Searchlight Pictures
Searchlight Pictures, Inc.[2] is an American film production and distribution arm of Walt Disney Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company's Disney Entertainment division. Founded in 1994 as Fox Searchlight Pictures for 20th Century Fox (later 20th Century Studios), the studio focuses primarily on producing, distributing, and acquiring specialty films.
Formerly
Fox Searchlight Pictures, Inc. (1994–2020)
April 29, 1994
Worldwide
- Matthew Greenfield
(President) - Derval Whelan
(President of Distribution)
100+
Fox Entertainment Group (1994–2019)
Walt Disney Studios (2019–present)
Searchlight is known for distributing the films Slumdog Millionaire, 12 Years a Slave, Birdman, The Shape of Water, and Nomadland, all of which have won an Academy Award for Best Picture. The studio has grossed over $5.3 billion worldwide and amassed 51 Academy Awards, 30 Golden Globe Awards, and 56 BAFTA awards. Slumdog Millionaire is the studio's largest commercial success, with over $377 million (US) of box office receipts, against a production budget of only $15 million.[3]
Searchlight Pictures was one of the 21st Century Fox film production companies that was acquired by Disney in 2019. The studio's current name was adopted in order to avoid confusion with Fox Corporation. Compared to 20th Century Studios, whose distribution operations have folded into Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Searchlight retains its autonomous distribution unit.[4]
Accolades[edit]
Since 1994, Searchlight Pictures has accumulated 187 Academy Award nominations with 51 wins (including five Best Picture winners since 2009),[30] 117 Golden Globe nominations with 30 wins,[31] 190 BAFTA nominations with 56 wins,[32] 68 Screen Actors Guild Award nominations with 12 wins,[33] 215 Critics Choice Award nominations with 55 wins,[34] and 137 Independent Spirit Awards nominations with 54 wins.[35]