Ever wondered about the trend of celebrity-run productions? What, exactly, is the point? A production company is the studio behind producing a movie, show, or other multimedia form. Often, the production company is responsible for all aspects of bringing the story to life. You’ve probably heard of the major production companies like Warner Bros., Universal, and 20th Century Fox. But how many of the following celebrity-run production companies can you name? In this article, we’ll explore the most popular celebrity production companies, what media they’ve produced, and what purpose they serve.
Hello Sunshine
Hello Sunshine is a production company founded by Reese Witherspoon in 2016. It is responsible for media such as Gone Girl, The Morning Show, and Where the Crawdads Sing. Hello Sunshine now consists of both a production company and a book club, with Witherspoon expanding her company to include Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine. Because of this partnership, Witherspoon’s company often adapts her book club picks into TV shows, producing such hits as Little Fires Everywhere, Big Little Lies, Tiny Beautiful Things, Daisy Jones and the Six, and The Last Thing He Told Me.
Monkeypaw Productions
Monkeypaw Productions is Jordan Peele’s production company, responsible for his critically acclaimed films Get Out, Us, and Nope. The company also produced Dev Patel’s Monkey Man, which was released last month, and is working on Peele’s upcoming directorial release. For more on Peele’s next project, check out this link.
Happy Madison Productions
https://gty.im/2042359833
Happy Madison Productions was founded by Adam Sandler in 1999. It has produced almost all of Sandler’s films, including 50 First Dates, The Longest Yard, Click, Grown Ups, Just Go With It, Jack and Jill, That’s My Boy, and Murder Mystery.
LuckyChap Productions
Margot Robbie’s company, LuckyChap Productions, which she owns with her husband Tom Ackerley, is responsible for films such as I, Tonya, Birds of Prey, Promising Young Woman, Barbie, and Saltburn. They have also produced several shows, including Dollface and Maid.
Appian Way Productions
Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way Productions, is behind movies like The Aviator, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Revenant, and Killers of the Flower Moon. The production company also produces a lot of documentaries, most of which focus on environmental awareness and advocating for climate policy. DiCaprio’s produced documentaries include The 11th Hour, Cowspiracy, Before the Flood, and Ice on Fire.
Gary Sanchez Productions
Actor, writer, and producer Will Ferrell used to have a production company with writer and producer Adam McKay. The duo founded their production company, Gary Sanchez Productions, in 2006. Thirteen years later, after a falling out between the two, Gary Sanchez Productions was disbanded. While it was running, the company was responsible for films such as Step Brothers, The Other Guys, Tammy, and Daddy’s Home, as well as shows like Drunk History, Bad Judge, and Succession.
Ferrell’s partnership with McKay was dissolved in 2019 after a reported rift between them over Ferrell’s involvement in their upcoming project, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. To read more about their falling out, click here.
Conclusion
Overall, celebrity-run production companies appear to just be a way for these celebs to fund and produce their own movies. It could be a control thing, of them wanting to have more control over the things they put out into the world. Or, maybe it’s a status thing — “Hey, look at me and what I can do!” No matter what, it seems they usually produce the things they want to star in.
With the exception of Leonardo DiCaprio, most of the companies listed here seem very egotistical and self-centered. He is the only major celebrity I could find who uses his own production company to spread awareness, using his platform to advocate for climate change and draw attention to larger social issues. Every other company seems to be a means for celebrities to ensure job security for themselves and maintain some semblance of control over the longevity of their own careers.
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