Amblin Entertainment

Amblin is named after Spielberg's first commercially released film, Amblin' (1968), a short independent film about a man and woman hitchhiking through the desert. The film, which cost $15,000 to produce, was shown for Universal Studios and won Spielberg more directing roles.[2] Although Amblin is an independent production company, Universal distributes many Amblin productions, and Amblin operates out of a building on the Universal lot.[3]

Its logo features the silhouette of E.T. riding in the basket on Elliott's bicycle flying in front of the moon from the 1982 movie, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Amblin first produced its film Continental Divide in 1981, with Steven Spielberg serving as executive producer.[4] Founding partners Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall of Amblin caught the attention of film producer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1982, of which they both produced Poltergeist, which was directed by filmmaker Tobe Hooper.[5] The following week, Kathleen Kennedy, another founding partner of Amblin produced the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which ended up being the highest-grossing film of the year.[6] In 1983, one of the founding partners produced Twilight Zone: The Movie.[7] Amblin went on to produce the most successful films, like Gremlins, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and the Back to the Future trilogy.[8] In 1991, founding partner Frank Marshall left the company after 10 years.[9] The next year, Kathleen Kennedy left the company.[10]

In 1989, they set up an animated unit Amblimation.[11] It was defunct in 1997.[12] In 1993, Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald joined the company.[13]

Note: The films marked with "*" are ones that Spielberg had no involvement with.

• Tummy Trouble (1989)
• Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990)
• Trail Mix-Up (1993)
• I'm Mad (Animaniacs short) (1994)

• Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation (1992)
• Wakko's Wish (1999)

While Amblin has never had its own theme park, theme parks have made rides based on Amblin films and co-productions.

• Back to the Future: The Ride, a simulator ride at Universal Studios Japan. Also existed at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood.
• Gremlins Invasion, a ride at Warner Bros. Movie World and Warner Bros. Movie World Germany.
• Jurassic Park: The Ride, a water ride at Universal Studios Hollywood.
• Men in Black: Alien Attack, a dark ride at Universal Studios Florida.
• Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, a dark ride in Mickey's Toontown, a land at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland.
• Twister...Ride it Out, a simulator ride at Universal Studios Florida.
• E.T. Adventure, a dark ride at Universal Studios Florida. Also existed at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan.

• Amblin Entertainment at IMDb