Trimark Pictures
Trimark Pictures was an American independent film production and distribution company known for genre films, theatrical releases, home video, television, and direct-to-video entertainment.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Trimark Pictures was an American independent entertainment company that produced, acquired, licensed, and distributed motion pictures. Its roots were in Vidmark Entertainment, a home-video distributor established by Mark Amin in 1984. The company began domestic videocassette operations in early 1985 and initially built its business by handling films and television properties for the home-entertainment market. It later expanded into international licensing, theatrical distribution, original production, television, and interactive software. The company's early strategy reflected the opportunities available to independent distributors during the growth of the videocassette business. In April 1986, Vidmark signed an agreement with ABC Video Enterprises to distribute six ABC titles on videocassette. In 1987, it began distributing and sublicensing films for international markets and entered theatrical distribution and production. Its early film activities included the acquisition of four pictures and the completion of in-house productions such as American Gothic, That's Adequate, Silent Memory, and Born of Fire. In 1988, Vidmark moved further into production with the R-rated feature Demonwarp. The Trimark identity became associated with commercially accessible genre entertainment, particularly horror and cult-oriented films. One of its important acquisitions was Warlock, a 1989 supernatural horror film starring Julian Sands. Trimark released the film theatrically, where it became a significant success, and later produced the sequel Warlock: The Armageddon, which was officially released in 1993. The company also launched the Leprechaun series in 1993, pairing Warwick Davis with Jennifer Aniston in the first film. The original movie earned more than $10 million during its theatrical run, and the property subsequently generated a theatrical sequel and four direct-to-video sequels. Trimark's output was broader than horror. Its releases included the dramatic film Eve's Bayou, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Jurnee Smollett, which received critical acclaim, as well as The Dentist, Return of the Living Dead III, Pinocchio's Revenge, and the home-video release of the television miniseries Storm of the Century. The company also became known for releasing films that attracted attention because of controversial or unconventional subject matter. The 1999 Canadian-American romantic drama Better Than Chocolate became an example of the challenges facing independent distributors when some newspapers reportedly refused to carry advertisements containing the word "lesbian" in a critic quotation. Corporate expansion accompanied the film business. At the end of 1991, Vidmark acquired International Broadcast Systems, Ltd. and renamed the operation Trimark Television. In June 1992, Vidmark, Inc. changed its name to Trimark Holdings, Inc., reflecting the company's expansion beyond videocassette distribution. In March 1993, Trimark created Trimark Interactive to pursue interactive software and multimedia; those assets were sold to Graphix Zone in March 1997. Trimark Holdings became publicly traded on NASDAQ in June 1990 under the ticker VDMK. In June 2000, Lions Gate Entertainment acquired Trimark in a transaction involving approximately $50 million in stock and cash and the assumption of approximately $36 million in debt. Mark Amin became Lions Gate's single largest shareholder as part of the transaction. Trimark was folded into Lions Gate on March 12, 2001, ending its existence as an independent studio brand. Amin later founded Sobini Films in 2001. In late 2017, Lionsgate used the Vidmark name for a Roku streaming channel featuring Lionsgate-owned films, including titles originating from the former Vidmark and Trimark catalogues.
History
Trimark Pictures developed from Vidmark Entertainment, an independent American distributor founded by Mark Amin in August 1984. Vidmark entered business during the rapid expansion of the videocassette market and began domestic home-video distribution in early 1985. Its initial role was principally that of a distributor and licensee, but the company quickly sought a broader position in the film supply chain. In April 1986, it entered an agreement with ABC Video Enterprises to distribute six ABC titles on videocassette. In 1987, Vidmark added international distribution and sublicensing to its activities. During the same year, it moved into theatrical distribution and production by acquiring four films and completing early in-house projects, including American Gothic, That's Adequate, Silent Memory, and Born of Fire. The company entered feature production more directly in 1988 with Demonwarp, an R-rated film that helped establish its interest in genre entertainment. The company achieved a notable theatrical success with Warlock, a 1989 supernatural horror film starring Julian Sands. Rather than treating the picture solely as a home-video property, Trimark released it theatrically, where it became a major hit for the independent distributor. Trimark subsequently produced Warlock: The Armageddon, which received its official release in 1993. That period also saw the development of the Leprechaun franchise. The first Leprechaun, released in 1993, starred Warwick Davis as the antagonist and Jennifer Aniston in an early film role. Its theatrical run generated more than $10 million, and the series later continued through one additional theatrical sequel and four direct-to-video sequels. Trimark's catalogue included both commercial genre properties and more critically oriented projects. The company's releases included Return of the Living Dead III, The Dentist, and Pinocchio's Revenge, while its production and distribution activities also encompassed the acclaimed drama Eve's Bayou, featuring Samuel L. Jackson and Jurnee Smollett. Trimark distributed the television miniseries Storm of the Century on home video. Its business model allowed it to move titles between theatrical release, pay television, home video, and direct-to-video channels according to their commercial prospects. Corporate expansion accompanied the growth of the film catalogue. Trimark acquired the home-video rights to The Amityville Curse and Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes from Academy Entertainment in 1990. At the end of 1991, Vidmark acquired International Broadcast Systems, Ltd. for $1.6 million and renamed the operation Trimark Television. In June 1992, Vidmark, Inc. changed its name to Trimark Holdings, Inc., signaling a corporate structure that encompassed several entertainment activities rather than only videocassette distribution. In March 1993, Trimark established Trimark Interactive to pursue interactive software and multimedia. The division's assets were sold to Graphix Zone in March 1997. Vidmark became a public company on June 29, 1990, when it began trading on NASDAQ under the symbol VDMK. The company continued to operate as an independent entertainment group through the 1990s, maintaining a reputation for genre films and for handling projects with material that could be difficult for mainstream distributors. Better Than Chocolate, released in 1999, illustrated that profile. Some newspapers reportedly refused to carry advertisements for the film when a critic quotation used the word "lesbian," drawing attention to the limits placed on marketing language at the time. In June 2000, Lions Gate Entertainment acquired Trimark for approximately $50 million in stock and cash while assuming approximately $36 million in debt. The transaction brought the Trimark library and operating activities into the Lions Gate group, and Mark Amin became Lions Gate's single largest shareholder. Trimark was folded into Lions Gate on March 12, 2001, ending its independent corporate existence. Amin founded Sobini Films in 2001 and served as its chief executive. The Trimark and Vidmark identities nevertheless continued to have catalogue value. In late 2017, Lionsgate launched a Vidmark-branded channel for Roku streaming players, using a modified form of the company's late-1980s logo and offering Lionsgate-owned films, including titles associated with the former Vidmark and Trimark operations.
- 2017
Vidmark brand returns on Roku
[1]Lionsgate launches a Vidmark-branded Roku channel featuring films from its library.
- 2001
Trimark is integrated into Lions Gate
[1]Trimark is folded into Lions Gate on March 12, ending its independent operation.
- 2000
Acquisition by Lions Gate Entertainment
[1]Lions Gate acquires Trimark in a stock-and-cash transaction involving assumed debt.
- 1997
Trimark Interactive assets are sold
[1]Assets of the interactive division are sold to Graphix Zone.
- 1993
Trimark Interactive is created
[1]The company establishes an interactive software and multimedia division.
- 1992
Corporate name changes to Trimark Holdings
[1]Vidmark, Inc. adopts the Trimark Holdings name as its operations diversify.
- 1991
International Broadcast Systems acquisition
[1]Vidmark acquires International Broadcast Systems and establishes Trimark Television.
- 1990
Public listing and Amityville rights acquisition
[1]Vidmark begins NASDAQ trading under VDMK and acquires home-video rights to two Amityville titles.
- 1988
First R-rated feature production
[1]Vidmark enters feature-film production with Demonwarp.
- 1987
Expansion into theatrical distribution and production
[1]The company begins theatrical distribution and completes its first in-house productions.
Products and positioning
An independent entertainment company focused on commercially viable and often genre-oriented films, with a distribution model spanning theatrical exhibition, home video, television, international licensing, and direct-to-video releases.
Theatrical film · 1989
Warlock
Trimark acquired and theatrically released this 1989 supernatural horror film starring Julian Sands. Its success demonstrated the company's ability to identify genre films with theatrical potential rather than limiting them to the home-video market. Trimark later produced the sequel Warlock: The Armageddon, released in 1993.
Film franchise · 1993
Leprechaun
The 1993 horror film introduced Warwick Davis as the malevolent leprechaun and featured Jennifer Aniston in an early film role. It earned more than $10 million theatrically and became one of Trimark's most recognizable properties, generating a theatrical sequel and four direct-to-video sequels.
Drama film
Eve's Bayou
A critically acclaimed dramatic film starring Samuel L. Jackson and Jurnee Smollett. Its presence in the Trimark catalogue illustrates the company's activity beyond horror and exploitation-oriented genre pictures, including independent films with substantial critical recognition.
Horror film
The Dentist
A horror property distributed by Trimark and associated with the company's commercially oriented genre catalogue. The film also achieved visibility through exhibition on the HBO pay-television channel.
Horror film
Return of the Living Dead III
A later entry in the Return of the Living Dead series distributed by Trimark. It represents the company's role in acquiring and circulating established genre properties for theatrical and home-entertainment audiences.
Horror film
Pinocchio's Revenge
A horror release in Trimark's catalogue that reinterpreted the familiar Pinocchio concept for a darker genre audience.
Television miniseries
Storm of the Century
Trimark distributed this television miniseries on home video, demonstrating the company's involvement in releasing television productions alongside theatrical and direct-to-video films.
Interactive software and multimedia · 1993
Trimark Interactive
A corporate division created in 1993 to pursue interactive software and multimedia opportunities. Its assets were sold to Graphix Zone in 1997.
Brand decisions
2000
Sale to Lions Gate EntertainmentM&ABackground
Trimark had developed a diversified catalogue and distribution operation spanning theatrical, television, and home-video channels.
Action taken
Lions Gate acquired Trimark using approximately $50 million in stock and cash and assumed approximately $36 million in debt.
Aftermath
Mark Amin became Lions Gate's single largest shareholder, and Trimark was folded into Lions Gate on March 12, 2001.
Acquisition consideration and assumed debt. Approximately $50 million in stock and cash plus approximately $36 million in assumed debt (June 2000)
1993
Establish Trimark InteractiveStrategyBackground
Interactive software and multimedia were emerging as adjacent entertainment businesses.
Action taken
Trimark created a dedicated interactive division.
Aftermath
The division's assets were sold to Graphix Zone in March 1997.
1987
Move into theatrical distribution and productionStrategyBackground
Vidmark had initially concentrated on domestic home-video distribution but began pursuing a wider film business.
Action taken
The company acquired films, completed early in-house productions, and entered theatrical distribution.
Aftermath
The expansion created the operating foundation for later Trimark theatrical releases and original productions.
Sources1 sources
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