DreamWorks Pictures

The live-action studio founded by Spielberg, Katzenberg and Geffen, now a label of Amblin Partners.

DreamWorks Pictures, also called DreamWorks SKG, is an American film studio and distribution label that belongs to Amblin Partners. Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen founded it on October 12, 1994, and the initials of their surnames supplied the SKG in its name. It has released or distributed more than ten films that each grossed over $100 million. The studio is separate from DreamWorks Animation, its former animation unit, which was spun off in 2004 and later bought by Comcast; Spielberg's company still uses the DreamWorks trademarks under license from that animation business. Today it works out of offices on the Universal Studios Lot.

Quick Facts

Trade name

DreamWorks SKG

Founded

12 October 1994

Headquarters

Universal City, California, U.S.

Founders

Steven Spielberg
Jeffrey Katzenberg
David Geffen

Industry

Film

Products

Motion pictures

Subsidiaries

Pacific Data Images (2000–2004); GameWorks (50%; 1996–2001)

Facts from the source article.

Background

The studio grew out of Katzenberg's 1994 exit from Disney. He, Spielberg and Geffen agreed to make fewer than nine movies a year, to stay free to work elsewhere, and to be home for dinner. Each partner put in $33 million, with $500 million from Paul Allen and $300 million from Miky Lee of the CJ Group. The company soon branched into television, records and games, forming DreamWorks Records in 1996 and DreamWorks Interactive with Microsoft. Its first films came in 1997: The Peacemaker, Amistad and Mouse Hunt. Universal handled home video until 2005. Viacom, owner of Paramount Pictures, bought the studio in 2006; in 2008 DreamWorks left Paramount and teamed with Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, then signed with Disney's Touchstone Pictures label through August 2016.

Did You Know?

The media nicknamed the founders the three amigos.
In June 1995 DreamWorks signed a $1 billion deal with MCA Inc. for overseas theatrical and worldwide home video distribution.
Electronic Arts bought the Los Angeles studio of DreamWorks Interactive, along with Medal of Honor, on February 24, 2000.
Papa Roach's Infest was the best-selling release on DreamWorks Records.