Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated
Warner Bros. Pictures
Warner Bros. Pictures is operating at peak commercial momentum in 2025, leading domestic box office marketshare ahead of Disney while pursuing a diverse slate built on franchise IP, original swings, and efficient production targeting young audiences.
Current mandate
Warner Bros. Pictures is in an active slate-building phase under co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who have publicly committed to a diverse mix of known IP adaptations, original films, and dormant-franchise revivals. The studio's current commercial position is its strongest in years: eight films have opened in first place so far in 2025, seven consecutive releases have opened to $40 million or more domestically, and Warners currently leads Disney in 2025 box office marketshare. Recent landmark performances include A Minecraft Movie ($957 million globally), Superman ($614 million-plus in global ticket sales), F1: The Movie ($619 million worldwide, handled via a marketing and distribution partnership with Apple Original Films), Sinners (nearly $370 million globally), Final Destination: Bloodlines ($307 million), and Weapons (north of $250 million). The Conjuring: Last Rites posted a $194 million worldwide opening weekend, described as a record for a horror film.
Over the past twelve months, the studio's acquisition pattern has centered on IP with built-in fan bases and franchise potential, consistent with its stated YA dystopian and fantasy focus. Recent acquisitions on record include Shiver (October 2025) and Under Story (December 2025), both at undisclosed terms. On the marketing side, De Luca and Abdy restructured the marketing leadership early in the year, elevating Dana Nussbaum and Christian Davin alongside John Stanford to drive campaigns that lean heavily on social media and digital channels. The studio is also reportedly mounting awards campaigns for One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Weapons, signaling continued investment in prestige positioning alongside commercial tentpoles.
Screenwriters and rights holders seeking access should note that Warner Bros. operates through established agency and production company relationships at the studio level. With 73 decision makers tracked across the organization and 102 activity records logged in the past twelve months, the studio remains one of the most active buyers in the market. Unsolicited material is not accepted directly; representation or an existing producing relationship is the standard pathway in.
Signature peaks
- $614M+ Superman — Global ticket sales; top-grossing superhero pic of 2025
- $619M F1: The Movie — Worldwide; top sports pic of all time (not adjusted for inflation)
- $194M The Conjuring: Last Rites — Worldwide opening weekend; record for a horror film
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- action, drama, sci-fi, fantasy, comedy
- Territory focus
- Not disclosed
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- Representation required. Warner Bros. Pictures does not accept unsolicited material. Entry points include WGA-signatory literary agents, entertainment attorneys, and producers holding first-look or overall deals at the studio. The studio's 73 tracked decision makers span development, production, and marketing divisions globally.
- Deal structure
- Acquisition terms for recent deals (Shiver, Under Story) were not disclosed. The studio pursues both outright acquisitions and development deals, with a stated emphasis on efficient production economics. Budget scale ranges from franchise tentpoles to original films; no floor or ceiling figures are publicly confirmed for acquisition pricing.
Recent acquisitions
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Shiver
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Under Story
Market context
"It shows me the business is alive and well if you can ignite that core audience, and then expand it from there."
Actively pursuing the "internet horror phenomenon" trend (creepypasta, Backrooms-style viral IP) following A24's massive commercial success with Backrooms ($330M+ globally)
Common questions about Warner Bros. Pictures
Does Warner Bros. Pictures accept unsolicited scripts?
Warner Bros. does not accept unsolicited scripts or pitches directly from unrepresented writers. The studio operates through established literary agencies, entertainment law firms, and existing production company relationships. Writers without representation should secure a WGA-signatory agent or manager before approaching the studio. With 73 tracked decision makers across the organization, there are multiple points of entry, but all require a credentialed intermediary to initiate contact.
What budgets does Warner Bros. Pictures target for acquisitions?
Warner Bros. skews toward big-budget tentpole productions, as evidenced by franchise releases such as A Minecraft Movie and Superman. However, studio leadership has publicly stated a goal to produce films as efficiently as possible and widen margins of profitability. Both recent acquisitions on record, Shiver and Under Story, were completed at undisclosed terms, so specific acquisition price ranges are not publicly available. The studio's mandate spans a range from commercial franchise films to original swings.
Which film festivals does Warner Bros. Pictures use to source acquisitions?
No specific festival acquisition activity is documented in recent coverage for Warner Bros. Pictures. The studio's primary acquisition pipeline runs through agency submissions and established production partnerships rather than festival markets. That said, the studio's active awards campaigns for titles including Sinners and One Battle After Another suggest engagement with the prestige circuit, which overlaps with major festival seasons. Writers and producers should not rely on festival exposure alone as a primary pathway to the studio.
How do you get a script or project to Warner Bros. Pictures?
The standard pathway is through a WGA-signatory literary agent, entertainment attorney, or a producer with an existing first-look or overall deal at the studio. Warner Bros. tracks 73 decision makers across its development and production divisions, meaning relationships with individual producers and executives matter significantly. Projects aligned with the studio's stated focus on IP-driven franchise development, YA adaptations, and original films with strong audience hooks are most likely to gain traction through these channels.
What genres is Warner Bros. Pictures actively seeking right now?
According to recent coverage and executive statements, Warner Bros. is prioritizing big-budget feature adaptations of YA dystopian and fantasy bestsellers, IP-driven franchise development with built-in fan bases, and original films capable of generating viral marketing moments. The studio's 2025 slate also demonstrates appetite for horror (The Conjuring: Last Rites), superhero (Superman), sports (F1: The Movie), and prestige drama (Sinners). Leadership has emphasized a deliberately diverse slate rather than a single-genre focus.
Is Warner Bros. Pictures currently active in acquisitions?
Yes. Warner Bros. logged 102 activity records in the past twelve months and has 73 decision makers tracked, indicating sustained institutional activity. The most recent acquisitions on record are Shiver (October 2025) and Under Story (December 2025), both at undisclosed terms. The studio's latest tracked signal is dated June 2026. While the 30-day and 90-day unique deal counts currently show no closed transactions, deal velocity remains tracked, and the studio's overall 2025 commercial performance suggests continued active development investment.
Adjacent buyers in this lane
- Focus Features — Focus Features is doubling down on experiential brand-building and festival acquisitions to court th
- Roadside Attractions — Roadside Attractions is a North American boutique distributor actively acquiring festival-originated
- Fox Entertainment — Fox Entertainment is running a deliberate, low-volume acquisition strategy built around creator-led,
- 20th Television — 20th Television is actively building its overall-deal roster and deepening its animation pipeline, w
Related reading
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