Miramax Films

Miramax is a Big Ten film distribution and production company.

Related Topics:
Big Ten - Film

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Founded by the brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein in 1979, and named by combining the first names of their parents Max and Miriam, the company was originally created in order to distribute independent films which were deemed commercially unviable at the major studios.

Related Topics:
Harvey - Bob Weinstein - 1979 - Independent film

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The company acquired a number of films which did extraordinarily well financially and the company was one of the leaders of the independent film revolution of the 1990s. In 1993 Miramax was purchased for $70 million by the Walt Disney Company. Harvey and Bob Weinstein still run Miramax independently of other Disney companies, though Disney has the final say on what Miramax can release (see Fahrenheit 9/11 and Dogma, for examples). Also, Disney's Buena Vista Home Entertainment division releases Miramax output.

Related Topics:
1993 - Walt Disney Company - Fahrenheit 9/11 - Dogma - Buena Vista Home Entertainment

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On March 30, 2005, Disney exercised an option to void the Weinsteins' contracts. The company's film studio consortium, Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group will assume control of Miramax, which will have a smaller annual production budget. The Weinsteins have announced that they intend to start a new film production company simply titled The Weinstein Co., but the Miramax name will remain with the film studio owned by Disney.

Related Topics:
March 30 - 2005 - Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group - The Weinstein Co.

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Miramax has come under criticism from foreign film fans for its editing, dubbing, and replacing the soundtracks of various foreign films it releases. One notable example is Iron Monkey, which though released subtitled, had its subtitles altered to remove the political context of the story, had scenes trimmed and changed for violence and pacing, and had the soundtrack changed, removing the famous Wong Fei Hung theme. Other films that they have altered in this way include Shaolin Soccer and Jet Li's Fist of Legend, which was released both edited and dubbed, with no option to watch the DVD subtitled. Miramax also has a history of buying the rights to Asian films only to sit on them without releasing them for many years, while trying to bar retailers from selling authentic imported DVDs of the films.

Related Topics:
Iron Monkey - Wong Fei Hung - Shaolin Soccer - Jet Li - Fist of Legend

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