The Ben Kramer Black Bear exit is official: Benjamin Kramer, the company’s president of U.S. distribution, is leaving about 15 months after he joined to build its theatrical arm, Deadline reported. He will stay through the Oct. 23 release of Wicker, and no replacement has been named.
What the Ben Kramer Black Bear departure means
Kramer joined Black Bear in July 2025 to launch its U.S. theatrical distribution business. He came from CAA, where Deadline said he spent eight years co-running the agency’s Media Finance division. Black Bear said at the launch that it planned to release up to 12 theatrical titles a year.
In his statement, Kramer said he leaves “with a grateful and heavy heart.” Black Bear CEO Teddy Schwarzman credited him with helping build a strong domestic operation and said the pieces are in place for the company’s next phase.
The company has a distribution team in place. TheWrap reported that it includes David Spitz in theatrical distribution, Bianca Parkes in marketing and Heather Phillips in publicity.
Wicker and the release slate
Wicker is the next big test as the Ben Kramer Black Bear era winds down. The romantic fantasy stars Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Peter Dinklage and Elizabeth Debicki, and it was directed by Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. TheWrap reported that it opens in limited release Oct. 23 and goes wide Oct. 30.
Black Bear’s slate also includes Jason Statham Stole My Bike and the Laika-backed Atmosphere. Guy Ritchie’s Wife & Dog, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Rosamund Pike, is set for Feb. 19, 2027, according to TheWrap.
The Ben Kramer Black Bear tenure in review
Films released during Kramer’s tenure include Christy, Tuner and The Rivals of Amziah King. Christy, starring Sydney Sweeney, opened Nov. 7, 2025, and grossed about $2 million in the U.S., according to box office tracking. We covered how the film found a second life in our story on the Christy box office bomb turned streaming hit.
Black Bear has not said who will lead U.S. distribution after Kramer leaves. For more Hollywood business news, see our report on the UTA reorganization.
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