Movies the studios did not believe in: 5 films that changed hands and became hits
Five movies that moved from one studio to another before becoming hits, from Pretty Woman, Pulp Fiction and Titanic to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Slumdog Millionaire.
Not every great film starts with a studio's full backing. This list gathers five movies that began at one studio and were finished or taken over by another, in release order, with posters and the directors.
How we chose
We chose well-known cases where a film moved from its original studio to another or gained a second backer, according to widely reported accounts. Details vary by source, so this is not a numbered ranking.
Pretty Woman (1990)
Directed by Garry Marshall. Moved from Tri-Star Pictures to Touchstone Pictures.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Moved from TriStar Pictures to Miramax.
Titanic (1997)
Directed by James Cameron. Moved from 20th Century Fox to Fox + Paramount.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Directed by Peter Jackson. Moved from Miramax to New Line Cinema.
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Directed by Danny Boyle. Moved from Warner Independent to Fox Searchlight.
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Frequently asked questions
Which famous movies were passed on by studios?
Pulp Fiction, Pretty Woman, The Lord of the Rings and Slumdog Millionaire are well-known examples of films that changed studios before release.
Why do studios drop projects that later succeed?
Budgets, risk, leadership changes and doubts about commercial appeal can lead a studio to pass, even on films that later become hits.
Was Titanic made by two studios?
Yes. Fox and Paramount shared the costs after the budget grew, and the film became one of the biggest hits ever.
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Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
