MGM Pictures

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or better known as MGM Pictures is an American media company in which produces and distributes films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 by entrepreneur Marcus Loew and used to be the largest film studio. It was founded by Marcus as he took over Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer Pictures. 

The very well known logo of the roaring lion (or Leo the Lion) was created by Howard Dietz - an American publicist, lyricist and librettist - in 1916 for Goldwyn PIctures, however updated in 1924 for MGM. The logo has the official studio motto "Ars Gratia Artis" what means "Art for Art's Sake" inscribed around the ring of the lion. The roar was only added in for the first time in August 1928 because the films were originally silent.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was the dominant motion picture studio in Hollywood from the end of silent films to the late 50s. Although their films were usually alway a success they loss a lot of money through the 1960s because of cultural and nature changing. 

MGM had struggled in 1973 because of cutting staff and production costs what resulted them in to producing low-budget face and then forced to shut down the theatrical distribution. It continued to produce a few films a year through other studios, mostly United Artists. The theatrical distribution was back on track in 1981 when they decided to buy United Artists as UA's parent company Transamerica Corporation decided to let the studio got after the failure of the film Heaven's Gate (1980).

As MGM was now successful again they decided to purchase Metromedia's (another media and radio company) film subsidiaries, including Orion Pictures. 
   Also, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer attempted to take over Universal Studios in 2003 but failed. 

Although MGM is known for distributing the most well known bond series they only done 11 out of the 23: 

MGM and UA (United Artists)

. Octopussy (1983)

. A View to a Kill (1985)

. The Living Daylights (1987)

. License to Kill (1989)

. GoldenEye (1995)

MGM 

. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

. The World Is Not Enough (1999)

. Die Another Day (2002)


MGM and Sony Pictures Entertainment

. Casino Royale (2006)

. Quantum of Solace (2008)

. Skyfall (2012)

Even though, MGM have had many ups and down with debt they have countless library of films and TV production and distributing and are still going today. With their top 5 Box Office  Grossing Movies ever sure did help:

1) Gone with the Wind - $189.5 million - released: Dec 15th, 1939.
2) Rain Man - $172.8 million - released: Dec 16th, 1988.
3) Hannibal - $165.0 million -  released: Feb 9th, 2001.
4) Die Another Day - $160.9 million - released: Nov 22th, 2002.
5) Rocky IV - $127.8 million - released: Nov 27th, 1985.

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