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Viacom Pictures (formerly known as Ben Fisher Entertainment from 1976 to 1988) was an American film production company owned by Viacom. The studio was in operation from 1988 to 1995, when it was folded into Paramount Pictures following its 1994 acquisition by Viacom.

History[]

In 1988, after Viacom acquired two animation studios Games Animation and Zaiden Fischer Productions (which was renamed to Viacom Animation), Viacom was looking to expand their film production. It acquired Ben Fisher Entertainment, which was established by film producer Ben A. Fisher in 1975, and the studio was renamed to Viacom Pictures. Many employees of Jennings Lang Productions and Jaffe/Lansing Productions were hired to run the film production company.

On July 7, 1994, Paramount Communications Inc. was sold to Viacom following the purchase of 50.1% of Paramount's shares for $9.75 billion. At the time, Paramount's holdings included Paramount Pictures, its animation division, Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers, the New York Knicks, and the Simon & Schuster publishing house. Most of Viacom's films in development were transferred to Paramount Pictures. The last film, Future Legend was released on June 30, 1995, grossing $456 million worldwide on a $65 million budget. Afterwards, Viacom Pictures was now folded into Paramount, which now owns the company's library.

Films[]

Theatrical films[]

Release date Title Distributor Notes
as Ben Fisher Productions/Ben Fisher Entertainment
June 17, 1975 Jailbreak Paramount Pictures
November 10, 1976 Kids Don't Learn a Thing Paramount Pictures (U.S.)
20th Century-Fox (International)
February 18, 1977 Lost in the Forest Warner Bros., Inc.
May 6, 1977 Meet Your Own Life Universal Pictures
September 14, 1977 One Man's Meat Paramount Pictures
December 25, 1977 Works: Invention of the Technology Universal Pictures
May 3, 1978 The Dark Planet 20th Century-Fox
September 6, 1978 Art of War United Artists (U.S./Canada)
Cinema International Corporation (International)
with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
November 11, 1978 Endless Vacaton Universal Pictures
December 22, 1978 Bad News for Outlaws Columbia Pictures
April 20, 1979 Haunted Paramount Pictures
June 1, 1979 EPS: Energy, Power and Sweat Warner Bros., Inc. with First Artists
October 2, 1979 Amelia Bedelia Universal Pictures
December 25, 1979 The Monsters from the Past Universal Pictures (US/home video rights)
Columbia Pictures (international/television rights)
March 21, 1980 Fireworks Universal Pictures
June 6, 1980 Dear, Tara
August 1, 1980 Beachers Warner Bros., Inc. with Orion Pictures
December 12, 1980 The Runner Paramount Pictures
March 20, 1981 Music Connection Warner Bros., Inc. with The Ladd Company
July 17, 1981 The Book of Evil Paramount Pictures
October 30, 1981 High Speed Getaway Universal Pictures with PolyGram Pictures
February 19, 1982 Go Freddy Go! Paramount Pictures
April 30, 1982 Victoria Columbia Pictures
September 24, 1982 Eva's Party Warner Bros., Inc. with CBS Theatrical Films
December 10, 1982 Another Dilemma Universal Pictures
April 29, 1983 Family Dreams MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
August 26, 1983 Rewind 3-D Paramount Pictures
December 16, 1983 Underground 20th Century-Fox with Sherwood Productions
April 20, 1984 The Soccer Players Universal Pictures
July 20, 1984 My Own Summer Vacation Tri-Star Pictures
December 21, 1984 Thunder Paramount Pictures
April 12, 1985 Far Enough 20th Century Fox with ABC Motion Pictures
August 9, 1985 Pranksters Paramount Pictures
January 10, 1986 The Lost Defender Warner Bros., Inc. with The Guber-Peters Company and Silver Pictures
July 11, 1986 San Francisco Mayhem Buena Vista Distribution with Touchstone Films and Silver Screen Partners II
November 14, 1986 Ancient Night Paramount Pictures
February 20, 1987 Beyond the America Orion Pictures
August 7, 1987 Lady X Paramount Pictures (North America)

20th Century Fox (International)

November 27, 1987 Monster Motel Tri-Star Pictures
February 12, 1988 Stalker Paramount Pictures
as Viacom Pictures
May 6, 1988 Alien Unknown Tri-Star Pictures with Carolco Pictures
July 15, 1988 Toony Tales: Travel Trouble Columbia Pictures with Games Animation
October 21, 1988 A Wishing Fish Paramount Pictures with Viacom Animation
December 21, 1988 Hip, Cool, Fresh and Trendy Orion Pictures
March 17, 1989 Cavemen Universal Pictures
May 19, 1989 Grand Hotel Paramount Pictures
October 13, 1989 Dinosaurs Right Here! with Imagine Entertainment
December 8, 1989 Goldilocks and Red Riding Hood Paramount Pictures (North America)

Universal Pictures (International)

with Viacom Animation
April 6, 1990 Tiffany: The Movie 20th Century Fox with Nickelodeon Movies and Games Animation
July 27, 1990 Far Enough Universal Pictures
October 5, 1990 Cookin' Orion Pictures
November 21, 1990 Penguins in the Big City Universal Pictures with Viacom Animation
January 18, 1991 Invasion Earth
March 15, 1991 Detective Agency
April 12, 1991 Luxery Jewel Café
June 7, 1991 Danger Street Orion Pictures
September 13, 1991 Box of the Willows Paramount Pictures
November 8, 1991 Tennis Hero 20th Century Fox with Viacom Animation
February 21, 1992 Hollywood Cruise Ship Universal Pictures
May 29, 1992 The Toony Tales Movie 20th Century Fox with Nickelodeon Movies and Games Animation
September 25, 1992 Dudes and Dudettes Universal Pictures (North America)

Orion Pictures (International)

with KingWorld Filmed Entertainment
November 12, 1993 The Children of California with Viacom Animation
March 19, 1993 Grand Hotel 2 Paramount Pictures
April 30, 1993 S.W.A.T: Armored Unity Orion Pictures
May 28, 1993 Mrs. Pretty Dog with Viacom Animation
July 23, 1993 Pride Bride Columbia Pictures with Aerial Pictures
October 15, 1993 Magical! Universal Pictures with Imagine Entertainment
November 24, 1993 Adventures in the Forest Paramount Pictures with Games Animation
February 25, 1994 Quest for Silver Mountain Universal Pictures
April 13, 1994 Toony Tales: Attack of the Aliens 20th Century Fox with Nickelodeon Movies and Games Animation
May 20, 1994 The Travellers' Stories Gramercy Pictures
July 22, 1994 Tornadohunters Universal Pictures with WildStorm Productions
August 5, 1994 Pop Teen Mice Paramount Pictures with Viacom Animation
October 21, 1994 Harmonic Chaos Universal Pictures with Highbrow Entertainment
February 24, 1995 The Coyote Family 20th Century Fox with Nickelodeon Movies, Jim Henson Productions and Games Animation
March 10, 1995 The Warrior Treasures Paramount Pictures with The Kennedy/Marshall Company
May 3, 1995 Game of Rules
June 30, 1995 Future Legend with Viacom Animation

last film

Television films[]

Air date Title Broadcaster Notes
1991 Payoff Showtime
January 25, 1992 Keeper of the City
July 25, 1992 Nails with Empress Productions Inc.
August 9, 1992 The Fear Inside
May 22, 1993 Taking the Heat
May 21, 1994 White Mile HBO with HBO Pictures and Stonehenge Productions
April 7, 1996 Sabrina the Teenage Witch Showtime with Barney Cohen and Kathryn Wallack Productions, Once and Future Films, and Hartbreak Films

See also[]

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