Overbrook Entertainment, Inc. is an American production company based in Culver City, California. It was founded by partners Will Smith and James Lassiter in 1998, around the same time production for Wild Wild West (1999) began.
The name "Overbrook" is derived from Will Smith's neighborhood in West Philadelphia. The on-screen logo consists of a spinning record with the company name. The company produces music, films and television shows. Smith claimed to have started the company in order to serve as producer and find roles. He uses his role in the company to help unknown artists record music, and also records music for some of his films in Overbrook.
History On November 11, 1997, actor Will Smith (age 29) and manager James Lassiter signed an overall first-look term deal at Universal Pictures. Thus, Overbrook Entertainment was born. It was formally incorporated on February 2, 1998.
David Tochterman, formerly employee of The Carsey-Werner Company, joined the company on September 16, 1998, and decided to launch the television division. Tochterman produced shows for the broadcast and cable television networks.
The music division was restructured with John Dukakis, formerly an employee of Southpaw Entertainment, signed as executive vice president of its music division on February 11, 1999.
On May 10, 2000, it was announced that a merger with The Firm had been proposed, but it was later scrapped.
Overbrook Entertainment announced on December 10, 2000 that it was renewing its interest in the television division. Its plans were to include a 13-episode animated series commitment for Nickelodeon, as well as a slew of comedy, drama and telemovies on various broadcast networks. The studio was landing deals for three sitcoms, three dramas and one telefilm for various web networks.
The studio's contract with Universal Pictures ended on January 30, 2002. It then formally signed a contract with Sony Pictures Entertainment to develop feature films.
In the years of 2009, 2015 and 2017, the studio went on hiatus where the films from the company are not released yet for the next three years.
The studio announced that it wouldn't renew its deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment on January 3, 2018.
On July 10, 2019, Smith and his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, announced the formation of Westbrook Inc., with Overbrook Entertainment being as one of the subsidiaries of the company. It is reported that Westbrook Studios would sign a deal with National Geographic.
Filmography
Films
2000s YearTitleDirectorDistributorNotes2001AliMichael MannSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures, Initial Entertainment Group, Peters Entertainment and Forward Pass2004I, RobotAlex Proyas20th Century Foxco-production with Laurence Mark Productions, Davis Entertainment and Mediastream IVSaving FaceAlice WuSony Pictures Classicsco-production with Destination Films2005HitchAndy TennantSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures2006ATLChris RobinsonWarner Bros. PicturesThe Pursuit of HappynessGabriele MuccinoSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media and Escape Artists2007I Am LegendFrancis LawrenceWarner Bros. Picturesco-production with Village Roadshow Pictures, Weed Road Pictures, Heyday Films and Original Film2008HancockPeter BergSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, Weed Road Pictures, Forward Pass and Blue LightThe Human ContractJada Pinkett SmithSelf-distributedco-production with Tycoon Entertainment and 100% Womon ProductionsLakeview TerraceNeil LaButeSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Screen GemsThe Secret Life of BeesGina Prince-BythewoodFox Searchlight Picturesco-production with The Donners' CompanySeven PoundsGabriele MuccinoSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media and Escape Artists
2010s YearTitleDirectorDistributorNotes2010The Karate KidHarald ZwartSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures, China Film Group Corporation and JW Productions2012This Means WarMcG20th Century Foxco-production with Robert Simonds Productions and Genre Films2013After EarthM. Night ShyamalanSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media and Blinding Edge Pictures2014AnnieWill Gluckco-production with Columbia Pictures, LStar Capital, Village Roadshow Pictures and Olive Bridge Entertainment2015FocusGlenn FicarraJohn RequaWarner Bros. Picturesco-production with RatPac-Dune Entertainment, Di Novi Pictures, Kramer & Sigman Films and Zaftig Films2016Collateral BeautyDavid Frankelco-production with New Line Cinema, Village Roadshow Pictures, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, Anonymous Content, PalmStar Media and Likely Story2017BrightDavid AyerNetflixuncredited; co-production with Trigger Warning Entertainment and Grand Electric2018To All the Boys I've Loved BeforeSusan Johnsonco-production with Awesomeness Films2019HalaMinhal BaigApple TV+co-production with Endeavor Content
2020s YearTitleDirectorDistributorNotes2020Bad Boys for LifeAdil & BilallSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures, 2.0 Entertainment and Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer FilmsTo All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love YouMichael FimognariNetflixuncredited; co-production with Awesomeness Films and Ace EntertainmentCharm City KingsÁngel Manuel SotoHBO Maxco-production with Warner Bros. Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics and Warner Max Life in a Year Mitja Okorn Sony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures2021To All the Boys: Always and ForeverMichael Fimognari Netflixuncredited; co-production with Awesomeness Films and Ace EntertainmentThe Harder They FallJeymes SamuelNetflixuncreditedKing RichardReinaldo Marcus GreenWarner Bros. Picturesco-production with Westbrook Studios and Star Thrower Entertainment2022EmancipationAntoine FuquaApple TV+co-production with Westbrook Studios, McFarland Entertainment, Escape Artists and Apple Studios2024Bad Boys: Ride or DieAdil & BilallSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures, Westbrook Studios, 2.0 Entertainment and Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Television
2000s YearsTitleCreatorNetworkNotes2003–2007All of UsWill SmithJada Pinkett SmithBetsy BornsUPN (seasons 1–3)The CW (season 4)co-production with Warner Bros. Television
2010s YearsTitleCreatorNetworkNotes2010–2011HawthorneJohn MasiusTNTcontinued from 100% Womon Productions; co-production with FanFare Productions, John Masius Productions and Sony Pictures Television2013–2015The Queen Latifah ShowQueen LatifahSyndicationrevival of the 1999 series; co-production with Flavor Unit Entertainment, Curly One Productions and Sony Pictures Television2018–2025Cobra KaiJosh HealdJon HurwitzHayden SchlossbergTelevision sequel to the Karate Kid film series by:Robert Mark KamenYouTube Red (season 1)YouTube Premium (season 2)Netflix (seasons 3–6) Co-production with Hurwitz & Schlossberg Productions (seasons 1–2), Heald Productions (season 2), Counterbalance Entertainment (seasons 3–6), Westbrook Studios (seasons 3–6) and Sony Pictures Television
2020s YearsTitleCreatorNetworkNotes2021–2025Bel–Air Andy Borowitz and Susan BorowitzPeacockco-production with Arbolada Roads, Ra Shines Inc., Cooper Films, The 51, Westbrook Studios and Universal Television
Soundtrack YearTitleArtistDistributorNotes1999Wild Wild WestVarious artistsInterscope Records2000Love & Basketball2002Men in Black IIDanny ElfmanColumbia Records2014AnnieVarious artistsRCA Records
Distribution YearTitleDirectorNotes2005The 7th CommandmentTheron AlfordDVD distribution; co-production with 25Eight Productions and A Free World Productions
References