Rogue
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryMotion picture
FoundedApril 2, 1998 (1998-04-02)
FounderMatt Wall
Patrick Gunn
Headquarters,
United States
Key people
Ryan Kavanaugh (president)
OwnerUltraV Holdings[1]
Parent

Rogue (originally Rogue Pictures) is an American independent production company founded in 1998 by Matt Wall and Patrick Gunn, originally started off as a genre film label of the Universal-affiliated independent film studio October Films and was based in Universal City, California. It was known to produce action, thriller, and horror films.

It was owned by October Films from 1998 to 1999, after which it was merged with Gramercy Pictures to form USA Films until its original defunct year of 2000. In 2004, Rogue was revived by Focus Features, which retained the studio until 2009, when it was acquired by Relativity Media. In June 2012, Rogue and Relativity Media sold 30 of their films to Manchester Library Company,[2] which was acquired by Vine Alternative Investments in April 2017.[3]

History

Original October Films era (1998–2000)

On April 2, 1998, Rogue Pictures was formed as a division of the Universal Pictures' independent film label October Films, led by Patrick Gunn and Matt Wall, in order to release genre films to compete with Miramax's Dimension Films label. Rogue's theatrical releases, much in the same manner like Dimension did, would be handled by its parent company October Films, with video and television sales handled by October Films' parent company Universal, and all foreign sales would be handled by fellow Universal subsidiary Good Machine.[4]

One of the first film projects/script acquisitions greenlit by Rogue was the film Cherry Falls, while the first acquisition by October via the Rogue label was the film Orgazmo, although PolyGram Video handled the video rights of the film.[5] The genre's predecessor was the October Films-affiliated production label Mad Dog Pictures, which was designed to release genre films.[6] The Rogue name was dropped in 2000 after October Films was absorbed into USA Films following the merger with Gramercy Pictures.[7]

Focus Features/Universal era (2004–2008)

In 2004, the name and branding was revived as part of the Universal-owned Focus Features, with a goal of "high-quality suspense, action, thriller and urban features with mainstream appeal and franchise potential".[8] The revived Rogue Pictures would be led by the same team who led the Focus Features group, rather than having its own dedicated staff.[9]

In 2005, Universal expanded the company's operations to become a stand-alone division with a new goal of releasing ten films annually.[10] Later that year, Universal and Rogue signed a deal with newly formed Intrepid Pictures to produce, co-finance, and distribute films for five years.[11] In 2007, distribution and marketing of Rogue Pictures films were moved to Universal in company-wide shifts to accommodate Focus Features, putting Rogue Pictures under greater control of the parent company.[12]

Relativity Media and independent company era (2008–present)

Rogue Pictures logo, used from 2004 to 2010

In 2008, Relativity Media approached Universal about buying the company, a move described in the entertainment media as "bold."[13] The following year, Relativity completed acquisition of the company. At the time of purchase, Rogue Pictures had more than two dozen titles in its library, four upcoming films, and more than thirty projects in development.[14] This deal was part of Relativity Media reupping its agreemeent with Universal Pictures that would extend until 2015, and Universal would retain a distribution stake in future Rogue films.[15] On May 7, 2009, Relativity decided to turn the Rogue branding into a consumer brand that was used by the studio.[16]

Films

Title Release Date Notes
Division of October Films / Universal Pictures
OrgazmoOctober 23, 1998
Thick as ThievesJanuary 28, 1999
Trippin'May 12, 1999
Boricua's BondJune 21, 2000
Cherry FallsOctober 20, 2000
Subsidiary of Focus Features
Shaun of the DeadSeptember 24, 2004
Seed of ChuckyNovember 12, 2004
Assault on Precinct 13January 19, 2005
UnleashedMay 13, 2005
Cry WolfSeptember 16, 2005
House of VoicesOctober 18, 2005
Dave Chappelle's Block PartyMarch 3, 2006
Waist DeepJune 23, 2006
FearlessSeptember 22, 2006
The ReturnNovember 10, 2006
AlteredDecember 19, 2006
The HitcherJanuary 19, 2007
Hot FuzzApril 20, 2007
Balls of FuryAugust 29, 2007
DoomsdayMarch 14, 2008
The StrangersMay 30, 2008
Subsidiary of Relativity Media
The UnbornJanuary 9, 2009
The Last House on the LeftMarch 13, 2009
FightingApril 24, 2009
A Perfect GetawayAugust 7, 2009
MacGruberMay 21, 2010
CatfishSeptember 17, 2010
My Soul to TakeOctober 8, 2010
SkylineNovember 12, 2010
The Warrior's WayDecember 3, 2010
Season of the WitchJanuary 7, 2011
Take Me Home TonightMarch 4, 2011
LimitlessMarch 18, 2011
Cost of a SoulMay 20, 2011
Shark NightSeptember 2, 2011
Movie 43January 25, 2013
The Disappointments RoomSeptember 9, 2016
Independent company
The Strangers: Prey at NightMarch 9, 2018
Subsidiary of Relativity Media
VioletOctober 29, 2021

References

  1. Chmielewski, Dawn C. (2018-08-16). "Bankruptcy Court OKs Sale Of Relativity Media To UltraV Holdings". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  2. US Copyright Office Document No V3617D065 2012-06-12
  3. Hipes, Patrick (April 27, 2017). "New Village Roadshow Co-Owner Vine Acquires Manchester Film Library".
  4. Roman, Monica (1998-04-03). "Rogue of October". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  5. Roman, Monica (1998-04-03). "Rogue of October". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  6. Frook, John Evan (1993-04-08). "October buys rights to 'Thrill'". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  7. Peers, Martin (1999-03-22). "Diller sez he ought to be back in pic biz". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  8. Mohr, Ian (March 25, 2004). "Uni's Focus reveals Rogue plan". The Hollywood Reporter.
  9. Rooney, David (2004-03-25). "Focus widens lens with Rogue". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  10. Kilday, Gregg (May 19, 2005). "Uni's Rogue given solo spot". The Hollywood Reporter.
  11. Goldstein, Gregg (December 16, 2005). "Intrepid makes Rogue films". The Hollywood Reporter.
  12. Goldstein, Gregg (October 16, 2007). "New Focus has Rogue Pictures under Universal". The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. Zeitchik, Steven (October 23, 2008). "Bold gambit by Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh". The Hollywood Reporter.
  14. Kit, Borys (January 4, 2009). "Relativity completes Rogue acquisition". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  15. Siegel, Tatiana (2009-01-04). "Relativity reels in Rogue". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  16. Graser, Marc (2009-05-07). "Relativity Media rolls dice on Rogue". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
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