GMA tested the movie waters by co-producing films with Viva Films. Among the movies that were co-produced were Ober Da Bakod: The Movie, Forever and Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko. Although not credited in the opening and closing credits of the movies, the network's logo appeared in the aforementioned movies' posters in theaters and newspaper ads.
1995–2000: early years
Cinemax Studios logo used from 1995 to 1997.
In 1995, GMA Network launched its own film outfit Cinemax Studios under the supervision of Jimmy Duavit and Butch Jimenez, with Run Barbi Run as its maiden movie. Later that year, Cinemax inked a co-production deal with OctoArts Films in which OctoArts would distribute the movies in theaters nationwide, while Cinemax (through its mother network, GMA) would handle publicity and promotions of the movies for TV and radio. GMA Network holds the airing rights for those movies. Films co-produced with other production companies are distributed by Cinemax.[3]
In 1997, Cinemax began producing and distributing its own movies, beginning with Mga Bangka sa Tag-araw (later on known as Sa Pusod ng Dagat) and Indios (later on known as My Guardian Debil). At this time, it partnered with sister companies Film Experts and Optima Digital for production and post-production of its movies respectively.[4][5]
In 1998, it changed its name to GMA Films after HBO's sister channel Cinemax entered the Southeast Asian market. The same year, GMA received critical and commercial success for Sa Pusod ng Dagat and José Rizal, both produced and directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. GMA Films also produced Muro-Ami and Deathrow, both which were entries at their respective MMFFs and also critically acclaimed.[3]
On June 9, 1999, GMA Films locally distributed the anime film Voltes V: The Liberation, produced by Carlos Agustin.[6]
In 2000, after the departure of Butch Jimenez from GMA Network, GMA Films was placed on hiatus. Deathrow was the last film produced.
2004–2009: comeback and breakthrough
In late 2004, GMA Films made its comeback, with Let the Love Begin as its first production. It became the highest-grossing Valentine film in the Philippines when it released in February 2005.
It later released other films that also became hits in the Philippine Box-office.
In 2007, the award-winning film Ouija co-produced with Viva Films was supposed to be its first film to be released internationally. However, the scheduled overseas premieres in four U.S. cities (Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego) were cancelled. Only the one in New Jersey pushed through.[7] The movie is titled Seance internationally.
In 2009, GMA Films produced the reboot of the classic komiks novel Ang Panday in partnership with Imus Productions. Starring Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. in the title role, it became the official entry of GMA Films and Imus Productions for the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival. It became the festival's top grosser and won 6 major awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Revilla.
During the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival, GMA Films' entry Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote became the top grosser. The film starred Vic Sotto and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and was a joint production with Imus Productions, M-Zet Production, Octo Arts Films and APT Entertainment.
GMA Films logo used from September 2011 to May 2014.
On May 11, 2012, The Road was released to theaters in the U.S. and Canada.[8][9]
2012 is the year that GMA Films has produced eight films in a year, the most it has ever done since its very start. This was part of GMA Films' resolution to produce one film per month. Even though that did not happen, they managed to produce eight films. On the same year, It made their own first venture for television was Cielo de Angelina on the morning slot.
2013–2014
In 2013, GMA Films produced only 2 feature film, Dance of the Steelbars and My Lady Boss. Both films performed less than its previous films last year despite a star-studded cast. It distributed the Cinemalaya 2013 entry Sana Dati to theaters.
With the popularity of the AlDub love team (Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza rising to phenomenal heights in 2015, GMA Films partnered with Octo Arts Films, M-Zet Productions, APT Entertainment and MEDA Productions to produce My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore as entry to the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival. The hottest love team was joined by Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas, directed by Jose Javier Reyes. The movie figured in a tight race with another MMFF entry, Beauty and the Bestie for the top spot at the box-office. The movie eventually earned P385 million, breaking box-office records. The said movie also earned 3 major awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Maine Mendoza.
In 2016, GMA Films partnered with APT Entertainment and M-Zet Productions for the movie Imagine You and Me, which marked the second team-up of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza. Shot mostly in Como and Verona in Italy, the movie was directed by Mike Tuviera. It was also one of the only two films (the other one is the film adaptation of Angels & Demons by Dan Brown) permitted to shoot in Verona.
Upon the movie's release on July 13, 2016, the film grossed over ₱12.8 million on the first six hours of opening day and it went on to gross over ₱21.5 million at the end of the day. It was 2016's highest opening gross for a Philippine film until it was surpassed by the Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla starrer Barcelona: A Love Untold, which grossed ₱23 million according to Star Cinema. Overall, Imagine You and Me was a big box office hit and had a successful four-week run in Philippine cinemas nationwide.
After Imagine You and Me, GMA Films took another hiatus as parent GMA Network focused on its migration to digital TV.
GMA Records Home Video is the home video distribution arm of GMA Pictures. It is the exclusive home video and DVD distributor of films produced by GMA Pictures, as well as programs from GMA Network and films from select production compaines.
