Rideback

What Rideback does

Rideback is a privately held, Los Angeles-based film and television production company founded in 2007/2008 by Dan Lin after his departure from Warner Bros. The company produces premium content for global audiences, with a track record of $6 billion in cumulative worldwide theatrical box office across franchises including the LEGO movies, Sherlock Holmes, IT, Aladdin, and Godzilla vs. Kong. It operates under a first-look production deal with Universal Pictures (signed January 2021) following a long-standing relationship with Warner Bros., and produces series for Netflix (Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Two Popes, Death Note, Sesame Street), Disney (live-action Aladdin, Lilo & Stitch, Haunted Mansion), Hulu (Interior Chinatown, Opposing Counsel, Last Second Chance), The CW (Walker and Walker: Independence), and Amazon Studios (Best of the Best).

The business is structured as a professional-services production house. Revenue derives from production fees, producer fees, and backend participation on box-office performance, negotiated individually with studios and platforms. There are no proprietary technology platforms; the core capability is creative development, talent relationships, and production oversight. The company maintains a small core team (11-50 employees) led by Co-CEOs Jonathan Eirich and Michael LoFaso, with a President of Television (Jonathan Gabay, ex-Berlanti Productions), senior production leadership, and an affiliated nonprofit (Rideback Rise, a 501c3 BIPOC content accelerator) plus the Rideback TV Incubator (with MRC) and Rideback Thinking Hat Campfire for emerging-creator development. The company is headquartered at the Rideback Ranch creative campus in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles.

Name

Rideback

Legal name

Rideback

Website

https://rideback.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rideback is a Los Angeles-based, privately held film and television production company producing tentpole theatrical releases and streaming series for Netflix, Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., Hulu, The CW, and Amazon Studios, with $6 billion in cumulative worldwide box office.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Film and Television Production: Rideback generates revenue by producing premium film and television content for studios and streaming platforms. The company produces tentpole franchises and acclaimed series, earning production fees, producer fees, and backend participation based on box office performance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Rideback is a film and television production company that develops and produces premium theatrical films and series content for major studios, streaming platforms, and broadcast networks. The company produces tentpole franchises and original content, earning production fees and backend participation, while also providing brand storytelling services for consumer and corporate clients through its creative community.

Product overview

Rideback is a film and television production company that produces premium content for global audiences. The company operates as a unified production entity rather than a platform with modular products. Their portfolio includes major theatrical releases (Aladdin, IT, LEGO movies, Sherlock Holmes, Godzilla vs. Kong, Death Note) and television series (Avatar: The Last Airbender for Netflix, Walker for The CW, Interior Chinatown for Hulu, Haunted Mansion for Disney). The company also operates talent development programs including Rideback Rise (non-profit BIPOC accelerator), the Rideback TV Incubator (writer residency with MRC), and Rideback Thinking Hat Campfire. Their creative campus, Rideback Ranch, serves as their headquarters in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles. The company has grossed $6 billion in worldwide box office across its productions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Avatar: The Last Airbender Netflix live-action adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon animated series following Aang's journey to become the Avatar and save the world. Anime-inspired series produced by Rideback for Netflix.
• Walker The CW network series and reimagining of Walker, Texas Ranger starring Jared Padalecki, currently in its fourth season.
• Walker: Independence The CW prequel series set in the late 1800s following Abby Walker, serving as the origin story to the Walker universe.
• Interior Chinatown Hulu series based on Charles Yu's 2020 bestseller, following Willis Wu, a background character trapped in a crime drama. Produced by Rideback through 20th Television.
• Aladdin (Live-Action) Disney billion-dollar grossing live-action remake of the animated classic, directed by Guy Ritchie. Produced by Rideback for Disney.
• The Two Popes Netflix critically acclaimed film about the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. Nominated for BAFTA, Golden Globe, and three Oscar nominations.
• IT: Chapter 2 Horror sequel to IT, based on Stephen King's novel. Second installment of the two-part adaptation produced by Rideback for New Line/Warner Bros.
• Lilo & Stitch (Live-Action) Disney live-action remake of the cult 2002 animated film, in production with Dean Fleischer Camp directing. Produced by Rideback for Disney.
• Haunted Mansion Disney family adventure film based on the theme park attraction. Released March 2023. Produced by Rideback for Disney.
• Easter Sunday Amblin/Universal comedy starring Jo Koy, released theatrically in August 2022. Produced by Rideback for Universal Pictures.
• LEGO Movie Franchise Animated and live-action hybrid franchise including The LEGO Movie, The LEGO Batman Movie, The LEGO Ninjago Movie, and The LEGO Movie 2. Produced by Rideback for Warner Bros.
• Sherlock Holmes Franchise Guy Ritchie-directed franchise starring Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes, including Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Produced by Rideback for Warner Bros.
• Godzilla vs. Kong Monster film produced with Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros., part of the MonsterVerse franchise.
• Death Note Netflix manga adaptation directed by Adam Wingard. Produced by Rideback for Netflix.

Quantifiable outcome

• $6 billion worldwide box office gross
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universal PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2021Universal Pictures signed a first-look production deal with Dan Lin and Rideback. The deal covers production of film content for Universal following Rideback's success with Aladdin and The Two Popes.
• MRCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRideback partnered with MRC, a leading film and TV studio, to form the Rideback TV Incubator - an inclusion-focused writer residency program providing diverse writers opportunity to create shows for cable and streaming.
• Thinking HatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRideback partnered with production shingle Thinking Hat to form the Rideback Thinking Hat Campfire, giving underrepresented voices opportunity to develop shows for broadcast.
• Sesame WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRideback and Dan Lin (now Netflix head of film) will produce a new Sesame Street movie for Netflix alongside Sesame Workshop, following a bidding war with Universal Pictures and Warner Bros.
• Adobe Film & TV FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdobe partnered with Rideback RISE as part of its $10 million Film & TV Fund commitment, providing creative opportunities and grants to filmmakers.
• Sundance InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdobe expanded support for Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship with new short film fund for alumni, with Rideback RISE as a community organization beneficiary.
• 20th TelevisioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHulu is developing Opposing Counsel and Last Second Chance with Rideback producing through 20th Television for distribution.
• Rideback RisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRideback Rise is a 501c3 nonprofit BIPOC content accelerator, independently funded and separate from Rideback, supporting experienced creators in making mainstream film and television to advance racial equity. Supported by Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Doris Duke Foundation among others.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Thunder Road Films: Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee's production banner producing major action and franchise features (John Wick, Sicario). Comparable to Rideback in independent producer economics and major-studio tentpole output.
• Legendary Entertainment: Independent film/TV production company founded by Thomas Tull that specializes in tentpole franchises (Godzilla/Monsterverse, The Dark Knight, Jurassic World). Comparable to Rideback in producing major franchise IP for global audiences and in scale of theatrical output.
• Bad Robot: J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath's production banner producing major franchises (Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, Westworld) and currently under a wide-ranging Warner Bros. deal. Comparable to Rideback in franchise-driven production and in major-studio first-look economics.
• Color Force: Nina Jacobson's production company behind major franchises including The Hunger Games series. Comparable to Rideback in producing high-grossing, IP-driven franchises for major studios with similar boutique-scale operations.
• Blumhouse Productions: Jason Blum's horror/thriller-focused production company known for low-budget, high-margin film franchises and multi-project Universal deals. Comparable to Rideback in operating a high-volume production slate anchored by major-studio distribution partnerships.
• Plan B Entertainment: Brad Pitt's production company producing prestige film and television (12 Years a Slave, Moonlight, The Big Short) with major studio distribution partners. Comparable to Rideback in producing premium, award-recognized content for global audiences.
• Skydance Media: David Ellison's diversified production company producing major franchise and streaming content (Mission: Impossible, Top Gun, Star Trek). Comparable to Rideback in producing tentpole entertainment for studios and streamers with multi-year first-look relationships.
• A24: Independent film and television production/distribution company producing critically acclaimed premium content. Comparable to Rideback in producing franchise film and prestige TV with a similar company size and Hollywood-centric operating model.
• Amblin Partners: Steven Spielberg's film and TV production company producing legacy and family franchises with strong studio partnerships. Comparable to Rideback in producing tentpole live-action remakes and franchise television across major studios.

Broad incumbents

• Lionsgate Films: Vertically integrated studio producing and distributing film and television including major franchises (Hunger Games, John Wick). Comparable to Rideback in producing multi-title franchises at scale, though fully integrated as a studio where Rideback is an independent producer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ridebackranch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rideback