The Montecito Picture Company

Ivan Reitman Productions/Northern Lights Entertainment (1976-1998)

In 1976, Ivan Reitman was left as production manager for the Canadian film studio Cinépix to pursue independent production, making American films under the in-name only banner Ivan Reitman Productions. The first project was National Lampoon's Animal House for Universal Pictures,^[4] so Reitman fulfilled his obligations to Cinépix by directing the Canadian film Meatballs after the success of Animal House, and became a smash success.^[5][6]

The company hit its stride after the success of Animal House, by obtaining the rights to the publication Heavy Metal. The eventual film was released in 1981 by Columbia Pictures.^[7] Reitman begin producing and directing films under the banner with Stripes and Ghostbusters for Columbia Pictures, two of the biggest hits the company conceived for the studio.^[8][9]

in 1983, the company produced its 3D film Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone with the Canadian studio Cinépix, for Columbia Pictures, and became the company's most expensive flop at that time, being overcrowded by the success of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.^[10][11]

Afterwards, he was granted attention to Universal Pictures, by directing three biggest films Legal Eagles, Twins and Kindergarten Cop.^[12]

After the success of Twins, the company signed a production deal with Universal Pictures,^[13] and it was renamed to Northern Lights Entertainment, which unlike Ivan Reitman Productions, was named, which was named for the aurora Northern Lights in the Arctic region.^[1]

The company's first films produced under the production name were Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot and Beethoven.^[14][15] The success gave Northern Lights the decision to produce a sequel Beethoven's 2nd, and it became a hit.^[16] In 1993, the company purchased the rights to the Inspector Gadget cartoon to adapt into film for Universal Pictures, but it was never realized after Disney bought out DIC Entertainment.^[17]

In 1994, the company developed its first primetime television pilot First Gentlemen, but it eventually never went to series.^[18] The company teamed up with Universal Cartoon Studios to do a cartoon version of the Beethoven films, called Beethoven: The Animated Series.^[19] In 1997, the company ended its production deal with Universal Pictures in hopes of seeking a new deal.^[20]

The Montecito Picture Company (1998-present)

In 1998, it was renamed to and registered as The Montecitco Picture Company, and hired Universal executive Tom Pollock, who was studio chief when the company was Northern Lights Entertainment, to run the company along with Ivan Reitman.^[21]

Under the new Montecitco banner, the company was originally started off with a deal at PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, and the deal called on for the financing and producing of several motion pictures and it was intended for 3 to 5 pictures.^[21]

Ultimately, the deal collapsed after Universal Pictures (which Pollock previously ran from 1986 to 1996) took control of PolyGram's assets^[2] and Montecito signed a first look deal with DreamWorks Pictures instead in 1999.^[22] The deal ended up being renewed in 2000.^[23] On March 9, 2000, it extended its pact with writer/director Todd Phillips, after the success of the hit movie Road Trip.^[24]

In 2006, the company signed a financing deal with Merrill Lynch to form a new financing company to supply Montecito, Cold Spring Pictures.^[25]

After several years at DreamWorks, on February 18, 2009, the company signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures.^[26] The deal ended on March 16, 2013,^[27] and in 2015, the company moved into offices on the Sony lot. Tom Pollock, who worked with the company since 1998, died in August 2020,^[28] and Ivan Reitman died in February 2022.^[29]