United International Pictures: Difference between revisions

'''United International Pictures''' ('''UIP''') is a joint venture between [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[Universal Pictures]] that was founded to distribute the two studios' films theatrically outside the United States (including its territories), Canada and the Caribbean Basin. It also had rights to distribute films from [[DreamWorks Pictures]] (which had international releases handled by UIP through Universal from 1997 to 2005, and would later be owned by Paramount/[[Viacom Productions|Viacom]] from 2005 to 2008) and independent filmmakers.

The company was formed in 1981 after [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios|Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] purchased [[United Artists]] and merged its international distribution and sales arm with [[Cinema International Corporation]] (who then owned [[CIC Video]]). Films released after November 1, 1981 were handled internationally by UIP, but the company did not use a logo until a year later. [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney]]/[[Buena Vista International]] continued their distribution deals with UIP (on behalf of Universal) in Italy until 1988 (when distribution in Italy was switched to [[Warner Bros. Italia]]), and in such nations as Turkey and Brazil. Buena Vista also distributed UIP releases in Finland until 2006, when [[Finnkino]] took over. In 1988, UIP formed the organization that would become [[UCI Cinemas]], together with [[United Artists Theatres]] and [[AMC Theatres]]. Starting in 1997, DreamWorks Pictures films were also distributed internationally by UIP, due to DreamWorks's distribution agreement with Universal. [[Orion Pictures]] films were also added to UIP's slate after that studio's acquisition by MGM in 1997 (until then, most Orion titles had been released overseas by companies such as Rank and [[Svensk Filmindustri]]); however, the only Orion film that UIP released internationally was ''Storefront Hitchcock'' (1998), as Orion would be deactivated by MGM in 1999. In November 2000, MGM left UIP, and its international distribution rights were assumed by [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]]; MGM's final release under the UIP banner was ''Return to Me'' in June 2000.