Troublemaker Studios is an American independent production company founded and owned by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and producer Elizabeth Avellán.'Secuestro Express': Jonathan Jakubowicz and Elizabeth Avellán on Venezuela's surprise hit
The company is based in Austin, Texas, and is at the former site of the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. It shares space with Austin Studios, which is managed by the Austin Film Society, and houses production offices, sound stages and the largest green screen in Texas.
Background The company was founded in 1991 as Los Hooligans Productions, taking its name from Rodriguez's own comic strip, Los Hooligans, which he wrote and illustrated for three years while attending the University of Texas at Austin. Rodriguez chose the name so fans of the strip would recognize it when they saw his films. Since the 1990s, the studio has partnered with distributor Dimension Films on numerous projects; including the From Dusk till Dawn films and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, the third film in the Mexico Trilogy.
The company was reincorporated as Troublemaker Studios in 2000. 2001's Spy Kids, a family-oriented film, was considered the studio's first breakthrough hit. It has since spawned a long-running media franchise, including sequels and an animated series.
On August 12, 2021, the company had signed a deal with HBO and its HBO Max streaming service.
Filmography Feature films Title Release date Co-production with Distributor Notes as Los Hooligans Productions Bedhead 1991 rowspan="3" Short film El Mariachi February 26, 1993 Columbia Pictures Roadracers July 22, 1994 Showtime Network Desperado August 25, 1995 Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Releasing Four Rooms December 25, 1995A Band Apart Miramax Films From Dusk till Dawn January 19, 1996 Dimension Films The Faculty December 25, 1998 From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money March 16, 1999 A Band Apart Dimension FilmsBuena Vista Home Entertainment direct-to-video From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter March 16, 1999 direct-to-video as Troublemaker Studios Spy Kids March 30, 2001 rowspan="6" Dimension Films Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams August 7, 2002 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over July 25, 2003 Once Upon a Time in Mexico September 12, 2003 Columbia PicturesDimension Films Sin City April 1, 2005 Dimension Films The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D June 10, 2005 Columbia PicturesDimension Films GrindhousePlanet TerrorDeath Proof April 6, 2007 Rodriguez International Pictures Dimension Films Shorts August 21, 2009 Imagination Abu DhabiMedia Rights Capital Warner Bros. Pictures Predators July 9, 2010 Davis Entertainment 20th Century Fox Machete September 3, 2010 Overnight ProductionsHyde Park Entertainment 20th Century FoxSony Pictures Releasing International The Black Mamba February 19, 2011 RadicalMedia Nike Short film Spy Kids: All the Time in the World August 19, 2011 Dimension Films Sin City: A Dame to Kill For August 22, 2014 Aldamisa EntertainmentMiramax FilmsSolipsist Films Sock 'Em Dead 2015 Rodriguez International PicturesHappy Socks Alita: Battle Angel February 14, 2019 Lightstorm Entertainment 20th Century Fox Red 11 March 15, 2019 Double R Productions UglyDolls May 3, 2019 Reel FX AnimationAlibaba PicturesHuaxia Film DistributionOriginal Force STX Entertainment Spy Kids: Armageddon September 22, 2023 Skydance MediaSpyglass Media Group Netflix Upcoming The Naughty List Paramount Animation Paramount Pictures
Television series Title Premiere date End date Co-production with Network Notes The Director's Chair May 10, 2014 present Skip FilmFactoryMade Ventures El Rey Network Spy Kids: Mission Critical April 20, 2018 November 30, 2018 Mainframe StudiosDimension Television Netflix
Divisions and subsidiaries Rodriguez International Pictures
In the beginning of 2005, Rodriguez launched Rodriguez International Pictures (R.I.P), a film and television production company that mainly focuses on the horror genre. Its name pays homage to the low-budget production company American International Pictures.
Filmography: Curandero: Dawn of the Demon (2005) (direct-to-video) (distributed by Dimension Films, Miramax and Lionsgate Home Entertainment) Grindhouse (April 6, 2007) (distributed by Dimension Films) Planet Terror (co-production with Troublemaker Studios) Death Proof (co-production with Troublemaker Studios) El Mariachi (2014) (co-production with Teleset Colombia and Sony Pictures Television; distributed by Sony Pictures Television International) From Dusk till Dawn: The Series (2014–15) (co-production with Sugarcane Entertainment and FactoryMade Ventures; distributed by Miramax and Entertainment One) Matador (2014) (co-production with K/O Paper Products and FactoryMade Ventures; distributed by Entertainment One) Lucha Underground (2014–2018) (co-production with MGM Television, FactoryMade Ventures and AG Studios) Sock 'Em Dead (2015) (short film) (co-production with Troublemaker Studios in association with Happy Socks)
Quick Draw Productions
In 2010, Rodriguez launched Quick Draw Productions, a production and financing company that would allow him greater freedom to develop and produce film and television projects. Aaron Kaufman and Iliana Nikolic are his partners in the venture. In 2012, an animation division, Quick Draw Animation, was launched. Both companies are based at Troublemaker Studios.
Filmography: Two Scoops (2013) (short film) (in association with BlackBerry) Machete Kills (October 11, 2013) (co-production with A.R. Films, Aldamisa Entertainment, Demarest Films, Overnight Productions and 1821 Pictures; distributed by Open Road Films)
Double R Productions In 2020, Rodriguez launched Double R Productions, a film company that co-creates films for other companies.
Filmography: We Can Be Heroes (December 25, 2020) (distributed by Netflix) Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles (September 3, 2021) (co-production with Interscope Films, Darkroom Productions, Nexus Studios and Aron Levine Productions; distributed by Disney+) Hypnotic (May 12, 2023) (co-production with Studio 8, Solstice Studios, Ingenious Media and Hoosegow Productions; distributed by Ketchup Entertainment in the United States and Warner Bros. Pictures in the United Kingdom)
See also El Rey Network
References
External links Troublemaker Studios