New Line Cinema

Robert Shaye founded New Line Cinema in New York City in 1967 for the purpose of distributing foreign and art films to college campuses. One of its early successes was the infamous Reefer Madness. 1978's Get Out Your Handkerchiefs was their first Oscar Winner, winning the Best Foreign Language Film Award. In 1974, New Line distributed the Japanese karate classic Sonny Chiba film The Streetfighter which, along with its sequels, became a staple in grindhouses on The Deuce. Their first production was 1977's Stunts. They also distributed John Waters' films, from Multiple Maniacs to his first mainstream film, 1988's Hairspray. In 1983, New Line picked up the distribution rights to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, after Bryanston Distributing lost them. 1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street became an unexpected hit and spawned a franchise, leading New Line to be nicknamed "The House That Freddy Built." New Line would later find success with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Lord of the Rings series.