Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. is operating as an aggressively theatrical-first studio distributor, deploying its new Clockwork label to acquire prestige and genre films for North American release while maintaining worldwide distribution infrastructure across studio-level productions.
Each signal is one documented data point captured by our continuous pipeline: a trade-press mention, festival market activity, executive statement, or acquisition activity update. Higher signal volume means Warner Bros. is generating more public market activity right now.
"Right now, good isn't good enough anymore, the bar is high. People have too many choices and so many incredible options to turn to for their entertainment. But if we honor Warner Bros.' unique and powerful legacy by committing to bringing you the unique and powerful films of this century, we will all win together."
Warner Bros. is currently operating under a declared theatrical-first mandate, with CEO David Zaslav publicly stating the company is "in no rush to bring movies to Max" and that films perform substantially better on the service after debuting in theaters. The studio's most visible recent move is the launch of its Clockwork label, which won a bidding war to acquire Park Chan-wook's "The Brigands of Rattlecreek" for North America in a deal said to be in the $15M range, and previously nabbed Sean Baker's "Ti Amo!" in April. The label signals a structured pipeline for prestige acquisitions sitting alongside the studio's own productions.
Over the past twelve months, Warner Bros. has logged 564 tracked records and closed deals on titles including "Bitter Christmas," "Night People," "Shiver," and "Mortal Kombat II," alongside the Clockwork acquisitions. The studio also brought the 4K restoration of Ken Russell's "The Devils" (1971) to the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, indicating appetite for library and restoration titles with theatrical event potential. Distribution partnerships extend beyond proprietary productions; the studio handles overseas distribution for titles including Creed III and other MGM/Amazon titles.
Access to Warner Bros. runs through its established production and distribution divisions, with the Clockwork label now representing a distinct acquisition arm for filmmakers and sales agents bringing prestige or specialty titles. Decision-maker coverage is broad, with 229 tracked executives across the organization. The most recent tracked signal dates to late May 2026.
Bitter Christmas
Mortal Kombat II
Night People
Shiver
The Brigands of Rattlecreek
The Devils (1971 restoration)
Ti Amo!
Warner Bros
"Right now, good isn't good enough anymore, the bar is high. People have too many choices and so many incredible options to turn to for their entertainment. But if we honor Warner Bros.' unique and powerful legacy by committing to bringing you the unique and powerful films of this century, we will all win together."
Warner Bros. is currently operating under a declared theatrical-first mandate, with CEO David Zaslav publicly stating the company is "in no rush to bring movies to Max" and that films perform substantially better on the service after debuting in theaters. The studio's most visible recent move is the launch of its Clockwork label, which won a bidding war to acquire Park Chan-wook's "The Brigands of Rattlecreek" for North America in a deal said to be in the $15M range, and previously nabbed Sean Baker's "Ti Amo!" in April. The label signals a structured pipeline for prestige acquisitions sitting alongside the studio's own productions.
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Does Warner Bros. accept unsolicited scripts?
Warner Bros. does not publicly operate an open submission policy for unsolicited scripts. As a major studio, material is typically received through established representation: literary agents, entertainment attorneys, or production companies with existing studio relationships. The launch of the Clockwork label introduces a specialty acquisition arm that has engaged with sales agents and festival titles, suggesting that packaged projects with representation and festival traction are the practical entry point for outside writers and filmmakers.
What budget range does Warner Bros. target for acquisitions?
Warner Bros. operates at studio level across its core slate, covering productions from mid-budget to large-scale tentpoles. For its Clockwork acquisition label, the most documented deal is 'The Brigands of Rattlecreek,' which carried a reported $60M production budget and an acquisition price said to be in the $15M range for North American rights. Budgets for other recent acquisitions including 'Bitter Christmas,' 'Night People,' and 'Shiver' were not disclosed in available coverage.
Does Warner Bros. acquire films from festivals?
Yes. The Clockwork label's acquisition of Park Chan-wook's 'The Brigands of Rattlecreek' came via a competitive bidding situation consistent with festival or market sales, and the studio brought the 4K restoration of 'The Devils' (1971) to the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. The studio's theatrical-first mandate, as articulated by Zaslav, aligns with acquiring films that can sustain a full theatrical window before moving to Max, making festival-positioned prestige titles a logical fit for the Clockwork pipeline.
How do you reach Warner Bros. decision makers?
Warner Bros. has 229 decision makers tracked across its distribution and production divisions, including Domestic Distribution Chief Jeff Goldstein and International Distribution Chief Andrew Cripps on the distribution side, and co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy on the production side. The Clockwork label represents the most active acquisition-facing arm for outside sellers. Practical access runs through literary agents, sales agents, and entertainment attorneys with existing studio relationships, or through festival and market submissions to the Clockwork team.
What genres is Warner Bros. prioritizing right now?
Recent acquisition activity spans genre and prestige categories. Clockwork's two documented deals cover a Western/Thriller ('The Brigands of Rattlecreek' by Park Chan-wook) and a drama ('Ti Amo!' by Sean Baker). Other recent acquisitions include 'Mortal Kombat II' (franchise action), 'Bitter Christmas,' 'Night People,' and 'Shiver,' suggesting openness across genre. Leadership rhetoric emphasizes films that can command a theatrical audience and justify a full windowing strategy, pointing toward event-scale or culturally resonant projects over mid-budget streaming-oriented fare.
Is Warner Bros. currently active in acquisitions?
Yes. Warner Bros. logged 564 tracked records over the past twelve months, with 3 unique deals recorded in both the 30-day and 90-day windows and a deal velocity of 6 in the last 30 days. The most recent tracked signal dates to May 25, 2026. The Clockwork label, which closed its second major acquisition ('The Brigands of Rattlecreek') in May 2026 following 'Ti Amo!' in April, is the studio's most visible active acquisition vehicle. Distribution activity also continues internationally, including handling of Creed III overseas alongside other MGM/Amazon titles.
Profile compiled from publicly-available sources: trade press (Deadline, Variety, IndieWire, The Hollywood Reporter, Screen Daily), festival market reports (Cannes Marche, AFM, EFM, TIFF Industry), executive public statements, and acquisition announcements. Activity counters reflect signal volume from continuous pipeline indexing.
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