Paramount Vantage

Paramount Vantage, Inc. (formerly known as Paramount Classics, Inc.) was a film production label of Paramount Pictures (which, in turn, has Paramount Skydance Corporation as its parent company), charged with producing, purchasing, distributing and marketing films, generally those with a more "art house" feel than films made and distributed by its parent company. Previously, Paramount Vantage operated as the specialty film division of Paramount Pictures, owned by Viacom (now Paramount Skydance). It was active from May 15, 1998 to November 15, 2014.

Paramount Vantage

Formerly	Paramount Classics (1998–2006)
Company type	Label
Industry	Film
Founded	May 15, 1998; 27 years ago (1998-05-15)
Founders	David Dinerstein Ruth Vitale
Defunct	November 15, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-11-15)
Fate	Dormant
Successor	Paramount Pictures
Headquarters	5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles California, U.S
Key people	John Lesher (president) Nick Meyer (co-president)
Products	Motion pictures
Parent	Paramount Pictures

History

Paramount Classics was launched on May 15, 1998 and released such art house fare as The Virgin Suicides, You Can Count on Me, Sunshine, Mostly Martha, Winter Solstice, and three Patrice Leconte films (Girl on the Bridge, The Man on the Train, Intimate Strangers). Although film journalist David Poland felt "Ruth Vitale and David Dinerstein have proven to have wonderful taste heading up Paramount Classics",^[1] the duo was fired in October 2005.^[2]

In 2006, the Paramount Vantage brand branched off from Paramount Classics, which was relaunched in 2007 as a distributor of "smaller, review-driven films including foreign-language acquisitions and documentaries."^[3]

In 2007, Paramount Vantage partnered with then-Disney subsidiary Miramax on two of the year's most highly regarded movies, No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood. Both films garnered eight nominations at the Academy Awards, with There Will Be Blood winning the awards for Best Cinematography and Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis, while No Country for Old Men won for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor for Javier Bardem, and Best Picture.

Despite its critical success, Paramount Vantage continually failed to deliver the financial returns Paramount Pictures expected. Only No Country for Old Men made a profit, while films that many believe should have generated significant returns failed to deliver through either poor or excessive marketing.^[4]

In June 2008, Paramount Pictures consolidated Paramount Vantage's marketing, distribution, and physical production departments into the parent studio, while retaining the Paramount Vantage brand to develop and acquire specialty product with dedicated creative staff.^[5]

Paramount Vantage closed down on November 15, 2014 after the release of Nebraska in 2013.

Releases

Paramount Classics

Name	Release date	Production company(s)
Trekkies[N 1]	March 12, 1999	Co-production with Paramount Pictures and Neo Art & Logic
Get Real	April 30, 1999	Distribution in North America, the UK and Ireland only; produced by Distant Horizon
Cabaret Balkan	July 23, 1999	Distribution in the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand only
The Adventures of Sebastian Cole	August 6, 1999	Distribution in the US, South America, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa only; produced by Cuplan Productions LLC
Train of Life	November 12, 1999	North American distribution only
Where's Marlowe?	November 12, 1999
Deterrence	March 10, 2000	Distribution in the US, UK and Ireland only
The Virgin Suicides	May 12, 2000	Distribution in North and Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan only; produced by American Zoetrope
Passion of Mind	May 26, 2000	North American distribution only; co-production with Lakeshore Entertainment
Sunshine	June 9, 2000	Distribution in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan only; produced by Alliance Atlantis and Serendipity Point Films
Girl on the Bridge	July 28, 2000	Distribution in North and Latin America only
You Can Count on Me	November 17, 2000	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, France, the Benelux, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan only; produced by Shooting Gallery and Hart-Sharp Entertainment
The Gift	December 22, 2000	North American distribution only; co-production with Lakeshore Entertainment
Company Man	March 9, 2001	North American distribution only; produced by Pathé and Intermedia
Savage Souls	May 20, 2001	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand only
Bride of the Wind	June 8, 2001	North American distribution only
An American Rhapsody	August 24, 2001	Distribution in North America, the UK, Ireland, France, Australia and New Zealand only; produced by Fireworks Pictures and Seven Arts
Our Lady of the Assassins	September 7, 2001	distribution in the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and select Central and Latin American territories including Colombia only
My First Mister	October 12, 2001	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa only
Focus	November 2, 2001	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan only
Sidewalks of New York	November 21, 2001	Distribution in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan only
Mean Machine	February 22, 2002	Co-production with SKA Films
Festival in Cannes	March 3, 2002	Distribution in North and Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan only; produced by Rainbow Pictures
The Triumph of Love	May 10, 2002	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan only
The Emperor's New Clothes	June 14, 2002	Distribution in North and Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Africa only; produced by FilmFour
Who Is Cletis Tout?[N 2]	July 26, 2002	North American, Australian and New Zealand distribution only; produced by Fireworks Pictures
Mostly Martha	August 16, 2002	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa only; produced by Bavaria Film International
Just a Kiss	September 27, 2002	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan only; produced by Greenestreet Films
Bloody Sunday	October 4, 2002	Distribution in North and Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan only
The Way Home	November 15, 2002	Distribution in North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa only; produced by CJ Entertainment and Tube Entertainment
Till Human Voices Wake Us	February 21, 2003	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, South Africa and the Middle East only
House of Fools	April 25, 2003	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand only
The Man on the Train	May 9, 2003	Distribution in the US, English-speaking Canada, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa only; produced by Pathé
Northfork	July 11, 2003	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa only
And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen	August 8, 2003	Distribution in North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa only
The Singing Detective	October 24, 2003	Distribution in North and Latin America and Japan only; produced by Icon Productions
The Machinist	January 18, 2004	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa only; produced by Filmax; rights licensed to Tartan Films for the UK and Ireland and Rialto Distribution for Australia and New Zealand
The Reckoning	March 5, 2004	Distribution in North and Latin America, South Africa, Australasia and Japan only; produced by Renaissance Films
The United States of Leland	April 2, 2004	North American and select international distribution only; produced by Media 8 Entertainment and Trigger Street Productions
Love Me If You Dare	May 11, 2004	US and select international distribution only; produced by StudioCanal
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead	June 16, 2004	Distribution in North and Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and Japan only; co-production with Revere Pictures and Seven Arts
Intimate Strangers	July 30, 2004	Distribution in North and Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan only
Mean Creek	August 20, 2004	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand only; produced by Whitewater Films; rights licensed to Tartan Films for the UK and Ireland and Rialto Distribution for Australia and New Zealand
Enduring Love	October 29, 2004	Distribution in North America and select international territories only; produced by Pathé and FilmFour
Fade to Black	November 5, 2004	produced by @radical.media, Marcy Projects, and Roc-A-Fella Records
Schultze Gets the Blues	February 18, 2005	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Austria only
Winter Solstice	April 8, 2005	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa only
Mad Hot Ballroom	May 13, 2005	Co-distribution with Nickelodeon Movies outside Australia and New Zealand only; produced by Just One Productions; international rights licensed to Fortissimo Films
After You...	June 3, 2005
Hustle & Flow	July 22, 2005	co-distribution with MTV Films; produced by New Deal Entertainment
Asylum	August 12, 2005	Co-production with Seven Arts
Neil Young: Heart of Gold	February 10, 2006	Co-production with Shangri-La Entertainment, Reprise Records, Playtone, Clinica Estetico, and Shakey Pictures
Ask the Dust	March 17, 2006	US distribution only; co-production with Capitol Films, Ascendant Pictures and Cruise/Wagner Productions
An Inconvenient Truth	May 24, 2006	Co-production with Participant Productions
Typhoon	June 2, 2006	North American distribution only; produced by CJ Entertainment
Broken Bridges	September 8, 2006	Co-production with CMT Films
Arctic Tale	July 25, 2007	Distribution in North and Latin America, the UK, Ireland, France, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa only; produced by National Geographic Films
Beneath	August 7, 2007	Co-production with MTV Films
The Kite Runner	December 14, 2007	Co-production with DreamWorks Pictures, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant Productions; rights licensed to Filmauro for Italy and Sandrew Metronome for Scandinavia
Shine a Light	April 4, 2008	North American distribution only; co-production with Shangri-La Entertainment and Concert Productions International

Paramount Vantage

Release date	Film title	Academy Awards and notes
October 27, 2006	Babel	distribution in North and Latin America, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain only, co-production with Paramount Pictures, Anonymous Content, Zeta Film and Central Films Won Best Original Score Additional nominations Best Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu Best Editing Best Picture Best Original Screenplay Best Supporting Actress: Adriana Barraza Best Supporting Actress: Rinko Kikuchi
January 20, 2007	Year of the Dog	co-production with Rip Cord Productions and Plan B Entertainment
March 2, 2007	Black Snake Moan	co-production with New Deal Productions and Southern Cross the Dog Productions
June 22, 2007	A Mighty Heart	co-production with Plan B Entertainment and Revolution Films
September 21, 2007	Into the Wild	distribution outside France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Benelux, Japan, Spain and Italy only;[6][7][8] co-production with River Road Entertainment, Square One C.I.H. and Linson Film 2 Nominations Best Editing Best Supporting Actor: Hal Holbrook
November 9, 2007	No Country for Old Men[N 3]	international distribution only; co-production with Miramax Films, Scott Rudin Productions and Mike Zoss Productions Won Best Director: Ethan and Joel Coen Best Picture Best Adapted Screenplay Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem Additional nominations Best Cinematography Best Editing Best Sound Mixing Best Sound Editing
November 16, 2007	Margot at the Wedding	co-production with Scott Rudin Productions
December 26, 2007	There Will Be Blood[N 3]	North American distribution only; co-production with Miramax Films, Scott Rudin Productions and Ghoulardi Film Company Won Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis Best Cinematography Additional nominations Best Art Direction Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Best Editing Best Picture Best Adapted Screenplay Best Sound Editing
January 25, 2008	How She Move	co-distribution outside Canada with MTV Films only;[9] produced by Celluloid Dreams and Sienna Films
February 1, 2008	The Eye	co-distribution with Lionsgate only; co-production with Cruise/Wagner Productions and Vertigo Entertainment
May 2, 2008	Son of Rambow	distribution outside Japan, Germany, Austria and French free television only;[9] produced by Celluloid Dreams
May 30, 2008	The Foot Fist Way	co-distribution with MTV Films and Gary Sanchez Productions; produced by You Know I Can't Kiss You
July 25, 2008	American Teen	distribution outside the U.K. and Ireland only; produced by A&E IndieFilms, Firehouse Films, Quasiworld Entertainment and 57th & Irving
August 27, 2008	Traitor[N 4]	international distribution only; produced by Overture Films, Mandeville Films, Hyde Park Entertainment and Crescendo Productions
September 19, 2008	The Duchess	distribution in North and Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan only; produced by Pathe, BBC Films, Qwerty Films and Magnolia Mae Films Won Best Costume Design Additional nomination Best Art Direction
December 25, 2008	Last Chance Harvey[N 4]	international distribution only; produced by Overture Films
December 26, 2008	Revolutionary Road	distribution only; produced by DreamWorks Pictures, BBC Films, Evamere Entertainment and Neal Street Productions 3 Nominations Best Art Direction Best Costume Design Best Supporting Actor: Michael Shannon
December 31, 2008	Defiance	North American, U.K., Irish, South African and Scandinavian distribution only; produced by Grosvenor Park Productions and Bedford Falls Productions 1 Nomination Best Original Score
August 14, 2009	The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard	co-production with Gary Sanchez Productions
August 21, 2009	The Marc Pease Experience	co-production with Groundswell Productions and Firefly Pictures
September 4, 2009	Carriers	co-production with Likely Story and This Is That Productions
October 2, 2009	Capitalism: A Love Story[N 4]	international distribution only; produced by Overture Films, The Weinstein Company and Dog Eat Dog Films
February 26, 2010	The Crazies[N 4]	international distribution only; produced by Overture Films, Participant Media and Imagenation Abu Dhabi
March 5, 2010	Ondine	international distribution only; produced by Wayfare Entertainment, Octagon Films and Little Wave Productions; distributed in the U.S. by Magnolia Pictures
August 8, 2010	Middle Men[N 5]	distribution only; produced by Mallick Media, Oxymoron Entertainment and Blue Star Entertainment
September 24, 2010	Waiting for "Superman"	co-production with Participant Media, Walden Media and Electric Kinney Films
October 1, 2010	Case 39	co-production with Paramount Pictures, Misher Films and Anonymous Content
October 28, 2011	Like Crazy	co-distribution with Indian Paintbrush only; produced by Super Crispy Entertainment
March 16, 2012	Jeff, Who Lives at Home	co-production with Indian Paintbrush, Right of Way Films and Mr. Mudd
December 21, 2012	Not Fade Away	co-production with Indian Paintbrush, The Weinstein Company, Gran Via Productions and Chase Films
November 15, 2013	Nebraska	North American, U.K., Irish and German distribution only; co-production with FilmNation Entertainment, Blue Lake Media Fund, Echo Lake Entertainment and Bona Fide Productions 6 Nominations Best Actor: Bruce Dern Best Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael Best Director: Alexander Payne Best Original Screenplay: Bob Nelson Best Picture Best Supporting Actress: June Squibb

See also

• Paramount Pictures
• Go Fish Pictures
• Miramax Films

Notes

1. Owned by Shout! Studios
2. Owned by Magnolia Pictures
3. Paramount now owns worldwide rights to this film, having acquired a 49% stake in Miramax in 2020
4. Owned by Lionsgate
5. Owned by Gravitas Ventures