WWE Films
Encyclopedia
WWE Studios is a Los Angeles
-based subsidiary of WWE, Inc., created in 2002 as WWF Films (until the initial change in May 2002) to develop and produce feature film
properties.
six more. The Marine
was the first developed solely by the company to reach the filming stage, while the first one to be theatrically released is See No Evil
. Stone Cold Steve Austin
is signed to star in three movies for WWE Studios. Before the formation of WWE Films the WWF had produced the 1989 film No Holds Barred featuring Hulk Hogan
.
In 2006, WWE Films chose to further expand the variety of projects that it intends to pursue by also focusing made-for-television film
s and direct-to-video
movies as well as other media platforms. WWE Films was renamed WWE Studios on July 21, 2008 to further represent the expansion of the WWE subsidiary.
Due to the WWE's adherence to the TV-PG rating, all future movies were subsequently switched from rated R to PG-13 in order to target a younger audience. Only three of the films produced by WWE Studios have surpassed the PG-13 rating; The Condemned, See No Evil and The Marine 2, each rated R. Former WWE Studios president Joel Simon died on June 19, 2011 after a four year battle with cancer.
As sole producer
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based subsidiary of WWE, Inc., created in 2002 as WWF Films (until the initial change in May 2002) to develop and produce feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
properties.
History
As of 2011, WWE Studios has co-produced four films as well as independently producedFilm producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
six more. The Marine
The Marine
The Marine is a 2006 American action film starring wrestler John Cena. The film was directed by John Bonito, written by Michelle Gallagher and Alan B...
was the first developed solely by the company to reach the filming stage, while the first one to be theatrically released is See No Evil
See No Evil (film)
See No Evil is a 2006 horror film directed by Gregory Dark, written by Dan Madigan, produced by Joel Simon, and starring professional wrestler Kane. It is the first major film produced by WWE Films and was released by Lions Gate Entertainment on May 19, 2006.The film went through many different...
. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
is signed to star in three movies for WWE Studios. Before the formation of WWE Films the WWF had produced the 1989 film No Holds Barred featuring Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
.
In 2006, WWE Films chose to further expand the variety of projects that it intends to pursue by also focusing made-for-television film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s and direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
movies as well as other media platforms. WWE Films was renamed WWE Studios on July 21, 2008 to further represent the expansion of the WWE subsidiary.
Due to the WWE's adherence to the TV-PG rating, all future movies were subsequently switched from rated R to PG-13 in order to target a younger audience. Only three of the films produced by WWE Studios have surpassed the PG-13 rating; The Condemned, See No Evil and The Marine 2, each rated R. Former WWE Studios president Joel Simon died on June 19, 2011 after a four year battle with cancer.
Filmography
As co-producer- The Scorpion KingThe Scorpion KingThe Scorpion King is a 2002 American action film directed by Chuck Russell, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kelly Hu, Grant Heslov, and Michael Clarke Duncan...
(2002) - The RundownThe RundownThe Rundown is a 2003 American action comedy film starring The Rock and Seann William Scott about a bounty hunter who must head for Brazil to retrieve his employer's renegade son. It was directed by Peter Berg...
(2003) - Walking TallWalking Tall (2004 film)Walking Tall is a 2004 remake of the 1973 film of the same name. It stars Dwayne Johnson and Johnny Knoxville. Like the original film, it was based on real-life Sheriff Buford Pusser, however, the main character's name was changed to "Chris Vaughn"...
(2004) - Behind Enemy Lines: ColombiaBehind Enemy Lines: ColombiaBehind Enemy Lines: Colombia is a 2009 war film directed by Tim Matheson and starring Joe Manganiello and former WWE and current TNA wrestler Ken Anderson. It is the third installment in the series, as well as the sequel to Behind Enemy Lines, and Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil...
(2009, direct-to-DVD)
As sole producer
- The Mania of WrestleManiaWrestleMania XIXWrestleMania XIX was the nineteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on March 30, 2003 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. The event was the first WrestleMania held in the state of Washington, and the first...
(2004) - A documentary filmDocumentary filmDocumentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
following the WWE roster through WrestleMania XIX - See No EvilSee No Evil (film)See No Evil is a 2006 horror film directed by Gregory Dark, written by Dan Madigan, produced by Joel Simon, and starring professional wrestler Kane. It is the first major film produced by WWE Films and was released by Lions Gate Entertainment on May 19, 2006.The film went through many different...
(2006) - The MarineThe MarineThe Marine is a 2006 American action film starring wrestler John Cena. The film was directed by John Bonito, written by Michelle Gallagher and Alan B...
(2006) - The CondemnedThe CondemnedThe Condemned is a 2007 action film, co-written and directed by Scott Wiper, and starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Robert Mammone, Madeleine West and Rick Hoffman....
(2007) - 12 Rounds12 Rounds (film)12 Rounds is a 2009 American action film directed by Renny Harlin and produced by WWE Studios. The cast is led by professional wrestler John Cena, alongside Steve Harris, Gonzalo Menendez, Aidan Gillen, Brian J. White, Ashley Scott, and Taylor Cole...
(2009) - The Marine 2 (2009, Direct-to-DVD)
- LegendaryLegendary (film)Legendary is a 2010 drama film directed by Mel Damski. The film stars Devon Graye as a high school wrestler, in a cast that features John Cena, Patricia Clarkson, Danny Glover, Madeleine Martin, and Tyler Posey...
(2010) - KnuckleheadKnucklehead (film)Knucklehead is a comedy film starring WWE Superstar Big Show , Mark Feuerstein, Melora Hardin and Dennis Farina. Its was released on October 22, 2010 in select theatres...
(2010) - The ChaperoneThe Chaperone (film)The Chaperone is a 2011 film by WWE Studios starring WWE wrestler Triple H, Yeardley Smith, Ariel Winter, Kevin Corrigan, José Zúñiga, Kevin Rankin, Enrico Colantoni, and Israel Boussard.-Plot:...
(2011) - That's What I AmThat's What I AmThat's What I Am is a drama film starring Ed Harris and Chase Ellison. The film is directed by Michael Pavone. Its release date was April 29, 2011 in limited release, having been released on DVD about four weeks later.-Plot:...
(2011) - Inside OutInside Out (2011 film)Inside Out is a 2011 crime-drama film directed by Artie Mandelberg. The film features Triple H, Michael Rapaport, Parker Posey, Michael Cudlitz, Julie White, Bruce Dern and Jency Griffin. It was released on September 9, 2011.-Synopsis:...
(2011) - The Reunion (2011)
- Bending The Rules (2012)
- Barricade (2012)
- No One Lives (2012)
Box office performance
| Film | Release date | Box office revenue | Box office ranking | Reference | ||
| Domestic | Foreign | Worldwide | United States | |||
| See No Evil See No Evil (film) See No Evil is a 2006 horror film directed by Gregory Dark, written by Dan Madigan, produced by Joel Simon, and starring professional wrestler Kane. It is the first major film produced by WWE Films and was released by Lions Gate Entertainment on May 19, 2006.The film went through many different... |
May 19, 2006 | $15,032,800 | $3,388,168 | $18,420,968 | #6 | |
| The Marine The Marine The Marine is a 2006 American action film starring wrestler John Cena. The film was directed by John Bonito, written by Michelle Gallagher and Alan B... |
October 13, 2006 | $18,844,784 | $3,320,824 | $22,165,608 | #6 | |
| The Condemned The Condemned The Condemned is a 2007 action film, co-written and directed by Scott Wiper, and starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Robert Mammone, Madeleine West and Rick Hoffman.... |
April 27, 2007 | $7,371,706 | $1,263,477 | $8,635,183 | #9 | |
| 12 Rounds 12 Rounds (film) 12 Rounds is a 2009 American action film directed by Renny Harlin and produced by WWE Studios. The cast is led by professional wrestler John Cena, alongside Steve Harris, Gonzalo Menendez, Aidan Gillen, Brian J. White, Ashley Scott, and Taylor Cole... |
March 27, 2009 | $12,234,694 | $5,045,632 | $17,280,326 | #7 | |
| Legendary Legendary (film) Legendary is a 2010 drama film directed by Mel Damski. The film stars Devon Graye as a high school wrestler, in a cast that features John Cena, Patricia Clarkson, Danny Glover, Madeleine Martin, and Tyler Posey... |
September 10, 2010 | $200,393 | - | - | #38 | |
| Knucklehead Knucklehead (film) Knucklehead is a comedy film starring WWE Superstar Big Show , Mark Feuerstein, Melora Hardin and Dennis Farina. Its was released on October 22, 2010 in select theatres... |
October 22, 2010 | $1,000 | $7,927 | $8,927 | ||
| The Chaperone The Chaperone (film) The Chaperone is a 2011 film by WWE Studios starring WWE wrestler Triple H, Yeardley Smith, Ariel Winter, Kevin Corrigan, José Zúñiga, Kevin Rankin, Enrico Colantoni, and Israel Boussard.-Plot:... |
February 18, 2011 | $14,400 | $29,395 | $43,795 | ||
| That's What I Am That's What I Am That's What I Am is a drama film starring Ed Harris and Chase Ellison. The film is directed by Michael Pavone. Its release date was April 29, 2011 in limited release, having been released on DVD about four weeks later.-Plot:... |
April 29, 2011 | $6,400 | - | - |
Rental performance
| Film | Release Date | Video Distributor | Rental Gross | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| See No Evil See No Evil (film) See No Evil is a 2006 horror film directed by Gregory Dark, written by Dan Madigan, produced by Joel Simon, and starring professional wrestler Kane. It is the first major film produced by WWE Films and was released by Lions Gate Entertainment on May 19, 2006.The film went through many different... |
November 28, 2006 | Lions Gate Entertainment Lions Gate Entertainment Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation is a North American entertainment company. The company was formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1997, and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California... |
$16.49 million | |
| The Marine The Marine The Marine is a 2006 American action film starring wrestler John Cena. The film was directed by John Bonito, written by Michelle Gallagher and Alan B... |
January 30, 2007 | 20th Century Fox 20th Century Fox Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios... |
$30.53 million | |
| The Condemned The Condemned The Condemned is a 2007 action film, co-written and directed by Scott Wiper, and starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Robert Mammone, Madeleine West and Rick Hoffman.... |
September 18, 2007 | Lions Gate Entertainment Lions Gate Entertainment Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation is a North American entertainment company. The company was formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1997, and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California... |
$22.30 million |