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Landmark Theatres plunged in value from Covid, high interest rates and Hollywood strikes to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a May deposition by Landmark owner Charles Cohen disclosed in ongoing litigation with lender Fortress Credit Corp.

The deposition was filed by Fortress in New York State Supreme Court, where a judge has ruled that Cohen defaulted on a loan and must auction off underlying properties including Landmark to pay it back. The judge also ruled in a separate but related case that Cohen is on the hook for a $187 million personal loan guarantee pending the results of the auction, which is set for November 8 unless the two sides agree to a settlement. The clock is ticking, but a person familiar with Cohen’s thinking says he believes a settlement may be possible.

Asked for comment today, a rep reiterated that Landmark “is still committed to...

A New York State Supreme Court judge has ruled that Charles Cohen owes creditor Fortress Credit Corp. $187.25 million if a scheduled auction of assets including Landmark Theatres doesn’t cover the $500+ million the New York real estate magnate owes.

The repayment of that 2022 loan has been in dispute for a year. The parties agreed to a number of extensions in 2023 but ultimately Fortress called the loan. It claimed Cohen was in default and sued for an auction of the underlying collateral properties, which, along with Landmark, include a design center, office tower and hotel.

The suit played out over this past summer and Judge Joel M. Cohen in August ultimately ruled for Fortress, setting a Nov. 8 auction date. In a statement to Deadline then, a rep for Landmark said, “Despite the complexities of this commercial situation, Landmark remains dedicated to its business and anticipates a favorable resolution to the ongoing litigation.

Charles Cohen’s Landmark Theatres “remains dedicated to its business” and “anticipates a favorable resolution” to ongoing, complex litigation that recently saw a judge set an auction date for the chain and other properties.

“Having successfully navigated the pandemic and now adapting to fewer film releases due to last year’s actors and writers strikes, Landmark continues to invest in brand building initiatives to support the longevity of the chain,” a spokesperson for the circuit said in a statement to Deadline.

Cohen’s real estate holding company was sued by lender Fortress Credit Corp. for defaulting on a $534 million loan secured by Landmark and other properties, including a design center, office tower and hotel.

As Deadline reported earlier this week, a New York State Supreme Court judge ruled that Fortress could recoup through an auction of all the assets set for November 8 as interest continues to accrue and after the...

“Thelma” (Magnolia), an unlikely action-comedy starring June Squibb as a nonagenarian grandmother who becomes a phone scam victim, has grossed about $7.3 million through its third week. Though not a blockbuster by summer standards, in the specialized world, and particularly outside awards season, “Thelma” is a blockbuster, headed for between $9-10 million domestic, theatrically. And at a time of challenge for this sector. How it got there suggests some lessons for distributors.

Something clicked here. “Thelma” debuted last January at Sundance with immediate acquisition interest, selling to Magnolia, which isn’t normally known for mid-wide-level releases.

By all indications, the plan has worked. “Thelma” is already Magnolia’s highest-grossing narrative feature in the company’s 23-year history. Adjusted, “Woman Thou Art Loosed” and “The World’s Fastest Indian” ended up slightly bigger, but both were around 20 years ago.

What happened was by design. Magnolia releases a lot of films, usually of a...

Mark Cuban is giving up his seat at the table. The investor and longtime Shark Tank star has announced he’s leaving the popular ABC reality show. The move comes not long after his decision to sell a majority stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks for $3.5 billion.

Mark Cuban is worth $6.2 billion

Cuban, 65, is no stranger to big money moves. He built his wealth in the early years of the dot-com boom thanks to Broadcast.com, which he founded with Todd Wagner in 1995. He cashed out at the right time, selling it to Yahoo in 1999 for $5.7 billion.

Later, Cuban went on to buy the Mavericks for $285 million. More recently, he cofounded Cost Plus Drugs, which aims to lower prescription drug prices. In 2011, he joined the cast of Shark Tank.

Cuban’s various entrepreneurial endeavors and investments have netted him an impressive net worth. As of 2023, he was worth an estimated $6.2 billion,...

Dogwoof boards international sales.

Magnolia Pictures has picked up US rights to Participant and River Road’s Food, Inc. 2, the follow-up to Robert Kenner’s Oscar-nominated documentary.

Kenner co-directed with Melissa Robledo on the Telluride world premiere in which investigative authors Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) take a fresh look at the nation’s food system.

Magnolia Pictures will release the film in the spring in the US. while Dogwoof has come on board to represent international sales.

While Food, Inc. fuelled a cultural conversation about the multinational corporations that control the food...

Exclusive: After serving as the distributor for Participant and River Road’s Academy Award-nominated 2008 documentary Food, Inc., Magnolia Pictures has taken U.S. rights to the sequel, with Dogwoof coming aboard to rep international sales. An urgent continuation of the original film’s story, the doc is slated to premiere in the spring.

In the sequel, which world premiered at Telluride, directors Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo reunite with investigative authors Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) to take a fresh look at food in the U.S. The film reveals how corporate consolidation has gone unchecked by our government, leaving us with a highly efficient yet shockingly vulnerable food system dedicated only towards increasing profits. Seeking solutions, it introduces innovative farmers, food producers, workers’ rights activists, and prominent legislators such as U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Jon Tester, who are facing these...

Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper and James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington in ‘The Blacklist’ season 10 episode 15 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)

NBC’s The Blacklist moves to its new Thursdays at 8pm Et/Pt time slot with season 10 episode 15. “The Hat Trick” will air on June 1, 2023, followed by episode 16, “Blair Foster,” at 9pm Et/Pt.

The final season’s cast is led by James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington. Diego Klattenhoff stars as Donald Ressler, Hisham Tawfiq plays Dembe Zuma, Anya Banerjee is Siya Malik, Sami Bray is Agnes, and Harry Lennix stars as Harold Cooper.

The Hat Trick Plot: In an effort to prove their worth to Congressman Hudson, Red provides the Task Force with three criminal cases that are deeper than they appear. Ressler helps a friend make amends.

Jordan Bridges as Todd Wagner, Leigh DeLollis as Aimee Addabbo, and Steve Blanchard as Alexander Addabbo in season...

Prepare for an electrifying episode of “The Blacklist” as the popular NBC crime thriller returns.

Find out everything you need to know about the The Hat Trick episode of The Blacklist, including a full preview, videos, release date, cast information and how to watch!

The Blacklist The Hat Trick Season 10 Episode 15 Preview

In this upcoming episode titled “The Hat Trick,” the enigmatic Reddington takes center stage once again, presenting the task force with a trio of criminal cases that are more complex than they initially appear. With the team’s credibility on the line, Reddington is determined to prove their worth to Congressman Hudson. Join us as we delve into the intricate web of these cases, unravelling hidden layers and shocking revelations along the way.

As the task force delves deeper into the three interconnected criminal investigations, tensions rise, and loyalties are tested. Each case brings its own set of challenges and dangers,...

Kohn’s Corner is a weekly column about the challenges and opportunities of sustaining American film culture.

Every year around this time, I relish the opportunity to vanish into a bubble of Cannes hype and pretend that world-class auteurs dominate the movie business on a global scale. But for the moment, I’ll take a breather from the laughing gas and acknowledge it’s a rough moment for the specialty distribution business — especially in America. A lot of those promising Cannes titles won’t follow me home.

Few movies that aren’t in English succeed at our box office. Most get lost in the streaming vortex, if they’re lucky to land there at all. Arthouses nationwide continue to face audience decline. Prestige Oscar movies don’t guarantee strong returns. A24’s winning streak faltered with the flop of its most-costly production, “Beau is Afraid,” suggesting that even its adoring...

Amazon Freevee has greenlit an intimate concert series spotlighting today’s biggest musical artists: “Monumental: An Artists Den Experience.”

The series will premiere its first concert special with a spotlight on U.K. pop star Ellie Goulding’s upcoming album “Higher Than Heaven.”

Designed as a narrative-driven performance program, each hour-long special will feature performances, exclusive interviews, venue vignettes and behind-the-scenes footage to tell a popular recording artist’s story. Anchored by their history-rich locations across the globe, each performance setting will have an intimate connection to the artist.

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Chelsea Handler Set as SeriesFest Closing Night Performer

In the first special, “Monumental: Ellie Goulding at Kew Gardens,” which premieres exclusively on Amazon Freevee in the U.S., U.K. and Germany on March 31, Goulding will perform songs from her fifth studio album, which is slated to be released on March 24 via Interscope Records.

“Artists Den is known for creating visionary,...

Amazon Freevee has announced the greenlight of Monumental: An Artists Den Experience, described as an intimate narrative-driven performance program, produced by Artists Den Entertainment.

The program is comprised of hour-long specials featuring a performance, exclusive interviews and venue vignettes with a featured popular recording artist at iconic locations throughout the world. The first special, Monumental: Ellie Goulding at Kew Gardens, will debut exclusively on Amazon Freevee in the U.S., UK, and Germany on March 31, coinciding with the release of Goulding’s fifth studio album, Higher Than Heaven.

“Artists Den is known for creating visionary, once-in-a-lifetime musical experiences—tapping into intimate performances from the world’s most popular, influential, or on-the-rise artists,” said Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD Original content and unscripted programming, Amazon Studios. “We’re thrilled to partner with Artists Den on Monumental. Featuring fan-favorite musicians performing in their favorite places, we’re delivering our customers an exclusive...

A TV adaptation of George Clooney’s 2005 broadcast-news drama “Good Night, and Good Luck” is in development at AMC, the network announced Thursday.

A writers’ room has been opened, and in the event of pickup, the show will go straight to series for a six-episode first season. Emmy-winning “Succession” and “Better Call Saul” writer Jonathan Glatzer will serve as the showrunner, while Grant Heslov, who co-wrote the original film’s screenplay, is attached to direct the first episode.

The “Good Night, and Good Luck” movie focused on the early days of American broadcast journalism, starring David Strathairn as CBS news hot Edward R. Murrow. The film, which depicted Murrow’s criticism of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy during his anti-communist investigations, also starred Clooney, Patricia Clarkson, Jeff Daniels, Robert Downey Jr., and Frank Langella. The film received critical acclaim and got six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Clooney.

“Good Night, and Good Luck” is suiting up for a series adaptation of the 2005 George Clooney film, with potential placement at AMC and AMC+.

Writer-director Jonathan Glatzer will lead the writers’ room. Should the series be greenlit, he will serve as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Clooney, Grant Heslov and co-executive producer Rebecca Arzoian for Smokehouse Pictures, Mark Cuban, Todd Wagner and Haley Jones for 2929 Productions and Jeff Skoll and Miura Kite for Participant.

Heslov, who co-wrote the original film’s screenplay with Clooney, is set to direct the first episode.

Starring David Strathairn, Clooney, Patricia Clarkson and Jeff Daniels, the film followed broadcast news luminary Edward R. Murrow’s battle to expose the injustices of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s anti-communist crusades. It made 54.6 million at the worldwide box office, and was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Clooney.

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‘Ticket to Paradise...

AMC is developing a series adaptation of the film “Good Night, and Good Luck.”

A writers’ room for the six-episode series is now open under AMC’s script-to-series model. George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and their Smokehouse Pictures banner brought the project to AMC along with Participant and 2929 Productions. Clooney and Heslov co-wrote the film, with Clooney also directing and co-starring and Heslov producing. 2929 and Participant both produced the film as well.

Jonathan Glatzer is attached to serve as showrunner and executive producer. Mark Cuban and Todd Wagne of 2929 return as executive producers along with Jeff Skoll of Participant. Miura Kite of Participant will also executive produce along with Haley Jones of 2929. Rebecca Arzoian of Smokehous will co-executive produce. Heslov will direct the first episode of the series should it move forward.

AMC Studios will produce with Smokehouse, Participant and 2929. AMC Networks holds worldwide exclusive rights to the series, with...

Good Night, And Good Luck, the 2005 feature film directed by and starring George Clooney, is being adapted for the small screen.

AMC Networks is developing a series based on the movie and has opened a writers’ room as part of its scripts-to-series model. Jonathan Glatzer, a writer/producer on series including AMC’s Better Call Saul and HBO’s Succession, will lead the room and serve as showrunner on the project.

Good Night, And Good Luck is one of three projects as part of AMC Networks’ latest tranche of scripts-to-series batch. Deadline revealed in September that the network had opened rooms for Seconds, a radical reimagining of the cult classic with a female lead at its center, and psychological horror story The Devil In Silver, envisioned as the first installment in a potential anthology franchise.

The model sees the company open the writers’ rooms to develop prospective shows, including generating multiple scripts,...

Click here to read the full article.

Good Night, and Good Luck is getting the TV treatment at AMC.

George Clooney and his Smokehouse Pictures partner Grant Heslov brought the project to the basic cable network for development. Under AMC’s script-to-series development model, a writers’ room has been opened to develop a serialized version of the movie that was co-written by Clooney and Heslov that starred and was directed by the former. While Good Night, and Good Luck is currently in its early stages, AMC is eyeing it as a six-episode series that will be produced in-house by AMC Studios.

Jonathan Glatzer, whose credits include AMC’s own Better Call Saul and HBO’s Succession, is set to serve as showrunner and exec produce alongside the film’s Clooney and Heslov, with the latter set to direct the pilot should the drama move beyond the development stage. The film’s Mark Cuban,...

People today are facing a barrage of acutely stressful events: politically charged anger and division, pandemic fueled fear and grief, economic uncertainty, rising prices, and distressing social issues just to name a few.

MindBodySpirit.fm was founded by two powerhouse radio and advertising industry professionals who saw a need for a podcast platform that offers shows exclusively in the Mind, Body, Spirit genres in order to provide help, hope, and mindfulness in this time of uncertainty.

Co-founder Diane Ray was instrumental in developing Hay House Radio and was the director of Unity Radio. Co-founder Tina Williamson was the VP of Marketing for Broadcast.com and worked directly with Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner until it was sold to Yahoo for 5.7 Billion. She also has 35+ years of business and entrepreneurial experience that she contributes to MindBodySpirit.fm.

MindBodySpirit’s 45+ shows offer helpful advice to implement self-care, handle change, cope with grief,...

Landmark Theatres announced Wednesday that its Pico Boulevard location will shut down at the end of the month after the company was “unable” to extend its tenancy.

“For months, we’ve worked to extend our tenancy of The Landmark Pico but have been unable reach terms, Landmark Theatres president Kevin Holloway said in a statement provided to media. “We send our deepest appreciation to the Pico staff, guests, and the filmmaking community for their support over the years. We’re exploring opportunities to expand our Los Angeles footprint, which we hope to be able to share more on soon.”

Built in 2007, the multi-story, 12-screen theater was home to many screenings hosted by TheWrap. Though its main focus is on arthouse and specialty programming, the venue also regularly features blockbusters and Q&a sessions with filmmakers.

In 2018, Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner sold the theater chain to Cohen Media Group for an undisclosed price,...

The next big media merger in Hollywood may have emerged. In recent years, and this is something that has really been ramping up in the streaming era, media companies have been looking to scoop up content libraries to bolster offerings. The business, as it exists, is obsessed with IP and potential franchises. That has created something of a seller's market. To that point, Magnolia Pictures is reportedly looking to cash in.

As first reported by The New York Times, the film distributor has hired an investment bank to head up a sale of the company, which is owned by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner. The...

The post Indie Film Distributor Magnolia Pictures Is Apparently For Sale appeared first on /Film.

The distributor of films like “Melancholia” and “John Lewis: Good Trouble” is reportedly seeking a buyer. Magnolia Pictures has hired investment bank Stephens to run a sale of the company, Deadline reported after the New York Times first broke word of a potential sale on Wednesday.

The move comes as consolidation is rapidly reshaping the industry for the streaming era. While it has amassed a diverse library of 500 films during its 20 years in business, Magnolia is a vastly different company than other recent Hollywood acquisitions targets, like MGM with its exploitable IP or Reese Witherspoon’s “Big Little Lies” production outfit Hello Sunshine.

The Hollywood Reporter once called Magnolia “one of the last indie distribution houses dedicated to art house fare.” Magnolia wants to find out what that might be worth in a time where box office revenues are down, but streaming has fueled a demand for content that has never been greater.

Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner’s Magnolia Pictures has hired investment bank Stephens to explore selling the company.

Content is currently in high demand and Magnolia, a leading independent film distributor for two decades, has a substantial library of about 500 titles.

“We went through this process 8-10 years ago and did not sell it then, and we may not sell this time. But the climate this time is strong and we have done extraordinarily well,” president and co-founder Eamonn Bowles tells Deadline — including during the pandemic, with the library throwing off more cash than ever. “We have these ten year old films making more than in their third year,” he said.

A deal would follow hookups between Amazon-MGM (still pending) and the acquisition of Reese Witherspoon’s media company Hello Sunshine by a new Blackstone-backed group led by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs for a sum said to be about $900 million.

The independent film distributor Magnolia Pictures is exploring a potential sale, someone familiar with the process confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

Magnolia, which is owned by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner’s 2929 Entertainment, is looking to capitalize on the demand for library content by streaming services. Streaming services attached to the studios like Paramount+ and HBO Max are looking to subsidize their own film libraries with outside fare, while companies without studios of their own like Netflix or Apple want to bulk up their offerings.

Magnolia has approximately 500 films in its library, including the recent Sundance pic Mayday and the documentary Blackfish. Magnolia,...

The independent film distributor Magnolia Pictures is exploring a potential sale, someone familiar with the process confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

Magnolia, which is owned by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner’s 2929 Entertainment, is looking to capitalize on the demand for library content by streaming services. Streaming services attached to the studios like Paramount+ and HBO Max are looking to subsidize their own film libraries with outside fare, while companies without studios of their own like Netflix or Apple want to bulk up their offerings.

Magnolia has approximately 500 films in its library, including the recent Sundance pic Mayday and the documentary Blackfish. Magnolia,...

Mark Cuban, billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner, Shark Tank star and early Internet entrepreneur, is announcing the launch of his latest media venture, a mobile interactive storytelling platform called Fireside.

Cuban, who has spanned tech and entertainment for years — his 2929 Entertainment portfolio includes Magnolia Pictures and Magnet Releasing — is co-founder of the venture with Falon Fatemi, formerly of Google/YouTube. It’s basically a set of tools that let professional content creators easily produce, edit and distribute shows for live audiences, Fatemi said. It helps creators sell tickets to the shows if they want and gathers audience response data to help them fine-tune productions.

Fatemi, who is CEO, told Deadline that Fireside’s proprietary technology can be used by creators from podcasters, authors, musicians, television personalities and comedians to business leaders and policy makers. It’s been in private beta for the past several months and has already attracted north of five hundreds of creators,...

After spending three years as Toronto International Film Festival’s executive director, Joana Vicente is leaving her post to join the Sundance Institute as its CEO.

She is succeeding long-time executive Keri Putnam, who stepped down earlier this year. In her new role, Vicente will oversee all areas of the Institute, including the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

She will report to Sundance’s board of directors and work with key stakeholders, including artists, funders and industry donors, as well as lead a cadre of 200 year-round employees and an additional 250 seasonal staffers. Vicente begins her position in early November, working between the Institute’s Park City, Los Angeles, and New York City offices.

“This was a very comprehensive search to find the right person who would continue to move us forward with a vision that aligns with the founding values of the Institute’s founder, Robert Redford,...

Los Angeles-based arthouse chain Laemmle Theatres has stopped seeking a buyer, four months after putting itself on the sales block amid slow sales.

Greg Laemmle, president of the 81-year-old exhibitor, announced the development Thursday. He told Variety that discussions with an unidentified buyer had reached an advanced stage but fell apart and that there has been an uptick in business recently, thanks partly to Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman,” which will start streaming on Nov. 27.

“Our numbers have been improving lately,” he added. “We’ve done well with ‘The Irishman.’ There’s no question that people want to see good movies as they were intended on a big screen rather than waiting for it be available on streaming through Netflix.”

The privately held Laemmle circuit was launched in 1938 by Greg Laemmle’s grandfather Max Laemmle, and has been operated by the family since then. The chain’s sites are the Claremont 5 in Claremont,...

Landmark Theatres has hired veteran Regal Entertainment executive Paul Serwitz as president and chief operating officer.

The arthouse chain made the announcement on Wednesday, a week after Ted Mundorff resigned from his post as the longtime CEO of Landmark Theatres. Mundorff’s departure came less than a year after Landmark was bought by Cohen Media Group.

Serwitz has served 17 years as vice president of film for Regal. His role included oversight of Regal’s national art and specialized program, growing that segment of the business to nearly $200 million annually. Prior to his 25-year tenure at Regal, he worked for Cineplex Odeon in Washington D.C.

“I have long admired the unique space Landmark occupies in the exhibition and theatrical landscape,” Serwitz said. “They are a trailblazer in the cinema experience. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to join Landmark and help expand the company’s vision and reach.”

In December,...

Paul Serwitz has been hired by Landmark Theatres Owner/Chairman Charles S. Cohen to be President and Chief Operating Officer of the country’s largest prestige film theater chain, with 51 theaters and 251 screens in 27 markets. His appointment follows on the heels of the surprise exit of longtime Landmark head Ted Mundorff, who resigned October 24. Cohen Media Group acquired the chain from Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner last December.

Serwitz joins Landmark after spending the last 17 years as Vice President of Film for Regal Entertainment Group, the national theater circuit whose brands include Regal Cinemas, Edwards Theatres and United Artists Theatres. For the better part of a decade, his role included oversight of Regal’s national art and specialized program, growing that segment of the business to nearly $200M. Prior to his 25 years in total at Regal, Serwitz worked for Toronto-based Cineplex Odeon in Washington D.C. and originally was in...

Veteran Regal Theatres executive Paul Serwitz has been named president and COO of Landmark Theatres less than a week after Ted Mundorff's surprise exit.

Landmark owner Charles S. Cohen announced the hire Wednesday. In December, Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner sold the country's largest independent theater circuit to Cohen Media Group, an indie film company owned by the billionaire real estate developer and devoted cinephile.

"Paul Serwitz has vast experience in all aspects of film exhibition and acquisition, in both local markets and on the national front. He is highly respected and has cultivated solid relationships throughout ...

Veteran Regal Theatres executive Paul Serwitz has been named president and COO of Landmark Theatres less than a week after Ted Mundorff's surprise exit.

Landmark owner Charles S. Cohen announced the hire Wednesday. In December, Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner sold the country's largest independent theater circuit to Cohen Media Group, an indie film company owned by the billionaire real estate developer and devoted cinephile.

"Paul Serwitz has vast experience in all aspects of film exhibition and acquisition, in both local markets and on the national front. He is highly respected and has cultivated solid relationships throughout ...

Exclusive: The independent film and theatrical space was shaken up Thursday night when Deadline broke news that Landmark Theatres president Ted Mundorff was exiting. Mundorff was a fixture at the largest dedicated specialized theater chain in the country, with 252 screens in 27 major markets, the chain that owners Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner sold 10 months ago to Cohen Media Group’s Charles Cohen. Deadline had heard there was friction between owner and president for a while. Although he didn’t want to specify his differences with Cohen, Mundorff acknowledged that his exit didn’t come out of the blue. Deadline caught up with him when he was coming from a board meeting of Film Independent, on his way home to watch the World Series.

“The fact I am no longer employed says a lot, but [Cohen] bought the theater 10 months ago, and this is a company we built from the ground up,...

Ted Mundorff, the longtime CEO of Landmark Theatres, has resigned from his post less than a year after the arthouse chain was bought by Cohen Media Group.

Daniela Sapkar, a spokeswoman for the chain, confirmed Mundorff’s departure to Variety.

In December, Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner sold the circuit to Cohen Media Group, an indie film company owned by real estate developer and cinephile Charles S. Cohen. Landmark operates 56 theaters in 27 markets.

Cohen, whose fortune is estimated to be $3.4 billion, had said at the time of the purchase that he would retain the senior management team of Landmark Theatres. Mundorff said he was optimistic that Cohen would be an ideal owner.

Landmark, which operates 252 screens, had been owned by Wagner-Cuban’s 2929 Entertainment since 2003. Landmark describes itself as the nation’s largest specialized theater chain dedicated to independent cinema. At a time when major theater chains have barred movies from Netflix,...

Longtime Landmark Theatres CEO Ted Mundorff has resigned less than a year after the country's largest independent cinema chain came under new ownership, sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter. 

The news is certain to rattle Hollywood studios and indie film companies who have worked with Mundorff at Landmark for more than 15 years. He played a key role in the circuit's expansion and branding, and shepherded the opening of the chain's flagship location in West Los Angeles.

In December, Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner sold the chain to Cohen Media Group, an indie film company owned by ...

Longtime Landmark Theatres CEO Ted Mundorff has resigned less than a year after the country's largest independent cinema chain came under new ownership, sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter. 

The news is certain to rattle Hollywood studios and indie film companies who have worked with Mundorff at Landmark for more than 15 years. He played a key role in the circuit's expansion and branding, and shepherded the opening of the chain's flagship location in West Los Angeles.

In December, Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner sold the chain to Cohen Media Group, an indie film company owned by ...

Content Partners, the investment firm that forged a new financial option for Hollywood profit participants, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, just as the industry is seems poised to head into a period of retrenchment on the kind of deals that built the company.

Headed by former William Morris Agency CFO Steve Kram and former Brillstein-Grey Entertainment CFO Steven Blume, Content Partners was formed in 2006 with the goal of giving Hollywood insiders an easier way to liquidate profit participation stakes in movies and TV shows. Content Partners has bought out the backend points held by dozens of corporations and individuals, assembling a portfolio of stakes that the company manages as an investment property.

Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner were the original investors in Content Partners; Wagner remains an equity partner. The company started out with modest ambitions to target individuals with a handful of points or stakes in movies,...

Exclusive: Deadline hears that family-owned Los Angeles-based arthouse chain Laemmle Theatres is up for sale.

At this point in time, it’s not clear whether it will be a portion or the entire 41-screen chain.

Laemmle Theatres also touts an upcoming new 7-plex with a 500-seat auditorium in Newhall, CA, not far from the Melody Ranch where Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Django Unchained, as well as HBO’s Westworld and Deadwood were filmed. Laemmle’s Newhall cinema is expected to open toward the end of the year.

The chain has been renowned throughout its history for booking Oscar qualifying runs for contenders, including independent pics, shorts and documentaries.

Note this is poised to be a very different sale from the recent Landmark Theatres one, which saw its 252 screens in 27 markets purchased by Cohen Media Group for a reported $100M in cash and stock, from...

Arthouse specialist Landmark Theatres has been sold by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban to Cohen Media Group for an undisclosed price.

The sale ends months of speculation about Landmark’s fate — the company has been shopped around for months, reportedly drawing interest from Amazon, Netflix, and Byron Allen. Cohen Media Group chairman Charles S. Cohen, a real estate developer whose fortune is estimated to be $3.4 billion, said he will retain the senior management team of Landmark Theatres.

In an interview with Variety, Landmark Theatres president and CEO Ted Mundorff said he was pleased that the sale had been resolved and also said he was optimistic that Cohen, a cinephile, was an ideal owner.

“It’s a great day for the industry,” said Mundorff. “You have a film lover who bought a theater company… and he’s going to keep the ship running the way it has been going.”

The deal was announced Tuesday by Wagner,...

Arthouse cinema chain Landmark Theatres has been sold by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner to Cohen Media Group for an undisclosed sum, the company announced on Tuesday.

The purchase ends a long bidding battle for Landmark after the two businessmen put the chain on the block back in April. Cuban and Wagner first purchased Landmark back in 2003, placing it under their 2929 Entertainment banner alongside Magnolia Pictures, HDNet, and Axs TV. A sale of Landmark had previously been attempted in 2013, but no deal was made.

Among those that reportedly considered buying Landmark this year were streaming giants Amazon Studios and Netflix. Netflix backed off preliminary plans to offer a bid and is currently screening their awards contender, “Roma,” at Landmark locations. In August, reports also surfaced that Amazon made a bid. But since the hire of Jen Salke as its new studio head, Amazon has signaled that it is expanding...

After roughly eight months on the selling block, Landmark Theatres is being purchased by Oscar-winning theatrical distributor and producer Cohen Media Group.

Cohen Media Group will acquire the nation’s largest and most prominent stateside independent theater chain, spanning 252 screens in 27 markets.

The announcement was made jointly today by Landmark Theatres President/CEO Ted Mundorff, Cohen Media Group Chairman Charles S. Cohen and Landmark’s previous owners Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban. Cohen will retain Landmark’s senior management team.

Terms of the sale were not disclosed, however, we hear that the deal was worth close to $100M, and it wasn’t entirely in cash, but shares as well.

Landmark boasts premium venues such as 57 West in New York City — which opened last year — the Landmark on Pico in Los Angeles, the Atlantic Plumbing Cinema in Washington D.C., the Landmark at Merrick Park in Coral Gables, Fl, and the...

Senior management team to remain.

Cohen Media Group has acquired Landmark Theatres from Wagner/Cuban Companies, ending months of speculation over who would take over the specialised theatre chain, which at one time had Amazon.com reportedly in the running.

Landmark Theatres is the largest specialised theatre chain in the Us dedicated to independent cinema and comprises 252 screens in 27 markets.

Cohen Media Group chairman Charles S. Cohen will retain the senior management team of Landmark Theatres, and Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban of 2929 Entertainment, which acquired the chain from Oaktree Capital in 2003, said they envisioned “little to no impact on our staff or customers.

Senior management team to remain.

Cohen Media Group has acquired Landmark Theatres from Wagner/Cuban Companies, ending months of speculation over who would take over the specialised theatre chain, which at one time had Amazon.com reportedly in the running.

Landmark Theatres is the largest specialised theatre chain in the Us dedicated to independent cinema and comprises 252 screens in 27 markets.

Cohen Media Group chairman Charles S. Cohen will retain the senior management team of Landmark Theatres, and Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban of 2929 Entertainment, which acquired the chain from Oaktree Capital in 2003, said they envisioned “little to no impact on our staff or customers.

Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner have found a buyer for their Landmark Theatres: Cohen Media Group, an indie film company owned by billionaire real estate developer and devoted cinephile Charles S. Cohen. The deal closed Tuesday.

Landmark is the country's largest independent theater chain dedicated to showcasing specialty films, operating 56 theaters in 27 markets — including the popular, upscale Landmark location in West Los Angeles and the newer The Landmark at 57 West in New York City, where Cohen has long been based.

The sale price wasn't disclosed, although sources say it was likely in the $70 ...

Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner have found a buyer for their Landmark Theatres: Cohen Media Group, an indie film company owned by billionaire real estate developer and devoted cinephile Charles S. Cohen. The deal closed Tuesday.

Landmark is the country's largest independent theater chain dedicated to showcasing specialty films, operating 56 theaters in 27 markets — including the popular, upscale Landmark location in West Los Angeles and the newer The Landmark at 57 West in New York City, where Cohen has long been based.

The sale price wasn't disclosed, although sources say it was likely in the $70 ...

Online movie ticketing service Atom Tickets is teaming with Landmark Theatres, the high-end circuit owned by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner.

The pact covers all of Landmark's 53 theaters in 27 markets across the country, including the popular Landmark complex in West Los Angeles. The deal comes as Cuban and Wagner consider selling the chain.

Atom bills itself as a first-of-its-kind social movie ticketing service that — in addition to selling tickets — allows moviegoers to pre-order concessions and makes it easier for friends to band together for a night out to the theater.

“Landmark Theatres has ...

Online movie ticketing service Atom Tickets is teaming with Landmark Theatres, the high-end circuit owned by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner.

The pact covers all of Landmark's 53 theaters in 27 markets across the country, including the popular Landmark complex in West Los Angeles. The deal comes as Cuban and Wagner consider selling the chain.

Atom bills itself as a first-of-its-kind social movie ticketing service that — in addition to selling tickets — allows moviegoers to pre-order concessions and makes it easier for friends to band together for a night out to the theater.

“Landmark Theatres has ...

Atom Tickets is expanding its online-ticketing network to include Landmark Theatres, allowing the studio-backed startup to sell tickets for the indie-film exhibitor’s 53 theaters with 255 screens.

The pact widens Atom Tickets’ total reach of over 20,000 screens across North America. The social-ticketing app also sells tickets for chains including AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, Southern Theatres, National Amusement’s Showcase Cinemas, Bow Tie Cinemas, and Harkins Theatres.

“Landmark Theatres has a rich history creating premium moviegoing experiences and embracing new ways to engage movie fans,” Mark Cuban, co-owner of the chain’s parent Wagner/Cuban Cos., said in a statement.

NBCUniversal-owned Fandango, Atom’s chief rival, does not have a deal with Landmark Theatres to sell tickets through the Fandango network. Last year, Fandango acquired MovieTickets.com, which does have a Landmark ticketing pact.

Last month, Atom Tickets announced deals with nine exhibitors — representing more than 1,000 screens — including Harkins Theatres, the fifth-largest U.

Landmark Theatres — the indie cinema chain owed by billionaire businessman Mark Cuban — is up for sale, Ted Mundorff, CEO for the theatre chain tells TheWrap.

Landmark oversees 245 screens in 21 cities, including Los Angeles and New York City. The exhibitor falls under Wagner and Cuban’s 2929 Entertainment umbrella, which includes Magnolia Pictures, HDNet Movies and a handful of other media properties.

Cuban and business partner Todd Wagner bought the indie exhibitor form Oaktree Capital Management in 2003 and explored a sale of Landmark and Magnolia back in 2013, but the talks went nowhere.

Also Read: Mark Cuban's Landmark Theatres Accused of Distributor 'Exploitation' in Antitrust Lawsuit

The new exploaration of a sale comes at a time of transition for exhibitors. Just last week, Landmark signed a deal with the all-you-can-watch subscription service MoviePass to drive more moviegoers to the theaters.

In a new survey from the MPAA, attendance among frequent moviegoers in a key 18-to-24 years old demographic was down 28 percent last year, compared with 2016. Attendance among teens who frequent the cineplex was down 22 percent.

Also Read: MoviePass Signs Exhibition Deal With Mark Cuban's Landmark Theatres

Overall, box office revenue from 2017 was down nearly 3 percent, compared with 2016 — even as the average ticket price rose 4 percent to $8.97.

There’s been a recent trend of consolidation in the industry though. In December, U.K.-based Cineworld bought Regal Entertainment for $3.6 billion, and in 2016 AMC Entertainment bought Carmike Cinemas for a little more than $1 billion.

Deadline first reported the news.

Read original story Mark Cuban’s Landmark Theatres Chain Is on the Block At TheWrap...

Billionaire businessman Mark Cuban has put his art house movie theater group Landmark Theatres on the auction block to explore a possible sale.

Landmark's parent company, Wagner/Cuban Cos., a cluster of media properties co-owned by Cuban and Todd Wagner, has enlisted a bank to sort through interest in the art house circuit.

"We had interest from buyers, so we hired a bank to evaluate offers. We are in no rush to sell, but we are happy to evaluate offers," Cuban told The Hollywood Reporter in an email.

Despite soft Hollywood box office, U.S. cinema chains have been attractive takeover targets,...

Exclusive: Wagner/Cuban companies’ Landmark Theatres arthouse chain is on the sales block.

Sources inform Deadline that buyers showed interest, and an investment bank was hired to vet possibilities. We understand it’s still early in the sales process.

Seven years ago Wagner/Cuban put Landmark up for sale, but then later pulled it back into their fold. Sources say that Landmark was seeking an estimated $200M for the chain at that time. Magnolia Pictures was also put up for sale then as well.

Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner have owned Landmark Theatres, a chain that spans 53 locations and 255 screens, since 2003 when they snapped up the exhibitor from Oaktree Capital Management. Back in 2001, Oaktree pulled Landmark’s parent Silver Cinemas out of bankruptcy for a reported $40M.

Like any exhibition chain nowadays, our sources also say there’s some investment that will need to be incurred by whoever buys Landmark...