A24

Overview

A24 is a New York-based entertainment company that produces, finances, and distributes feature films and television content. Founded in 2012 by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges, the company has distributed and produced more than 150 films and 50 TV series. As of the 98th Academy Awards in March 2026, A24 has received 98 total Oscar nominations and won 21, including two Best Picture wins: Moonlight (2016) and Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022).

The company produces and distributes 18 to 20 films annually. Its library spans horror, prestige drama, international cinema, documentary, and increasingly, big-budget commercial titles. A24 is financed by venture capital and has loose ties to the Trump administration through Josh Kushner, the younger brother of Jared Kushner, despite cultivating a brand identity around edgy, culturally progressive content.

Distribution Model and Box Office Performance

A24 operates a theatrical-first distribution model. Films open either on a platform basis (a small number of screens, expanding based on audience response) or in wide release for titles with broader commercial appeal. The company does not own a streaming platform and licenses content to streaming services after the theatrical window. Apple TV+ has been a recurring streaming partner.

A24's box office performance has escalated dramatically. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) was the company's first film to reach $100 million globally, finishing with $147.9 million worldwide. Marty Supreme (2025), directed by Josh Safdie and starring Timothee Chalamet, grossed $191.2 million worldwide ($96 million domestic) on a reported $70 million budget before marketing. It received 9 Oscar nominations at the 98th Academy Awards but won none.

Backrooms (May 2026), directed by 20-year-old YouTuber Kane Parsons, became A24's first $200 million global release within 10 days of release. It opened to $81.4 million domestically (the studio's largest ever debut, more than tripling the previous record of $25.5 million set by Civil War in 2024) and reached $212.6 million worldwide with a production budget under $10 million, co-financed with Chernin Entertainment. Domestic P&A was in the teen millions. The film broke A24 opening weekend records in 41 countries and ranked number 1 in 42 markets.

2026 Release Slate

A24 has 21 films scheduled for theatrical release in 2026. Dated releases include:

• The Moment (January 30) - Charli XCX mockumentary directed by Aidan Zamiri
• Pillion (February 6) - Alexander Skarsgard and Harry Melling, acquired at Cannes 2025
• How to Make a Killing (February 20) - Glen Powell, directed by John Patton Ford
• The Drama (April 3) - Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, directed by Kristoffer Borgli
• Mother Mary (April 17) - Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel, directed by David Lowery
• Backrooms (May 29) - Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass
• The Death of Robin Hood (June 19) - Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, directed by Michael Sarnoski
• The Invite (June 26) - Olivia Wilde film, acquired at Sundance in an 8-figure deal

Acquisition Behavior and Deal Structures

A24 acquires films primarily at major festivals: Sundance, SXSW, Cannes, Toronto, and Venice. The company is known for rapid acquisition decisions when a project fits its aesthetic. Over the past 12 months, A24 logged 687 tracked records and closed acquisitions including Discretion (September 2025), The Chaperones (November 2025), Talk to Me (high seven figures), The Death of Robin Hood starring Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer, and The Invite (8-figure range).

At Cannes 2026, A24 acquired global rights to Club Kid, written and directed by Jordan Firstman, for $17 million after a competitive bidding war against Netflix. The deal signaled A24's willingness to compete aggressively for buzzy, audience-facing titles with broader commercial potential.

A24 has also moved upstream into production financing and development, packaging projects with established and emerging directors before they are shot. The company backed Marty Supreme at a reported $70 million budget, its largest production commitment to date.

Marketing Approach

A24 handles its own theatrical marketing and publicity in North America. The company's campaigns use unconventional formats: limited merchandise drops, social media stunts, and targeted cultural placement rather than traditional television advertising. Creative director Zoe Beyer has shaped the company's online voice since 2013, building a brand identity around "weird and playful" social media content. The Marty Supreme campaign included a fake "leaked" marketing meeting, a ping-pong tournament hosted by Airbnb, and celebrity endorsements including Susan Boyle. A24's online shop sells clothing, homewares, collectables, a monthly film zine, and an insider fan club subscription.

This marketing model keeps P&A costs lower than comparable studio releases while achieving disproportionate cultural reach. For Backrooms, the film leaned into its Gen Z fanbase, with 81% of the second weekend audience under 35.

What Filmmakers Should Know

A24 does not operate an open submission portal. Access runs through representation. With 284 decision makers tracked internally, the company has a wide network, but inbound material without agency or management attachment is unlikely to advance. Festival premieres, particularly at Sundance, Cannes, and Toronto, remain the most documented pathway for unrepresented or emerging filmmakers to enter A24's acquisition pipeline.

Films that succeed as A24 acquisitions share common characteristics: strong directorial voice, a distinct visual or thematic identity, a genre or premise that lends itself to cultural conversation, and a cast that includes either emerging talent or established actors in against-type roles. The company is known for protecting filmmakers' creative visions, maintaining final cut arrangements, and avoiding studio-style interference.

A24 typically sells international rights on a territory-by-territory basis at major markets. The company does not maintain its own international distribution infrastructure. International releases for A24 films are handled by local distributors in each territory. Filmmakers whose films A24 acquires should understand the international sales structure and which territories are covered to evaluate the full value of the deal.

Example Titles They've Released

A24's catalog spans horror, prestige drama, international cinema, documentary, and increasingly big-budget commercial titles. Key releases by category:

Best Picture winners:

• Moonlight (2016) - Best Picture winner, $65 million worldwide
• Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) - Best Picture winner, $147.9 million worldwide, A24's first $100M+ release

Horror:

• Hereditary (2018) - $87 million worldwide
• Midsommar (2019) - $48 million worldwide
• Talk to Me (2023) - $92 million worldwide
• Backrooms (2026) - $212.6 million worldwide, A24's first $200M+ release

Prestige drama:

• Room (2015) - Academy Award winner for Best Actress (Brie Larson)
• Lady Bird (2017) - $79 million worldwide, 5 Oscar nominations
• Minari (2020) - 6 Oscar nominations
• The Whale (2022) - Academy Award winner for Best Actor (Brendan Fraser)
• Marty Supreme (2025) - $191.2 million worldwide, 9 Oscar nominations

International cinema:

• Ex Machina (2015) - $36 million worldwide, Oscar winner for Best Visual Effects
• The Lobster (2015) - Oscar nominee for Best Original Screenplay
• Aftersun (2022) - Oscar nominee for Best Actor
• Past Lives (2023) - Oscar nominee for Best Picture

Documentary:

• Amy (2015) - Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature
• Minding the Gap (2018) - Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature

As of the 98th Academy Awards in March 2026, A24 has received 98 total Oscar nominations and won 21.

Deal Structure Reputation

A24 typically acquires films through minimum guarantee (MG) deals against a revenue split for North American rights. Deal structures vary by project:

• Festival acquisitions: MGs range from low seven figures for competitive Sundance titles to $17 million for high-profile Cannes acquisitions (e.g., Club Kid at Cannes 2026). A24 competes aggressively against Netflix, Amazon, and other distributors for buzzy titles.
• Script-stage financing: A24 has moved upstream into production financing, packaging projects with established and emerging directors before they are shot. Marty Supreme was backed at a reported $70 million budget, A24's largest production commitment to date.
• International rights: A24 typically sells international rights on a territory-by-territory basis at major markets. The company does not maintain its own international distribution infrastructure. International releases are handled by local distributors in each territory.
• Streaming partnerships: A24 does not own a streaming platform and licenses content to streaming services after the theatrical window. Apple TV+ has been a recurring streaming partner.

A24 is known for protecting filmmakers' creative visions, maintaining final cut arrangements, and avoiding studio-style interference. This reputation for creative protection is a significant factor in why filmmakers choose A24 over higher-paying alternatives.

Typical Acquisition Profile

A24 acquires films that share common characteristics:

• Strong directorial voice: Films with a distinct visual or thematic identity
• Cultural conversation potential: A genre or premise that lends itself to social media discussion and cultural debate
• Cast that includes emerging talent or established actors in against-type roles: A24 regularly casts against type, creating fresh combinations that generate press attention
• Festival pedigree: A24 acquires primarily at Sundance, SXSW, Cannes, Toronto, and Venice
• Genre flexibility: The company's catalog spans horror, prestige drama, international cinema, documentary, and commercial titles. There is no single genre formula.

A24 does not operate an open submission portal. Access runs through representation (agents, managers, sales agents). With 284 decision makers tracked internally, the company has a wide network, but inbound material without agency or management attachment is unlikely to advance. Festival premieres, particularly at Sundance, Cannes, and Toronto, remain the most documented pathway for unrepresented or emerging filmmakers to enter A24's acquisition pipeline.

Notable Releases

A24's catalog spans horror (Hereditary, Midsommar, X, Talk to Me), prestige drama (Room, Lady Bird, Minari, The Whale), international cinema (Ex Machina, The Lobster, Aftersun, Past Lives), and documentary (Minding the Gap, Amy). The company has also backed bigger-budget action spectacles including Civil War (2024) and Warfare (2025). Recent flops include Death of a Unicorn (2025) and Opus (2025).

Recommended Resources for Filmmakers

• The Insider's Guide to Independent Film Distribution - Stacey Parks' definitive guide to independent film distribution, covering sales agents, markets, and deal structures. Available on Amazon.
• Selling Your Film Without Selling Your Soul - A practical handbook on self-distribution, hybrid strategies, and building direct audience relationships for independent filmmakers. Available on Amazon.
• The Business of Film - A comprehensive reference on film industry economics, covering distribution deals, revenue streams, and market trends. Available on Amazon.

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See Also

For how platform release strategies compare to wide release in terms of revenue potential, see Streaming vs Theatrical Revenue. To model the financial structure of an independent distribution deal with a company like A24, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For acquisition deal structures and MG ranges across independent distributors, see Distribution Deals Explained.