Largo Entertainment was a production company founded in 1989. It was run by film producer Lawrence Gordon and was backed by electronics firm Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC) in an investment that cost more than $100 million. The production company released their first film, Point Break in 1991 and their last film was Grey Owl in 1999.

Largo Entertainment
Company typeFilm Studio
Industry
Founded1989
FounderLawrence Gordon
Defunct1999
FateAssets sold to InterMedia
SuccessorInterMedia
Headquarters
United States
OwnerJVC

History

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In August 1989, Gordon formed Largo Entertainment with the backing of JVC, representing the first major Japanese investment in the entertainment industry. Although JVC put up the entire $100 million investment, the company was structured to be a 50/50 joint venture between Gordon and JVC.[1] As the company's chairman and chief executive officer, Gordon was responsible for the production of such films as Point Break (1991), starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves; The Super (1991), starring Joe Pesci; Unlawful Entry (1992), starring Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta and Madeleine Stowe; Used People (1992), starring Shirley MacLaine, Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, Marcia Gay Harden and Marcello Mastroianni; and Timecop (1994), starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Largo also co-financed and handled the foreign distribution of the acclaimed 1992 biopic Malcolm X, directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington in the title role. In January 1994, Gordon left the company and forged a production deal at Universal.[2] In 1999, JVC transferred Largo's film acquisition assets to JVC Entertainment, a film subsidiary for the Japanese market, and shut down its foreign sales operation.[3] Largo's film library was acquired by InterMedia in 2001.[4]

Filmography

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Release Date Title Distributor Notes Budget Gross (worldwide)
July 12, 1991 Point Break 20th Century Fox co-production with Tapestry Films and Johnny Utah Productions $24 million $83.5 million
October 4, 1991 The Super co-production with JVC Entertainment Networks $22 million $11 million
November 1, 1991 29th Street co-production with JVC Entertainment Networks and Permut Productions $2.1 million
June 26, 1992 Unlawful Entry co-production with JVC Entertainment Networks $23 million $57.1 million
October 23, 1992 Dr. Giggles Universal Pictures co-production with Dark Horse Entertainment N/A $8.4 million
November 18, 1992 Malcolm X Warner Bros. Pictures co-production with 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks $35 million $48.2 million
December 16, 1992 Used People 20th Century Fox co-production with JVC Entertainment Networks and U.P. Productions $16 million $28 million
October 15, 1993 Judgment Night Universal Pictures $21 million $12.1 million
February 11, 1994 The Getaway $37 million $30 million
September 16, 1994 Timecop co-production with Signature Pictures, Renaissance Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment $27 million $101.6 million
February 2, 1996 White Squall Buena Vista Pictures co-production with Hollywood Pictures and Scott Free Productions; also international distribution rights $38 million $10.2 million
April 26, 1996 Mulholland Falls MGM/UA Distribution Co. co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, The Zanuck Company and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment $29 million $11.5 million
October 9, 1996 The Proprietor Warner Bros. co-production with Merchant Ivory Productions, Ognon Pictures and Fez Production Filmcilik N/A
November 29, 1996 Adrenalin: Fear the Rush Legacy Releasing Corporation co-production with Filmwerks and Toga Productions; distributed to home video by Buena Vista Home Video and Dimension Films N/A $37,536
January 31, 1997 Meet Wally Sparks Trimark Pictures co-production with The Greif Company $4.1 million
March 14, 1997 City of Industry Orion Pictures $8 million $1.5 million
April 19, 1997 Habitat Sci-Fi Channel made-for television film; co-production with Transfilm, Kingsborough Pictures, Ecotopia B.V. and August Entertainment N/A
July 8, 1997 Omega Doom Columbia TriStar Home Video direct-to-video; co-production with Filmwerks
July 11, 1997 This World, Then the Fireworks Orion Pictures co-production with Balzac's Shirt, Muse Productions and Wynard N/A $51,618
July 25, 1997 Box of Moonlight Box of Moonlight Picture Corporation co-production with Lakeshore Entertainment and Lemon Sky Productions $782,641
August 22, 1997 G.I. Jane Buena Vista Pictures co-production with Hollywood Pictures, Caravan Pictures, Roger Birnbaum Productions and Scott Free Productions; also international distribution rights $50 million $48.1 million
February 27, 1998 Kissing a Fool Universal Pictures co-production with Rick Lashbrook Films $19 million $4.1 million
April 9, 1998 Shadow of Doubt New City Releasing N/A
October 30, 1998 Vampires Sony Pictures Releasing co-production with Columbia Pictures, Storm King Productions, Film Office and Spooky Tooth Productions $20 million $20.3 million
December 30, 1998 Affliction Lions Gate Films co-production with Reisman Productions and Kingsgate Films $6 million $6.3 million
May 21, 1999 Finding Graceland Columbia TriStar Home VIdeo direct-to-video; co-production with TCB Productions and Avenue Pictures N/A
November 9, 1999 Bad Day on the Block direct-to-video, co-production with Sheen/Michaels Entertainment
February 15, 2000 Grey Owl New City Releasing co-production with Allied Filmmakers $30 million $632,617

References

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  1. ^ EASTON, NINA J. (1989-08-21). "Japanese Firm in $100-Million Hollywood Deal". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  2. ^ O'Steen, Kathleen (1994-01-13). "Gordon leaves Largo". Variety. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  3. ^ Roman, Monica (1999-02-08). "JVC to forgo Largo". Variety. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  4. ^ Dawtrey, Adam (2001-03-14). "Largo library to Intermedia". Variety. Archived from the original on 2018-11-24. Retrieved 2018-11-23.