STUDIO OR DISTRIBUTION COMPANY presents

This is the distributor. It may be a studio or independent distribution company. It may or may not have financed the making of the movie. But it is the company that sold the movie into theaters, television, DVD, etc. Sometimes it is listed in the same text as the rest of the credits. Or it could be a logo or even a standalone clip, such as the MGM lion roaring

THE PRODUCTION COMPANY

Usually a movie is produced under a business entity that finances motion pictures. It may be an independent company, a studio or a subsidiary. The director or producer’s personal production company may also have acquired the source material, such as a book or play, upon which the movie is based, and could get a production company credit here as well.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH SO-AND-SO PRODUCTION COMPANY

There may be multiple production companies that played a part in getting the movie made. They are listed here, after the distributor and the primary production company, studio or studio subsidiary.

A DIRECTOR’S NAME FILM (or Producer’s)

Audiences today are used to seeing the director’s name before the movie title, as the auteur or visionary of the movie. Some directors have developed such a well-known style that audiences will have specific expectations when seeing his or her name in front of the title. There’s a difference between a Tarantino film and a Michael Bay film.

If the director simply worked for hire without developing it from his early vision, it’s kind of silly to make the auteur claim here. Sometimes the executive producer claims the film’s style and vision. Tim Burton has with movies he produced but did not direct, such as Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Batman Forever.

THE MOVIE STARS

Anywhere from one to three lead actors are often listed just before the title. It’s a similar position to theauteur, as the presence of these star actors is the reason many people came to see the movie. True movie stars transcend their producers and directors. One may think of a Tarantino film, or a Spielberg movie or Coen Brothers picture. But more likely, people are there to see a Brad Pitt, Paul Walker and Edward Norton. Their names are listed before the movie’s title, which is equivalent to having their names above the title in the movie poster. 

THE TITLE

Now the title of the movie, by itself in big letters.

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