Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA) is an American film production company specializing in the production, acquisition and distribution of low-budget films.
Having been rejected by each major film studio, Bobby and Peter Farrelly pitched the script of Dumb and Dumber to MPCA, which released it in 1994.
Dumb and Dumber opened and remained at number 1 on the U.S. box office for 4 weeks.[1] The film went on to gross $127 million domestically and $120 million overseas for a worldwide total of $247 million, with just a $16 million budget.[2] The film was one of the highest grossing comedies of the '90s. Combined with its ancillary and video sales, the film is estimated to have grossed over half a billion dollars.[3]
The success of Dumb and Dumber helped get the Farrellys' passion project, Kingpin, off the ground. It was released in July 1996, starring Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, and Bill Murray. The movie was a commercial disappointment, grossing only $27 million against a $25 million budget over the course of its theatrical run, although it did receive critical praise.[4]Roger Ebert and gave it 3 and a half stars out 4, praising the film's daring comedy.[5]Kingpin became a cult film when released to home video.[6]
MPCA went on to produce more big-budget studio comedies, including Beverly Hills Ninja starring Chris Farley and Jungle 2 Jungle with Tim Allen. It also produced the autobiographical comedy Threesome, written and directed by Andrew Fleming, and starring Lara Flynn Boyle, and Stephen Baldwin. The film grossed just under $15 million domestically.[7] Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars, praising the film's honest characterization and strong dialogue.[8]
Acquisition by Orion
Prior to its acquisition by Metromedia International Group, MPCA had a first-look producing deal with Paramount Pictures in November 1995. A first-look deal with Sony Pictures in the late 1990s resulted in more than 10 productions for the studio.
In 1996, MPCA was purchased by John Kluge's Metromedia International Group. Metromedia had just purchased the independent production company Orion Pictures out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. When MPCA was merged into the company, Krevoy and Stabler took over as co-presidents of Orion Pictures and were given a six-picture deal.[9]
At Orion, Krevoy and Stabler oversaw the production, acquisition, and distribution of Orion's motion picture and television programming. They produced films for Academy Award-winner Tom Schulman (Dead Poets Society) and released films such as 1997's Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, Prisoner of the Mountains (directed by Sergei Bodrov); and the acclaimed Ulee's Gold (directed by Victor Nunez and presented by Jonathan Demme). Ulee's Gold was a critical hit and won Peter Fonda his first and only Golden Globe for Best Actor. Fonda also received his first and only Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
After two years of ownership, Metromedia sold Orion Pictures to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Krevoy was able to take the MPCA name back as part of his original deal.[10]
In 2004 MPCA produced the drama A Love Song for Bobby Long, starring John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson. The film was well received by audiences and critics, with Roger Ebert awarding it 3 out of 4 stars.[11] The film also earned Scarlett Johansson a Golden Globe nomination.
MPCA produced the 2009 war drama Taking Chance, based on the true experiences of Lt. Colonel Michael Strobl, who wrote about his time in the widely circulated article "Taking Chance Home".[12] The film was directed by Ross Katz and starred Kevin Bacon and screened at the Sundance Film Festival before premiering on HBO. Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the film "doesn't miss a single emotional pressure point – Katz clearly believes in the power and necessity of catharsis."[13]Taking Chance received a total of 27 award nominations, winning 6, including one for Kevin Bacon for Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television. The film was also nominated for a string of Primetime Emmy awards, as well as nominations in the SAG, PGA, DGA, ACE, ASC, and WGA awards. It also won the prestigious Humanitas Prize.
