Producing : Blockbusters to Bust: A Cautionary Tale for Swaggering Hollywood Indie Studios by Richard "RB" Botto

It's unfortunate what happened to Carolco Pictures, Richard "RB" Botto, but it had a phenomenal run! Terminator 2: Judgment Day, three Rambo movies, Total Recall, Cliffhanger, etc.

Thanks for sharing Richard "RB" Botto and it shows that you have to change with the times or you get left in the dust just like Blockbuster got replaced by Netflix. Ai is the big change that is the most significant for sure. Moving forward, studios have to use Youtube, Rumble, Bitchute, Vimeo, Instagram, X and others to push their films. Create shorts for Youtube and Reels for Instagram, slam ads on them and see what happens. But most studios are so bloated and backward thinking. Hence, why so many studios are failing as did Blockbuster and all Movie Rentals businesses. And I agree with you Maurice Vaughan and I am surprised that no one hass purchased them.

They're a fascinating tale, Maurice Vaughan, no question.

Absolutely they put out a lot of great films in the action sci-fi genres and in their best period a lot of great titles Great article paisan

they were the first company I worked for on my first P.A. job on a movie called Red Heat! and also my first movie as a DGA member, terminator 2!

Very familiar with RED HEAT, Xochi Blymyer

What an epic tale! Carolco also built a studio lot in Wilmington, NC that people I knew in NYC bought during the bankruptcy and ran successfully for almost 30 years. This article is a movie in and unto itself - or could be a limited series in the lane of THE OFFER. Such a great read, Richard "RB" Botto.

Great article. I remember them, never worked on any of their pictures unfortunately, but I like their work.

Would make a tremendous doc, Sam Sokolow. Much more to the story.

They had a run, Tommy Luca. Tastemasters to an extent. Depending on your taste, of course.

Richard "RB" Botto I recall at the time it blew my mind they could go bust. First dose, beginning of financial realities, and cautionary tales in the film business for me, as VP Creative Affairs & Production for Michael Phillips Productions (The Sting, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Taxi Driver.)

It's truly hard to believe it happened the way it did, Jack Binder. But in another breath, it's happened so many other companies in similar fashion. Some hubris, some terrible decisions on projects and, perhaps even more so, budgets. Of course, these problems still exist today. Look at some recent "failures" and their outrageous budgets.

Didn't realize you worked for MPP. Gotta have stories for days, I'm sure.

Oh yeah, @RB. Of course this was back in the day when CEOs could take out the profits without a board preventing it, leaving the company without proper resources to continue viability. These guys may have been the driving force behind Wall St. oversight and accountability...true renegades...

Absolutely fascinating, Jack Binder. Would love a doc on this subject.

Richard "RB" Botto Good call. It was an interesting time. Wall Street was betting heavily on famous filmmakers, and these guys and their colleagues had serious connections with major banks and lenders. Their backing was impressive. Then they went overboard and financiers wised-up to such extravagance - but they loved it, and still do!

Hopefully, we can have a resurgence of sorts in the indie space, Jack Binder. I believe the allure is still there.