Miramax

Overview

Miramax is a global film and television studio headquartered in West Hollywood, California. The company is owned jointly by Qatar's beIN Media Group (51%) and Paramount Skydance (49%, originally acquired by ViacomCBS in 2019). Jonathan Glickman serves as CEO, appointed in 2024. The studio's library contains over 700 titles with 278 Academy Award nominations and 68 Oscars, including four Best Picture awards.

Miramax operates as both a library management company and an active production studio. Under Glickman's leadership, the company has expanded into international co-productions, regional content development, and IP-based remakes. The studio has a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures for development, production, financing, and distribution of new film and television projects based on Miramax IP.

The studio reported approximately $115 million in annual revenue. beIN Media Group acquired Miramax in March 2016, and ViacomCBS (now Paramount Skydance) acquired its 49% stake in April 2020 for a total committed investment of $375 million, with approximately $150 million paid at closing and $225 million committed over five years for new film and television productions.

History

Bob and Harvey Weinstein founded Miramax in 1979, naming the company after their parents, Max and Miriam. The Weinsteins built Miramax into the dominant force in American independent cinema through the 1990s, pioneering the festival acquisition model and aggressive awards campaigns that transformed how independent films were marketed and released.

Disney acquired Miramax in 1993 for $60 million, retaining the Weinsteins as co-chairs. Under Disney ownership, Miramax released Pulp Fiction (1994), The English Patient (1996), Good Will Hunting (1997), Shakespeare in Love (1998), and No Country for Old Men (2007). The Weinsteins left in 2005 to found The Weinstein Company, and Disney sold Miramax to Filmyard Holdings in 2010 for $663 million. beIN Media Group acquired Miramax from Filmyard in 2016.

Key Library Titles

Miramax's 700-title library includes:

• Best Picture winners: The English Patient (1996), Shakespeare in Love (1998), Chicago (2002), No Country for Old Men (2007)
• Major franchise titles: Halloween series, Scream series, Spy Kids series
• Prestige dramas: Pulp Fiction (1994), Good Will Hunting (1997), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004)
• Commercial hits: The Gentleman (2019, $115M worldwide), The Beekeeper (2024, $162.6M worldwide)

Current Operations and 2025-2026 Slate

Film Productions

Qatar Partnership (2025)

In November 2025, Miramax announced a multi-project partnership with the Film Committee at Media City Qatar:

• Miramax MENA+T: Regional headquarters in Doha, managed by Lucy Dertavitian, Head of Content
• Co-development: One original scripted series and one film from the MENA region and Turkey
• First project: Arabic-language remake of Serendipity (2001)
• IP exploitation: Drawing on Miramax's 700-title library for regional adaptations
• Additional development: Unannounced African project; video game adaptations in planning

CEO Jonathan Glickman stated the partnership would "draw heavily on the company's library of some 700 film titles" and that Miramax is "scouting established and emerging talents locally and regionally." The company also announced a partnership with Qatar's Doha Film Institute earlier in 2025 for training, mentorship, and production resources for Arab writers.

Television

Miramax Television operates under President of Television Alix Jaffe. Current and upcoming television projects include the Confessions of a Dangerous Mind series reboot and co-developed series through the Qatar partnership. The television division also manages library IP for streaming and broadcast adaptation.

What Filmmakers Should Know

How Miramax Operates

Miramax produces and finances films in-house, with distribution handled through Paramount Pictures (via the first-look deal) or through partnership with other studios. The Beekeeper 2 is produced and financed by Miramax with Amazon MGM Studios handling distribution outside German-speaking Europe. Here was released by Sony. This flexible distribution model allows Miramax to partner with the most appropriate distributor for each project.

IP-Based Development

Under Glickman, Miramax actively develops new productions based on its 700-title library. Filmmakers with pitches for reimagining existing Miramax IP should work through talent agency relationships with Miramax's development team. The studio's approach to library exploitation includes both traditional remakes and regional adaptations, as demonstrated by the Arabic-language Serendipity and the Confessions of a Dangerous Mind series.

International Co-Production

Miramax's ownership structure (Qatar's beIN Media Group and Paramount Skydance) positions the studio for international co-productions, particularly in the MENA region. The Miramax MENA+T division in Doha provides a pathway for Arab and regional filmmakers to access Miramax's production infrastructure and library IP. The studio is also exploring African content with an unannounced project.

Budget Range

Miramax productions vary widely in budget. The Beekeeper (2024) was produced at a mid-budget level and grossed $162.6 million worldwide, demonstrating the studio's ability to deliver commercial genre entertainment. The Holdovers operated at a lower budget tier and achieved critical success with Academy Award wins. The studio's $225 million production commitment from Paramount (over five years from 2020) provides capital for new productions.

Awards Strategy

Miramax pioneered the modern awards campaign model under the Weinsteins. While the current leadership operates differently, the studio continues to pursue prestige projects with awards potential. The Holdovers won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay. Filmmakers with prestige dramas or awards-caliber projects should consider Miramax as a potential partner.

House Style / Genre Focus

Miramax produces mid-budget genre entertainment and prestige dramas. Under CEO Jonathan Glickman, the studio balances commercial genre films like The Beekeeper ($162.6 million worldwide) with awards-caliber projects like The Holdovers (Oscar winner). The 700-title library spans prestige dramas, franchise horror (Halloween, Scream), family franchises (Spy Kids), and commercial hits.

Miramax does not focus on micro-budget arthouse films, documentaries, or animated features. The studio's current strategy prioritizes IP-based remakes, international co-productions (particularly MENA region), and mid-budget genre films with theatrical or streaming distribution potential.

How They Typically Find Talent / Take Submissions

Miramax does not accept unsolicited submissions. Projects reach the studio through major talent agencies (CAA, WME, UTA), established producers, and direct relationships with filmmakers. The studio has a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures for development, production, financing, and distribution.

Filmmakers with pitches for reimagining existing Miramax IP should work through talent agency relationships with the development team. The Miramax MENA+T division in Doha provides a pathway for Arab and regional filmmakers to access production infrastructure and library IP. The studio also partners with the Doha Film Institute for training and mentorship programs.

Recent Output / Slate Year

2024 releases: Here (November 2024, directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, released by Sony), The Beekeeper (January 2024, $162.6 million worldwide, starring Jason Statham).

2023 releases: The Holdovers (directed by Alexander Payne, starring Paul Giamatti and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, won Oscar for Best Supporting Actress).

In production: The Beekeeper 2 (directed by Timo Tjahjanto, starring Jason Statham, Amazon MGM Studios distribution).

In development: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind series (script by Tony McNamara), Arabic-language Serendipity remake (co-development with Qatar's Film Committee).

Watch: Trailers & Behind the Scenes

See Also

For understanding how library IP valuation drives studio strategy, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue for mid-budget genre productions, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For understanding how awards recognition affects distribution, read Film Awards That Help With Distribution. For comparing streaming and theatrical release strategies, see Streaming vs Theatrical Revenue.