Village Roadshow: From “The Matrix” to Chapter 11 (Resurrections Not Included)

Village Roadshow Pictures filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Delaware court on March 17, 2025. The company reported assets between $100 million to $500 million and liabilities ranging from $500 million to $1 billion. Specifically, Village Roadshow disclosed $223.8 million in asset-backed secured notes and $163.1 million of senior secured debt.

The bankruptcy filing indicates that funds will be available for distribution to unsecured creditors. Village Roadshow has reached an agreement with existing creditors for a debtor-in-possession facility to facilitate the sale of its assets through bankruptcy. CP Ventura LLC has been identified as a stalking horse bidder for its library assets, with an initial bid of $365 million.

While the company’s website currently promotes the movie “Goliath,” it makes no mention of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy. ‘Goliath’ tells the story of Wilt Chamberlain and his cultural impact from the 1950s until his death in 1999.

Recent Box Office Failures

Village Roadshow’s financial troubles have been exacerbated by several recent box office disappointments. The company’s venture into independent film and television production, launched in 2018, proved unsuccessful. None of the independently produced films or television series generated profits. And like many entertainment companies, Village Roadshow faced challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to decreased demand for films.

The company was further impacted by the Hollywood actors’ and writers’ strikes that began in May 2023, disrupting the industry and potentially affecting the performance of their releases. The ongoing arbitration with Warner Bros. over “The Matrix Resurrections” has resulted in over $18 million in legal expenses, impacting the company’s financial stability.

While specific box office numbers for individual films are not provided in the search results, these factors collectively contributed to Village Roadshow’s financial decline, ultimately leading to its bankruptcy filing. The company’s inability to replicate the success of its earlier hits like “Joker” and “The Matrix” franchise in recent years has played a significant role in its current financial predicament.

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