Touchstone Pictures

Touchstone Pictures was a film distribution label of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Previously, it operated as an active film production banner of The Walt Disney Studios, owned by The Walt Disney Company. Established on February 15, 1984 by then-Disney CEO Ron W. Miller as Touchstone Films. Its releases are typically more mature and adult orientated than those under the Disney label, although the features Who Framed Roger Rabbit and The Nightmare Before Christmas, which used to be released under the Touchstone banner, are now considered as "Disney" movies (the former featured Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and many other Disney characters, though it also featured characters from other studios while the latter was featured in the Kingdom Hearts series: a Disney/Square Enix video game crossover and the latter was released under Walt Disney Pictures upon its theatrical re-release in 2007). Another Touchstone film Reign of Fire may also be considered as a "Disney" movie.

Touchstone Pictures merely serves as a Disney-related brand, not a distinct business operation, and did not exist as a separate company.

Their most commercially successful production partners over the years include Jerry Bruckheimer, Caravan Pictures, Summit Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Icon Productions, Imagine Entertainment, Mandeville Films, Focus Features, Spyglass Entertainment, and DreamWorks Pictures.

History[]

The origins of Touchstone Pictures can be traced to the 1979 release of The Black Hole, a science fiction film that sparked controversy due to the fact that it was the first Disney film to receive a PG rating (although Disney had already distributed its first PG rated film, Take Down, without the Disney name visible). Over the next few years, Disney experimented with more PG-rated fare, such as the 1981 film, Condorman, 1982's Tron, and 1983's Trenchcoat. The latter film attracted major criticism for including adult themes that were considered inappropriate for a Disney film. The controversy over Trenchcoat is generally considered the catalyst that sparked the creation of Touchstone Pictures.

The name Touchstone was chosen out of 1,200 possible names as it supposedly meant "a test of quality", and references a physical object used to sharpen objects. The runner-up name was Silver Wind. One title suggested for the new company was Hyperion Pictures, named after the location of the studio in the 1930s before the move to Burbank. Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg both pitched the name Hollywood Pictures, which would be used for another subsidiary. Contrary to popular belief, the logo is not a thunderbolt over a blue ball (though some productions infer that it is with the sound of a lightning bolt). The ball itself is actually the "stone" while the gold streak across is the tracing left behind from the stone's use. This is made all the more obvious in later years when the logo was altered and the blue ball became a more reflective black stone.

Touchstone's first release was Splash, a huge hit for the studio. The film included brief nudity on the part of star Daryl Hannah and adult language. Ironically, some critics complained that the creation of Touchstone in order to distribute more adult content was itself inappropriate for Disney. The unit become a top source of income for Disney during the 1980s. Touchstone/Disney's first R-rated film, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, came in January 1986 and was another smash. Ruthless People followed in April of 1986 and was also huge. One example of a recent release is Signs (2002). The studio's sister company, ABC Studios currently produces the smash hits: Alias, Desperate Housewives, and Lost, as well as Scrubs.

On February 9, 2009, DreamWorks Pictures entered a long-term deal with Walt Disney Pictures by which the next films made by DreamWorks would be released through the Touchstone banner from 2011 to 2016. However, in September 2015, it was announced that the contract with Disney would expire in 2016, as DreamWorks signs a contract with Universal Pictures. The last film from the DreamWorks-Disney contract would be The Light Between Oceans.

By the end of the DreamWorks deal, Disney had distributed fourteen of DreamWorks' original 30-picture agreement, with thirteen through Touchstone. The deal ended in August 2016, with The Light Between Oceans being the last film released under the agreement. Universal Pictures then replaced Disney as DreamWorks' distributor. Disney will retain the distribution rights for these DreamWorks films in perpetuity as compensation for the studio's outstanding loan.

As of 2017, following the release of The Light Between Oceans, the label was shuttered and permanently defunct. Since then, several other Disney divisions have produced or are developing television series and films based on previous Touchstone properties, such as Turner & Hooch, High Fidelity, Three Men and a Baby, Sister Act, and Real Steel — for Disney+ and Hulu while Touchstone's libraries are currently owned by Walt Disney Pictures.

Gallery[]

List of notable Touchstone features[]

1980s[]

Splash (1984) (PG) (Touchstone's first film)
Country (1984) (PG)
Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985) (PG)
My Science Project (1985) (PG)
Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986) (R)
Off Beat (1986) (PG)
Ruthless People (1986) (R)
Tough Guys (1986) (PG)
The Color of Money (1986) (R)
Outrageous Fortune (1987) (R)
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) (R)
Tin Men (1987) (R)
Three Men and a Baby (1987) (PG)
Adventures in Babysitting (1987) (PG-13)
Stakeout (1987) (R)
Ernest Goes to Camp (1987) (PG)
Can't Buy Me Love (1987) (PG-13)
Hello Again (1987) (PG)

Shoot to Kill (1988) (R)
D.O.A. (1988) (R)
Big Business (1988) (PG)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) (PG)
Cocktail (1988) (R)
The Rescue (1988) (PG)
Heartbreak Hotel (1988) (PG-13)
The Good Mother (1988) (R)
Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) (PG)
Beaches (1988) (PG-13)
Three Fugitives (1989) (PG-13)
New York Stories (1989) (PG)
Disorganized Crime (1989) (R)
Dead Poets Society (1989) (PG)
Turner & Hooch (1989) (PG)
An Innocent Man (1989) (R)
Gross Anatomy (1989) (PG-13)
Blaze (1989) (R)

1990s[]

Stella (1990) (PG-13)
Where the Heart Is (1990) (R)
Pretty Woman (1990) (R)
Ernest Goes to Jail (1990) (PG)
Spaced Invaders (1990) (PG)
Fire Birds (1990) (PG-13)
Dick Tracy (1990) (PG)
Betsy's Wedding (1990) (R)
Mr. Destiny (1990) (PG-13)
Three Men and a Little Lady (1990) (PG)
Green Card (1990) (PG-13)
Scenes from a Mall (1991) (R)
Oscar (1991) (PG)
What About Bob? (1991) (PG)
The Rocketeer (1991) (PG) (Released under the Walt Disney Pictures banner in the United States and worldwide Blu-ray release)
The Doctor (1991) (PG-13)
True Identity (1991) (R)
Deceived (1991) (PG-13)
Paradise (1991) (PG-13)
Ernest Scared Stupid (1991) (PG)
Billy Bathgate (1991) (R)
Father of the Bride (1991) (PG)
Noises Off (1992) (PG-13)
Sister Act (1992) (PG)
3 Ninjas (1992) (PG)
The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag (1992) (PG-13)
Crossing the Bridge (1992) (R)
Captain Ron (1992) (PG-13)
Alive (1993) (R)
The Cemetery Club (1993) (PG-13)
Indian Summer (1993) (PG-13)
Life with Mikey (1993) (PG)
What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) (R)
Another Stakeout (1993) (PG-13)
My Boyfriend's Back (1993) (PG-13)
The Program (1993) (R)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (PG) (Original 1993 release only; Disney handles the reissue releases after the 2006 3D re-release)
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) (PG)
Cabin Boy (1994) (PG-13)
My Father the Hero (1994) (PG)
The Ref (1994) (R)
The Inkwell (1994) (R)
When a Man Loves a Woman (1994) (R)
Renaissance Man (1994) (PG-13)
I Love Trouble (1994) (PG)
It's Pat (1994) (PG-13)
A Simple Twist of Fate (1994) (PG-13)
Ed Wood (1994) (R)
Bad Company (1995) (R)
The Jerky Boys: The Movie (1995) (R)
Jefferson in Paris (1995) (PG-13)
Mad Love (1995) (PG-13)
Feast of July (1995) (R)
Father of the Bride Part II (1995) (PG)
Slam Dunk Ernest (1995) (PG)
Mr. Wrong (1996) (PG-13)
Up Close & Personal (1996) (PG-13)

Two Much (1996) (PG-13)
Little Indian, Big City (1996) (PG)
Last Dance (1996) (R)
Boys (1996) (PG-13)
Phenomenon (1996) (PG)
Kazaam (1996) (PG)
Ransom (1996) (R)
The War at Home (1996) (R)
The Preacher's Wife (1996) (PG)
Metro (1997) (R)
The 6th Man (1997) (PG-13)
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) (R)
Con Air (1997) (R)
Face/Off (1997) (R) (Non-US distribution only; Paramount Pictures owns the North American rights)
Nothing to Lose (1997) (R)
Air Force One (1997) (R) (Released under the Buena Vista International banner; Columbia Pictures owns the North American rights)
A Thousand Acres (1997) (R)
Playing God (1997) (R)
Starship Troopers (1997) (R) (Non-US distribution only; TriStar Pictures owns the North American rights)
Kundun (1997) (PG-13)
The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (1998) (PG) (Direct-to-video; Walt Disney Pictures is credited as the studio)
Krippendorf's Tribe (1998) (PG-13)
He Got Game (1998) (R)
The Horse Whisperer (1998) (PG-13)
Six Days, Seven Nights (1998) (PG-13)
Armageddon (1998) (PG-13)
The Patriot (1998) (R)
Mafia! (1998) (PG-13)
Snake Eyes (1998) (R) (International prints only; Paramount Pictures owns the North American rights)
Holy Man (1998) (PG)
Rushmore (1998) (R)
Beloved (1998) (R)
Gen¹³ (1998) (TV-14) (US Distribution only; Paramount Pictures owns the international rights)
The Waterboy (1998) (PG-13)
Enemy of the State (1998) (R)
A Civil Action (1998) (PG-13) (North American rights only, Paramount Pictures owns the international rights)
The Other Sister (1999) (PG-13)
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) (PG-13)
Instinct (1999) (R)
Summer of Sam (1999) (R)
Runaway Bride (1999) (PG) (International distribution only; Paramount Pictures owns the North American rights)
The 13th Warrior (1999) (R)
Mumford (1999) (R)
Bringing Out the Dead (1999) (R) (Non-US prints only; Paramount Pictures owns the North American rights)
The Insider (1999) (R)
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999) (R)
Cradle Will Rock (1999) (R)
Bicentennial Man (1999) (PG) (Columbia Pictures handles the international rights to this film)
Play It to the Bone (1999) (R)

2000s[]

Mission to Mars (2000) (PG)
High Fidelity (2000) (R)
Keeping the Faith (2000) (PG-13)
Shanghai Noon (2000) (PG-13)
Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) (PG-13)
Coyote Ugly (2000) (PG-13)
The Crew (2000) (PG-13)
Unbreakable (2000) (PG-13)
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) (PG-13) (Universal Pictures handles the international rights)
Double Take (2001) (PG-13)
Pearl Harbor (2001) (PG-13)
Crazy/Beautiful (2001) (PG-13)
Bubble Boy (2001) (PG-13)
New Port South (2001) (PG-13)
Corky Romano (2001) (PG-13)
High Heels and Low Lifes (2001) (R)
Out Cold (2001) (PG-13)
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) (R)
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) (PG-13)
Sorority Boys (2002) (R)
Big Trouble (2002) (PG-13)
Frank McKlusky, C.I. (2002) (PG-13)
Ultimate X: The Movie (2002) (PG)
Bad Company (2002) (PG-13)
Reign of Fire (2002) (PG-13)
Signs (2002) (PG-13)
Sweet Home Alabama (2002) (PG-13)
Moonlight Mile (2002) (PG-13)
The Hot Chick (2002) (PG-13)
25th Hour (2003) (R)
The Recruit (2003) (PG-13)
Shanghai Knights (2003) (PG-13)
Bringing Down the House (2003) (PG-13)
Bruce Almighty (2003) (PG-13) (The film was released domestically by Universal, but Touchstone handled international distribution)
Open Range (2003) (R)
Calendar Girls (2003) (PG-13)
Hope Springs (2003) (PG-13)
Cold Creek Manor (2003) (R)

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) (PG-13)
Veronica Guerin (2003) (R)
Hidalgo (2004) (PG-13)
The Ladykillers (2004) (R)
The Alamo (2004) (PG-13)
Raising Helen (2004) (PG-13)
King Arthur (2004) (PG-13)
The Village (2004) (PG-13)
Mr. 3000 (2004) (PG-13)
The Last Shot (2004) (R)
Ladder 49 (2004) (PG-13)
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) (R)
A Lot Like Love (2005) (PG-13)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) (PG)
Cinderella Man (2005) (PG-13) (co-produced with Universal Pictures and Miramax Films)
Dark Water (2005) (PG-13)
Flightplan (2005) (PG-13)
Goal!: The Dream Begins (2005) (Released in two versions: PG - Cut and PG-13 Uncut)
Shopgirl (2005) (R) (20th Century Fox owns the international rights. Today, Disney owns this movie completely.)
Casanova (2005) (R)
Annapolis (2006) (PG-13)
Stick It (2006) (PG-13)
Step Up (2006) (PG-13)
The Guardian (2006) (PG-13)
The Prestige (2006) (PG-13) (Warner Bros. Pictures owns the international rights)
Déjà Vu (2006) (PG-13)
Apocalypto (2006) (R) (Icon Entertainment owns international rights)
Wild Hogs (2007) (PG-13)
Dan in Real Life (2007) (PG-13) (Focus Features owns the international rights)
Step Up 2: The Streets (2008) (PG-13)
Swing Vote (2008) (PG-13)
Miracle at St. Anna (2008) (R)
Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) (PG)
Surrogates (2009) (PG-13)
The Proposal (2009) (PG-13)

2010s[]

When in Rome (2010) (PG-13)
The Last Song (2010) (PG)
Step Up 3D (2010) (PG-13) (Final Step Up film to be released under the Touchstone banner; following Step Up installments would be distributed by Summit Entertainment, whom they co-distributed for the first three)
You Again (2010) (PG)
The Tempest (2010) (PG-13)
Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) (G)
I Am Number Four (2011) (PG-13)
The Help (2011) (PG-13)
Fright Night (2011) (R)
Real Steel (2011) (PG-13)
War Horse (2011) (PG-13)
People Like Us (2012) (PG-13)
Mad Buddies (2012) (NR)

Lincoln (2012) (PG-13) (20th Century Fox owns the international rights. Disney now owns this movie completely.)
The Fifth Estate (2013) (R)
Delivery Man (2013) (PG-13)
Schuks! Your Country Needs You (2013) (NR)
The Wind Rises (2014) (PG-13)
Need for Speed (2014) (PG-13)
The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014) (PG)
Strange Magic (2015) (PG)
Schuks! Pay Back the Money! (2015) (NR)
Bridge of Spies (2015) (PG-13) (20th Century Fox owns the international rights. Disney now owns this movie completely.)
The Light Between Oceans (2016) (PG-13) (Final DreamWorks Pictures movie to be distributed under Touchstone banner) (last film for Touchstone)

Shorts[]

Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990) (PG) (short)

External link[]

Touchstone Pictures on Wikipedia

v - e - d

1980s

1984: Splash • Country

1985: Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend • My Science Project
1986: Down and Out in Beverly Hills • Off Beat • Ruthless People • Tough Guys • The Color of Money
1987: Outrageous Fortune • Good Morning, Vietnam • Tin Men • Three Men and a Baby • Adventures in Babysitting • Stakeout • Ernest Goes to Camp • Can't Buy Me Love • Hello Again
1988: Shoot to Kill • D.O.A. • Big Business • Who Framed Roger Rabbit • Cocktail • The Rescue • Heartbreak Hotel • The Good Mother • Ernest Saves Christmas • Beaches
1989: Three Fugitives • New York Stories • Disorganized Crime • Dead Poets Society • Turner & Hooch • An Innocent Man • Gross Anatomy • Blaze

1990s

1990: Stella • Where the Heart Is • Pretty Woman • Three Men and a Little Lady • Ernest Goes to Jail • Spaced Invaders • Fire Birds • Dick Tracy • Betsy's Wedding • Mr. Destiny • Green Card

1991: Scenes from a Mall • Oscar • What About Bob? • The Rocketeer • The Doctor • True Identity • Deceived • Paradise • Ernest Scared Stupid • Billy Bathgate • Father of the Bride
1992: Noises Off • Sister Act • 3 Ninjas • The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag • Crossing the Bridge • Captain Ron
1993: Alive • The Cemetery Club • Indian Summer • Life with Mikey • What's Love Got to Do with It • Another Stakeout • My Boyfriend's Back • The Program • The Nightmare Before Christmas • Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
1994: Cabin Boy • My Father the Hero • The Ref • The Inkwell • When a Man Loves a Woman • Renaissance Man • I Love Trouble • It's Pat • A Simple Twist of Fate • Ed Wood
1995: Bad Company • The Jerky Boys: The Movie • Jefferson in Paris • Mad Love • Feast of July • Father of the Bride Part II • Slam Dunk Ernest
1996: Mr. Wrong • Up Close & Personal • Two Much • Last Dance • Boys • Phenomenon • Kazaam • Ransom • The War at Home • The Preacher's Wife
1997: Metro • The 6th Man • Romy and Michele's High School Reunion • Con Air • Nothing to Lose • A Thousand Acres • Playing God • Kundun
1998: The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit • Krippendorf's Tribe • He Got Game • The Horse Whisperer • Six Days, Seven Nights • Armageddon • The Patriot • Mafia! • Holy Man • Rushmore • Beloved • The Waterboy • Enemy of the State • A Civil Action
1999: The Other Sister • 10 Things I Hate About You • Instinct • Summer of Sam • The 13th Warrior • Mumford • The Insider • Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo • Cradle Will Rock • Bicentennial Man • Play It to the Bone

2000s

2000: Mission to Mars • High Fidelity • Keeping the Faith • Shanghai Noon • Gone in 60 Seconds • Coyote Ugly • The Crew • Unbreakable • O Brother, Where Art Thou?

2001: Double Take • Pearl Harbor • Crazy/Beautiful • Bubble Boy • New Port South • Corky Romano • High Heels and Low Lifes • Out Cold • The Royal Tenenbaums
2002: The Count of Monte Cristo • Sorority Boys • Big Trouble • Frank McKlusky, C.I. • Ultimate X: The Movie • Bad Company • Reign of Fire • Signs • Sweet Home Alabama • Moonlight Mile • The Hot Chick
2003: 25th Hour • The Recruit • Shanghai Knights • Bringing Down the House • Open Range • Calendar Girls • Hope Springs • Cold Creek Manor • Under the Tuscan Sun • Veronica Guerin
2004: Hidalgo • The Ladykillers • The Alamo • Raising Helen • King Arthur • The Village • Mr. 3000 • The Last Shot • Ladder 49 • The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
2005: A Lot Like Love • The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy • Dark Water • Flightplan • Shopgirl • Casanova
2006: Annapolis • Stick It • Step Up • The Guardian • The Prestige • Déjà Vu • Apocalypto
2007: Wild Hogs • Dan in Real Life
2008: Step Up 2: The Streets • Swing Vote • Miracle at St. Anna
2009: Confessions of a Shopaholic • Surrogates • The Proposal

2010s

2010: When in Rome • The Last Song • Step Up 3D • You Again • The Tempest

2011: Gnomeo & Juliet • I Am Number Four • The Help • Fright Night • Real Steel • War Horse
2012: People Like Us • Lincoln
2013: The Fifth Estate • Delivery Man
2014: The Wind Rises • Need for Speed • The Hundred-Foot Journey
2015: Strange Magic • Bridge of Spies
2016: The Light Between Oceans

Shorts
Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990)

v - e - d

Motion Pictures Production
Walt Disney Animation Studios (1923) • Walt Disney Pictures (1983) • Pixar (2006) • Disneynature (2008) • Lucasfilm (2012) • Marvel Studios (2015) • 20th Century Studios (2019) • 20th Century Animation (2019) • Searchlight Pictures (2019) • Star Studios (2019; Indian Independence films)

Distribution Labels
Buena Vista International (1961; European Independence films) • Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (2007) • Searchlight Pictures (United States only) • Star Distribution (Latin American Independence films)

Studio Lots
Walt Disney Studios Burbank Studio Lot • Golden Oak Ranch • The Prospect Studios • Disney Studios Australia

Former Studios

Laugh-O-Gram Studio (1921-1923) • Walt Disney Productions (1923-1986) • Touchstone Pictures (1984-2016) • Walt Disney Animation Japan (1984-2004) • Skellington Productions (1986-1996) • Walt Disney Animation France (1986-2003) • Walt Disney Animation Australia (1988-2006) • Disneytoon Studios (1988-2018) • Hollywood Pictures (1989-2007) • Walt Disney Animation Florida (1989-2004) • Caravan Pictures (1992-1999) • Dimension Films (1992-2005) • DIC Entertainment L.P. (Limited Partnership) (1993-2000) • Walt Disney Animation Canada (1996-2000) • Circle Seven Animation (2004-2006) • ImageMovers Digital (2007-2011) • Pixar Canada (2010-2013) • Blue Sky Studios (2019-2021) • Fox 2000 Pictures (2019-2021) • 20th Digital Studio (2019-2023)

Former Distribution Brands
Universal Studios (Partnership) (1923-1929) • Columbia Pictures (Partnership) (1929-1932) • United Artists (Partnership) (1932-1937) • RKO Radio Pictures (Partnership) (1937-1956) • Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (1956-2007) • UTV Motion Pictures (2013-2017, India) • Miramax Films (1993-2010) • 20th Century Fox (2019-2020)

Current Figures
Bob Iger • Jennifer Lee • Pete Docter • Kevin Feige • Kathleen Kennedy

Former Figures
Michael Eisner • Jeffrey Katzenberg • John Lasseter • Ed Catmull • Bob Chapek • Sean Bailey • Christine McCarthy