A24 Films, LLC
Company History
A24 Films History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 2012 in New York City, United States
When was A24 Films founded?
A24 Films was founded in 2012 in New York City, United States by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel and John Hodges, making it 14 years old.
- Founded
- 2012
- Founding place
- New York City, United States
- Founders
- Daniel Katz, David Fenkel and John Hodges
- Headquarters today
- New York, New York
- Milestones documented
- 20 (2012–2026)
- Current CEO
- Daniel Katz and David Fenkel
- Acquisitions
- 1
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2012 | A24 founded in New York |
| 2013 | First theatrical releases |
| 2017 | Moonlight wins Best Picture |
| 2018 | John Hodges leaves A24 |
| 2018 | Apple film slate deal |
| 2021 | Sale explored |
| 2022 | $225 million Stripes-led investment |
| 2022 | AAA24 membership launched |
| 2023 | Seven Oscars for Everything Everywhere All at Once |
| 2023 | Cherry Lane Theatre purchase |
| 2023 | A24 and Leonine joint label |
| 2024 | Civil War release |
| 2024 | Thrive Capital round at about $3.5 billion |
| 2025 | Scott Belsky joins as partner |
| 2025 | English release of Ne Zha 2 |
| 2026 | HBO Max pay-1 renewal |
| 2026 | Backrooms becomes A24's top grosser |
| 2026 | Google DeepMind partnership |
| 2026 | Dior partnership |
| 2026 | Reported interest in Letterboxd |
- Where was A24 Films founded?
- A24 Films was founded in New York City, United States in 2012. wikidata.org
- Who founded A24 Films?
- A24 Films was founded by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel and John Hodges.
- When did A24 Films start?
- A24 Films was founded in 2012.
- How old is A24 Films?
- A24 Films is 14 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Daniel Katz led the film finance group at Guggenheim Partners, David Fenkel was president of distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories, and John Hodges ran production and development at Big Beach, the company behind Little Miss Sunshine. Katz has said he decided to start a company while driving on Italy's A24 motorway, which gave the studio its name. The three announced A24 in New York on August 20, 2012, with seed money from Guggenheim Partners and a plan to release eight to 10 films a year.
Founders
Daniel Katz
Daniel Katz co-founded A24 with David Fenkel and John Hodges in August 2012. He previously led the film finance group at Guggenheim Partners, and has said the idea to start his own company came while he was driving on Italy's A24 motorway, which gave the studio its name. Katz and Fenkel still run A24; Observer reported in 2025 that Katz oversees project green-lighting, talent relations and strategic deals. He rarely gives interviews. Under the two co-founders A24 raised $225 million in 2022 at a $2.5 billion valuation and a Thrive Capital-led round in 2024 at about $3.5 billion. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
David Fenkel
David Fenkel co-founded A24 in August 2012 after serving as president of Oscilloscope Laboratories. He and Daniel Katz still lead the company; Observer reported in 2025 that Fenkel manages financing and distribution. A24's distribution arrangements include the 2018 Apple film slate deal, the 2023 A24 | Leonine Studios label for Germany and Austria, and the U.S. pay-1 deal with HBO and HBO Max renewed in January 2026. Like Katz, he rarely speaks publicly. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
John Hodges
John Hodges co-founded A24 in August 2012 after running production and development at Big Beach. He left A24 in March 2018; the company said he would focus on future opportunities. In March 2019 he joined Jax Media, the producer of Russian Doll and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, as head of film. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Key Milestones
A24 founded in New York
On August 20, 2012, Daniel Katz, David Fenkel and John Hodges announced A24 as a New York distribution, financing and production company planning eight to 10 releases a year, with seed money from Guggenheim Partners.
Source: variety.comFirst theatrical releases
A24 released its first film, A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, in February 2013, followed that year by Spring Breakers, The Bling Ring and The Spectacular Now.
Source: variety.comMoonlight wins Best Picture
Moonlight won Best Picture at the Academy Awards on February 26, 2017, after La La Land was announced in error.
Source: cbsnews.comJohn Hodges leaves A24
Co-founder John Hodges announced his exit in March 2018, leaving Daniel Katz and David Fenkel to run the company.
Source: variety.comApple film slate deal
In November 2018 A24 signed a multi-year agreement to produce a slate of films for Apple; the deal later produced On the Rocks and The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Source: variety.comSale explored
Variety reported in July 2021 that A24 had explored a sale with an asking price of $2.5 billion to $3 billion; the company had over 100 employees and offices in Manhattan and Los Angeles.
Source: variety.com$225 million Stripes-led investment
In March 2022 A24 raised $225 million in equity led by Stripes, with Neuberger Berman co-leading, valuing the company at $2.5 billion; the investors took less than 10 percent.
Source: variety.comAAA24 membership launched
A24 launched its paid membership program, A24 All Access (AAA24), in April 2022, offering zines, merchandise discounts and store credit.
Source: fastcompany.comSeven Oscars for Everything Everywhere All at Once
On March 12, 2023, Everything Everywhere All at Once won seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director, and Brendan Fraser won Best Actor for A24's The Whale.
Source: hollywoodreporter.comCherry Lane Theatre purchase
A24 bought the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York's West Village in March 2023; the recorded deed price was $10,026,428.
Source: deadline.comA24 and Leonine joint label
In May 2023 A24 and Leonine Studios set up the joint label A24 | Leonine Studios to release films in Germany and Austria.
Source: variety.comCivil War release
Civil War, A24's most expensive film at the time with a $50 million budget, opened on April 12, 2024 and grossed about $127 million worldwide.
Source: boxofficemojo.comThrive Capital round at about $3.5 billion
In June 2024 Thrive Capital led a funding round that valued A24 at about $3.5 billion, and Thrive founder Josh Kushner joined the board.
Source: variety.comScott Belsky joins as partner
In January 2025 A24 hired Adobe chief strategy officer Scott Belsky as a partner to lead technology and innovation projects.
Source: deadline.comEnglish release of Ne Zha 2
A24 and CMC Pictures released the English-language version of the Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 in U.S., Canadian, Australian and New Zealand theaters on August 22, 2025.
Source: deadline.comHBO Max pay-1 renewal
In January 2026 HBO Max and A24 renewed their multi-year U.S. pay-1 output and library deal.
Source: press.wbd.comBackrooms becomes A24's top grosser
Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons, opened to $81 million domestically on May 29, 2026, A24's biggest debut, and overtook Marty Supreme as its highest-grossing film.
Source: variety.comGoogle DeepMind partnership
In June 2026 A24 and Google DeepMind formed a partnership to develop AI filmmaking tools, with Google investing about $75 million according to the Wall Street Journal.
Source: deadline.comDior partnership
In September 2026 Dior and A24 announced a two-year partnership across film, theater and live events centered on the Cherry Lane Theatre.
Source: hollywoodreporter.comReported interest in Letterboxd
In September 2026 the New York Times reported that A24 was among the parties interested in buying Letterboxd, in a deal expected to value it at more than $300 million.
Source: variety.comMajor Acquisitions
Cherry Lane Theatre
2023Bought the Off-Broadway theater in New York's West Village to host theater, film screenings and live events; it reopened in 2025 and Dior became its premier partner in 2026.
Keep researching A24 Films
A24 Films Company History FAQ
What are the key milestones in A24's history?
A24 was founded in 2012, released its first films in 2013, won Best Picture with Moonlight in 2017, raised $225 million at a $2.5 billion valuation in 2022, won seven Oscars with Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2023, reached about $3.5 billion in 2024 and had its biggest hit, Backrooms, in 2026.
When did Moonlight win Best Picture?
Moonlight won Best Picture at the 89th Academy Awards on February 26, 2017, after presenters first announced La La Land by mistake.
What happened at the 2023 Oscars for A24?
Everything Everywhere All at Once won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and three acting awards, and Brendan Fraser won Best Actor for The Whale, giving A24 all four acting categories.
When did A24 launch AAA24?
A24 launched its AAA24 membership in April 2022 and relaunched it in December 2024 at $10 a month with opening-weekend movie tickets.
What has A24 done in 2026?
In 2026 A24 renewed its HBO Max pay-1 deal, released Backrooms, formed an AI partnership with Google DeepMind that included about $75 million from Google, and signed a two-year partnership with Dior.
When did A24 start making movies?
A24 was founded in 2012 initially as a film distributor, but pivoted into producing its own original films with Moonlight in 2016.
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