Largo Entertainment was an American independent production company founded in 1989. It was run by film producer Lawrence Gordon and was backed by electronics firm Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC) in an investment that cost more than $100 million. The production company released their first film, Point Break in 1991 and their last film was Grey Owl in 1999.
History In August 1989, Gordon formed Largo Entertainment with the backing of JVC, representing the first major Japanese investment in the entertainment industry. Although JVC put up the entire $100 million investment, the company was structured to be a 50/50 joint venture between Gordon and JVC. As the company's chairman and chief executive officer, Gordon was responsible for the production of such films as Point Break (1991), starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves; The Super (1991), starring Joe Pesci; Unlawful Entry (1992), starring Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta and Madeleine Stowe; Used People (1992), starring Shirley MacLaine, Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, Marcia Gay Harden and Marcello Mastroianni; and Timecop (1994), starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Largo also co-financed and handled the foreign distribution of the acclaimed 1992 biopic Malcolm X, directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington in the title role. In January 1994, Gordon left the company and forged a production deal at Universal. In 1999, JVC transferred Largo's film acquisition assets to JVC Entertainment, a film subsidiary for the Japanese market, and shut down its foreign sales operation. Largo's film library was acquired by InterMedia in 2001.
Filmography Release dateTitleDistributorNotesBudgetGross (worldwide)July 12, 1991Point Break20th Century Foxco-production with Tapestry Films and Johnny Utah Productions$24 million$83.5 millionOctober 4, 1991The Superco-production with JVC Entertainment Networks$22 million$11 millionNovember 1, 199129th Streetco-production with JVC Entertainment Networks and Permut ProductionsN/A$2.1 millionJune 26, 1992Unlawful Entryco-production with JVC Entertainment Networks$23 million$57.1 millionOctober 23, 1992Dr. GigglesUniversal Picturesco-production with Dark Horse EntertainmentN/A$8.4 millionNovember 18, 1992Malcolm XWarner Bros. Picturesco-production with 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks$35 million$48.2 millionDecember 16, 1992Used People20th Century Foxco-production with JVC Entertainment Networks and U.P. Productions$16 million$28 millionOctober 15, 1993Judgment NightUniversal Pictures$21 million$12.1 millionFebruary 11, 1994The Getaway$37 million$30 millionSeptember 16, 1994Timecopco-production with Signature Pictures, Renaissance Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment$27 million$101.6 millionFebruary 2, 1996White SquallBuena Vista Picturesco-production with Hollywood Pictures and Scott Free Productions; also international distribution rights$38 million$10.2 millionApril 26, 1996Mulholland FallsMGM/UA Distribution Co.co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, The Zanuck Company and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment$29 million$11.5 millionOctober 9, 1996The ProprietorWarner Bros.co-production with Merchant Ivory Productions, Ognon Pictures and Fez Production FilmcilikN/ANovember 29, 1996Adrenalin: Fear the RushLegacy Releasing Corporationco-production with Filmwerks and Toga Productions; distributed to home video by Buena Vista Home Video and Dimension FilmsN/A$37,536January 31, 1997Meet Wally SparksTrimark Picturesco-production with The Greif Company$4.1 millionMarch 14, 1997City of IndustryOrion Pictures$8 million$1.5 millionApril 19, 1997HabitatSci-Fi Channelmade-for television film; co-production with Transfilm, Kingsborough Pictures, Ecotopia B.V. and August EntertainmentN/A1996Omega DoomColumbia TriStar Home Videodirect-to-video; co-production with FilmwerksJuly 11, 1997This World, Then the FireworksOrion Picturesco-production with Balzac's Shirt, Muse Productions and WynardN/A$51,618July 25, 1997Box of MoonlightBox of Moonlight Picture Corporationco-production with Lakeshore Entertainment and Lemon Sky Productions$782,641August 22, 1997G.I. JaneBuena Vista Picturesco-production with Hollywood Pictures, Caravan Pictures, Roger Birnbaum Productions and Scott Free Productions; also international distribution rights$50 million$48.1 millionFebruary 27, 1998Kissing a FoolUniversal Picturesco-production with Rick Lashbrook Films$19 million$4.1 millionApril 9, 1998Shadow of DoubtNew City ReleasingN/AOctober 30, 1998VampiresSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures, Storm King Productions, Film Office and Spooky Tooth Productions$20 million$20.3 millionDecember 30, 1998AfflictionLions Gate Filmsco-production with Reisman Productions and Kingsgate Films$6 million$6.3 millionMay 21, 1999Finding GracelandColumbia TriStar Home VIdeodirect-to-video; co-production with TCB Productions and Avenue PicturesN/ANovember 9, 1999Bad Day on the Blockdirect-to-video, co-production with Sheen/Michaels EntertainmentFebruary 15, 2000Grey OwlNew City Releasingco-production with Allied Filmmakers$30 million$632,617
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