New World Pictures
A defunct American independent film and television company founded by Roger and Gene Corman, known first for low-budget exploitation films and later for television production, broadcasting and media acquisitions.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
New World Pictures was an American independent film production and distribution company established on July 8, 1970, by filmmakers Roger Corman and Gene Corman after their departure from American International Pictures. The company initially pursued the low-budget production and distribution model associated with Corman's earlier work: films could be made economically, marketed directly to clearly defined audiences and released through a network of regional and international distributors. Its early output concentrated on exploitation pictures, genre films and youth-oriented productions, but the company also developed a distinctive art-film distribution program. New World handled American releases of films by directors including Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini and Akira Kurosawa, giving the business a profile that extended beyond its B-movie reputation. The company became an important training ground for filmmakers who later achieved much greater prominence. Early New World productions and related assignments involved Jonathan Demme, Jonathan Kaplan, Ron Howard, Joe Dante and Paul Bartel. This combination of inexpensive genre filmmaking, practical production experience and aggressive distribution helped New World become one of the most successful independent film companies in the United States during the 1970s. Its activities also included acquiring and re-editing some foreign films for American commercial release, adapting them to contemporary audience interest and distribution conditions. Roger and Gene Corman sold the company in 1983 to Larry Kupin, Harry E. Sloan and Larry A. Thompson for $16.5 million. Roger Corman retained the film library, while the reorganized company obtained home-video rights to its releases. Under new ownership, New World expanded beyond theatrical pictures. In 1984 it created New World International, New World Television and New World Video. Television production began with projects including the daytime serial Santa Barbara and made-for-television programming, while the video division sought to exploit the growing home-entertainment market. Robert Rehme returned as chief executive during this period. The company broadened its corporate ambitions during the second half of the 1980s. It acquired Lions Gate Studios, Learning Corporation of America, Highgate Pictures and Marvel Entertainment Group, the parent company of Marvel Comics. The enlarged operation adopted the name New World Entertainment to signal that it had become more than a film studio. Expansion was followed by financial pressure and restructuring. Marvel Entertainment Group was sold to Andrews Group in 1989, while film and home-video assets were subsequently transferred or sold to other companies. The business also reduced or disposed of several television and educational-film operations. New World then shifted heavily toward television and broadcasting. In 1993, Ronald Perelman's interests acquired control of SCI Television and combined it with New World Entertainment, creating New World Communications. The group assembled a portfolio of network-affiliated television stations and expanded through purchases involving Argyle Television and Citicasters. Its most consequential strategic move came in May 1994, when New World entered a multiyear affiliation agreement with Fox. Most of its stations moved from established ABC, CBS or NBC affiliations to Fox as existing contracts expired. The arrangement followed Fox's acquisition of National Football Conference rights and helped Fox strengthen its position as a major American television network. It also contributed to a broad realignment of station affiliations across the United States. News Corporation, the parent of Fox, purchased a minority interest in New World in 1994 and announced an agreement to acquire the remainder in 1996. The transaction closed on January 22, 1997. New World therefore ceased to operate as an autonomous company, although holding companies and regional subsidiaries associated with the name continued within the Fox corporate structure. The New World legacy encompasses low-budget independent cinema, art-film distribution, television production, station ownership and one of the most influential affiliation transactions in American broadcast history.
History
New World Pictures was founded on July 8, 1970, by Roger Corman and his brother Gene after the pair left American International Pictures. Roger Corman sought to reproduce the efficient low-budget production and distribution model that had made his earlier work commercially successful. The company began with a limited office network in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, relying in part on regional distributors. Its initial releases were primarily exploitation and genre films, including youth-oriented pictures and productions designed for quick, targeted theatrical circulation. During the 1970s, New World became a significant launchpad for emerging filmmakers. Jonathan Demme, Jonathan Kaplan, Ron Howard, Joe Dante and Paul Bartel were among the directors associated with the company during their early careers. New World also developed an unusual art-film distribution business. Corman believed that releasing respected foreign films could give the company credibility and reduce its identification solely with exploitation cinema. The company distributed or handled American releases of films connected with Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini and Akira Kurosawa. It also acquired and recut some foreign productions for American audiences, including the Japanese disaster film later marketed in the United States as Tidal Wave. In 1983, Corman sold New World to Larry Kupin, Harry E. Sloan and Larry A. Thompson. The transaction separated the company from much of Corman's library ownership: Corman retained the film library, while New World obtained home-video rights to its releases. Robert Rehme returned to the organization as chief executive in 1984. That year, New World created separate international distribution, television and home-video divisions. Television production became an important new activity, with Santa Barbara among the early programs produced through New World Television. The company also expanded its release schedule and pursued a broader entertainment-company structure. The expansion continued in 1986 and 1987. New World bought Lions Gate Studios and acquired Marvel Entertainment Group. It also purchased Learning Corporation of America and Highgate Pictures. The corporate name changed to New World Entertainment in 1987 to reflect the growing range of subsidiaries and businesses. However, the enlarged company experienced financial difficulties and entered a period of restructuring. Marvel Entertainment Group was sold to Andrews Group in January 1989, while Marvel Productions was excluded from that transaction. After the Andrews Group acquired New World later in 1989, the company's film and home-video activities were sharply reduced. Much of those assets was sold in 1990 to Trans-Atlantic Pictures, a company formed by former New World executives. Learning Corporation of America and Highgate Pictures were also closed around this period. New World disposed of additional television assets in the early 1990s, but the company later refocused on television production, distribution and broadcasting. In 1993, Ronald Perelman acquired control of SCI Television and combined it with New World Entertainment, creating New World Communications. The combined group owned or controlled stations affiliated with CBS, NBC, ABC and independent stations in major American markets. It subsequently purchased or agreed to purchase additional stations from Argyle Television and Citicasters, while managing ownership-limit and same-market issues through sales and trusts. The decisive strategic event came in 1994. After Fox secured National Football Conference football rights, it needed stronger affiliates, particularly established VHF stations that had historically carried the major American networks. New World Communications reached a multiyear affiliation agreement with Fox on May 23, 1994. Most affected stations moved to Fox as their previous affiliation contracts expired. The changes often required stations to fill more broadcast hours with syndicated programs and local news because Fox supplied less programming than ABC, CBS and NBC. Many New World stations also declined to carry Fox Kids programming. The arrangement helped Fox become a stronger national network and triggered a wider cascade of affiliation changes across American television. News Corporation, Fox's parent company, purchased a minority interest in New World in 1994 and announced a deal to acquire the remaining shares in 1996. The acquisition closed on January 22, 1997. New World therefore ceased operating as an independent company, although legal holding companies and regional subsidiaries using the New World name remained within the later Fox corporate structure. The company's founders subsequently died: Gene Corman in 2020 and Roger Corman in 2024. New World's historical importance rests on both its contribution to independent genre cinema and its role in the transformation of American broadcast television.
- 1997
News Corporation acquisition closes
[1]News Corporation completes its purchase of New World Communications, ending its independent corporate operation.
- 1994
Fox affiliation agreement reshapes the station group
[1]New World and Fox agree that most of New World's stations will change network affiliation, strengthening Fox's national position.
- 1993
New World Communications is formed
[1]SCI Television is combined with New World Entertainment after Ronald Perelman acquires control of SCI, creating a major broadcasting group.
- 1989
New World enters restructuring
[1]Marvel Entertainment Group is sold to Andrews Group, and New World itself is acquired by the same investment group later that year.
- 1987
The company becomes New World Entertainment
[1]The corporate name changes to reflect the company's expansion beyond film production and distribution.
- 1986
Marvel Entertainment Group is acquired
[1]New World expands into comic-book and entertainment assets through its acquisition of Marvel Entertainment Group.
- 1984
International, television and video divisions launch
[1]New World establishes specialized divisions for overseas distribution, television production and home-video distribution.
- 1983
Corman sells the company
[1]Larry Kupin, Harry E. Sloan and Larry A. Thompson acquire New World for $16.5 million; Roger Corman retains the film library.
- 1970
New World Pictures is founded
[1]Roger and Gene Corman establish New World Pictures, Ltd. as an independent film producer and distributor.
Products and positioning
An independent, commercially minded entertainment company that paired low-cost genre production with broad distribution, international art-film releases and later vertically integrated television and broadcasting operations.
Motion pictures · 1970
New World theatrical films
The company's original business consisted of producing and distributing low-budget exploitation, horror, science-fiction, action and youth-oriented films. New World emphasized economical production, recognizable genre concepts and targeted theatrical marketing. The studio also served as an early professional platform for several directors who later became prominent in American cinema.
Film distribution · 1970
International art-film releases
New World distributed selected foreign-language and art films in the United States, including work associated with Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini and Akira Kurosawa. This line broadened the company's image beyond exploitation cinema and gave it access to critically respected international directors.
Television production · 1984
New World Television
Created in 1984, New World Television produced series and made-for-television programs. Its early output included the daytime soap opera Santa Barbara and the television film Playing with Fire. Television became increasingly important as the company's theatrical and home-video operations were reduced.
Home entertainment · 1984
New World Video
The home-video division handled releases based mainly on New World productions. It reflected the company's attempt to participate in the expanding video-rental and sell-through market after the 1983 ownership change.
Broadcasting · 1993
New World television stations
Through New World Communications, the company owned or controlled a portfolio of network-affiliated stations in major American markets. The stations were central to the 1994 Fox affiliation agreement and represented the company's late strategic shift from film production toward broadcasting.
Marketing campaigns
- 1994Fox station-affiliation conversion
United States
New World and Fox coordinated the conversion of most New World stations from ABC, CBS or NBC affiliations to Fox as existing contracts expired. The strategy used established stations, especially VHF outlets, to improve Fox's reach and advertiser appeal after its acquisition of NFC football rights.
Outcome. The agreement helped Fox develop into a major national network and contributed to a broad wave of American television affiliation changes.
Brand decisions
1997
Acquisition by News CorporationM&ABackground
News Corporation had become a major investor in New World through the Fox affiliation relationship.
Action taken
News Corporation acquired the remaining interests in New World Communications in a stock transaction announced in 1996 and completed on January 22, 1997.
Aftermath
New World ceased operating as an autonomous entertainment company, although related holding companies and regional subsidiaries remained within the later Fox corporate structure.
Acquisition consideration. $2.48 billion in stock (1996 announcement; completed 1997)
1994
Multi-year Fox affiliation agreementStrategyBackground
Fox needed established affiliates after obtaining National Football Conference football rights, while New World sought to protect the value of its stations amid changes in the American network landscape.
Action taken
New World agreed to switch most of its stations to Fox when their existing affiliation contracts ended. Fox's parent, News Corporation, agreed to acquire a 20 percent interest in New World for $500 million.
Aftermath
The deal strengthened Fox and caused a large-scale realignment of network affiliations across the United States. Some stations carried additional syndicated programming and local news because Fox supplied fewer network hours than ABC, CBS and NBC.
News Corporation investment for minority interest. $500 million for a 20 percent interest (1994)
1990
Reduction of film and home-video operationsStrategyBackground
Following financial difficulties and the change in ownership to Andrews Group, New World reduced its exposure to theatrical film and home video.
Action taken
Much of the film and home-video holdings was sold to Trans-Atlantic Pictures, a company formed by former New World executives.
Aftermath
New World concentrated more heavily on television and broadcasting activities.
1986
Acquisition of Marvel Entertainment GroupM&ABackground
New World was expanding into related entertainment businesses and sought assets beyond film production.
Action taken
New World acquired Marvel Entertainment Group, the corporate parent of Marvel Comics.
Aftermath
The acquisition contributed to the decision to use the broader New World Entertainment name, but Marvel Entertainment Group was sold during restructuring in 1989.
1984
Expansion into television and home entertainmentStrategyBackground
New World sought to reduce its dependence on theatrical film production and participate in emerging television and home-video businesses.
Action taken
The company established New World International, New World Television and New World Video.
Aftermath
New World broadened its production and distribution capabilities, with television becoming increasingly important in later years.
1983
Sale of New World Pictures to new investorsM&ABackground
Roger and Gene Corman sold the company after its period as an independent low-budget film producer and distributor.
Action taken
Larry Kupin, Harry E. Sloan and Larry A. Thompson acquired New World for $16.5 million. Roger Corman retained the film library, while the company received home-video rights to its releases.
Aftermath
The new owners pursued a broader entertainment strategy, including television, international distribution and home video.
Acquisition price. $16.5 million (1983)
Sources1 sources
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