Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. is a major studio distributor committed to theatrical-first event films and franchise IP, now expanding its specialty acquisitions arm through the new Clockwork label.
Current mandate
Warner Bros. remains one of the most active theatrical distributors in Hollywood, operating under a firm 45-day window mandate that CEO David Zaslav has publicly championed as a core strategic pillar. Zaslav has stated the company is "in no rush" to bring films to Max, arguing that theatrical debuts drive substantially stronger streaming performance than direct-to-platform releases. The studio's theatrical-first posture is not merely rhetorical: the pivot of Evil Dead Rise from a Max streaming plan to an exclusive theatrical window, touted at CinemaCon, illustrates how that philosophy plays out in practice. The studio's event-film and franchise IP focus remains the center of gravity, with broad commercial appeal the primary filter for its main label slate.
Across the recent acquisition window, the most notable development is the launch of Clockwork, a new specialty label operating under the Warner Bros. umbrella. Clockwork has moved quickly, with its second major acquisition being Sean Baker's Ti Amo! in April 2026, followed by winning a competitive bidding war for Park Chan-wook's western-thriller The Brigands of Rattlecreek for North American rights in a deal reported in the $15M range, against a production budget of approximately $60M. The label also has a presence at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival with the 4K restoration of Ken Russell's The Devils (1971). Other recent acquisitions tracked by ScriptMatch include Bitter Christmas, Night People, and Shiver, with budgets undisclosed. Warner Bros. also continues to handle international distribution for select MGM/Amazon titles, including Creed III overseas, reflecting ongoing third-party distribution partnerships.
Material reaching Warner Bros.' main label travels almost exclusively through established producer relationships, talent agencies, and major sales agents, consistent with a studio of its scale. The Clockwork label, however, has demonstrated a festival-acquisition model, with both Ti Amo! and The Brigands of Rattlecreek sourced from the international festival and market circuit. No open submission portal or named fellowship program is documented for either label. Producers and writers seeking access to the Clockwork pipeline in particular would be well served by securing representation and positioning projects for major festival premieres, given the label's observed deal pattern.
Signature peaks
- 2 Major Acquisitions Clockwork Label Launch — New specialty label secured Ti Amo! and The Brigands of Rattlecreek within its first months of operation.
- 45-Day Exclusive Theatrical Window Mandate — Zaslav has publicly committed to full theatrical windowing before any Max release, a policy reinforced across multiple CinemaCon appearances.
- 269 Decision Makers Tracked — ScriptMatch tracks 269 decision makers across the Warner Bros. organization, reflecting the studio's broad acquisitions and distribution infrastructure.
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- Not disclosed
- Territory focus
- Not disclosed
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- Every tracked deal at Warner Bros.' main label has moved through talent agencies, major sales agents, or established producer relationships; no open submission portal or named fellowship program is documented for the main label. The Clockwork specialty label has sourced both of its confirmed acquisitions from the international festival and market circuit, making a major festival premiere the most clearly documented route to that label's acquisition team.
- Deal structure
- Warner Bros. acquires North American and international distribution rights for theatrical release, operating under a 45-day exclusive theatrical window before any streaming migration to Max; the Clockwork label pursues competitive rights acquisitions for specialty titles, as evidenced by the reported $15M-range North American deal for The Brigands of Rattlecreek. The studio also engages in third-party distribution partnerships for select titles from other studios and rights holders.
Recent acquisitions
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Bitter Christmas
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Mortal Kombat II
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Night People
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Shiver
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The Brigands of Rattlecreek
Warner Bros.' new label Clockwork has 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
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The Devils (1971 restoration)
The Devils 4K restoration premiering at 2026 Cannes Film Festival
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Ti Amo!
Clockwork's second major acquisition after nabbing Sean Baker's Ti Amo! back in April
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Warner Bros
Market context
With Clockwork winning a bidding war for Park Chan-wook's The Brigands of Rattlecreek in a deal said to be in the $15M range, Warner Bros. is signaling serious intent beyond its own franchise pipeline.
Warner Bros. remains one of the most active theatrical distributors in Hollywood, operating under a firm 45-day window mandate that CEO David Zaslav has publicly championed as a core strategic pillar. Zaslav has stated the company is "in no rush" to bring films to Max, arguing that theatrical debuts drive substantially stronger streaming performance than direct-to-platform releases. The studio's theatrical-first posture is not merely rhetorical: the pivot of Evil Dead Rise from a Max streaming plan to an exclusive theatrical window, touted at CinemaCon, illustrates how that philosophy plays out in practice. The studio's event-film and franchise IP focus remains the center of gravity, with broad commercial appeal the primary filter for its main label slate.
Common questions about Warner Bros.
Does Warner Bros. accept unsolicited scripts?
No unsolicited pathway is documented in ScriptMatch's tracking data for Warner Bros.' main label. Every deal observed has moved through established talent agencies, major sales agents, or existing producer relationships. The newer Clockwork specialty label has sourced acquisitions from the international festival and market circuit, which represents the most observable route for independent projects reaching the Warner Bros. umbrella outside of traditional studio development pipelines.
What budget range does Warner Bros. typically work at?
Warner Bros.' main label focuses on event films and franchise IP, which typically operate at major studio budget levels. The Clockwork specialty label has shown a different profile: The Brigands of Rattlecreek carried a reported production budget of approximately $60M with a North American acquisition deal said to be in the $15M range. Budgets for other recent acquisitions including Night People, Shiver, and Bitter Christmas were not disclosed in available trade coverage.
What festivals does Warner Bros. source films from?
The Clockwork label has demonstrated a clear festival-acquisition strategy. The Brigands of Rattlecreek was acquired out of the international market circuit, and The Devils 4K restoration premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival under the Clockwork banner. Sean Baker's Ti Amo! was also a Clockwork acquisition sourced from the festival circuit. The main Warner Bros. label operates primarily through its own development and franchise pipeline rather than festival acquisitions.
How do I get my script or film in front of Warner Bros.?
For the main Warner Bros. label, all tracked deals have moved through agents, established producers, or major sales companies. No open call or submission portal is documented. The Clockwork specialty label offers a more observable pathway for independent filmmakers: both of its confirmed acquisitions came through the international festival and market circuit. Securing representation and positioning a project for a major festival premiere is the most documented route to the Clockwork acquisition team.
What genres is Warner Bros. currently acquiring?
The main label's stated mandate centers on event films and franchise IP with broad commercial appeal, as reflected in titles like Mortal Kombat II. The Clockwork label is acquiring prestige and auteur-driven work across genres: Ti Amo! is a drama from Sean Baker, The Brigands of Rattlecreek is a western-thriller from Park Chan-wook, and The Devils restoration is a drama-horror hybrid. The label appears oriented toward internationally recognized filmmakers working in distinctive genre territory.
Is Warner Bros. currently active in the acquisitions market?
Yes. ScriptMatch's tracking shows three unique deals in the 90-day window and 575 total records over the past 12 months, with the latest signal dated July 2026. The Clockwork label in particular has been notably active in 2026, winning a competitive bidding war for The Brigands of Rattlecreek at a reported $15M-range deal and maintaining a presence at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. The main label continues to schedule and distribute a broad theatrical slate.
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Related reading
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