In recent months, movie theaters have seen the likes of Elvis Presley, Billie Eilish, BTS and Michael Jackson hit the big screen. Whether in the form of a concert film, documentary, or biopic, music-based theatrical releases have delighted audiences, and both major studios and record labels are taking note.
Paramount Pictures and Warner Music Group are joining forces to make movies with top talent on Warner's roster, the companies announced Thursday. The multi-year, first-look deal will include some of Warner's most recognizable artists such as Madonna and the late David Bowie and Frank Sinatra, as well as contemporary pop stars such as Charli Xcx and Dua Lipa.
Together, the companies hope to combine WMG's vast music catalog and Paramount's theatrical expertise to create more animated and live-action films with musical themes.
“Every artist deserves to tell the stories behind their life and music in their own creative way, and we are excited to partner with our incredible talent and world-class filmmakers to bring these stories to the big screen, growing their audiences around the world,” Robert Kyncl, CEO of WMG, said in a statement.
WMG will work with its production partner, Unigram and Paramount to develop each project in conjunction with the artists or their estates. The collaboration aims to give musical artists more freedom when their work is used in feature films or when stories are based on them.
Unigram co-founder Amanda Ghost said the deal “finds new ways to empower iconic artists and bring their creative worlds to the screen with music as the central character.”
The announcement comes after Paramount held the premiere of Billie Eilish's concert film “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour” at the Westwood Village Theater on Wednesday night. The 3D film, co-directed by Eilish and James Cameron, hits theaters this weekend and follows her most recent stint of performances.
Music continues to be a big draw for movie theaters as the industry navigate turbulent waters amid hopes of a lasting post-pandemic recovery. Important releases such as biographical films that top the box office like “Michael,” and documentaries like “EPiC: Elvis Presley in concert” continues to attract a sizeable and enthusiastic theater audience.
In recent years, Paramount has also helped bring movies like the Bob Marley biopic “One Love” (2024) and Elton John’s “Rocketman” (2019) to theaters.
Earlier this week, movie theater chain AMC revealed that its theaters will begin rolling out a new type of immersive concert experience in June. The concept will include acts like Paris Hilton and Kim Petras performing on a remote stage while the show streams to theaters across the country. Although unlike a typical livestream, the new technology allows performers to see, hear and respond to the theater audience, effectively turning the local AMC into a virtual concert hall.
