Vertical Entertainment

Overview

Vertical Entertainment is an independent film distribution company based in Santa Monica, California, founded in 2012 by Rich Goldberg and Mitch Budin. The company releases commercial, genre, and prestige films theatrically and across digital platforms in North America, operating in the space between high-profile specialty distributors like A24 and pure digital aggregators like Gravitas Ventures. Vertical releases 20-40 films per year, with a catalog spanning thrillers, action films, horror, dramatic features with recognizable talent, and select prestige titles from major festivals.

The company is privately held and employs approximately 25 people. Vertical's 2026 slate includes titles from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, and Toronto International Film Festival, reflecting the company's expanded acquisition activity at top-tier festivals in recent years. Current and upcoming releases include Oliver Assayas' The Wizard of the Kremlin (starring Paul Dano, Jude Law, and Alicia Vikander, Venice competition), Ron Howard's Eden (starring Jude Law, Ana de Armas, and Sydney Sweeney), Luc Besson's Dracula (starring Christoph Waltz), Aneil Karia's Hamlet (starring Riz Ahmed), and Justin Lin's Last Days.

Distribution Model

Vertical distributes theatrically through multiplex and independent cinema partnerships across the US, with a flexible release strategy that adapts to each title. The company uses day-and-date theatrical/VOD releases for titles where digital performance outweighs theatrical profile, and traditional theatrical-first releases for titles with stronger box office potential. Vertical handles digital distribution through direct platform relationships with major TVOD and SVOD services, managing delivery, metadata, and revenue collection as part of its standard distribution offering.

Vertical's original business model targeted 24 releases per year with a focus on $5-10 million budgeted genre films and family fare with A-list casts. Over the past decade, the company has expanded into global day-and-date distribution, leveraging direct relationships with iTunes, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft to reach international markets from its Los Angeles base. The company also partners with XYZ Films for international theatrical distribution, complementing its domestic day-and-date pattern.

Recent acquisitions indicate a shift toward higher-profile festival titles. At the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, Vertical acquired The Weight (starring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, slated for September 18 theatrical release) and Atropia (U.S. Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic Features, written and directed by Hailey Benton Gates, starring Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner). In February 2026, Vertical acquired The Wizard of the Kremlin (Venice competition, TIFF) for theatrical release later in the year. In May 2026, the company acquired Pendulum (dir. Mark Heyman, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Phoebe Dynevor) for a wide release on January 1, 2027.

Additional 2026 acquisitions include Lords of War (sequel starring Nicolas Cage and Bill Skarsgard), The Magic Faraway Tree (UK family film starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, August 21 theatrical release), and The Whistler.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Vertical is among the more accessible theatrical distributors for commercial genre films and mid-budget features with recognizable talent. The company's higher acquisition volume (20-40 titles per year) means it evaluates a broader range of projects than selective specialty distributors like A24, Neon, or Bleecker Street. Vertical acquires through festivals (Sundance, Venice, Toronto, SXSW), AFM, and direct outreach from sales agents and production companies.

Deal structures at Vertical typically involve a modest advance against revenue sharing across theatrical, digital, and home entertainment windows. Theatrical P&A commitment is real but modest relative to major specialty distributors. For genre films with recognizable lead actors that may not attract the attention of higher-profile distributors, Vertical is a realistic acquisition target.

The company's SVP of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi, along with partner Peter Jarowey, handles deal negotiation. Recent deals have been negotiated with CAA Media Finance, UTA Independent Film Group, WME Independent, and Gaumont, indicating that Vertical operates at the same deal-making level as higher-profile specialty distributors, even if its per-title P&A spend is lower.

For filmmakers with action, thriller, horror, or commercial drama projects budgeted in the $1-10 million range with identifiable talent, Vertical fills a gap in the distribution landscape that most prestige-focused distributors do not cover. The company is willing to release films that fall outside the arthouse category, and its day-and-date model can generate faster revenue recoupment than a traditional theatrical-only release.

Key Executives

• Rich Goldberg - President and Co-founder
• Mitch Budin - Co-founder
• Peter Jarowey - Partner, Marketing and Acquisitions
• Tony Piantedosi - SVP of Acquisitions
• Jason Pecora - EVP, Distribution
• Beth McPhee - Head of Marketing

Notable 2025-2026 Acquisitions

• The Weight - Ethan Hawke Western thriller, 2026 Sundance premiere, September 18 theatrical release
• Atropia - 2026 Sundance U.S. Grand Jury Prize winner, starring Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner
• The Wizard of the Kremlin - Paul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander; dir. Olivier Assayas; Venice competition
• Pendulum - Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Phoebe Dynevor; dir. Mark Heyman; wide release January 1, 2027
• Eden - dir. Ron Howard; Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Sydney Sweeney
• Dracula - dir. Luc Besson; Christoph Waltz, Caleb Landry Jones
• Hamlet - dir. Aneil Karia; Riz Ahmed
• Lords of War - Nicolas Cage, Bill Skarsgard (sequel)
• The Magic Faraway Tree - Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy; August 21 theatrical release
• We Bury the Dead - Daisy Ridley; dir. Zak Hilditch
• Rosemead - Lucy Liu; dir. Eric Lin
• Dead of Winter - Emma Thompson, Judy Greer; dir. Brian Kirk

Watch: Trailers and Interviews

See Also

For how commercial genre distribution deals compare to prestige specialty deals, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model the revenue from a commercial genre release across theatrical and digital windows, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For how day-and-date releases affect box office performance, see Streaming vs Theatrical Revenue.