26th Street Pictures is an American film production company founded by Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe and Michael Barnathan in 1994 as 1492 Pictures. The name was a play on Columbus's more famous namesake, Christopher Columbus, and his 1492 landing in the Americas.Jami Philbirck, "IAR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Chris Columbus talks 'The Help'", Iamrogue.com, August 10, 2011. The logo consists of a huge and detailed compass with the company name forming on a background, which is an ocean landscape. In addition, the fanfare for 1492 Pictures was composed by Hans Zimmer.
While the company has not issued any official statement regarding the rename, it's widely understood that the name change distances the company, and the filmmaker, from his namesake, who in recent years has come under major scrutiny due to the atrocities he ostensibly inflicted on the Indigenous people.
In addition to various Columbus films, 26th Street Pictures has also produced movies by other directors including Brian Levant (Jingle All the Way), Henry Selick (Monkeybone), Alfonso Cuarón (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Joe Roth (Christmas with the Kranks), Tim Story (the Fantastic Four films), Tate Taylor (The Help), and Shawn Levy (the Night at the Museum series).
History In 1994, Chris Columbus, who successfully directed the first two Home Alone films, and Mrs. Doubtfire, signed a three-year deal with 20th Century Fox, thus eventually led to the creation of a company called 1492 Pictures. Its first feature was Nine Months. The deal was eventually extended in 1997.
In 2009, 1492 Pictures signed a deal with Korean company CJ Entertainment for three years, to produce its feature films.
In February 2011, 1492 Pictures bought the rights to the South Korean comedy film Hello Ghost starring Cha Tae-hyun and is scheduled to remake it.
In August 2011, 1492 Pictures released an adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's novel The Help.Peter Debruge, "The Help," Variety, August 8, 2011.Gregg Goldstein, "A little 'Help' among friends," Variety, August 6, 2011.
In 2012, 1492 Pictures signed a deal with ro*co productions to adapt documentary films into scripted feature films.
In 2018, 1492 Pictures signed a deal with Netflix to produce feature films for its streaming service.
In June 2023, it was announced in Deadline Hollywood that Columbus had renamed the company 26th Street Pictures a year or two prior.
Films
Theatrical
1990s YearTitleDirectorWriter(s)DistributorNotesBudgetGross (worldwide)1995Nine MonthsChris Columbus20th Century Foxfirst filmN/A$138.5 million1996Jingle All the WayBrian LevantRandy Kornfield$75 million$129.8 million1998StepmomChris Columbus Gigi LevangieJessie NelsonSteven RogersKaren Leigh HopkinsRon BassSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures$50 million$159.7 million1999Bicentennial Man Nicholas KazanBuena Vista Pictures (United States)Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (International)co-production with Columbia Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Laurence Mark Productions and Radiant Productions$100 million$87.4 million
2000s YearTitleDirectorWriter(s)DistributorNotesBudgetGross2001MonkeyboneHenry SelickSam Hamm20th Century Fox$75 million$7.6 millionHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneChris ColumbusSteve KlovesWarner Bros. Picturesco-production with Heyday Films$125 million$1.007 billion2002Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets$100 million$879.5 million2004Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanAlfonso Cuarón$130 million$796.1 millionChristmas with the KranksJoe RothChris ColumbusSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios$60 million$96.6 million2005Fantastic FourTim StoryMark FrostMichael France20th Century Foxco-production with Constantin Film and Marvel Enterprises, Inc.$100 million$333.5 millionRentChris ColumbusStephen ChboskySony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios and Tribeca Productions$40 million$31.6 million2006Night at the MuseumShawn LevyRobert Ben GarantThomas Lennon20th Century Foxco-production with 21 Laps Entertainment, Ingenious Film Partners and Dune Entertainment$110 million$574.5 million2007Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver SurferTim StoryDon PayneMark Frostco-production with Marvel Studios, Constantin Film, Ingenious Film Partners and Dune Entertainment$130 million$301.9 million2009Night at the Museum: Battle of the SmithsonianShawn LevyRobert Ben GarantThomas Lennonco-production with 21 Laps Entertainment, Ingenious Film Partners and Dune Entertainment$150 million$413.1 millionI Love You, Beth CooperChris ColumbusLarry Doyleco-production with The Bridge Studios, Ingenious Film Partners and Fox Atomic$18 million$16.4 million
2010s YearTitleDirectorWriter(s)DistributorNotesBudgetGross2010Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning ThiefChris ColumbusCraig Titley20th Century Foxco-production with Sunswept Entertainment and Dune Entertainment$95 million$226.4 million2011The HelpTate TaylorWalt Disney Studios Motion Picturesco-production with Touchstone Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Reliance Entertainment, Participant Media, Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Harbinger Pictures$25 million$216.6 million2013Percy Jackson: Sea of MonstersThor FreudenthalMarc Guggenheim20th Century Foxco-production with Sunswept Entertainment$90 million$200.9 million2014Night at the Museum: Secret of the TombShawn LevyMark FriedmanDavid GuionMichael HandelmanDavid GuionMichael Handelmanco-production with 21 Laps Entertainment$127 million$363.2 million2015PixelsChris ColumbusTim HerlihyTim HerlihyTimothy DowlingSony Pictures Releasingco-production with Columbia Pictures, Happy Madison Productions, LStar Capital and China Film Group$88–129 million$244.9 millionIt Had to Be YouSasha GordonLevi AbrinoSasha GordonSasha GordonSamuel Goldwyn Filmsco-production with Vandewater Media$18 million$7,1622016The Young MessiahCyrus NowrastehCyrus NowrastehBetsy Giffen NowrastehFocus Featuresco-production with Hyde Park International, CJ Entertainment and Ocean Blue Entertainment$18.5 million$7.3 million2017I Kill GiantsAnders WalterJoe KellyRLJE Filmsco-production with Ocean Blue Entertainment, XYZ Films, uMedia, Man of Action Studios, Parallel Films and Adonais ProductionsN/A$342,558
2020s YearTitleDirectorWriter(s)DistributorNotesBudgetGross 2020Scoob!Tony CervoneMatt LiebermanEyal PodellJonathon E. StewartAdam SztykielJack DonaldsonDerek ElliottMatt LiebermanWarner Bros. Picturesuncredited; co-production with Warner Animation Group and Reel FX$90 million$28.5 million
Direct-to-video/streaming
2010s YearTitleDirectorWriter(s)DistributorNotes2018The Christmas ChroniclesClay Kaytis Matt LiebermanDavid GuggenheimMatt LiebermanNetflixco-production with Wonder Worldwide
2020s YearTitleDirectorWriter(s)DistributorNotes 2020The Christmas Chronicles 2Chris ColumbusMatt LiebermanChris ColumbusNetflixlimited theatrical release; co-production with Wonder Worldwide and 20th Street 2023ChupaJonás CuarónSean Kennedy MooreJoe BarnathanMarcus RinehartBrendan BellomoMichael DoughertySean Kennedy MooreJoe BarnathanMarcus Rinehartco-production with Pimienta Films
References
External links Variety on the making of The Help