Madman Entertainment

Overview

Madman Entertainment is an Australian independent film distribution and rights management company headquartered in Collingwood, Victoria (Level 6, 36 Wellington St). Founded on August 4, 1996 by Tim Anderson and Paul Wiegard, the company began as a mail-order business specializing in imported anime VHS tapes, inspired by the success of Manga Entertainment in the US and UK. Madman has since grown into Australia's highest-volume independent distributor, releasing 40 to 70 titles per year across theatrical, home entertainment, and digital platforms in Australia and New Zealand. The company has 90 employees as of 2022 and is owned by Five V Capital, with Paul Wiegard serving as CEO and Brett Chenoweth as chairman.

Madman's catalog spans an unusually broad range: anime and Japanese animation, arthouse and international cinema, documentary, genre film, and family content. The company operates several divisions including Third Man Films (production), DocPlay (a documentary streaming service with 50,000+ subscribers), Garage Entertainment (adventure sports), and Madman Interactive. Madman's home entertainment sales and operations division has consistently ranked in the top three distributors in the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) territory.

Ownership History

Madman's corporate history involves multiple ownership changes. In May 2006, the company was acquired by public company Funtastic Limited for A$34.5 million. In July 2014, original founders Tim Anderson and Paul Wiegard, along with investors including Adrian MacKenzie, Brett Chenoweth, and Charbel Nader, purchased Madman back from Funtastic for A$21 million after Funtastic announced its intention to sell due to Madman's market value being half its carrying value.

In February 2019, Madman sold its Madman Anime Group to Aniplex, Inc. (a subsidiary of Sony Group) for A$35 million. The in-house streaming platform AnimeLab was subsequently transitioned into Crunchyroll. In 2024, the Australian branch of Manga Entertainment was absorbed into Madman Entertainment, consolidating additional anime catalog under the company.

2024 to 2025 Performance and Awards

Madman had a record haul at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024, distributing three Oscar-winning films in Australia and New Zealand: The Zone of Interest (Best International Feature Film, Best Sound), Anatomy of a Fall (Best Original Screenplay), and 20 Days in Mariupol (Best Documentary). The company also distributed The Teachers' Lounge, Afire, Shayda, Scrapper, and The Substance (December 2024) in the ANZ territory.

In 2025, Madman represented 4 of the 5 Oscar-nominated documentaries, reinforcing its position as a leading documentary distributor. Becoming Led Zeppelin grossed $1 million across ANZ, finishing as the number 2 feature documentary in Australia. Flow won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and earned over $1 million at the Australian box office. Tina surpassed NZD $6 million, becoming the fifth highest-grossing New Zealand film of all time. Pike River opened number 1 in New Zealand cinemas on October 30, 2025.

Other 2024 to 2025 releases include Memoir of a Snail (Adam Elliot, opened the Melbourne International Film Festival after winning the Cristal Award at Annecy), In the Land of Saints and Sinners, Mars Express, Little Richard: I Am Everything, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person, and The Roundup: No Way Out.

Anime and Studio Ghibli Distribution

Madman has been the dominant anime distributor in Australia and New Zealand since 1996, when its first releases were Bubblegum Crisis, You're Under Arrest, and Riding Bean on VHS. The company's first DVD release was Ghost in the Shell, making Madman the second Australian distributor to author DVDs in-house.

The company's relationship with Studio Ghibli began with the Australian theatrical release of Spirited Away on December 12, 2002, marking the start of a 20-plus-year partnership. Madman holds the Australian and New Zealand home entertainment licenses for the complete Studio Ghibli catalog. Recent anime releases include My Hero Academia: You're Next - The Movie (Blu-ray, December 2025), The Colours Within (Naoko Yamada, June 2025), 86 Eighty-Six Complete Season (October 2024), Kiki's Delivery Service 35th Anniversary Limited Edition (October 2024), and ongoing One Piece collection releases.

Following the 2019 sale of the anime division to Aniplex and the AnimeLab-to-Crunchyroll transition, Madman continues to distribute anime on physical media (DVD and Blu-ray) in the ANZ territory, with a catalog that includes titles licensed from Crunchyroll, Funimation, and other anime licensors.

Distribution Model

Madman distributes theatrically through partnerships with arthouse cinemas and multiplex screens across Australia and New Zealand, scaling release strategy to the commercial profile of each title. Anime theatrical events, including one-night and limited-run screenings, generate reliable audience attendance through dedicated fan communities. These events are screened in partnership with Hoyts and other major chains.

The company's home entertainment division is one of the most active in Australia, releasing physical media (DVD and Blu-ray) and digital editions across its full content range. Madman also handles licensing, aggregation, and agency distribution for BBC, Crunchyroll, Palace Enterprises, Icon Film Distribution, Acorn TV, Umbrella Entertainment, and other labels in the ANZ territory.

DocPlay, Madman's documentary streaming platform, exceeded 50,000 subscribers and launched a linear channel on Foxtel in September 2024. The platform's first original commission, Second to None (3 x 1 hour), was delivered in 2024. In August 2024, Madman launched a Reconciliation Action Plan (Reflect), committing to advance reconciliation and amplify First Nations storytelling.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Madman is an accessible acquisition target for filmmakers seeking Australian and New Zealand distribution across a range of genres. The company's volume model means it can distribute films that more selective companies like Transmission Films might decline. Its multi-genre expertise allows it to market effectively to specific niche audiences including anime fans, documentary audiences, and arthouse cinephiles.

For Australian filmmakers, Madman is one of the primary independent distribution options alongside Transmission Films, Palace Films, and major studio arms. Films with Screen Australia or state screen agency financing are regularly distributed through Madman. The company's theatrical commitment for arthouse and documentary releases is typically more modest than Transmission Films; Madman's value for these titles is often stronger in home entertainment and digital than in theatrical. For films where catalog longevity matters more than theatrical profile, Madman's deep home entertainment and digital operation is a meaningful asset.

Madman acquires at Sundance, SXSW, Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, Hot Docs, Sheffield, and major film markets including AFM and EFM. The company does not operate an open submission portal but accepts inquiries through its acquisitions team. MG (Minimum Guarantee) ranges for ANZ territory typically fall between A$5,000 and A$100,000 depending on the title's profile and genre.

Notable Releases

The Zone of Interest (2024, Oscar winner), Anatomy of a Fall (2024, Oscar winner), 20 Days in Mariupol (2024, Oscar winner), Flow (2025, Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature), Memoir of a Snail (2024, Annecy Cristal Award), The Substance (2024), Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025, $1M ANZ), Tina (2025, NZD $6M+, 5th highest-grossing NZ film ever), Pike River (2025, number 1 NZ cinema opening), Perfect Days, Past Lives, The Boy and the Heron. Anime catalog includes Studio Ghibli's complete library, One Piece, My Hero Academia, 86 Eighty-Six, and hundreds of other series and films.

Watch: Trailers and Interviews

See Also

For how Australian theatrical distribution fits into a global release strategy, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model how Australian and New Zealand theatrical rights contribute to a film's overall international revenue, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For comparison with another ANZ distributor, see Breaking Glass for the US independent perspective on international genre and arthouse acquisition.