Lionsgate

What does Lionsgate own?
Lionsgate owns the STARZ premium cable and streaming service, Lionsgate Films (film production and distribution), Lionsgate Television (TV production), and a content library of approximately 20,000 titles. Key franchises include The Hunger Games, John Wick, and Saw. Following the May 2024 studio separation, the film and TV production business operates as Lionsgate Studios Corp. (NASDAQ: LION).

Is Lionsgate publicly traded?
Yes, Lionsgate Entertainment Corp. trades on the NYSE under ticker symbols LGF.A (Class A) and LGF.B (Class B). Following the May 2024 studio separation, Lionsgate Studios Corp. also trades separately on NASDAQ under ticker LION.

When was Lionsgate founded?
Lionsgate was founded in 1997 by Frank Giustra as a small film distribution company in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The company relocated its headquarters to Santa Monica, California in 2003.

What is STARZ?
STARZ is Lionsgate's premium cable network and streaming service, acquired in 2016 for approximately $4.4 billion. STARZ has approximately 18-20 million subscribers in the United States and internationally through STARZPLAY. It competes with HBO/Max, Showtime, and other premium services.

What are Lionsgate's biggest film franchises?
Lionsgate's biggest franchises include The Hunger Games (approximately $3 billion global box office across 5 films), John Wick (4 films plus the Ballerina spin-off), and Saw (10+ films). The company also owns the Twilight franchise (acquired through Summit Entertainment in 2012).

What was the Lionsgate studio separation?
In May 2024, Lionsgate completed the separation of its studio business, creating Lionsgate Studios Corp. as a separately traded public company on NASDAQ under ticker LION. Lionsgate Entertainment (the parent) retained a majority stake in Lionsgate Studios and primarily holds the STARZ business. The separation was intended to allow the studio and STARZ businesses to be valued independently.

Lionsgate was founded in 1997 by Frank Giustra as a small film distribution company in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Giustra, a Canadian financier, established the company with the vision of creating an independent studio that could compete with major Hollywood studios while maintaining creative flexibility.

In its early years, Lionsgate focused on acquiring and distributing independent films. The company went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 1997 and later listed on the NYSE. Lionsgate acquired Trimark Pictures in 2000 and Artisan Entertainment in 2003, significantly expanding its film library and distribution capabilities. The Artisan acquisition brought the Blair Witch Project franchise and other valuable properties.

In 2003, Lionsgate relocated its headquarters to Santa Monica, California, positioning itself closer to Hollywood's entertainment industry. The company began producing its own films rather than solely distributing acquired content.

Lionsgate's breakout success came with the Saw horror franchise, which launched in 2004 and became one of the most profitable film franchises in history relative to its production budgets. The franchise demonstrated Lionsgate's ability to develop low-budget genre films into major commercial successes.

The company's most significant commercial achievement was The Hunger Games franchise, based on Suzanne Collins' dystopian novels. The first Hunger Games film (2012) grossed approximately $694 million worldwide, and the four-film franchise grossed approximately $2.97 billion globally. The franchise established Lionsgate as a major Hollywood studio capable of producing blockbuster tentpole films.

In 2012, Lionsgate acquired Summit Entertainment for approximately $412 million, adding the Twilight franchise and other properties to its portfolio.

The most transformative acquisition came in December 2016, when Lionsgate acquired Starz Inc. for approximately $4.4 billion. The acquisition added the STARZ premium cable network and its international streaming service (STARZPLAY) to Lionsgate's portfolio, transforming the company from a film studio into a comprehensive entertainment company with a subscription revenue base.

In subsequent years, Lionsgate continued to develop successful franchises including John Wick (2014, starring Keanu Reeves), which became a major action franchise with four films and a spin-off (Ballerina). The company also produced the Knives Out mystery franchise (directed by Rian Johnson) and continued the Hunger Games franchise with a prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023).

In May 2024, Lionsgate completed the separation of its studio business, creating Lionsgate Studios Corp. as a separately traded public company on NASDAQ under ticker LION. The separation was intended to unlock value by allowing the studio and STARZ businesses to be valued independently. Lionsgate Entertainment retained a majority stake in Lionsgate Studios.

In fiscal year 2024 (ended March 31, 2024), Lionsgate reported strong results, grossing over $1 billion at the global box office and growing its film and television library.

Lionsgate has faced scrutiny related to its corporate governance and strategic direction. The company's dual-class share structure, which gives certain shareholders disproportionate voting rights, has been criticized by some institutional investors.

The studio separation in May 2024 was a significant strategic transaction that required careful execution. Some analysts and investors questioned whether the separation would create value or complicate the company's operations.

Lionsgate, like other entertainment companies, has faced challenges related to the changing media landscape, including the shift from linear cable television to streaming, which has pressured STARZ subscriber numbers and revenue.

The company has also faced scrutiny related to its handling of sexual misconduct allegations in the entertainment industry, including allegations involving Harvey Weinstein (who was not a Lionsgate employee but had business relationships with the company).