'', each a remake—failed: ''[[Cimarron (1960 film)|Cimarron]]'' (1960), ''[[King of Kings (1961 film)|King of Kings]]'' (1961), ''[[Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (film)|Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]]'' (1961), and, most notoriously, ''[[Mutiny on the Bounty (1962 film)|Mutiny on the Bounty]]'' (1962). The Cinerama film ''[[The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm]]'' (also 1962), the first film in [[Cinerama]] to actually tell a story, was also a financial failure. One other big-budget epic that was a success, however, was the MGM-Cinerama co-production ''[[How the West Was Won (film)|How the West Was Won]]'' (1962), with a huge all-star cast. ''King of Kings'', while a commercial and critical bomb at the time, has since come to be regarded as a film classic. The losses caused by these films led to the resignations of Sol Siegel and Joseph Vogel who were replaced by [[Robert M. Weitman]] (head of production) and [[Robert O'Brien (executive)|Robert O'Brien]] (president).
[[File:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 1966.png | thumb|right|class=skin-invert| Logo used from 1966 to 1982]]
The combination of O'Brien and Weitman seemed to temporarily revive the studio. MGM released [[David Lean]]'s immensely popular ''[[Doctor Zhivago (film)|Doctor Zhivago]]'' (1965),<ref>{{cite web |author=Uncle Scoopy |url=http://www.scoopy.com/doctorzhivago.htm |title=Doctor Zhivago |publisher=Scoopy.com |access-date=December 15, 2011 |archive-date=January 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104153925/http://www.scoopy.com/doctorzhivago.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> later followed by such hits as ''[[The Dirty Dozen]]'' (1967), ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' (1968) and ''[[Where Eagles Dare]]'' (1968). However the company's time was taken up [[proxy fight|fighting off proxy]] attacks by [[corporate raid]]ers,<ref>{{cite web |title=Levin v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. |url=https://www.quimbee.com/cases/levin-v-metro-goldwyn-mayer-inc |website=Quimbee |access-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-date=August 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803102643/https://www.quimbee.com/cases/levin-v-metro-goldwyn-mayer-inc |url-status=dead }}</ref> and then MGM backed another series of box office failures, including the musical remake of ''[[Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969 film)|Goodbye, Mr. Chips]]'' (1969) and ''[[Ryan's Daughter]]'' (1970). Weitman moved over to Columbia in 1967 and O'Brien was forced to resign a few years later.<ref name="bob">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|date=1 July 2025|access-date=1 July 2025|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-film-moguls-bob-weitman-and-bob-obrien/|title=Forgotten Film Moguls: Bob Weitman and Bob O'Brien}}</ref>
In the mid-1960s, MGM began to diversify by investing in real estate.<ref name=fu/> [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]] purchased a controlling interest in MGM in 1966 (and was briefly chairman of the board in 1969),<ref>{{cite book|last=McDougal|first=Dennis|title=The Last Mogul: Lew Wasserman, MCA, and the Hidden History of Hollywood|date=2001|publisher=Da Capo Press|___location=[New York?]|isbn=0306810506|edition=1st}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Newman|first=Peter C.|title=King of the Castle: The Making of a Dynasty: Seagram's and the Bronfman empire|url=https://archive.org/details/kingofcastlemaki00newm|url-access=registration|date=1979|publisher=Atheneum|___location=New York|isbn=0689109636|edition=1st}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}} and in 1967 [[Time Inc.]] became the company's second-largest shareholder.<ref>{{cite book|author=Robert T. Elson|editor=Duncan Norton-Taylor|title=Time Inc: The Intimate History of a Changing Enterprise, 1960–1980|date=1985|publisher=Atheneum|___location=New York|isbn=0689113153|edition=1st}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}}<ref>Diamond, Edwin. ''The Power Vacuum at Time Continues.'' ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]].'' October 23, 1972.</ref>
===Kirk Kerkorian investment===
In 1969, [[Kirk Kerkorian]] purchased 40% of MGM stock.<ref name="Wyatt"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Business Week Edition-2304-2311 McGraw-Hill-1973|page=57}}</ref> What appealed to Kerkorian was MGM's asset value, which included subsidiary businesses, real estate, and the value of 45 years' worth of glamour associated with the name, which he attached to a Las Vegas hotel and [[casino]]. As for film-making, that part of the company was bleeding money and was quickly and severely [[Layoff|downsized]] under the supervision of [[James T. Aubrey Jr.]] With changes in its business model including fewer pictures per year, more ___location shooting and more distribution of independent productions, MGM's operations were reduced. Aubrey sold off MGM's accumulation of props, furnishings and historical memorabilia, including a pair of Dorothy's [[ruby slippers]] from ''The Wizard of Oz''. Lot 3, {{convert|40|acre|m2}} of back-lot property, was sold off for real-estate development. In 1971, it was announced that MGM was in talks with [[20th Century-Fox]] about a possible merger, a plan which never came into fruition.<ref name=lat>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-08-fi-2987-story.html |title=MGM/UA Under Kerkorian Meant 20 Years of Change |first1=Michael |last1=Cieply |first2=James |last2=Cady |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 8, 1990 |access-date=September 20, 2013 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061225/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-03-08/business/fi-2987_1_mgm-grand |url-status=live }}</ref> Under Aubrey, MGM also sold off [[MGM Records]] and its overseas theater holdings.<ref name=fu/>
Through the 1970s, studio output slowed considerably as Aubrey preferred four or five medium-budget pictures each year along with a smattering of low-budget fare.<ref name=fu/> In October 1973 and in decline in output, MGM closed its distribution offices then outsourced distribution for its films for a ten-year period to [[United Artists]] (UA). UA also purchased MGM's music publishing arm, Robbins, Feist & Miller plus half of Canadian record label [[Quality Records]].<ref name=fu/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LwkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3 |title=Big 3 Sold to UA; Plus 1/2 Can. Co. |newspaper=Billboard |date=October 27, 1973 |page=3 |access-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-date=May 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508190254/https://books.google.com/books?id=LwkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Kerkorian had largely distanced himself from the operations of the studio, focusing on the [[Bally's Las Vegas|MGM Grand Hotel]], investing $120 million into that project.<ref name=fu/> Another portion of the backlot was sold in 1974. The last shooting done on the [[backlot]] was the introductory material for ''[[That's Entertainment!]]'' (1974), a retrospective documentary that became a surprise hit for the studio.
''That's Entertainment!'' was authorized by [[Dan Melnick]], who was appointed head of production in 1972. Under Melnick's regime, MGM produced a number of successful films in the 1970s, including ''[[Westworld (film)|Westworld]]'' (1973), ''[[Soylent Green]]'' (1973), ''[[The Sunshine Boys (1975 film)|The Sunshine Boys]]'' (1975), ''[[The Wind and the Lion]]'' (1975), ''[[Network (1976 film)|Network]]'' (1976) and ''[[Coma (1978 film)|Coma]]'' (1978). Despite these successes, MGM never reclaimed its former status.
The [[Cherokee Studios|MGM Recording Studios]] were sold in 1975. In 1979, Kerkorian issued a press statement that MGM was now primarily a hotel company. In 1980, MGM hit a symbolic low point when [[David Begelman]], earlier fired by Columbia following the discovery of his acts of forgery and embezzlement, was installed as MGM's president and CEO.
In 1980, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. split its production and casino units into separate companies: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Co. and MGM Grand Hotels, Inc.<ref name = "lbm">{{cite book|last=Prince|first=Stephen|title=A New Pot of Gold: Hollywood Under the Electronic Rainbow, 1980–1989|url=https://archive.org/details/newpotofgold00step|url-access=registration|date=2000|publisher=University of California Press|___location=Berkeley, California|isbn=0520232666|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newpotofgold00step/page/14 14]–16, 71–74}}</ref> The rise of ancillary markets was enough to allow MGM to increase production to 10–15 films a year compared to three to six in the previous decade, but first it needed to revive its distribution unit.
===MGM/UA
[[File:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 1982.png | thumb|right|class=skin-invert| Logo used from 1982 to 1986]]
MGM proceeded to return to theatrical distribution in 1981 with its purchase of [[United Artists]] (UA), as UA's parent company [[Transamerica Corporation]] decided to jettison the studio following the huge financial debacle of ''[[Heaven's Gate (film)|Heaven's Gate]]'' (1980);<ref name="Browne"/><ref name="Bart">{{cite book|last=Bart|first=Peter|title=Out: The Calamitous Final Days of MGM|date=1990|publisher=Morrow|___location=New York|isbn=0688084605|edition=1st|url=https://archive.org/details/fadeoutcalamitou00bart}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}} after this acquisition, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Co. was renamed "MGM/UA Entertainment Company".<ref name=fu/> MGM/UA formed a trio of subsidiaries, the [[MGM Home Entertainment|MGM/UA Home Entertainment Group]], MGM/UA Classics, and the [[MGM Television|MGM/UA Television Group]] in 1982. Kerkorian offered to purchase the remaining outstanding MGM shares he did not own to take the company private but was met with resistance.<ref name="fu" /> MGM/UA sold its music publishing division to [[CBS Songs]] in 1983 with a five-year co-publishing agreement.<ref>{{Cite news| last = Irv Lichtman| title = CBS Songs Grows With MGM/UA Deal| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PSQEAAAAMBAJ&q=CBS+Songs+Grows+With+MGM%2FUA+Deal+Billboard&pg=PT2| magazine = Billboard| date = January 8, 1983| access-date = November 17, 2020| archive-date = January 26, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210126135816/https://books.google.com/books?id=PSQEAAAAMBAJ&q=CBS+Songs+Grows+With+MGM%2FUA+Deal+Billboard&pg=PT2| url-status = live}}</ref>
After the purchase of UA, David Begelman's duties were transferred to that unit. Under Begelman, MGM/UA produced a number of unsuccessful films, and he was fired in July 1982. Out of the 11 films he put into production, only one film, [[Poltergeist (1982 film)|''Poltergeist'']] (1982), proved to be a clear hit during his tenure with the studio.<ref>{{cite news |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |date=July 13, 1982 |title=Begelman Removed As Chief Of United Artists |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/13/business/begelman-removed-as-chief-of-united-artists.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306182920/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/13/business/begelman-removed-as-chief-of-united-artists.html |archive-date=March 6, 2016}}</ref> ''[[WarGames]]'' (1983) and ''[[Octopussy]]'' (1983) were both hits for MGM/UA, but did not push MGM into the profit range that Kerkorian wanted.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
Not even MGM's greatest asset – its library – was enough to keep the studio afloat.<ref name="lbm"/> After 1982, the studio relied more on distribution, picking up independent productions, rather than financing its own projects.<ref name="lbm"/> The first of these deals was with [[Fred Silverman]]'s InterMedia.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 19, 1981 |title=Silverman strikes deal with UA-MGM |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]] |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/81-OCR/1981-10-19-BC-OCR-Page-0063.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=August 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818024029/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/81-OCR/1981-10-19-BC-OCR-Page-0063.pdf |archive-date=August 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 2, 1981 |title=Monitor |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]] |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/81-OCR/1981-11-02-BC-OCR-Page-0052.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=August 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818024023/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/81-OCR/1981-11-02-BC-OCR-Page-0052.pdf |archive-date=August 18, 2021}}</ref> In 1982, the company entered into a relationship with mini-major studio and film distributor [[The Cannon Group, Inc.]] for theatrical and home video distribution; this would not be the last time Cannon and MGM would be involved with each other.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 13, 1983 |title=Cannon Nears Deal with MGM-UA For Domestic Payoff |page=3 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Other producers and companies, such as [[Dino De Laurentiis]] and PSM Entertainment, also made deals with MGM/UA.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 23, 1984|title=Eight Of Dino De Laurentiis' Upcoming Projects Headed for MGM/UA|page=6|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=September 25, 1985|title=MGM/UA To Distribute PSM Entertainment Pics|page=6|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>
===MGM
[[File:MGM Studio Takeover.jpg|thumbnail|right|The MGM sign being dismantled once Lorimar took control of the Culver City lot in 1986]]
On August 7, 1985, [[Turner Broadcasting System]] offered to buy MGM/UA. As film licensing to television became more complicated, [[Ted Turner]] saw the value of acquiring MGM's film library for his [[Superstation]] [[TBS (TV network)|WTBS]].<ref name="lbm"/> Ahead of the merger, MGM/UA Distribution Co. become the newly minted joint venture UA/MGM Distribution Co., which would handle sales and operations of MGM and UA feature films.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Galbraith|first=Jane|date=February 19, 1986|title=MGM/UA Becomes UA/MGM In Light of Future Structure|pages=2, 399|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> On March 25 of the following year, the deal was finalized in a cash-stock deal for $1.5 billion,<ref name="Bart"/><ref name="lbm"/><ref name="Turner">{{cite book|last=Parsons|first=Patrick R.|title=Skies: A History of Cable Television|date=2008|publisher=Temple University Press|___location=Philadelphia|isbn=978-1592132874}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2017}} and the company was renamed "MGM Entertainment Co.".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24900226.html?dids=24900226:24900226&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+07%2C+1986&author=Charles+Storch&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=TURNER+MAY+SELL+EQUITY+IN+COMPANY&pqatl=google |title=Chicago Tribune: Turner May Sell Equity In Company |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=May 7, 1986 |access-date=December 15, 2011 |first=Charles |last=Storch |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111191625/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24900226.html?dids=24900226:24900226&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+07%2C+1986&author=Charles+Storch&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=TURNER+MAY+SELL+EQUITY+IN+COMPANY&pqatl=google |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-07-ca-10151-story.html |title=Turner Sells The Studio, Holds On To The Dream |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 7, 1986 |access-date=December 15, 2011 |first=Morgan |last=Gendel |archive-date=February 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213144359/https://www.latimes.com/archives |url-status=live }}</ref> Turner immediately sold MGM's UA subsidiary back to Kerkorian for roughly $480 million.<ref name="Bart"/><ref name="Turner"/> However, Turner was unable to find financing for the rest of the deal because of concerns in the financial community over the debt-load of his companies; thus, on August 26, 1986, Turner was forced to sell MGM's production and distribution assets to UA for $300 million.<ref name="Bart"/><ref name="Turner"/><ref name="Fabrikant">{{cite news |last=Fabrikant |first=Geraldine |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/07/business/turner-to-sell-mgm-assets.html |title=Turner To Sell Mgm Assets |website=The New York Times |date=June 7, 1986 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=February 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215030846/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/07/business/turner-to-sell-mgm-assets.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1986/08/27/turner-united-artists-close-deal/ |title=Turner, United Artists Close Deal |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |agency=[[United Press International|UPI]] |date=August 27, 1986 |access-date=September 20, 2013 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055612/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-08-27/business/0250090069_1_united-artists-turner-mgm |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Sony Pictures Studios|MGM studio lot and lab facilities]] were sold to [[Lorimar-Telepictures]].<ref name="Fabrikant"/> Lorimar-Telepictures would later sell the [[Metrocolor]] facilities, Metrocolor Film Laboratory (aka MGM Laboratory) to [[Technicolor]] for $60 million.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Galbraith|first=Jane|date=September 10, 1986|title=Technicolor Parent Partnered To Buy MGM Laboratories|page=3|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Turner retained the pre-May 1986 library of MGM films, along with the [[RKO Pictures|RKO Radio Pictures]] and pre-1950 [[Warner Bros.]] films which UA had previously purchased.<ref name="Fabrikant"/>
How much of MGM's back catalog Turner actually obtained was a point of conflict for a time; eventually, it was determined that Turner owned all of the pre-May 1986 MGM library, as well as the pre-1950 Warner Bros. catalog,<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|___location=Philadelphia|isbn=978-0762434183|page=[https://archive.org/details/youmustremembert0000schi/page/225 225]|url=https://archive.org/details/youmustremembert0000schi/page/225}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/mediahistory&tab=collection?and%5B%5D=subject%3A%22Motion%20pictures%20--%20Catalogues%22 |title=Media History Digital Library : Free Texts : Download & Streaming : Internet Archive |date=March 25, 2011 |access-date=September 22, 2015}}</ref><ref group=note>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 on or after August 1, 1948.</ref> the ''[[Popeye the Sailor (film series)|Popeye]]'' cartoons released by Paramount (both the pre-1950 Warner Bros. library and ''Popeye'' cartoons were sold to [[Associated Artists Productions]], which was later bought by UA), and the US/Canadian rights to the RKO library, in addition to MGM's television series. Turner used the acquired films to launch the new cable channel [[TNT (U.S. TV network)|Turner Network Television]] (TNT).
===MGM/UA Communications===
After Kerkorian reclaimed MGM in August 1986, the MGM/UA name continued to be used, but the company changed its name, this time to MGM/UA Communications Co., which was renamed from United Artists Corporation, now using MGM and UA as separate brands.<ref>{{cite news |author=Special to ''The New York Times'' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/29/business/a-president-for-mgm-ua.html |title=A President For MGM/UA – |website=The New York Times |date=October 29, 1986 |access-date=December 15, 2011 |archive-date=January 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122174854/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/29/business/a-president-for-mgm-ua.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=July 16, 1986|title=UA Changing Name To MGM/UA Comm.|page=3|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> The change became official on September 10, 1986, and at that time, the [[New York Stock Exchange]] (NYSE) ticker symbol was changed from UA, yet again, to MGM.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 10, 1986|title=It's MGM/UA Again|page=3|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> In 1987, MGM/UA Communications Co., [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[Universal Pictures]] teamed up in order to market feature film and television product to China.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 3, 1987 |title=MGM/UA, Par, Universal Team To Market U.S. Products In China |page=6 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>
Kerkorian, however, continued to try to sell portions of MGM/UA. In July 1988, Kerkorian announced plans to split MGM and UA into separate studios. Under this deal, Kerkorian, who owned 82% of MGM/UA Communications, would have sold 25% of MGM to [[Barris Industries]] (controlled by producers [[Burt Sugarman]], [[Jon Peters]], and [[Peter Guber]]).<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-10-mn-9452-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Michael | last=Cieply | title=MGM Movie Unit Expected to Be Sold in Complex Hollywood Deal | date=July 10, 1988 | access-date=April 17, 2020 | archive-date=March 6, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306014327/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-07-10/news/mn-9452_1_united-artists | url-status=live }}</ref> The proposition to spin off MGM was called off a few weeks later.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-29-fi-7947-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Nina J. | last=Easton | title=Plan to Split MGM Pictures in 2 Falls Through; Future of Troubled Firm Clouded | date=July 29, 1988 | access-date=April 17, 2020 | archive-date=March 6, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306090327/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-07-29/business/fi-7947_1_mgm-pictures | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1989, two Australian-based media entities attempted to gain control of MGM/UA. The first was [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[News Corporation]], which had purchased 20th Century Fox in 1985, making a $1.35 billion bid; rival Australian media company [[Qintex]] attempted to buy MGM from Kerkorian—topping Murdoch's bid with a $1.5 billion offer—but the deal collapsed as Qintex was plagued by financial issues.<ref>{{cite news |author=Richard W. Stevenson, Special to ''The New York Times'' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/11/business/deal-to-buy-mgm-ua-collapses.html |title=Deal to Buy MGM/UA Collapses – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=October 11, 1989 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=July 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726150130/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/11/business/deal-to-buy-mgm-ua-collapses.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Ted Turner also attempted to buy MGM/UA again, but these efforts also failed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Turner Buying MGM/UA|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/29/business/the-media-business-turner-broadcasting-seen-in-talks-to-buy-mgm-ua.html|date=November 29, 1989|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 2, 2014|first=Geraldine|last=Fabrikant|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092940/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/29/business/the-media-business-turner-broadcasting-seen-in-talks-to-buy-mgm-ua.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
===MGM-Pathé Communications===
{{Main|MGM-Pathé Communications}}
In 1990, Italian financier [[Giancarlo Parretti]] announced he was about to buy MGM/UA. Although the French government had scuttled Parretti's bid to buy [[Pathé]] due to concerns about his character, background, and past dealings, Parretti gained backing from [[Crédit Lyonnais]] and bought MGM/UA from Kirk Kerkorian.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Citron |first1=Alan |last2=Cieply |first2=Michael |date=May 6, 1990 |title=A Hollywood Mystery : Entertainment: Despite Giancarlo Parretti's lavish lifestyle and his bid for MGM/UA, the Italian financier remains a little-known outsider. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-06-fi-464-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154205/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-06-fi-464-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 8, 1990 |title=The Mogul Behind Pathe's Bid : Entertainment: Italian financier Giancarlo Parretti has amassed an empire of TV and movie studios. But skeptics say his company lacks the finances to buy MGM/UA. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-08-fi-2954-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154204/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-08-fi-2954-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Spy">{{cite journal |last1=Epstein |first1=Edward Jay |date=June 1990 |title=The Mystery of the Instant Mogul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCfQINJRXRgC |journal=[[Spy (magazine)|Spy]] |pages=6, 85–93 |issn=0890-1759}}</ref> To finance the purchase, Parretti licensed the MGM/UA library to [[Time Warner]] for home video and Turner for domestic television rights<ref name="lbm"/> until 2003.<ref name="polygram1">{{cite news|last=Eller|first=Claudia|date=October 23, 1998|title=MGM Agrees to Acquire PolyGram Movie Library|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-23-fi-35357-story.html|access-date=March 29, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402171303/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/oct/23/business/fi-35357|url-status=live}}</ref> He then merged it with his Pathé Communications Corporation (formerly [[The Cannon Group, Inc.|The Cannon Group]], a distributor that Parretti had renamed before his aborted bid for Pathé; ironically, MGM had previously distributed Cannon product several years prior) to form MGM–Pathe Communications Co.
The well-respected executive, [[Alan Ladd Jr.]], a former president of MGM/UA, was brought on board as CEO of MGM in 1991. However, a year later, Parretti's ownership of MGM–Pathé dissolved in a flurry of lawsuits and a default by Crédit Lyonnais, and Parretti faced [[security (finance)|securities]]-fraud charges in the United States and Europe. It was later revealed that Parretti's deal to buy MGM/UA was largely based on fraudulent and/or highly leveraged loans; upon taking over MGM, he had fired almost all of the financial staff, resulting in chaos at MGM amid complaints from actors, directors and others who were not being paid.<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE PREDATOR HOW AN ITALIAN THUG LOOTED MGM, BROUGHT CREDIT LYONNAIS TO ITS KNEES, AND MADE THE POPE CRY. - July 8, 1996 |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1996/07/08/214344/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=money.cnn.com |archive-date=December 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218113416/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1996/07/08/214344/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Danjaq|Danjaq, LLC]] also began litigation against MGM during this time after Parretti attempted to sell the international television rights to the ''James Bond'' franchise without their knowledge or approval, as a method of financing his buyout of MGM; this in turn caused the planned production of the seventeenth ''Bond'' film, ''Property of a Lady'', to grind to a halt (the length of the lawsuit ultimately led to [[Timothy Dalton]]'s departure from the role and [[Pierce Brosnan]] taking over for the seventeenth installment, 1995's ''[[GoldenEye]]'').<ref>{{Cite web |author=Variety Staff |date=February 18, 1991 |title=007 Producer Fires Legal Salvo At MGM |url=https://variety.com/1991/film/features/007-producer-fires-legal-salvo-at-mgm-99125807/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024070742/https://variety.com/1991/film/features/007-producer-fires-legal-salvo-at-mgm-99125807/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 12, 2016 |title=A summary of Southern California-related business litigation developments during the past week. - latimes |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-15-fi-1998-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-date=September 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915200331/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-10-15/business/fi-1998_1_distribution-contract |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2014 |title=Timothy Dalton talks 'Chuck,' 'The Tourist,' and, of course, Bond {{!}} PopWatch {{!}} EW.com |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/11/01/timothy-dalton-chuck-the-tourist-bond/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813055211/http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/11/01/timothy-dalton-chuck-the-tourist-bond/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
On the verge of bankruptcy, Crédit Lyonnais took full control of MGM–Pathé via loan default in mid-1992 and reverted its name back to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The bank fired Ladd and replaced him with former Paramount executive [[Frank Mancuso Sr.]] Mancuso then hired Michael Marcus as chairman, MGM Pictures and former Warner Bros. executive [[John Calley]] as United Artists head. A television production division was started up.<ref name="ua">{{cite news|last=Fabrikant|first=Geraldine|date=March 18, 1995|title=International Business; Sale of MGM May Not Be Top Priority|website=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/18/business/international-business-sale-of-mgm-may-not-be-top-priority.html|access-date=March 29, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402234048/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/18/business/international-business-sale-of-mgm-may-not-be-top-priority.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of his exit package, Ladd took some of the top properties, including ''[[Braveheart]]''.
On December 21, 1992, MGM's 15% investment ($30 million in cash) in [[Carolco Pictures]] plus a $30 million convertible note was approved by Carolco's board. MGM also started distributing Carolco's films in January 1994 after its deal with [[TriStar Pictures]] ended. While MGM had to convince parent Credit Lyonnais to allow the deal, Lyonnais was Carolco's main lender thus allowing the bank to collect outstanding debts and extend a new line of credit.<ref name="vty2">{{cite news |last1=Rothman |first1=Matt |last2=Ayscough |first2=Suzan |title=Carolco board OKs MGM deal |url=https://variety.com/1992/biz/news/carolco-board-oks-mgm-deal-102325/ |access-date=March 18, 2019 |work=Variety |date=December 23, 1992 |language=en |archive-date=June 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627173610/https://variety.com/1992/biz/news/carolco-board-oks-mgm-deal-102325/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
MGM Holdings, Inc. was formed to take on about $1 billion in MGM's liabilities off MGM's balance sheet in the third quarter of 1993. Credit Lyonnais extended a $400 million line of credit allowing a Chemical Bank lead bank group to extend a $350 million line of credit in 1994. In 1994, MGM had a hit in ''[[Stargate (film)|Stargate]]''.<ref name=ua/> Deals made during this era included one with [[Sega|Sega of America]] to create television shows and films based on Sega's video games (including an ultimately-unmade film based on ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', titled ''Sonic: Wonders of the World'')<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2019 |title=The Sonic The Hedgehog Movie That Never Got Made |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/05/the-sonic-the-hedgehog-movie-that-never-got-made/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603011602/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/05/the-sonic-the-hedgehog-movie-that-never-got-made/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MGM and Sega to sign pact - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/04/27/MGM-and-Sega-to-sign-pact/1221767419200/ |access-date=September 20, 2023 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=April 28, 1994 |title=COMPANY NEWS; MGM AND SEGA OF AMERICA IN DEVELOPMENT VENTURE |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/28/business/company-news-mgm-and-sega-of-america-in-development-venture.html |access-date=September 20, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005020550/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/28/business/company-news-mgm-and-sega-of-america-in-development-venture.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and another deal with [[Rysher Entertainment]].<ref name="vty3">{{cite news |last=Busch |first=Anita M. |title=MGM, Rysher jump into multipic pact |url=https://variety.com/1995/film/features/mgm-rysher-jump-into-multipic-pact-99127441/ |access-date=March 18, 2019 |work=Variety |date=May 8, 1995 |archive-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828204213/https://variety.com/1995/film/features/mgm-rysher-jump-into-multipic-pact-99127441/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures===
Crédit Lyonnais soon put MGM up for sale. Bidders included [[News Corporation]], [[The Walt Disney Company]] and [[General Electric]] (GE); independent production firms [[Regency Enterprises|New Regency]] and [[Morgan Creek Productions]]; and several foreign firms, including France's [[Chargeurs]], Germany's [[Bertelsmann]] and the British/Dutch media company [[PolyGram]]. Ultimately the highest bidder was none other than Kirk Kerkorian, who re-purchased the studio in October 1996 for $1.3 billion, becoming MGM's owner for the third time; others involved in the deal included MGM studio head Mancuso and Australian television station [[Seven Network]] (which Kerkorian would later purchase himself in 1998).<ref>{{Cite web |title=PolyGram makes MGM bid: report - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/06/28/PolyGram-makes-MGM-bid-report/3441835934400/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerkorian said to offer $1.3B for MGM - Jul. 13, 1996 |url=https://money.cnn.com/1996/07/13/deals/kerkorian_mgm/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=money.cnn.com |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212050023/https://money.cnn.com/1996/07/13/deals/kerkorian_mgm/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MGM buyout completed - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/10/10/MGM-buyout-completed/6100844920000/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hiltzik |first=Michael a |date=July 17, 1996 |title=Kirk Kerkorian: Friend or Foe? : His Presence in the MGM Deal Receives Mixed Reviews |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-17-fi-24921-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=November 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105231059/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-17-fi-24921-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ap |date=March 13, 1996 |title=COMPANY NEWS;AFTER $2.5 BILLION INVESTMENT, MGM IS PUT UP FOR SALE |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/13/business/company-news-after-2.5-billion-investment-mgm-is-put-up-for-sale.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154203/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/13/business/company-news-after-2.5-billion-investment-mgm-is-put-up-for-sale.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/20/business/company-news-kerkorian-to-increase-stake-in-m-g-m.html |title=Company News; Kerkorian To Increase Stake In M-G-M – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=August 20, 1998 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211021/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/20/business/company-news-kerkorian-to-increase-stake-in-m-g-m.html |url-status=live }}</ref> John Calley left as head of United Artists to become head of [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]] around this time, allegedly because of Mancuso not keeping him informed of the planned buyout and his low salary.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Eller |first1=Claudia |last2=Bates |first2=James |date=October 11, 1996 |title=With Buyout Final, Can Mancuso Get MGM in Gear Again? |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-11-fi-52698-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154203/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-11-fi-52698-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sony attempts launch of own Bond films prompting lawsuit from MGM |url=https://ew.com/article/1998/01/09/sony-attempts-launch-own-bond-films-prompting-lawsuit-mgm/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=EW.com |language=en |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154203/https://ew.com/article/1998/01/09/sony-attempts-launch-own-bond-films-prompting-lawsuit-mgm/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
1997 proved to be an eventful year for MGM. On April 11, 1997, MGM bought [[Metromedia]]'s film subsidiaries ([[Orion Pictures]], [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]], and the [[Motion Picture Corporation of America]]) for US$573 million, substantially enlarging its library of films and television series and acquiring additional production capacity.<ref name="Metromedia">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/29/business/metromedia-to-sell-film-units-to-mgm-for-573-million.html |title=Metromedia to Sell Film Units To MGM for $573 Million – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=April 29, 1997 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=November 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107004306/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/29/business/metromedia-to-sell-film-units-to-mgm-for-573-million.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The deal closed in July of that year.<ref>"Years of Hits, Misses Comes to Close." ''[[Daily News of Los Angeles]].'' July 10, 1997; Bates, James. "MGM Lays Off 85 in Metromedia Film, TV Units." ''Los Angeles Times''. July 11, 1997.</ref> This catalog, along with the [[James Bond (film series)|James Bond]] franchise, was considered to be MGM's primary asset.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-30-fi-22412-story.html |title=Deal Cements MGM's Bond to 007 Franchise |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 30, 1999 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |first=James |last=Bates |archive-date=December 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220085648/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/mar/30/business/fi-22412 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Andrew Ross Sorkin and Geraldine Fabrikant; Laura H. Holson contributed reporting to this article. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/22/business/sony-group-said-to-be-in-talks-to-buy-mgm.html |title=Sony Group Said to Be in Talks to Buy MGM – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=April 22, 2004 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426210900/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/22/business/sony-group-said-to-be-in-talks-to-buy-mgm.html |url-status=live }}</ref> MGM's long-running cable television series, ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'', premiered on Showtime on July 27.<ref>{{cite news|last=King|first=Susan|title='Stargate Sg-1' Gets A 44-episode Commitment From Showtime|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-27-tv-16569-story.html|access-date=July 20, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 27, 1997|archive-date=February 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220045700/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/27/news/tv-16569|url-status=live}}</ref> MGM and [[Danjaq|Danjaq, LLC]] filed a lawsuit against Sony Pictures in November, as Sony was intending to launch a rival Bond franchise backed by [[Kevin McClory]]; the lawsuit alleged that Calley had used confidential information from his tenure at MGM/UA to assist Sony with their attempt at making a ''James Bond'' film.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=September 14, 2004|title=Past 007 Attempts|url=http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/articles/sony_past_007_attempts.php3?s=articles&t|url-status=usurped|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091010074357/http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/articles/sony_past_007_attempts.php3?s=articles&t|archive-date=October 10, 2009|access-date=November 7, 2007|publisher=MI6, Home of James Bond}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MGM files Bond lawsuit - Nov. 17, 1997 |url=https://money.cnn.com/1997/11/17/companies/bond/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=money.cnn.com |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154203/https://money.cnn.com/1997/11/17/companies/bond/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Matzer |first=Marla |date=November 18, 1997 |title=COMPANY TOWN : MGM Files Suit to Bar Sony From Making Bond Films |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-18-fi-54958-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154204/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-18-fi-54958-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> MGM acquired the rights to the unofficial Bond production ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' from [[Jack Schwartzman]]'s estate that December.<ref>{{cite web|last=Karon|first=Paul|date=December 4, 1997|title=MGM nabs 'Never'|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/mgm-nabs-never-1116678793/|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=September 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906002711/https://variety.com/1997/film/news/mgm-nabs-never-1116678793/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In December 1997, MGM attempted to purchase 1,000 films (referred to as the [[Trans World Entertainment (film company)|Epic film library]]) held by [[Consortium de Réalisation]], but was outbid by [[PolyGram]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-23-fi-1359-story.html |title=MGM Says It Was Outbid for Film Library |website=Los Angeles Times |date=December 23, 1997 |access-date=April 3, 2015 |archive-date=December 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221100647/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/dec/23/business/fi-1359 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, they ultimately succeeded when they acquired {{fraction|2|3}} of the pre-1996 [[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment]] library from [[Seagram]] in 1999 for $250 million, increasing their library holdings to 4,000. Prior to that, MGM had held a home video license for 100 of the films since spring 1997.<ref>{{cite book|title=Billboard Magazine|date=May 3, 1997|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_IQ8EAAAAMBAJ/page/n89 62]|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|edition=Vol. 109, No. 18|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_IQ8EAAAAMBAJ}}</ref><ref name=vty0>{{cite magazine |first=Rex |last=Weiner |url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/new-epic-librarian-1116678770/ |title=New Epic librarian |magazine=Variety |date=December 2, 1997 |access-date=April 3, 2015 |archive-date=May 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503081436/http://variety.com/1997/film/news/new-epic-librarian-1116678770/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The PolyGram libraries were purchased by its [[Orion Pictures]] subsidiary so as to avoid its 1990 video distribution agreement with Warner Home Video.<ref name=polygram1/> The studio also obtained the broadcast rights to more than 800 of its films previously licensed to Turner Broadcasting System.<ref>{{cite news |first=Joanne |last=Legomsky |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/17/business/investing-take-3-for-kerkorian-the-rebuilding-of-mgm.html |title=Investing; Take 3 for Kerkorian: The Rebuilding of MGM – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=October 17, 1999 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211250/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/17/business/investing-take-3-for-kerkorian-the-rebuilding-of-mgm.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/16/business/mgm-regains-rights-to-films.html |title=MGM Regains Rights to Films – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=September 16, 1999 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211528/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/16/business/mgm-regains-rights-to-films.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
By 1998, MGM had started a specialty film unit using The Samuel Goldwyn Company under the Goldwyn Films name. [[Samuel Goldwyn Jr.]] sued Metromedia over salary and damages when he worked at Goldwyn Company under Metromedia and sued MGM over the use of the Goldwyn name claiming trademark infringement and unfair competition. MGM and Metromedia settled on January 10, 1999, with MGM's Goldwyn Films changing its name to G2 Films.<ref name="vty">{{cite news|last=Higgins|first=Bill|title=G2 Films emerges as Goldwyn, MGM settle|url=https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/g2-films-emerges-as-goldwyn-mgm-settle-1117490041/|access-date=July 20, 2017|work=Variety|date=January 11, 1999|archive-date=January 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108062442/https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/g2-films-emerges-as-goldwyn-mgm-settle-1117490041/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the middle of that year, MGM and Sony settled in an out-of-court lawsuit that saw MGM trading its ''[[Spider-Man in film|Spider-Man]]'' film rights (itself obtained by MGM through a messy legal process involving Cannon and Carolco) to Sony in exchange for gaining the rights to ''[[Casino Royale (novel)|Casino Royale]]''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bates |first=James |date=March 30, 1999 |title=Deal Cements MGM's Bond to 007 Franchise |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-30-fi-22412-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154205/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-30-fi-22412-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 31, 1999 |title=Shaking MGM's Bond Cocktail |language=en-US |work=Slate |url=https://slate.com/business/1999/03/shaking-mgm-s-bond-cocktail.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |issn=1091-2339 |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154203/https://slate.com/business/1999/03/shaking-mgm-s-bond-cocktail.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hiltzik |first=Michael a |date=March 2, 1999 |title=Studio Rights to Spider-Man Are Untangled |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-02-fi-13115-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907005618/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-02-fi-13115-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In March 1999, MGM announced that it had paid $225 million to end its home video distribution contract with Warner Home Video and re-acquired the home video rights to their post-1986 catalog while Warner took over home video distribution of the pre-1986 catalogue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MGM+REGAINS+VIDEO+RIGHTS%253B+$225+MILLION+DEAL+TO+HELP+SELL+DVDS.-a083605917|title=MGM REGAINS VIDEO RIGHTS; $225 MILLION DEAL TO HELP SELL DVDS. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=2016-09-09|archive-date=2018-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411111537/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MGM+REGAINS+VIDEO+RIGHTS%253B+$225+MILLION+DEAL+TO+HELP+SELL+DVDS.-a083605917|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldstein |first=Seth |date=27 March 1999 |title=MGM Buys Its Freedom, Pays Warner Vid To End Distrib Deal |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1999/1999-03-27-Billboard-Page-0006.pdf |access-date=6 March 2024 |website=World Radio History}}</ref> MGM also ended its international theatrical distribution agreement with [[United International Pictures]] (UIP) after UIP was accused by the [[European Union]] (EU) of being an illegal [[cartel]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Willcock |first=John |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/people--business-movie-moves-1072937.html |title=People & Business: Movie moves – Business – News |newspaper=The Independent |date=February 24, 1999 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |___location=London |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728065955/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/people--business-movie-moves-1072937.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 22, 1999, MGM announced they had formed a three-year international distribution agreement and strategic alliance with [[20th Century Fox]] for theatrical and home video releases outside North America, alongside a deal to jointly explore cable and satellite distribution ventures worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB930006963691596498 |title=Fox Enters Deal With MGM On International Distribution |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=June 22, 1999 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |first=Bruce |last=Orwall |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016100609/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB930006963691596498 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Peers|first1=Martin|last2=Petrikin|first2=Chris|date=1999-06-22|title=Lion fills Fox den|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/lion-fills-fox-den-1117503348/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> The Fox deal would begin in February 2000 for home video releases and November 2000 for theatrical releases, and last until the end of January 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MGM+and+Fox+Form+International+Distribution+and+Strategic+Alliance.-a054937422|title=MGM and Fox Form International Distribution and Strategic Alliance. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=2016-09-14|archive-date=2017-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511105437/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MGM+and+Fox+Form+International+Distribution+and+Strategic+Alliance.-a054937422|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2000, Kirk Kerkorian announced that MGM would release two major films in 2002—''[[Rollerball (2002 film)|Rollerball]]'' and ''[[Hart's War]]''. These were likely the last films in the original post-May 1986 library of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) titles dating back to ''[[Poltergeist II: The Other Side]]'', before significant corporate changes, such as [[Compaq]]'s merger with [[Hewlett-Packard]] in May 2002, reshaped the broader media and technology landscape.<ref>{{cite press release |title = Hewlett-Packard and Compaq Agree to Merge, Creating $87 Billion Global Technology Leader |publisher = Hewlett-Packard |date = September 3, 2001 |url = http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2001/010904a.html |access-date = October 4, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E7DE1739F937A3575AC0A9679C8B63 |title = Hewlett-Packard in Deal to Buy Compaq for $25 Billion in Stock |date = 2001-09-04 |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = October 4, 2008 |url-access=limited }}</ref> MGM purchased 20% of [[AMC Networks|Rainbow Media Group]] from [[Cablevision|Cablevision Systems]] for $825 million in 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/02/business/company-news-mgm-agrees-to-buy-stake-in-4-cable-channels.html |title=Company News; Mgm Agrees to Buy Stake in 4 Cable Channels – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=February 2, 2001 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211157/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/02/business/company-news-mgm-agrees-to-buy-stake-in-4-cable-channels.html |url-status=live }}</ref> MGM attempted to take over [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] in 2003, but failed, and was forced to sell several of its cable channel investments (taking a $75-million loss on the deal).<ref>{{cite news |author=Andrew Ross Sorkin And Geraldine Fabrikant |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/30/business/the-media-business-mgm-withdraws-bid-for-vivendi-entertainment-units.html |title=The Media Business; MGM Withdraws Bid for Vivendi Entertainment Units – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=July 30, 2003 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211740/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/30/business/the-media-business-mgm-withdraws-bid-for-vivendi-entertainment-units.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Geraldine |last=Fabrikant |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/01/business/mgm-to-sell-its-stake-in-three-cable-channels.html |title=MGM to Sell Its Stake in Three Cable Channels |work=The New York Times |date=July 1, 2003 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211648/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/01/business/mgm-to-sell-its-stake-in-three-cable-channels.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In January 2002, MGM formed the MGM Entertainment Business Group with lawyer Darcie Denkert as president. This placed her in charge of MGM on Stage, the company's theatrical arm. Her friend Dean Stolber joined her as co-president of the theatrical unit.<ref name="thr">{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Mike |title=Darcie Denkert, Broadway Producer and MGM Executive, Dies at 64 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/darcie-denkert-dead-mgm-executive-902461 |access-date=March 6, 2020 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 13, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809143156/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/darcie-denkert-dead-mgm-executive-902461 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On May 27, 2003, MGM re-acquired full home video distribution rights to its films internationally, while Fox would continue to distribute on behalf of MGM in select developing regions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-05-27 |title=MGM Home Entertainment Reclaims Full Distribution Operations |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2003-05-27/mgm-home-entertainment-reclaims-full-distribution-operations |access-date=2023-08-18}}</ref>
===MGM Holdings===
{{Main|MGM Holdings}}
====Bidding war and corporate reorganization====
In 2002, Kerkorian again put MGM up for sale, with a suggested sale price of $7 billion.{{sfn|Rempel|2018|p=340}} In 2004, many of MGM's competitors started to make bids to purchase MGM, beginning with [[Time Warner]]. Time Warner's bid was expected, since the company's largest shareholder was Ted Turner, whose Turner Broadcasting System had merged with Time Warner in 1996. After a short period of negotiations with MGM, Time Warner was unsuccessful. The leading bidder proved to be [[Sony Corporation of America]], backed by [[Comcast]] and private equity firms [[Texas Pacific Group]] (now TPG Capital, L.P.), DLJ and [[Providence Equity Partners]]. Sony's primary goal was to ensure [[Blu-ray|Blu-ray Disc]] support at MGM; cost synergies with [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]] were secondary. Time Warner made a counter-bid (which Ted Turner reportedly tried to block), but on September 13, 2004, Sony increased its bid of US$11.25 per share (roughly $4.7 billion) to $12 per share ($5 billion), and Time Warner subsequently withdrew its bid of $11 per share ($4.5 billion). MGM and Sony agreed on a purchase price of nearly $5 billion, of which about $2 billion was to pay off MGM's debt.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2004/09/13/news/fortune500/twx_mgm/?cnn=yes |title=Sony nabs MGM for $5B, source says |publisher=Money.cnn.com |date=September 14, 2004 |access-date=December 15, 2011 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020204046/https://money.cnn.com/2004/09/13/news/fortune500/twx_mgm/?cnn=yes |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=businessNews&storyID=582625§ion=finance |title=Breaking International News & Views |date=January 14, 2013 |access-date=January 23, 2016 |archive-date=November 23, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041123132056/http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=businessNews |url-status=live }}</ref> From 2005 to 2006, the [[Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group|Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group]] domestically distributed films by MGM and UA.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
However, problems quickly arose between MGM and Sony. The largest issue was Sony failing to meet sales projections for MGM's catalog on DVD; when this occurred, Providence Equity brought in [[Harry E. Sloan|Harry Sloan]] as chairman of MGM. Sloan began to champion MGM's future as being independent of Sony as opposed to a label under Sony control; other issues both between MGM and Sony as well as inside both companies began to manifest, resulting in MGM reestablishing itself as an independent studio.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eller |first=Claudia |date=October 20, 2006 |title=MGM Deal a Bold Miscalculation for Sony |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-20-fi-mgm20-story.html |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204113050/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-20-fi-mgm20-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In February 2006, MGM announced it would return as a theatrical distribution company. MGM struck deals with [[The Weinstein Company]] (TWC), [[Lakeshore Entertainment]], Bauer Martinez, and many other independent studios, and then announced its plans to release 14 feature films for 2006 and early 2007. MGM also hoped to increase the amount to over 20 by 2007. ''[[Lucky Number Slevin]]'', released April 7, was the first film released under the new MGM era.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eller |first=Claudia |date=February 3, 2006 |title=MGM Seeks to Return to Film Distribution |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-feb-03-fi-mgm3-story.html |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102175222/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-feb-03-fi-mgm3-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The TWC distribution agreement covered three years, but ended three months early.<ref name=vty4>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/news/weinstein-co-mgm-cut-short-deal-1117992944/|title=Weinstein Co., MGM cut short deal|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|work=Variety|access-date=June 17, 2015|date=September 26, 2008|archive-date=October 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008133138/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117992944.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
On May 31, 2006, MGM announced it would transfer the majority of [[MGM Home Entertainment|its home video output]] from [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] to [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]].<ref name="home video shift">{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/thr/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002577675 |title=MGM forwards vid deal to Fox |date=May 31, 2006 |author1=Thomas K. Arnold |author2=Gregg Kilday|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618002436/https://hollywoodreporter.com/thr/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002577675|archive-date=June 18, 2006|access-date=November 27, 2021}}</ref><ref name="The Lion Bites Back">{{cite news |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_47/b4010065.htm |title=Why Sony Is Now A Bit Player At MGM |work=BusinessWeek |date=November 20, 2006 |access-date=November 22, 2007 |archive-date=December 4, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204010707/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_47/b4010065.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eller |first=Claudia |date=May 31, 2006 |title=MGM Drops Sony as DVD, TV Distributor |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-may-31-fi-mgm31-story.html |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217001045/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-may-31-fi-mgm31-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> MGM also announced plans to restructure its worldwide television distribution operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgm.com/corp_news_releases.do?id=491|title=MGM Expands Worldwide Television Distribution Group|access-date=October 24, 2006|archive-date=December 10, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210180915/http://www.mgm.com/corp_news_releases.do?id=491|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, MGM signed a deal with [[New Line Television]] in which MGM would handle New Line's U.S. film and series television syndication packages. MGM served as New Line's barter sales representative in the television arena until 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgm.com/corp_news_releases.do?id=500|title=MGM To Handle U.S. Syndication Sales For New Line Television|access-date=December 16, 2006|archive-date=December 10, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210180941/http://www.mgm.com/corp_news_releases.do?id=500|url-status=live}}</ref>
A [[Memorandum of understanding|tentative agreement]] was signed in Seoul on March 15, 2006, between MGM, South Korea-based entertainment agency Glovit and [[Busan]] city officials for a [[theme park]] scheduled to open in 2011. MGM Studio City was projected to cost $1.02 billion, built on 245 acres owned by the city in a planned tourist district and contain 27 attractions, a film academy with movie sets, hotels, restaurants and shopping facilities. Glovit was expected to find funding and oversee management of the park, while MGM received a licensing agreement making them handle content and overall planning and the option to buy a 5%–10% share.<ref>{{cite news|last=Paquet|first=Darcy|title=Leo pounces on Asia park|url=https://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/leo-pounces-on-asia-park-1117939826/|access-date=March 10, 2017|work=Variety|date=March 16, 2006|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312053637/http://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/leo-pounces-on-asia-park-1117939826/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 2, 2006, producer/actor [[Tom Cruise]] and his production partner, [[Paula Wagner]], signed an agreement with MGM to run [[United Artists]]. Wagner served as United Artists' chief executive.<ref>{{cite news|title=MGM Puts Cruise in Charge of New United Artists|url=http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/zap-cruisewagnerunitedartists,0,3331510.story?coll=zap-movies-headlines|work=USA Today|date=November 2, 2006|access-date=May 20, 2010|archive-date=May 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522043145/http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/zap-cruisewagnerunitedartists,0,3331510.story?coll=zap-movies-headlines|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Cruise, producing partner cut a deal with United Artists|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-11-02-cruise-ua_x.htm|publisher=Zap2it|date=November 2, 2006|access-date=May 20, 2010|first1=Laura|last1=Petrecca|first2=David|last2=Lieberman|archive-date=May 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524035154/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-11-02-cruise-ua_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
====MGM in the digital age====
Over the next several years, MGM launched a number of initiatives in distribution and the use of new technology and media, as well as joint ventures to promote and sell its products. In April 2007, it was announced that MGM movies would be able to be downloaded through Apple's [[iTunes]] service, with MGM bringing an estimated 100 of its existing movies to iTunes service, the California-based computer company revealed. The list of movies included the likes of modern features such as ''[[Rocky]]'', ''[[Ronin (film)|Ronin]]'', ''[[Mad Max (film)|Mad Max]]'', and ''[[Dances with Wolves]]'', along with more golden-era classics such as ''[[Lilies of the Field (1963 film)|Lilies of the Field]]'' and ''[[The First Great Train Robbery|The Great Train Robbery]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tech.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1290495.php/MGM_brings_classic_movies_to_iTunes |title=MGM brings classic movies to iTunes – Monsters and Critics |publisher=Tech.monstersandcritics.com |date=April 12, 2007 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321101458/http://tech.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1290495.php/MGM_brings_classic_movies_to_iTunes |archive-date=March 21, 2008 }}</ref> In October, the company launched [[MGM HD]] on [[DirecTV]], offering a library of movies formatted in Hi Def.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118012749.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914074827/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118012749.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 14, 2012 |title=MGM bows first U.K. web |magazine=Variety |date=December 14, 2009 |access-date=July 20, 2014 }}</ref> MGM teamed up with [[Weigel Broadcasting]] to launch a new channel titled [[This TV]] on November 1, 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-080728mgm-weigel,0,4506974.story |title=Topic Galleries |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=July 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803223034/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-080728mgm-weigel%2C0%2C4506974.story |archive-date=August 3, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6608561.html |date=January 16, 2013 |access-date=January 23, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226095235/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6608561.html |archive-date=December 26, 2008 |title=Weigel, MGM Hope 'This' Thing's a Hit – 10/27/2008 – Broadcasting & Cable }}</ref> On August 12, 2008, MGM teamed up with [[Comcast]] to launch a new video-on-demand network titled Impact.<ref>{{cite news|last=Yao|first=Deborah|title=Comcast, MGM to launch action movie VOD channel|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-08-12-1906442833_x.htm|access-date=January 24, 2015|work=USA Today|agency=AP|date=August 12, 2008|archive-date=January 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128113753/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-08-12-1906442833_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 10, 2008, MGM announced that it would release full-length films on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Cheng |first=Jacqui |url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081110-mgm-will-be-first-major-studio-to-put-full-movies-on-youtube.html |title=MGM will be first major studio to put full movies on YouTube |website=Ars Technica |date=November 10, 2008 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=January 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122113942/http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081110-mgm-will-be-first-major-studio-to-put-full-movies-on-youtube.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On April 14, 2008, a South Korea government agency announced that MGM and Incheon International Airport Corporation agreed to build MGM Studio Theme Park. The selected site was a 1.5 million square meter [[Yeongjongdo]] island property near the [[Incheon International Airport]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Enter MGM Film Company's theme park Yeongjong Island |url= http://n123.ndsoftnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=10940 |access-date= March 10, 2017 |work= ND Soft News |publisher= Korea News Newspaper Co., Ltd |date= April 15, 2008 |language= ko |archive-date= March 12, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170312055011/http://n123.ndsoftnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=10940 |url-status= live }} [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ko&u=http://n123.ndsoftnews.com/news/articleView.html%3Fidxno%3D10940&prev=search Google Translate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508190257/https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ko&u=http%3A%2F%2Fn123.ndsoftnews.com%2Fnews%2FarticleView.html%3Fidxno%3D10940&prev=search |date=May 8, 2021 }}</ref> Ultimately, the park was designed but never built.<ref>{{cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Brady|title=Robot Land theme park planned in South Korea|url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-xpm-2011-nov-17-la-trb-robot-land-south-korea-11201117-story.html|access-date=March 10, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 17, 2011|archive-date=March 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329064724/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/17/news/la-trb-robot-land-south-korea-11201117|url-status=live}}</ref>
====MGM files for bankruptcy====
As of mid-2009, MGM had US$3.7 billion in debt, and interest payments alone totaled $250 million a year.<ref name="Wrap">{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/article/relativity-media-aiming-take-control-major-portion-mgm-which-process-trying-restructure-debt |title=Relativity Media Seeks Controlling Stake in MGM |website=TheWrap |date=May 17, 2009 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=January 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124061545/http://www.thewrap.com/article/relativity-media-aiming-take-control-major-portion-mgm-which-process-trying-restructure-debt |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="MGMaudit">{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/features/mgm-puts-skeptics-at-ease-1118006008/ |title=MGM puts skeptics at ease |magazine=Variety |date=July 15, 2009 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |first=Dave |last=McNary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718222941/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006008.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1 |archive-date=July 18, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>At least one other major news outlet claims the debt service is $300 million a year. See: Barnes, "MGM Replaces Chief Executive", ''The New York Times'', August 18, 2009.</ref> MGM was earning approximately $500 million a year on income from its extensive film and television library, but the [[Late-2000s recession|economic recession]] is reported to have reduced this income substantially.<ref name="NYTimesReplaces">{{cite news |first=Brookes |last=Barnes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/business/media/19mgm.html |title=MGM Ousts Its C.E.O. and Hires Turnaround Expert |website=The New York Times |date=August 18, 2009 |access-date=July 1, 2015 |archive-date=November 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106044806/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/business/media/19mgm.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=Peter Bart EVP and Editorial Director @MrPeterBart |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/features/town-reacts-to-mgm-s-new-lionkeeper-1118007435/ |title=Town reacts to MGM's new lionkeeper |magazine=Variety |date=August 18, 2009 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823012117/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007435.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |archive-date=August 23, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Whether MGM could avoid voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy had been a topic of much discussion in the film industry. MGM had to repay a $250-million line of credit in April 2010, a $1-billion loan in June 2011, and its remaining US$2.7 billion in loans in 2012.<ref name="NYTimesReplaces"/> In May 2009, MGM's auditor gave the company a clean bill of health, concluding it was still on track to meet its debt obligations.<ref name="MGMaudit"/> At that time, the company was negotiating with its creditors to either extend the debt repayment deadlines or engage in a debt-for-equity swap.<ref name="MGMaudit"/> Industry observers, however, questioned whether MGM could avoid a [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter-11 bankruptcy filing]] under any circumstances, and concluded that any failure to conclude the negotiations must trigger a filing.<ref>DiOrio, Carl. "Firm Scoops Up MGM Debt." ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]].'' May 18, 2009.</ref> MGM and its United Artists subsidiary were now producing very few films each year, and it was widely believed that MGM's solvency would depend on the box-office performance of these films (especially ''[[Skyfall]]'').<ref name="NYTimesReplaces"/><ref>DiOrio, Carl. "MGM Looks to Avoid Bankruptcy." ''The Hollywood Reporter.'' May 27, 2009.</ref> There was some indication that [[Relativity Media]] and its financial backer, Elliott Associates (a [[hedge fund]] based in New York), had been acquiring MGM debt in an attempt to force the company into [[Bankruptcy in the United States#Voluntary versus involuntary bankruptcy|involuntary bankruptcy]].<ref name="Wrap"/><ref>DiOrio, Carl. "Relativity Ally Buys MGM Debt." ''The Hollywood Reporter.'' May 19, 2009.</ref>
On August 17, 2009, chief executive officer [[Harry E. Sloan]] stepped down and MGM hired Stephen F. Cooper as its new CEO,<ref name="businessweek.com"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Sandler |first=Linda |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-03/metro-goldwyn-mayer-files-bankruptcy-after-rejecting-lions-gate-takeover.html |title=MGM Studios Files Bankruptcy, Rejecting Icahn Bid |publisher=Bloomberg |date=November 3, 2010 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=July 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729220149/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-03/metro-goldwyn-mayer-files-bankruptcy-after-rejecting-lions-gate-takeover.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pbn.com/MGM-files-for-bankruptcy-rejecting-Lions-Gate-Icahn-bid-Prov-Equity-flagged-as-a-loser,53554 |title=MGM files for bankruptcy, rejects bid; Providence Equity flagged as a 'loser' – Providence Business News |publisher=Pbn.com |access-date=July 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728040645/http://www.pbn.com/MGM-files-for-bankruptcy-rejecting-Lions-Gate-Icahn-bid-Prov-Equity-flagged-as-a-loser%2C53554 |archive-date=July 28, 2014 }}</ref> a corporate executive who guided [[Enron]] through its post-2001 bankruptcy and oversaw the restructuring and growth of [[Krispy Kreme]] in 2005.<ref name="NYTimesReplaces"/><ref name="Sloan">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i85f38c299a3a459ae116be2bc790fa61 |title=Internet Archive Wayback Machine |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=February 15, 2010 |access-date=January 23, 2016}}{{dead link|date=June 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2009/biz/markets-festivals/harry-sloan-out-at-mgm-as-ceo-1118007405/ |title=Harry Sloan out at MGM as CEO |magazine=Variety |date=August 18, 2009 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |first=Dave |last=McNary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091102011545/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007405.html?categoryid=30&cs=1 |archive-date=November 2, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Expectations were that Cooper was hired to act quickly on MGM's debt problems.<ref name="NYTimesReplaces"/><ref name="Sloan"/> On October 1, 2009, the studio's new leadership negotiated a [[forbearance]] agreement with its creditors under which interest payments due from September to November 2009 did not have to be paid until December 15, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/10/mgm-gets-a-little-breathing-room-on-its-interest-payments.html |title=MGM gets a little breathing room on its interest payments | Company Town | Los Angeles Times |date=October 1, 2009 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812084316/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/10/mgm-gets-a-little-breathing-room-on-its-interest-payments.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
MGM stated in February 2010 that the studio would likely be sold in the next four months, and that its latest film, ''[[Hot Tub Time Machine]]'', might be one of the last four films to bear the MGM name. However, some stated that the company might continue as a label for new James Bond productions, as well as other movie properties culled from the MGM library.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-mgm26-2010feb26,0,7597644.story|title=As MGM mulls its future, the show goes on|last=Eller|first=Claudia|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 26, 2010|access-date=February 26, 2010|archive-date=February 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213144354/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-feb-26-la-et-mgm26-2010feb26-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
MGM Holdings, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and 160 affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 3, 2010, with a prepackaged plan for exiting bankruptcy which led to MGM's creditors taking over the company.<ref name=GT-DEX-2010-CN-MP-X>{{cite news|last=Kawamoto|first=Dawn|title=MGM Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy|url=http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/11/03/mgm-bankruptcy/|access-date=September 24, 2012|date=November 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021101544/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/11/03/mgm-bankruptcy/|archive-date=October 21, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> On December 20, 2010, MGM executives announced that the studio had emerged from bankruptcy. [[Spyglass Entertainment]] executives [[Gary Barber]] and [[Roger Birnbaum]] became co-Chairs and co-CEOs of the studio.<ref>{{cite web |last=Agard |first=Chancellor |url=http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/12/20/mgm-out-of-bankruptcy |title=MGM out of bankruptcy | News Briefs | EW.com |publisher=News-briefs.ew.com |date=December 20, 2010 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906210353/http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/12/20/mgm-out-of-bankruptcy/ |archive-date=September 6, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/mgm-restructuring-becomes-official-1118029320/ |title=MGM restructuring becomes official |work=Variety |date=December 20, 2010 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |first=Dave |last=McNary |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116231511/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118029320/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Post-bankruptcy era====
On January 4, 2011, MGM and Weigel Broadcasting announced plans to distribute [[MeTV]] nationwide.<ref>{{cite news |last=Albiniak |first=Paige |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/461770-MGM_Weigel_Taking_Me_TV_Nationwide.php |title=MGM, Weigel Taking Me-TV Nationwide |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=January 4, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116212853/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/461770-MGM_Weigel_Taking_Me_TV_Nationwide.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/01/mgm-creating-classic-tv-channel-to-roar-like-the-fonz-.html |title=MGM launches classic TV service to roar like the Fonz | Company Town | |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 4, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812085232/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/01/mgm-creating-classic-tv-channel-to-roar-like-the-fonz-.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 2, 2011, MGM named [[Jonathan Glickman]] to be the film president of MGM. Six days later, MGM was finalizing a distribution deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment to handle distribution of its films worldwide, including the two upcoming Bond films ''[[Skyfall]]'' and ''[[Spectre (2015 film)|Spectre]]'', and MGM having the right to be co-financier on selected Sony films, such as ''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo]]''. The deal was finalized on April 13, 2011.<ref name="Finke2">{{cite news |first=Nikki |last=Finke |url=https://deadline.com/2011/04/toldja-mgm-makes-distribution-deal-with-sony-pictures-that-includes-james-bond-122524/ |title=TOLDJA! MGM Makes Distribution Deal With Sony Pictures That Includes James Bond |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728205755/http://www.deadline.com/2011/04/toldja-mgm-makes-distribution-deal-with-sony-pictures-that-includes-james-bond/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 20th Century Fox's deal with MGM handling its library distribution worldwide was set to expire in September 2011.<ref>{{cite web |first=Nikki |last=Finke |url=https://deadline.com/2011/02/sony-about-to-recapture-james-bond-23-mgm-leverages-007-for-co-finance-deal-104362/ |title=Sony About To Recapture James Bond #23; Update: MGM Leverages 007 For Deal On Sony's 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=February 8, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=April 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423072205/http://www.deadline.com/2011/02/sony-about-to-recapture-james-bond-23-mgm-leverages-007-for-co-finance-deal/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/02/sony-mgm-distribution-bond.html|title=Sony finalizing distribution and co-financing deal with MGM, including next two 'Bond' films|last=Fritz|first=Ben|date=February 8, 2011|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 6, 2014|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013164627/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/02/sony-mgm-distribution-bond.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the deal was renewed and extended on April 14, 2011<ref name="Fleming">{{cite web|last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=https://deadline.com/2011/04/mgm-re-ups-dvd-deal-with-fox-through-2016-122936/ |title=MGM Re-Ups DVD Deal With Fox Through 2016 |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 14, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2014 }}</ref> and, after five years, was renewed and extended again on June 27, 2016. It was expired in June 2020<ref name="Deadline 2016-6-27">{{cite web|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=June 27, 2016|title=MGM & 20th Century Fox Renew Home Entertainment Deal|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/mgm-fox-home-entertainment-deal-james-bond-rocky-1201780139/|access-date=May 26, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511213139/https://deadline.com/2016/06/mgm-fox-home-entertainment-deal-james-bond-rocky-1201780139/|url-status=live}}</ref> due to [[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox's properties (including 20th Century Fox) in 2019]].
MGM moved forward with several upcoming projects, including remakes of ''[[RoboCop (1987 film)|RoboCop]]'' and ''[[Poltergeist (1982 film)|Poltergeist]]''<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/mgm-looks-ahead-with-mr-mom-idolmaker-1118032494/ |title=MGM looks ahead with 'Mr. Mom,' 'Idolmaker' |magazine=Variety |date=February 17, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |first=Dave |last=McNary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116231436/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118032494/?refcatid=4076 |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/mgm-robocop-poltergeist-remake/ |title=MGM Finally Comes Back from the Dead with 5 Projects including Remakes of RoboCop and Poltergeist |publisher=Collider.com |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003359/http://collider.com/mgm-robocop-poltergeist-remake/76899 |url-status=live }}</ref> (the ''[[RoboCop (2014 film)|RoboCop]]'' and ''[[Poltergeist (2015 film)|Poltergeist]]'' remakes were released in 2014 and 2015, respectively), and released their first post-bankruptcy film, ''[[Zookeeper (film)|Zookeeper]]'', which was co-distributed by Columbia Pictures on July 8, 2011. The new MGM, under Barber and Birnbaum's control, focuses on co-investing on films made by another party, which handle all distribution and marketing for the projects. MGM handles international television distribution rights for the new films as well as its library of existing titles and also retains its in-house production service.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Fritz |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-mgm-20111213,0,2920058.story |title=MGM film studio remade with a low-profile and a focused strategy |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 13, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=December 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214221102/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-mgm-20111213,0,2920058.story |url-status=live }}</ref> In separate 2011 deals, the rights to MGM's completed films ''[[Red Dawn (2012 film)|Red Dawn]]'' and ''[[The Cabin in the Woods]]'' were dealt to [[FilmDistrict]] as well as [[Lionsgate Films]], respectively.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/09/red-dawn-remake-to-come-out-next-year-from-filmdistrict.html |title='Red Dawn' remake to come out next year from FilmDistrict |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 26, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=December 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206095127/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/09/red-dawn-remake-to-come-out-next-year-from-filmdistrict.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2011/04/joss-whedons-cabin-in-the-woods-with-thors-chris-hemsworth-goes-to-lionsgate-126778/|title=Joss Whedon's 'Cabin In The Woods' With 'Thor's Chris Hemsworth Going To Lionsgate|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 28, 2011|access-date=January 22, 2017|archive-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208032938/http://deadline.com/2011/04/joss-whedons-cabin-in-the-woods-with-thors-chris-hemsworth-goes-to-lionsgate-126778/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On October 3, 2012, Birnbaum announced his intention to exit his role as an MGM executive and return to "hands-on" producing. He remained with the studio to produce films on "an exclusive basis".<ref>{{cite web |first=Nikki |last=Finke |url=https://deadline.com/2012/10/mgm-co-chairman-ceo-roger-birnbaum-steps-down-will-become-producer-gary-barber-to-become-sole-chairman-ceo-347366/ |title=MGM's Roger Birnbaum Steps Down To Return To Producing; Gary Barber Now Revived Studio's Sole Chairman & CEO |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=October 3, 2012 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=February 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205120549/http://www.deadline.com/2012/10/mgm-co-chairman-ceo-roger-birnbaum-steps-down-will-become-producer-gary-barber-to-become-sole-chairman-ceo/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2012, Denkert retired as co-president of MGM on Stage after producing five Broadway and West End plays.<ref name="thr" /> In May 2014, MGM introduced [[The Works (TV network)|The Works]], a channel available in 31 percent of the country, including stations owned by Titan Broadcast Management.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/exclusive-mgm-launches-digi-net-works/130865|title=Exclusive: MGM Launches Digi-Net The Works|last=Malone|first=Michael|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=May 2, 2014|access-date=May 15, 2014|archive-date=May 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507032626/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/exclusive-mgm-launches-digi-net-works/130865|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2013, the Orion brand was revived as a television production label for a syndicated court show. The Orion Pictures name was extended in fourth quarter 2014 for smaller domestic and international video on demand and limited theatrical releases.<ref>{{cite news|last=Torrelio|first=Sebastian|title=Orion Pictures Label Returns for First Time in 15 Years|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/orion-pictures-label-returns-for-first-time-in-15-years-1201304184/|access-date=March 10, 2017|work=Variety|date=September 11, 2014|archive-date=December 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207084310/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/orion-pictures-label-returns-for-first-time-in-15-years-1201304184/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In March 2017, MGM announced a multi-year distribution deal with [[Annapurna Pictures]] for some international markets and including home entertainment, theatrical and television rights.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lodderhose|first=Diana|title=MGM & Annapurna Seal Multi-Year Movie Distribution Deal|url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/mgm-annapurna-pictures-movie-distribution-partnership-kathryn-bigelow-megan-ellison-untitled-detroit-project-1202052928/|access-date=June 30, 2017|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 27, 2017|archive-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710150127/http://deadline.com/2017/03/mgm-annapurna-pictures-movie-distribution-partnership-kathryn-bigelow-megan-ellison-untitled-detroit-project-1202052928/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later on October 31, 2017, the two companies formed a US distribution joint venture called Mirror Releasing. However, this partnership was not exclusive to all MGM films, as several of them continue to be released through existing studio partners, such as [[Warner Bros.]] and [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]]. It also does not include newly relaunched [[Orion Pictures]].<ref>{{cite news|last=McNary|first=Dave|title=MGM, Annapurna Form U.S. Distribution Partnership|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/box-office/mgm-annapurna-u-s-distribution-partnership-1202603105/|access-date=November 4, 2017|work=Variety|date=October 31, 2017|archive-date=November 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103154050/http://variety.com/2017/film/box-office/mgm-annapurna-u-s-distribution-partnership-1202603105/|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 5, 2019, Annapurna and MGM rebranded and expanded their US distribution joint venture as [[United Artists Releasing]], marking another revival of the United Artists brand, with the Orion Pictures distribution team and films joining the venture. The decision was made to coincide with the United Artists brand's 100th anniversary.<ref name="vty5">{{cite news| last=Donnelly| first=Matt| title=Annapurna, MGM Joint Distribution Venture Rebrands as United Artists Releasing| url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/annapurna-mgm-united-artists-releasing-1203128801/| newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| access-date=February 5, 2019| date=February 5, 2019| archive-date=February 5, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205230628/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/annapurna-mgm-united-artists-releasing-1203128801/| url-status=live}}</ref>
Following the [[Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations]] in October 2017, MGM was listed as one of 22 potential buyers interested in acquiring The Weinstein Company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/weinstein-co-talking-22-buyers-300-million-expected-price-bob-weinstein-must-exit|title=Weinstein Co Talking to 22 Buyers, $300 Million Expected Price, Bob Weinstein Must Exit|date=October 26, 2017|work=The Wrap|access-date=January 30, 2018|archive-date=November 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123222136/https://www.thewrap.com/weinstein-co-talking-22-buyers-300-million-expected-price-bob-weinstein-must-exit/|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2017, MGM's board renewed Gary Barber's contract as chairman and CEO until December 2022. In February 2018, Chris Brearton, the former media M&A attorney of [[Latham and Watkins]], was appointed as chief operating officer. On March 19, 2018, MGM Holdings announced that Barber had been fired by the studio's board of directors. MGM gave no reason for his firing. For the interim, the company would be led by the newly formed "Office of the CEO".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/gary-barber-leaving-mgm-chairman-1202731059/ |title=MGM Shakeup: Gary Barber Out as CEO |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=March 20, 2018 |work=Variety |access-date=March 20, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320043846/http://variety.com/2018/film/news/gary-barber-leaving-mgm-chairman-1202731059/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In April 2019, MGM signed a two-year, first-look deal for films with Smokehouse Pictures, owned by [[George Clooney]] and Grant Heslov. The deal's first film is a yet-to-be-named [[John DeLorean]] film based on journalist [[Alex Pappademas]]' [[Epic (magazine)|''Epic'' magazine]] article "Saint John", written by Keith Bunin and Clooney as director with a possibility of starring.<ref>{{cite news |last=McNary |first=Dave |title=George Clooney's Smokehouse Pictures Signs First-Look Deal With MGM |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/george-clooney-mgm-deal-smokehouse-1203184713/ |access-date=April 10, 2019 |work=Variety |date=April 9, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410082704/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/george-clooney-mgm-deal-smokehouse-1203184713/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In April 2019, MGM made a multi-film non-exclusive creative partnership with [[AGBO Films]] to co-develop, co-produce and co-finance a slate from the MGM library. The deal includes a new film projects joint development fund with the first film under the deal to be a remake of ''[[The Thomas Crown Affair (1968 film)|The Thomas Crown Affair]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr. |title='Avengers: Endgame' Helmers Joe & Anthony Russo's AGBO To Godfather Remakes Of MGM Library Title IP |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/avengers-endgame-agbo-joe-russo-anthony-russo-mgm-library-the-thomas-crown-affair-1202591932/ |access-date=March 6, 2020 |work=Deadline |date=April 9, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=May 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522094832/https://deadline.com/2019/04/avengers-endgame-agbo-joe-russo-anthony-russo-mgm-library-the-thomas-crown-affair-1202591932/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
MGM agreed to a $100 million co-financing slate deal with [[Bron Studios|Bron Creative]] in June 2019. The slate consisted of at least nine films including three Orion Pictures films.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moreau |first1=Jordan |title=MGM and Bron Creative Enter $100 Million Co-Financing Deal |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/mgm-bron-creative-co-financing-deal-1203234526/ |access-date=December 2, 2019 |work=Variety |date=June 6, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=May 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508190311/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/mgm-bron-creative-co-financing-deal-1203234526/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
MGM was one of the first studios to delay the films, including ''[[No Time to Die]]'', due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. This was followed by an April 2020 layoff of 7% of employees.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Donnelly |first1=Matt |title=MGM Hit With Layoffs Across Studio, United Artists Releasing Furloughs Third of Staff (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mgm-lay-offs-companywide-united-artists-releasing-furloughs-coronavirus-1234588388/ |access-date=April 28, 2020 |work=Variety |date=April 24, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=April 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427135358/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mgm-lay-offs-companywide-united-artists-releasing-furloughs-coronavirus-1234588388/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
A shuffle of top executives occurred in the first four months. Glickman left in January 2020 and replaced by Michael De Luca as chairman of the motion picture group. A motion picture group president, veteran executive and producer [[Pamela Abdy]], was named in early April. Co-presidents of production Cassidy Lange, Adam Rosenberg left by May 1, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=Cassidy Lange, Adam Rosenberg Departing as MGM Co-Presidents of Production |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/cassidy-lange-adam-rosenberg-leave-mgm-1234595767/ |access-date=May 1, 2020 |work=Variety |date=May 1, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502052138/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/cassidy-lange-adam-rosenberg-leave-mgm-1234595767/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In May 2020, MGM made an investment, facilitated by its television group, in Audio Up podcast production studio, platform and network. Audio Up would also produce 5 podcasts per year for MGM and agreed to an exclusive first look for its works.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |title=MGM Takes Stake In Audio Up, A Podcast Producer And Network |url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/mgm-takes-stake-in-audio-up-podcast-producer-network-dennis-quaid-1202928709/ |access-date=May 14, 2020 |work=Deadline |date=May 7, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515021047/https://deadline.com/2020/05/mgm-takes-stake-in-audio-up-podcast-producer-network-dennis-quaid-1202928709/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Later that month, MGM agreed to a two-year film and television first-look development deal with Killer Films.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=Killer Films Signs First-Look Deals With MGM for Feature Films, Television |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mgm-killer-films-first-look-films-television-1234612836/ |access-date=May 22, 2020 |work=Variety |date=May 21, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529130623/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mgm-killer-films-first-look-films-television-1234612836/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2013 and 2015, [[Starz Inc.|Starz Entertainment]] signed exclusive film licensing agreements with MGM for 585 movies and 176 television series. In August 2019, Starz found an MGM-owned film, ''[[Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure]]'', covered by the agreement to be streaming on [[Amazon Prime Video]], and had it pulled. Starz pressed them and MGM admitted in November that 244 films and television series were being shown on other platforms including [[Epix]]. MGM indicated that month that the license tracking system was fixed; Starz instead found an additional 100 MGM films on other platforms. With this seeming to diminish their channel's value to cable operators, Starz sued on May 4, 2020, to uncover all contract violations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maddaus |first1=Gene |title=Starz Accuses MGM of Massive Breach of Exclusivity Agreements |url=https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/starz-mgm-lawsuit-exclusitivity-1234597695/ |access-date=May 21, 2020 |work=Variety |date=May 4, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=May 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518082718/https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/starz-mgm-lawsuit-exclusitivity-1234597695/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Amazon subsidiary===
[[File:MGM 2021.svg|right|thumb|class=skin-invert|The corporate monogram print logo of MGM used from 2021 to 2024. It remains in use, however, for the studio's licensed physical media releases and as the logo of [[MGM+]].]]
In December 2020, MGM began to explore a potential sale of the studio, with the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and the domination of streaming platforms due to the closure of movie theaters as contributing factors. The company hired [[Morgan Stanley]] and LionTree Advisors to handle the process on behalf of the studio.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shafer |first1=Ellise |title=MGM Is Exploring a Sale of Its Studio |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mgm-holdings-sale-james-bond-1234868114/ |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=Variety |date=December 21, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206080106/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mgm-holdings-sale-james-bond-1234868114/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sweney |first1=Mark |title=Hollywood studio MGM puts itself up for sale at $5bn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/22/hollywood-giant-mgm-puts-itself-up-for-sale-at-5bn |access-date=December 22, 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=December 22, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206082226/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/22/hollywood-giant-mgm-puts-itself-up-for-sale-at-5bn |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 17, 2021, online retail and technology company [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] entered negotiations to acquire the studio. The negotiations were made directly with MGM board chairman Kevin Ulrich whose [[Anchorage Capital Group]] is a major shareholder.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Amazon Said to Make $9 Billion Offer for MGM |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/amazon-mgm-acquisition-talks-9-billion-1234975168/ |access-date=May 17, 2021 |work=Variety |date=May 17, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107163401/https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/amazon-mgm-acquisition-talks-9-billion-1234975168/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Toonkel |first1=Jessica |title=Amazon Pondering Deal to Buy MGM |url=https://www.theinformation.com/articles/amazon-pondering-deal-to-buy-mgm |access-date=May 17, 2021 |work=The Information |date=May 17, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222110253/https://www.theinformation.com/articles/amazon-pondering-deal-to-buy-mgm |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 26, 2021, it was officially announced that MGM would be acquired by Amazon for $8.45 billion, subject to regulatory approvals and other routine closing conditions; with the studio continuing to operate as a label under Amazon's existing content arm, complementing [[Amazon Studios]] and [[Amazon Prime Video]].<ref name="auto"/> On March 15, 2022, Amazon secured an unconditional [[European Union]] (EU) antitrust approval for its proposed acquisition of MGM.<ref>{{cite web |title=Amazon wins EU antitrust nod for $8.5 billion MGM deal |url=https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-wins-eu-antitrust-nod-163311503.html |access-date=March 15, 2022 |website=uk.finance.yahoo.com |date=March 15, 2022 |language=en-GB |archive-date=August 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808170248/https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-wins-eu-antitrust-nod-163311503.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On February 8, 2022, [[Paul Thomas Anderson]]'s ''[[Licorice Pizza]]'' became the studio's first fully produced, marketed and distributed film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 33 years, after 1988's ''[[Rain Man]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Nancy Tartaglione |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/mgm-future-oscars-michael-de-luca-pam-abdy-interview-1234929534/ |title=MGM Michael De Luca & Pam Abdy Interview: Oscar Nominations, Future |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=February 9, 2022 |access-date=February 13, 2022 |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209232052/https://deadline.com/2022/02/mgm-future-oscars-michael-de-luca-pam-abdy-interview-1234929534/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 17, Amazon finalized the merger.<ref>{{cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=March 17, 2022 |title=Amazon And MGM Close $8.5 Billion Merger |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/amazon-mgm-merger-1234981037/ |access-date=March 17, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317133832/https://deadline.com/2022/03/amazon-mgm-merger-1234981037/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Later that day, Amazon Studios and Prime Video SVP Mike Hopkins revealed that Amazon would continue to partner with United Artists Releasing, which would remain in operation to release all future MGM titles theatrically on a "case-by-case basis," while "all MGM employees will join my organization." It was also revealed that Amazon had no plans to make changes to the studio's production slate and release schedules nor make all MGM content exclusive to Prime Video, providing some hope that the studio would operate autonomously from Amazon Studios. These plans are expected to not impact the future of the James Bond franchise and its creative team. Two [[Town hall meeting|town halls]] further detailing MGM's future post-merger took place on March 18, which included one for MGM employees and one for Amazon Studios/Prime Video employees.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mike Fleming Jr |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/amazon-mgm-mike-hopkins-town-hall-memo-1234981242/ |title=Amazon-MGM Town Hall Scheduled For Tomorrow; Mike Hopkins Presages Upcoming Mesh – Deadline |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=March 17, 2022 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317190108/https://deadline.com/2022/03/amazon-mgm-mike-hopkins-town-hall-memo-1234981242/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Both revealed the new interim reporting structure as part of Amazon's "phased integration plan", which would involve De Luca, [[Mark Burnett]] (Chairman of [[MGM Worldwide Television]]) and [[Chief operating officer|COO]] Chris Brearton reporting to Hopkins on behalf of the studio.<ref>{{cite web |author=Nellie Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/mike-hopkins-integration-changes-interim-reporting-structure-mgm-amazon-1234982307/ |title=Amazon's Mike Hopkins Stresses "Phased Approach To Integration Changes", Details Interim Reporting Structure In Memo To MGM Staff – Deadline |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=March 18, 2022 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319160929/https://deadline.com/2022/03/mike-hopkins-integration-changes-interim-reporting-structure-mgm-amazon-1234982307/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 22, the studio made its first post-merger acquisition with [[Luca Guadagnino]]'s ''[[Bones and All]]'', for which the studio purchased the global distribution rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/timothee-chalamet-bones-and-all-luca-guadagnino-mgm-amazon-1234984057/|title=MGM Takes Global On Luca Guadagnino-Timothée Chalamet Feature Reteam 'Bones And All'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=March 22, 2022|access-date=March 22, 2022|archive-date=March 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322170115/https://deadline.com/2022/03/timothee-chalamet-bones-and-all-luca-guadagnino-mgm-amazon-1234984057/|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 27, 2022, it was announced that De Luca and Abdy would leave the studio for Warner Bros. A few months later, in August, it was announced MGM and Warner Bros. had signed a multi-year pact to distribute MGM's titles internationally outside North America, both theatrically in international territories and on home video worldwide, beginning with ''Bones and All'' and ''[[Creed III]]''. The deal however excludes the films ''[[Till (film)|Till]]'', ''[[Women Talking (film)|Women Talking]]'', and MGM's 26th James Bond film, which would be distributed by [[Universal Pictures]], with whom MGM had an international distribution deal earlier.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/mgm-mike-de-luca-pam-abdy-leaving-mgm-studio-folds-into-amazon-1235011024/ | title=MGM Shakeup: Mike de Luca & Pam Abdy Leaving as Studio Enters Amazon Fold; Read Exit Memos | date=April 27, 2022 | access-date=April 27, 2022 | archive-date=April 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427164323/https://deadline.com/2022/04/mgm-mike-de-luca-pam-abdy-leaving-mgm-studio-folds-into-amazon-1235011024/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/warner-bros-mgm-international-distribution-deal-james-bond-007-1235091889/ | title=Warner Bros Forms Multi-Year Pact to Distribute MGM Movies Overseas Beginning with 'Bones and All', 'Creed III'; How Bond Will be Handled | date=August 14, 2022 | access-date=August 14, 2022 | archive-date=August 15, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815015706/https://deadline.com/2022/08/warner-bros-mgm-international-distribution-deal-james-bond-007-1235091889/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/warner-bros-mgm-international-theatrical-distribution-1235341060/ | title=Warner Bros. To Release MGM Movies Internationally, Except for 'Bond 26' | date=August 14, 2022 | access-date=August 15, 2022 | archive-date=August 15, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815004006/https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/warner-bros-mgm-international-theatrical-distribution-1235341060/ | url-status=live }}</ref> On November 30, 2022, it was announced that Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, would be given full control of MGM's film and television divisions, with Brearton stepping down as COO to become the Vice President of PVS Corporate Strategy for [[MGM+]] and MGM Alternative Television.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/amazons-jennifer-salke-gains-control-of-mgm-film-tv-operations-1235272055/|title=Amazon's Jennifer Salke Gains Control of MGM Film, TV Operations|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 30, 2022|archive-date=November 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130144110/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/amazons-jennifer-salke-gains-control-of-mgm-film-tv-operations-1235272055/|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 4, 2023, it was revealed that Amazon had shut down United Artists Releasing's operations and folded it into MGM, amid the decision to release Amazon Studios' ''[[Air (2023 American film)|Air]]'' into theaters instead of Prime Video amidst 2024 Oscar buzz. This made ''[[Creed III]]'' the first film released and distributed by MGM itself under the new parent company instead of UAR.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/creed-iii-box-office-opening-1235340591/ |title=Box Office: 'Creed III' Wins Title with Series-Best $51M Opening – the Hollywood Reporter |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=March 4, 2023 |archive-date=March 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304165729/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/creed-iii-box-office-opening-1235340591/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 22, 2023, longtime MGM distribution head Erik Lomis died.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/erik-lomis-dead-movie-distribution-executive-mgm-1235307199/|title=Erik Lomis Dies: Veteran MGM Distribution Chief Was 64|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 22, 2023|accessdate=March 22, 2023|archive-date=March 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322220125/https://deadline.com/2023/03/erik-lomis-dead-movie-distribution-executive-mgm-1235307199/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In May 2023, Amazon Studios created Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, an international [[Film distribution|film and television distribution]] unit for
both MGM and Amazon projects. The first MGM films from the new distributor were ''[[Saltburn (film)|Saltburn]]'', which premiered at the [[Telluride Film Festival]] on August 30, 2023, and ''[[Sitting in Bars with Cake]]'', which was released on Prime Video on September 8, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whittock |first=Jesse |date=May 8, 2023 |title=Amazon MGM Studios Distribution To Launch At LA Screenings |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/amazon-mgm-studios-distribution-la-screenings-1235356076/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508180524/https://deadline.com/2023/05/amazon-mgm-studios-distribution-la-screenings-1235356076/ |archive-date=May 8, 2023 |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> On October 4, 2023, Pablo Iacoviello, Amazon's director of monetization for local originals, announced at the TV forum Iberseries & Platino Industria in [[Madrid]] that Amazon Studios would be renamed to Amazon MGM Studios itself to reflect this.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/amazon-mgm-studios-argentina-1985-1235743542/ |title=Amazon Studios Now Called Amazon MGM Studios, Executive Pablo Iacoviello Reveals in Iberseries Keynote |date=October 3, 2023 |last=de la Fuente |first=Anne Marie |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=October 3, 2023 |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004015846/https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/amazon-mgm-studios-argentina-1985-1235743542/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On September 17, 2023, Orion Pictures' ''[[American Fiction (film)|American Fiction]]'' earned the studio its first win for the [[Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award|People's Choice Award]] at that year's [[2023 Toronto International Film Festival|Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2023/09/american-fiction-wins-toronto-film-festival-peoples-choice-award-oscar-harbinger-1235548676/ | title='American Fiction' Wins Toronto Film Festival's People's Choice Award – Oscar Harbinger? | date=September 17, 2023 }}</ref> In January 2024, Amazon announced hundreds of layoffs across Amazon MGM Studios, Prime Video and [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] in order to "prioritize our investments for the long-term success of our business, while relentlessly focusing on what we know matters most to our customers," according to Mike Hopkins.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/amazon-cuts-hundreds-of-jobs-prime-video-mgm-studios-layoffs-1235784340/ | title=Amazon Cutting Hundreds of Jobs at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=January 10, 2024 | access-date=January 11, 2024 | archive-date=January 11, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111125128/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/amazon-cuts-hundreds-of-jobs-prime-video-mgm-studios-layoffs-1235784340/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
In March 2024, beginning with the Prime Video release of the remake of ''[[Road House (2024 film)|Road House]]'', the studio kicked off the [[Centennial|centennial anniversary]] celebration of its founding, with a "100 Years" logo variant appearing on titles produced by MGM throughout the year. In April 2024, the studio, in collaboration with [[Fandango at Home]], [[Rotten Tomatoes]] and [[iTunes]], offered customers a "100 Essential Movies" bundle of 100 films from its library as part of their centennial for a limited time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Fandango-at-Home-and-Rotten-Tomatoes-Celebrate-MGM-with-100-Film-Collection-20240417 | title=Fandango at Home and Rotten Tomatoes Celebrate MGM with 100 Film Collection }}</ref> In September 2024, Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video became the seventh member of the MPA, marking MGM's return to membership for the first time since 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=MPA Adds Amazon Prime Video and MGM Studios As Newest Member|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Ted|last=Johnson|date=19 September 2024|access-date=19 September 2024|url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/mpa-amazon-prime-video-mgm-studios-member-1236094096/}}</ref>
==Headquarters==
The headquarters of Amazon MGM Studios are located in [[Culver City, California]]. MGM's headquarters were located in [[Beverly Hills, California]],<ref name="MGMMoving">{{cite web|url=http://www.mgm.com/assets/pdfs/tmp/tmp7ebfb35abe6bb1ec72401af887c912fb/report_pdfQ2.pdf |title=MGM Holdings Inc. For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011 |publisher=WebCite |date=February 5, 2012 |access-date=January 23, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928093427/https://www.mgm.com/assets/pdfs/tmp/tmp7ebfb35abe6bb1ec72401af887c912fb/report_pdfQ2.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2020 }}</ref> where it rents space in a six-story office building. The {{convert|144000|sqft|sqm|adj=on}} facility was originally built for the [[William Morris Agency|William Morris]] [[talent agency]], but had remained all but unoccupied because of the agency's merger with [[Endeavor Talent Agency]] in April 2009. MGM planned to house a private theater and a private outdoor patio in the building.<ref name="VincentEller">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-dec-30-la-fi-mgm-20101230-story.html |title=MGM to move from luxurious Century City offices |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 8, 1993 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |first1=Roger |last1=Vincent |first2=Claudia |last2=Eller |archive-date=April 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427010449/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/30/business/la-fi-mgm-20101230 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:MGM Tower.jpg|thumb|upright|[[MGM Tower]], former company headquarters highlighted by the famous [[Leo the Lion (MGM)|Leo the Lion]] logo at the top]]
{{CSS image crop |Image = Beverly Drive Looking North From Wilshire 2015.jpg |bSize = 377 |cWidth = 170 |cHeight = 250 |oLeft = 63 | Description = The company's former headquarters on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills with the MGM sign above the entrance. The MGM headquarters was currently moved to the [[Culver Studios]].}}
Prior to 2003, MGM's headquarters were in the Colorado Center in [[Santa Monica, California]],<ref name="ColoradoCent">{{Dead link|date=April 2018}}{{cite news|author=Fixmer, Andy|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-california-metro-areas/525013-1.html|title=Yahoo signing for office space that MGM is leaving behind|agency=[[Los Angeles Business Journal]]|work=AllBusiness|access-date=February 5, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgm.com/corporate/corporate_info/corporate_information.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001006025115/http://www.mgm.com/corporate/corporate_info/corporate_information.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 6, 2000 |title=Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. Investor Homepage |access-date=October 20, 2016}}</ref> occupying at least {{convert|150000|sqft|sqm}}. In 2000, it announced it was moving its headquarters to a new building in [[Century City, Los Angeles|Century City]] that was to be the first high-rise in [[Los Angeles]] to be completed in the 21st century. When the company agreed to be its lead tenant halfway through the building's design process, it became identified as [[MGM Tower]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mgm.com/corporate/section/reorganization/index.html |date=June 10, 2015 |access-date=January 23, 2016 |url-status=dead |title=Archived copy |archive-date=June 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610211934/http://www.mgm.com/corporate/section/reorganization/index.html }}</ref> planned for a 2003 opening.<ref name="VincentEller"/> When MGM moved into the lavishly appointed spaces<ref name="ColoradoCent"/> devised by [[Alex Yemenidjian]], former MGM chairperson and chief executive, Roger Vincent and Claudia Eller observed in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' that "Yemenidjian spared no expense in building out the studio's space with such [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]]-style flourishes as towering marble pillars and a grand spiral staircase lined with a wall of awards."<ref name="VincentEller"/>
Architect Scott Johnson designed the bottom third of the tower with extra-large floors so MGM executives could have outdoor decks. No expense seemed to be spared—from imported Italian marble for MGM's offices, to the company's exclusive use of a private garage, security checkpoint, and elevator bank, all to enable visiting celebrities discreet entry and exit. One of the tower's three screening rooms was a 100-seat theater on the ground floor (later taken over by [[International Creative Management]] in December 2010). The 14th-floor lobby housed the executive suites and a wall of Oscar statuettes for [[Academy Award]]-winning films. The street leading to the building's garage was renamed MGM Drive and a large MGM logo, illuminated at night, crowned the building. As of December 2010, MGM was renting {{convert|200000|sqft|sqm}} in MGM Tower at a cost of almost $5 per square foot per month.<ref name="VincentEller"/>
Emerging from bankruptcy protection in 2010, MGM announced that it planned to move its headquarters to Beverly Hills as part of an effort to resolve almost $5 billion in debt, since the lease in Century City was not scheduled to expire until 2018. Vincent and Eller said that MGM's per-square-foot monthly rent would be far lower in the Beverly Hills building than in MGM Tower. Larry Kozmont, a real estate consultant not involved in the process, said, "It's a prudent move for them. Downsizing and relocating to a space that is still prominent but not overly ostentatious and burdened by expenses is fundamental for their survival."<ref name="VincentEller"/> MGM vacated its namesake tower on August 19, 2011.<!--This is indicated as the end date in the document--><ref name="MGMMoving"/>
==Leo logo and mottos==
{{Main|Leo the Lion (MGM)}}
The studio's official [[motto]], "''Ars Gratia Artis''", is a [[Latin]] phrase meaning "[[Art for art's sake]]".<ref>{{cite book |title= The Internship Bible |first1= Mark |last1= Oldman |first2= Samer |last2= Hamadeh |year=2005 |edition= 10th |page= 282 |publisher= Princeton Review}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1= Welsh |first1= James M. |last2= Cahir |first2= Linda Costanzo |title= Literature Into film: Theory and Practical Approaches |date=2006 |publisher= McFarland |___location= Jefferson, North Carolina |isbn= 0786425970}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Naremore |first1=James |last2=Brantlinger |first2=Patrick |title=Modernity and Mass Culture |date=1991 |publisher=Indiana University Press |___location=Bloomington |isbn=0253206278 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/modernitymasscul0000unse }}</ref><ref name="Wayne">{{cite book |last=Wayne |first=Jane Ellen |title=The Golden Girls of MGM: Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Lana Turner, Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, and Others |date=2004 |publisher= Carroll & Graf |___location= New York |isbn= 0786713038 |edition=Reprint}}</ref> It was chosen by [[Howard Dietz]], the studio's chief publicist<!-- *DO NOT* insert "in 1924" here, even if the references say so; it appeared on the Goldwyn Pictures logo from the beginning. -->.<ref name="NYPLibrary">{{cite book|last1=Corey|first1=Melinda|last2=Ochoa|first2=George|last3=Berliner|first3=Barbara|title=The Book of Answers: the New York Public Library Telephone Reference Service's Most Unusual and Entertaining Questions|date=1990|publisher=Simon & Schuster|___location=New York|isbn=0671761927|edition=1st|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofanswers00barb}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Sheed|first=Wilfrid|title=The house that George Built: With a Little Help from Irving, Cole, and a Crew of About Fifty|date=2008|publisher=Random House |___location=New York |isbn= 978-0812970180 |edition=1st}}</ref><ref name="Grove">{{cite book |last=Silvester |first= Christopher |title= The Grove Book of Hollywood |date=1998 |publisher= Grove Press |___location= New York |isbn= 0802138780 |edition=1st}}</ref> The studio's logo is a roaring lion surrounded by a ring of film inscribed with the studio's motto. The logo, which features [[Leo the Lion (MGM)|Leo the Lion]], was created by Dietz in 1916 for Goldwyn Pictures and updated in 1924 for MGM's use.<ref name="NYPLibrary"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Flexner|first=Stuart Berg|title=Listening to America: An Illustrated History of Words and Phrases From Our Lively and Splendid Past|date=1982|publisher=Simon and Schuster|___location=New York|isbn=0671248952|edition=1st|url=https://archive.org/details/listeningtoameri00flex}}</ref><ref name="Crabb">{{cite book|last=Crabb|first=Kelly Charles|title=The Movie Business: The Definitive Guide to the Legal and Financial Secrets of Getting Your Movie|date=2005|publisher=Simon & Schuster|___location=New York|isbn=0743264924|url=https://archive.org/details/moviebusinessdef00crab}}</ref> Dietz based the logo on his alma mater's [[mascot]], the [[Columbia University]] lion.<ref name="NYPLibrary"/><ref name="Grove"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Fordin|first=Hugh|title=M-G-M's Greatest Musicals: The Arthur Freed Unit|date=1996|publisher=Da Capo Press|___location=New York |isbn= 0306807300 |edition=1st}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Stillman|first1=William|last2=Scarfone|first2=Jay|title=The Wizardry of Oz: The Artistry and Magic of the 1939 M-G-M Classic|date=2004 |publisher= Wayne State U.P. |___location=New York |isbn= 1557836248 |edition=Revised}}</ref> Originally silent, the sound of Leo the Lion's roar was added to films for the first time in August 1928.<ref name="Wayne"/>
In the 1930s and 1940s, the studio billed itself as having "more stars than there are in heaven", a reference to the large number of [[A-list]] movie stars under its contract.<ref name="Crabb"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Doherty |first=Thomas |title= Pre-Code Hollywood: Sex, Immorality, and Insurrection in American Cinema, 1930–1934 |url=https://archive.org/details/precodehollywood0000dohe |url-access=registration |date=1999 |publisher= Columbia University Press |___location= New York |isbn= 0231110952}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hark |first=Ina Rae |title=American Cinema of the 1930s: Themes and Variations |date=2007 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |___location=New Brunswick, New Jersey |isbn=978-0813540825 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/americancinemaof0000unse }}</ref> This second motto was also coined by Dietz<ref>{{cite book|last=Dardis |first=Tom |title=Keaton, the Man Who Wouldn't Lie Down |date=1988 |publisher= Limelight Editions |___location=New York |isbn=0879101172 |edition=1st}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Walker |first=Alexander |title=Elizabeth |date=2001 |publisher=Grove Press |___location=New York |isbn=0802137695 |edition=1st |url=https://archive.org/details/elizabeth00walk }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Fleming |first=E.J. |title= The Fixers: Eddie Mannix, Howard Strickling, and the MGM Publicity Machine |date= 2005 |publisher= McFarland & Co. |___location= Jefferson, North Carolina |isbn=0786420278}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Dietz |first=Howard |title=Dancing in the Dark with Howard Dietz |date=1974 |publisher=Quadrangle / The New York Times Book Co. |___location=New York |isbn=0812904397 |url=https://archive.org/details/dancingindark00diet }}</ref> and was first used in 1932.<ref>{{cite book |last=Carey |first=Gary |title=All the Stars in Heaven: Louis B. Mayer's MGM |date=1982 |publisher=Robson Books |___location=London |isbn=0525052453 |edition=1st |url=https://archive.org/details/allstarsinheaven00care }}</ref>
[[File:Metro-Goldwyn-Myer intro as of 2021.ogv|thumb|The current MGM logo, unveiled in 2021. This intro replaced the previous live versions of Leo the Lion with a CGI version. The Amazon byline was added in 2023.]]
On March 8, 2021, the studio unveiled a rebrand, centered on the "Ars Gratia Artis" motto, across its social media and marketing platforms, including a photorealistic CGI version of its Leo the Lion emblem and logo, also introducing a new print logo for television, digital, and film posters, phasing out the static MGM logo in favor of simply the company's initials, done in the company's longtime typeface. This was to make the studio's name more recognizable when viewed at a small size.
As of September 2023, this version of the logo is also being used to represent Amazon MGM Studios at the start of films produced and/or distributed by the parent company without MGM's involvement after retiring their own 2016{{endash}}2023 on-screen logo as a result of their rebrand.<ref>{{cite web|title=MGM Studios Unveils New Brand Evolution|date=March 8, 2021 |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/mgm-rebrand-leo-the-lion-gets-a-cgi-makeover-in-updated-logo/|access-date=March 9, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128050941/https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/mgm-rebrand-leo-the-lion-gets-a-cgi-makeover-in-updated-logo/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Film library==
{{Main|Lists of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films}}
===Turner Entertainment Co.===
Following his brief ownership of the company in 1986, Ted Turner formed [[Turner Entertainment|Turner Entertainment Co.]] as a holding company for the pre-May 1986 MGM film and television library and pre-1950 Warner Bros. film library which he retained.<ref>{{cite news|last=Delugach|first=Al|title=Turner Sells Fabled MGM but Keeps a Lion's Share|date=June 7, 1986|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-07-mn-9950-story.html|access-date=April 2, 2015|archive-date=August 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801044732/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-06-07/news/mn-9950_1_turner-broadcasting|url-status=live}}</ref> For several years after the sale, MGM continued to distribute home video releases of those films under license from Turner, though in 1990 it sold all of its home video distribution rights to Warner Bros.<ref name=NYTimesVideo/> After Turner's holdings were purchased by Time Warner Entertainment in 1996,<ref>{{cite news|last=Fabrikant|first=Geraldine|title=Holders Back Time Warner-Turner Merger|date=October 11, 1996|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 2, 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/11/business/holders-back-time-warner-turner-merger.html|archive-date=February 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214040754/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/11/business/holders-back-time-warner-turner-merger.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the rights for the Turner-owned films were reassigned to [[Warner Home Video]] in 1999 when MGM ended their distribution deal with Warner Home Video,<ref name=NYTimesVideo>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/16/business/m-g-m-to-regain-film-distribution-rights.html|title=M-G-M to Regain Film Distribution Rights|date=March 16, 1999|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 8, 2022|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109003221/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/16/business/m-g-m-to-regain-film-distribution-rights.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="DVD">{{cite news|last=Kehr|first=Dave|date=September 27, 2005|title=New DVD's|website=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/27/movies/27dvd.html|access-date=March 29, 2015|archive-date=February 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213144407/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/27/movies/new-dvds.html|url-status=live}}</ref> though Turner Entertainment, as a subsidiary of [[Warner Bros. Discovery]] (WBD), remains the credited copyright holder.
===Film series===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title
! Release date
! No. Films
! Notes
|-
| ''[[Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ#Adaptations|Ben-Hur]]''
| 1925–2016
|5
|[[Ben-Hur (1925 film)|1925 film]] in the public ___domain in the United States; [[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|1959 remake]] and [[King of Kings (1961 film)|King of Kings]] owned by [[Turner Entertainment]]
|-
| ''[[The Broadway Melody]]''
| 1929–1940
|4
|
|-
| ''[[Tarzan in film, television and other non-print media|Tarzan]]''
| 1932–1942
|6
|
|-
| ''[[Nick and Nora Charles|The Thin Man]]''
| 1934–1947
|6
|
|-
| ''[[Andy Hardy]]''
| 1937–1958
|16
|
|-
| ''[[Dr. Kildare]]''
| 1938–1942
|9
|
|-
| ''[[Maisie Ravier|Maisie]]''
| 1939–1947
|10
|
|-
| ''[[Nick Carter (character)|Nick Carter]]''
| 1939–1940
|3
|
|-
| ''[[Dr. Kildare|Dr. Gillespie]]''
| 1942–1947
|6
|
|-
| ''[[Lassie]]''
| 1943–1949
|6
|
|-
| ''[[Father of the Bride (franchise)|Father of the Bride]]''
| 1950–1951
|rowspan=2|2
|
|-
| ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]''
| 1960–2016
|rowspan=3|Acquired from [[United Artists]]
|-
| ''[[List of James Bond films|James Bond]]''
| 1962–present
|25
|-
| ''[[The Pink Panther]]''
| 1963–present
|11
|-
| ''[[Flipper (1963 film)|Flipper]]''
| 1963–1996
| 3
|
|-
| ''[[Space Odyssey#Films|Space Odyssey]]''
| 1968–1984
| 2
|
|-
| ''[[That's Entertainment!]]''
| 1974–1994
|4
|Co-production with Turner Entertainment Co.; owned by [[Warner Bros.]]
|-
| ''[[Rocky (franchise)|Rocky]]''
| 1976–present
|9
|Acquired from United Artists
|-
| ''[[Fame (1980 film)|Fame]]''
| 1980–2009
|2
| rowspan="2" |Ownership of the original film by Turner Entertainment Co.
|-
| ''[[Poltergeist (franchise)|Poltergeist]]''
| 1982–2015
|3
|-
| ''[[The Secret of NIMH]]''
| 1982–2009
|rowspan=2|2
|
|-
| ''[[WarGames]]''
| 1983–2008
|
|-
| ''[[Teen Wolf]]''
| 1985–2023
|3
|Acquired from [[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment]]; co-production with [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[MTV Entertainment Studios]]
|-
| ''[[RoboCop (franchise)|RoboCop]]''
| 1987–2014
|4
|Acquired from [[Orion Pictures]]
|-
| ''[[Child's Play (franchise)|Child's Play]]''
| 1988; 2019
|rowspan=2|2
|
|-
| ''[[All Dogs Go to Heaven]]''
| 1989–1996
|
|-
| ''[[Bill & Ted]]''
| 1989–2020
|3
|Acquired from Orion Pictures
|-
| ''[[Hannibal Lecter (franchise)|Hannibal Lecter]]''
| 1991–2007
|2
|Acquired from Orion Pictures; distribution only
|-
| ''[[Species (film series)|Species]]''
| 1995–2007
|rowspan=2|4
|
|-
| ''[[Carrie (franchise)|Carrie]]''
| 1976–2013
|Acquired from United Artists; co-production with [[Screen Gems]]
|-
| ''[[Legally Blonde (franchise)|Legally Blonde]]''
| 2001–present
|5
|
|-
| ''[[Jeepers Creepers (film series)|Jeepers Creepers]]''
| 2001–2003
|2
|
|-
| ''[[Barbershop (franchise)|Barbershop]]''
| 2002–2016
|4
|
|-
| ''[[Agent Cody Banks]]''
| 2003–2004
|rowspan=2|2
|
|-
| ''[[Hot Tub Time Machine]]''
| 2010–2015
|
|-
| ''[[Spud (film)|Spud]]''
| 2010–2014
|3
|
|-
| ''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo]]''
| 2011–2018
|rowspan=2|2
|
|-
| ''[[21 Jump Street (film)|21 Jump Street]]''
| 2012–2014
|Co-production with [[Columbia Pictures]]
|-
| ''[[The Hobbit (film series)|The Hobbit]]''
| 2012–2014
|3
|Co-production with [[New Line Cinema]]; co-owned with [[Warner Bros.]]
|-
| ''[[G.I. Joe (film series)|G.I. Joe]]''
| 2013–2021
|rowspan=3|2
|Distribution by [[Paramount Pictures]]
|-
| ''[[Max (2015 film)|Max]]''
| 2015–2017
|
|-
|''[[The Addams Family]]''
| 2019–present
|Co-production with [[Universal Pictures]]
|}
=== Highest-grossing films ===
{{Columns-start|num=2}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Highest-grossing films in North America
|-
! scope="col" | Rank
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Box office gross
! scope="col" | Studio labels
|-
! 1
| ''[[Skyfall]]''
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| $304,360,277
| rowspan="8" | MGM
|-
! 2
| ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''
| $303,030,651
|-
! 3
| ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]''
| 2013
| $258,387,334
|-
! 4
| ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]''
| 2014
| $255,138,261
|-
! 5
| ''[[A Star Is Born (2018 film)|A Star is Born]]''
| 2018
| $215,333,122
|-
! 6
| ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]''
| 1939
| $200,882,193
|-
! 7
| ''[[Spectre (2015 film)|Spectre]]''
| 2015
| $200,074,609
|-
! 8
| ''[[22 Jump Street]]''
| 2014
| $191,719,337
|-
! 9
| ''[[Dances With Wolves]]''
| 1990
| $184,208,848
| [[Orion Pictures|Orion]]
|-
! 10
| ''[[Rain Man]]''
| 1988
| $172,825,435
| [[United Artists|UA]]
|-
! 11
| ''[[Quantum of Solace]]''
| 2008
| $168,368,427
| rowspan="6" | MGM
|-
! 12
| ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]''
| 2006
| $167,445,960
|-
! 13
| ''[[Hannibal (2001 film)|Hannibal]]''
| 2001
| $165,092,268
|-
! 14
| ''[[Die Another Day]]''
| 2002
| $160,942,139
|-
! 15
| ''[[No Time to Die]]''
| 2021
| $160,869,031
|-
! 16
| ''[[Creed III]]''
| 2023
| $156,248,615
|-
! 17
| ''[[Platoon (film)|Platoon]]''
| 1986
| $138,530,565
| Orion
|-
! 18
| ''[[21 Jump Street (film)|21 Jump Street]]''
| 2012
| $138,447,667
| MGM
|-
! 19
| ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]''
| 1991
| $130,742,922
| Orion
|-
! 20
| ''[[Rocky IV]]''
| 1985
| $127,873,716
| UA
|-
! 21
| ''[[The World Is Not Enough]]''
| 1999
| $126,943,684
| MGM
|-
! 22
| ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]''
| 1997
| $125,304,276
| rowspan="2" | UA
|-
! 23
| ''[[Rocky III]]''
| 1982
| $125,049,125
|-
! 24
| ''[[G.I. Joe: Retaliation]]''
| 2013
| $122,523,060
| MGM
|-
! 25
| ''[[Rocky (film)|Rocky]]''
| 1976
| $117,235,147
| UA
|-
|}
{{Column}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Highest-grossing films worldwide
|-
! scope="col" | Rank
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Box office gross
! scope="col" | Studio labels
|-
! 1
| ''[[Skyfall]]''
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| $1,108,569,499
| rowspan="10" | MGM
|-
! 2
| ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''
| $1,017,106,749
|-
! 3
| ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]''
| 2014
| $962,253,946
|-
! 4
| ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]''
| 2013
| $959,079,095
|-
! 5
| ''[[Spectre (2015 film)|Spectre]]''
| 2015
| $880,707,597
|-
! 6
| ''[[No Time to Die]]''
| 2021
| $774,153,007
|-
! 7
| ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]''
| 2006
| $616,577,552
|-
! 8
| ''[[Quantum of Solace]]''
| 2008
| $589,593,688
|-
! 9
| ''[[A Star Is Born (2018 film)|A Star is Born]]''
| 2018
| $436,433,122
|-
! 10
| ''[[Die Another Day]]''
| 2002
| $431,971,116
|-
! 11
| ''[[Dances With Wolves]]''
| 1990
| $424,208,848
| [[Orion Pictures|Orion]]
|-
! 12
| ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]''
| 1939
| $402,382,193
| rowspan="3" | MGM
|-
! 13
| ''[[G.I. Joe: Retaliation]]''
| 2013
| $375,740,705
|-
! 14
| ''[[The World Is Not Enough]]''
| 1999
| $361,832,400
|-
! 15
| ''[[Rain Man]]''
| 1988
| $354,825,435
| rowspan="2" | [[United Artists|UA]]
|-
! 16
| ''[[GoldenEye]]''
| 1995
| $352,194,034
|-
! 17
| ''[[Hannibal (2001 film)|Hannibal]]''
| 2001
| $351,692,268
| MGM
|-
! 18
| ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]''
| 1997
| $333,011,068
| UA
|-
! 19
| ''[[22 Jump Street]]''
| 2014
| $331,333,876
| MGM
|-
! 20
| ''[[Rocky IV]]''
| 1985
| $300,473,716
| UA
|-
! 21
| ''[[Creed III]]''
| 2023
| $276,148,615
| rowspan="2" | MGM
|-
! 22
| ''[[Tomb Raider (film)|Tomb Raider]]''
| 2018
| $274,950,803
|-
! 23
| ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]''
| 1991
| $272,742,922
| Orion
|-
! 24
| ''[[Rocky III]]''
| 1982
| $270,000,000
| UA
|-
! 25
| ''[[Hercules (2014 film)|Hercules]]''
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| $244,819,862
| MGM
|}
{{Columns-end}}
==Distribution==
Domestically, MGM currently distributes its own films and others it acquires from third parties through [[Amazon MGM Studios|Amazon MGM Studios Distribution]], as well as films produced by the relaunches of Orion Pictures and American International Pictures, and the 2024 iteration of United Artists. They were previously distributed by [[United Artists Releasing]], the former Mirror Releasing, from 2019 to 2023.<ref name="vty5"/> Internationally, MGM's films are currently distributed by [[Sony Pictures Releasing International]],<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 |language=en-US}}</ref> following a four-year deal with [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], and prior to that, [[Universal Pictures]]. With Universal, they were distributed mostly through [[United International Pictures]] (UIP), of which MGM is a former member (see below).
From 1924 to 1973 (worldwide) and 1981 to 2010 (domestically), MGM has theatrically distributed most of its movies entirely in-house, as well as those of United Artists after July 1981 and Orion Pictures after April 1997. In October 2017, seven years after shutting down their major distribution operations, MGM re-entered US theatrical distribution by launching an American joint venture with [[Annapurna Pictures]] that would share distribution financing between the two companies and release certain MGM and Annapurna films, beginning with [[Death Wish (2018 film)|the 2018 remake]] of ''[[Death Wish (1974 film)|Death Wish]]''.
There were also periods when MGM outsourced distribution to other companies. From 1973 to 1981, United Artists distributed MGM's films in North America while [[Cinema International Corporation]] released them overseas. In 1981, United Artists' international arm was combined by CIC to form United International Pictures. MGM's arrangement with that company lasted until 2000, when it made an arrangement with 20th Century Fox for international distribution. From 2005 to 2016, the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group (later [[Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group]]) has distributed certain films. From 2006 to 2010, [[Alliance Films]] handled Canadian distribution of some of its products. From 2019 to 2022, Universal Pictures International distributed MGM films overseas.
MGM also distributed films from [[Carolco Pictures]] (1994–1995, in North America),<ref name="vty2"/> [[Rysher Entertainment]] (1996–1997),<ref name="vty3"/> and [[The Weinstein Company]]/[[Dimension Films]] (2006–2008, in the United States),<ref name=vty4/> as well as currently handling select international distribution of [[Annapurna Pictures]]' releases.
From 2006 to September 2008, MGM distributed films produced or acquired by The Weinstein Company (TWC). Weinstein preferred the deal brought carriage on [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]. Prints and marketing were paid for by TWC, while MGM was paid for booking theaters. With TWC agreeing to a direct deal with Showtime and MGM not intending to renew the distribution deal, TWC and MGM agreed to end the distribution deal three months early in September 2008.<ref name=vty4/>
===Other international arrangements===
In 2012, MGM signed a deal with [[Cinema City International|Forum Film]] to release its films in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Israel; Forum Film has also been known to release some of MGM's films in Czech Republic/Slovakia. That same year, in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, MGM arranged to get its films distributed through [[AB Svensk Filmindustri]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bonnierprod.episerverhosting.com/en/news-press/News/2011/May/Svensk-Filmindustri-signs-long-term-distribution-agreement-with-MGM/ |title=Svensk Filmindustri signs long-term distribution agreement with MGM – Bonnier AB |access-date=March 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505070220/http://bonnierprod.episerverhosting.com/en/news-press/News/2011/May/Svensk-Filmindustri-signs-long-term-distribution-agreement-with-MGM/ |archive-date=May 5, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which was renamed to [[SF Studios]] in 2016. Also in 2012, it arranged to have its films distributed by [[SF Film Finland|FS Film]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmikamari.fi/page.php?id=12&news_id=813 |title=Filmikamari |access-date=March 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505070355/http://www.filmikamari.fi/page.php?id=12&news_id=813 |archive-date=May 5, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (now [[SF Film Finland]]) to release its films in Finland and with [[NOS Audiovisuais|ZON Lusomundo]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.screendaily.com/mgm-cements-intl-network-with-lusomundo-selim-ramia-deals-/5039062.article | title=MGM cements int'l network with Lusomundo, Selim Ramia deals | access-date=March 17, 2019 | archive-date=March 25, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325121442/https://www.screendaily.com/mgm-cements-intl-network-with-lusomundo-selim-ramia-deals-/5039062.article | url-status=live }}</ref> (now [[NOS Audiovisuais]]) to release its films in Portugal.
In 2018, for select films, MGM arranged international distribution with [[Entertainment One]] (for the Canadian market), Vertigo Releasing (for the UK market), Rialto Distribution (for the Australian market), Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (for the Swiss market), BF Distribution (for the Argentine market), [[Dutch FilmWorks]] (for the Dutch market), Kinepolis Film Distribution (for the Belgian film market), Odeon (for the Greek market), [[OctoArts Films]] (for the Filipino market), [[Universum Film]] (for the German market), [[Filmax|Filmax International]] (for the Spanish market), Hollywood International Film Exchange/Big Screen Entertainment Group (for the Chinese market), [[Shaw Organisation]] (for the Singaporean market), and [[Showgate]] (for the Japanese market).<ref name="MGM 4">{{cite news| url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-assets/assets/pdfs/investor-relations/Q3%202017%20Financial%20Report.pdf| title=Q3 2017 Financial Report| publisher=MGM.com| access-date=February 15, 2018| archive-date=March 25, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325121442/http://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-assets/assets/pdfs/investor-relations/Q3%202017%20Financial%20Report.pdf| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MGM 5">{{cite news |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-assets/assets/pdfs/investor-relations/Q1%202018%20Financial%20Report.pdf |title=Q2 2018 Financial Report |publisher=MGM.com |access-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325121442/https://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-assets/assets/pdfs/investor-relations/Q1%202018%20Financial%20Report.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="MGM 6">{{cite news |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-assets/assets/pdfs/investor-relations/Q2%202018%20Financial%20Report.pdf |title=Q3 2017 Financial Report |publisher=MGM.com |access-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325121444/https://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-assets/assets/pdfs/investor-relations/Q2%202018%20Financial%20Report.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Paramount Pictures]] distributed the 2018 remake of ''[[Death Wish (2018 film)|Death Wish]]'' for the French market.<ref name="MGM 4" /><ref name="MGM 5" /><ref name="MGM 6" />
==See also==
{{Portal|Greater Los Angeles|Companies|Film}}
* [[List of libraries owned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
* [[List of MGM Television programs]]
==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="fu">{{cite web |title=Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. History |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/metro-goldwyn-mayer-inc-history/ |website=fundinguniverse.com |access-date=February 13, 2015 |archive-date=February 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213144356/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/metro-goldwyn-mayer-inc-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |author-link=Peter Háy (Canadian author, publisher and bookseller) |last=Hay |first=Peter |title=MGM: When the Lion Roars |publisher=Turner Publications |isbn=9781878685049 |year=1991}}
* {{cite book |title=The gambler : how penniless dropout Kirk Kerkorian became the greatest deal maker in capitalist history |last=Rempel |first=William C. |year=2018 |isbn=9780062456779 |publisher=HarperCollins |___location=New York, NY, USA}}
==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Altman |first=Diana |title=Hollywood East: Louis B. Mayer and the Origins of the Studio System |publisher=Carol Publishing |year=1992 |isbn=}}
* {{cite book |author-link=Peter Bart |last=Bart |first=Peter |title=[[Fade Out: The Calamitous Final Days of MGM]] |publisher=Morrow |year=1990 |isbn=}}
* {{cite book |author-link=Bosley Crowther |last=Crowther |first=Bosley |title=The Lion's Share: The Story of an Entertainment Empire |publisher=E. P. Dutton and Company |year=1957 |isbn=}}
* {{cite book |title=Death of the Moguls: The End of Classical Hollywood |last=Dixon |first=Wheeler Winston |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-8135-5377-1 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |___location=New Brunswick, New Jersey}}
* {{cite book |last=Eames |first=John Douglas |title=The MGM Story |publisher=Octopus |year=1975 |isbn=}}
* {{cite book |last=Vieira |first=Mark A. |title=Hollywood Dreams Made Real: Irving Thalberg and the Rise of M-G-M |publisher=Abrams |year=2008 |isbn=}}
* {{cite book|title=International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 25|date=1999|publisher=St. James Press|___location=Detroit|isbn=9781558623675}}
* {{cite journal|last=Rudolph|first=Kalie|title=The Golden Era of Hollywood: The Making of The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind|journal=Voces Novae: Chapman University Historical Review|date=June 28, 2011|volume=3|issue=1|url=http://journals.chapman.edu/ojs/index.php/VocesNovae/article/view/203/481|access-date=May 12, 2017|language=en|archive-date=May 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502181157/http://journals.chapman.edu/ojs/index.php/VocesNovae/article/view/203/481|url-status=dead}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726195503/https://www.mgmstudios.com/|title=mgmstudios.com}}
* {{cite web|title= Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films and personalities scrapbooks |url=http://archives.nypl.org/the/21411|access-date=May 26, 2021|website=archives.nypl.org|publisher=[[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts]]}}, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division,
* {{Cite archival metadata
|author = John N. Gillespie
|title = Collection of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer scripts
|url = http://archives.lib.byu.edu/repositories/14/resources/11217
|repository = L. Tom Perry Special Collections
|___location = Provo, UT
|date = 2013
|accessdate = May 16, 2016
}}
{{MGM}}
{{Amazon}}
{{Film Studio}}
{{Academy Honorary Award}}
{{Authority control}}
[[
[[Category:1924 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Academy Award for Technical Achievement winners]]
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[[Category:Cinema of Southern California]]
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[[Category:Companies based in Los Angeles]]<!--Before August 19, 2011-->
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010]]
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[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
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