By Debora Kaya

ABOUT

Universal Pictures is a division of NBC Universal that is responsible for the production and/or distribution of theatrical and non-theatrical filmed entertainment for a global audience [1].  The mother company, NBC Universal has several divisions, including Universal Television, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Universal Parks & Resorts, Focus Features, Working Title Films, Illumination Entertainment, and Universal Animation Studios. With these numerous divisions, NBC Universal is able to cater various entertainments to its vast audience [2].

Universal Pictures also offers services for television episodes, commercials, and films. Universal Pictures has studios that include restaurants, theaters, shops, boutiques as well as entertainment venues.

HISTORY

Universal began in 1906 with Carl Laemmle, a German immigrant who opened his first nickelodeon theater. He then established the Independent Moving Pictures Company of America and was involved in production, distribution, and exhibition. This made the company vertically integrated. Universal Pictures is known for its diverse films. Hit films released by Universal Pictures have been Jaws, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, the Jurassic Park series, and the more recent Despicable Me 2 and The Purge [3].

POPULAR & RECENT FILM RELEASES

Les Misérables

A very popular film Universal Pictures co-produced with Working Title Films, Relativity

Les Misérables (2012) – courtesy of imdb

Media and Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. is Les Misérables. Les Misérables is based on a musical of the same name (by Alain Boublin and Claude-Michel Schonberg). The movie stared a few well known actors including High Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, and Amanda Seyfried. Coming out in 2012, this movie was nominated for a myriad amount of awards and won several. It won Best Production Design and Best Sound among others at the British academy Film Award. It also won Best Motion Picture Golden Globe Award along with an Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Overall, this movie was very well received grossing $441,809,770 in the box office [4].

47 Ronin

Released December 25, 2013, 47 Ronin was co-produced with Relativity Media, H2F Entertainment, Mid Atlantic Films, Moving Picture Company and Stuber Productions. Featuring the actor Keanu Reeves, this movie tells the tale of Ronin in 18th century Japan who seek to avenge the death of their lord [5].

COMING SOON

Universal Studios Japan – [6]

Universal Pictures has been known to open theme parks to bring to life movies and television productions. Projects for new attractions are in the works including Universal Studios Japan’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter that is due to open July 15th. This project, which has taken $500 million to construct is similar to the attraction at Universal Orlando resort that opened in 2010.

The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

 Universal Pictures doesn’t only act as a theatrical distributor but also produces a number

The Purge: Anarchy movie cover – courtesy of imdb

of films. Universal Pictures is producing a sequel of the very popular movie The Purge (2013), a science fiction horror thriller. The Purge was a huge hit in theaters making $89, 328, 627 with a budget of $3 million. This sequel, The Purge: Anarchy is set to be released worldwide on July 18th, 2014. Unlike the first movie that took place within the confines of a suburban home, The Purge: Anarchy will focus on a couple on the outside, who find themselves in the middle of the purge commencement after their car breaks down. This movie is expected to be yet another box office hit [7].

Lucy (2014)

Lucy follows the story of yet another memorable female action hero brought to life by Luc Besson (writer/director for both La Femme Nikita and  The Fifth Element among others). In this story, the protagonist Lucy finds herself involved in a dark deal by accident and is able to eventually break free from her captors using her newly found abilities.

Lucy (2014) – courtesy of imdb

This movie, which features both Scarlett

Johansson and Morgan Freeman, is set to be released on August 8th 2014 in the United States. Universal Pictures is responsible for its distribution worldwide except for France, Benelux and China. [8]

Get On Up (2014)

Another film Universal Pictures is responsible for distributing is Get On Up. This movie, is about the life of James Brown. It is directed by Tate Taylor who is also responsible for his four-time Academy Award-nominated blockbuster The Help. Get On Up chronicles the rise of James Brown from his living in extreme poverty to becoming a very influential musician. This movie is set to be released on the first of August in 2014. Universal Pictures will distribute in the United States while Universal Pictures International (also referred to as UPI) will distribute in France and the Netherlands (2015) [9].

Get On Up – courtesy of imdb

SOURCES

[1]-http://www.google.com/finance?cid=2848820

[2]-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBCUniversal

[3]-http://www.nbcunicareers.com/our-businesses/universal-pictures

[4]-http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1707386/

[5]-http://injapan.gaijinpot.com/work/work-tips/2011/01/24/foreigners-in-business-working-at-universal-studios-japan/