Briarcliff Entertainment

Tom Ortenberg launched Briarcliff Entertainment in 2018 after stepping down as CEO of Open Road Films. The independent studio made its mark immediately by releasing Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 11/9, a sharp political documentary that set a serious tone for the new venture. Rather than chasing big-budget blockbusters, the company built a reputation on action thrillers and hard-hitting nonfiction films.

Their slate included Liam Neeson leading Honest Thief and Blacklight, alongside Gerard Butler in the gritty thriller Copshop. These projects showed a clear preference for genre pieces driven by established stars rather than expensive franchise mechanics. The brand operates with a lean organizational structure led by Ortenberg, who serves as the primary executive voice.

Recent developments highlight the company's continued activity in 2026, with acquisitions such as the heist thriller comedy Drag at SXSW and the North American rights to the Ukrainian documentary Ash and Crayons. The studio also demonstrated innovative marketing strategies in early 2026 with the sci-fi thriller Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, offering free tickets to viewers who lost jobs to AI. [edit]