What Happened to Lionsgate Studios?
Lionsgate Studios, the entertainment company behind major film and television franchises, successfully completed its separation from Starz in May 2025, becoming a pure-play content company. Since the spin-off, the studio has demonstrated strong financial performance, driven by successful theatrical releases and its extensive content library, while actively developing new projects and attracting acquisition interest in 2026.
Quick Answer
Lionsgate Studios, formerly part of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., fully separated from its Starz premium subscription service in May 2025 to operate as an independent, publicly-traded content company. Since the spin-off, Lionsgate Studios has focused on its film and television production and distribution, achieving strong financial results in fiscal year 2026 and Q1 fiscal year 2027, propelled by hits like "Michael" and "The Housemaid," and continues to expand its key franchises and library offerings. The company has also been the subject of takeover interest in mid-2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Founded as Cinépix Film Properties
The company that would become Lionsgate was initially founded in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, as Cinépix Film Properties.
Lions Gate Entertainment Founded and Acquired Cinépix
Financier Frank Giustra founded Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation in Vancouver, which then acquired Cinépix, retaining its leadership.
Cinépix Renamed Lions Gate Films
Cinépix Film Properties was officially renamed Lions Gate Films, marking a new era for the company's film division.
Jon Feltheimer Becomes CEO
Jon Feltheimer was appointed CEO of Lions Gate Entertainment, a role he has held for over two decades, overseeing significant growth and strategic shifts.
Acquisition of Artisan Entertainment
Lionsgate acquired Artisan Entertainment for $220 million, significantly boosting its film library and content portfolio.
Company Rebrands to Lionsgate
Lions Gate Films officially changed its spelling and branding to the more concise 'Lionsgate'.
Acquisition of Summit Entertainment
Lionsgate acquired Summit Entertainment, bringing major franchises like 'The Twilight Saga' and 'The Hunger Games' under its umbrella.
Acquisition of Starz
Lionsgate purchased Starz, integrating the premium cable and streaming network into its diversified entertainment portfolio.
Acquisition of eOne
Lionsgate enhanced its studio business by acquiring the global entertainment platform eOne, expanding its content creation and distribution capabilities.
Full Separation of Lionsgate Studios and Starz Completed
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. completed the full separation of its Studio and STARZ businesses into two independent, publicly-traded companies. Lionsgate Studios (LION) began trading on the NYSE.
Reports Strong Fiscal Year 2026 Results
Lionsgate Studios reported strong financial results for fiscal year 2026, with revenue of $2.63 billion, driven by the success of films like "The Housemaid" and "Michael."
Subject of Takeover Interest
Reports emerged in July 2026 that Lionsgate Studios was attracting takeover interest from companies such as Banijay and Mediawan, following its successful spin-off.
Reports Q1 Fiscal Year 2027 Results
Lionsgate Studios reported first-quarter fiscal year 2027 results (ended June 30, 2026), with total revenue of $776.6 million, a 48% increase year-over-year, and motion picture revenue more than doubling.
Announces New 'Leprechaun' Reboot
Lionsgate announced a new reboot of the 'Leprechaun' horror franchise, with writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan attached.
Theatrical Release of 'Fall 2: Deadpoint'
Lionsgate releases the sequel 'Fall 2: Deadpoint' in theaters, continuing its slate of genre films.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Lionsgate's journey began in 1962 as Cinépix Film Properties in Canada, later reincorporated as Lions Gate Films in 1998 after being acquired by Frank Giustra's Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation in 1997. Over the years, the company established itself as a significant 'mini-major' studio, known for distributing films often considered too controversial for larger studios and for building successful franchises. Key acquisitions included Trimark Holdings in 2000, Artisan Entertainment in 2003, and Summit Entertainment in 2012, which brought the highly successful 'Twilight' and 'Hunger Games' franchises into its portfolio. Jon Feltheimer, who became CEO in 2000, has been instrumental in the company's growth and strategic direction.
A pivotal moment arrived in 2016 with the acquisition of Starz, a premium cable and streaming network. However, by the early 2020s, the combined entity faced challenges, leading to a strategic decision to separate the studio and network businesses. In December 2023, Lionsgate acquired the global entertainment platform eOne, further bolstering its studio assets. The long-planned separation from Starz was finalized on May 7, 2025, with Lionsgate Studios Corp. (NYSE: LION) becoming a standalone, publicly-traded company focused solely on film and television production and distribution. Starz Entertainment Corp. (NASDAQ: STRZ) also became an independent entity.
Post-separation, Lionsgate Studios has shown renewed momentum. For fiscal year 2026 (ended March 31, 2026), the company reported revenues of $2.63 billion, an increase of 1.82% from the previous year, and significantly narrowed its losses. This performance was notably driven by the theatrical and ancillary success of films like "The Housemaid" and the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael," which became the first biopic to gross $1 billion worldwide. The company's television division also secured renewals for popular shows. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2027 (ended June 30, 2026), Lionsgate Studios reported revenues of $776.6 million, a 48% increase year-over-year, with its Motion Picture segment revenue more than doubling to $587.3 million.
The studio continues to leverage its valuable intellectual property. Upcoming releases for 2026 and beyond include "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" (November 2026), a "Caine" spin-off from the John Wick universe (late 2026), and a new "Leprechaun" reboot announced in August 2026. The company also joined Movies Anywhere, with its film library being added throughout 2026 and early 2027. The strategic spin-off has made Lionsgate Studios an attractive target, with reports in July 2026 indicating takeover interest from companies like Banijay and Mediawan. As of September 2, 2026, Lionsgate Studios is actively pursuing its franchise strategy and benefiting from a strong content library, positioning itself for continued growth in the competitive entertainment landscape.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Lionsgate Studios made different choices?