 Logo used since 2014 | |
| 21 Laps Entertainment | |
| Formerly | Wunjo, Inc.(1999–2005) |
| Industry | Film Television |
| Founded | January 29, 1999; 26 years ago (1999-01-29)(as Wunjo, Inc.) 2005; 20 years ago (2005)(as 21 Laps Entertainment)[1] |
| Founder | Shawn Levy |
| Headquarters | 888 Seventh Avenue, New York City,New York 10106 ,United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
|
| Products | Motion pictures, television programs |
21 Laps, Inc.,[2]doing business as21 Laps Entertainment, is an American film and televisionproduction company founded and run by filmmakerShawn Levy.[3] The company is best known as the producers ofStranger Things, and exclusively distributes content through a partnership withNetflix.[4] It has also produced films likeCheaper by the Dozen,The Spectacular Now,Real Steel,Arrival, and theNight at the Museum franchise, as well as Levy's collaborations with actor and producerRyan Reynolds, which includeFree Guy,The Adam Project andDeadpool & Wolverine. The company's name originates from the number of laps Levy's eldest daughter ran in a jogathon when she was 5 years old.[5] In addition, the logo is supposed to represent a race track.
In 1999,Shawn Levy, who after his start on television incorporated and founded the company as Wunjo, Inc. It was in-name only from the beginning until 2005. Levy made his breakout role as a film director onBig Fat Liar,Just Married, andCheaper by the Dozen.
In 2003, Levy, after the success of his aforementioned feature films, launched his own production company with a first-look deal at20th Century Fox Television. The deal was to produce half-hour sitcoms and hour-long dramas.[6]
In 2005, Levy rebranded the studio to 21 Laps Entertainment and it signed a non-exclusive deal with20th Century Fox to produce their films. The film division would be run by Tom McNulty, formerly employee fromHappy Madison Productions, and its television division by J.J. Klein. The first two products wereCheaper by the Dozen 2 andPepper Dennis.[7]
In 2010, Levy andMarty Adelstein signed on to form a television company called 21 Laps/Adelstein Productions, and they signed a deal with20th Century Fox Television and hired Becky Clements to serve as president.[8]
In 2014, both Levy and Adelstein parted ways, with the latter launchingTomorrow Studios as a joint venture withITV Studios.[9]
In July 2016, one of the company's television projects,Stranger Things, premiered onNetflix and achieved critical acclaim, earning a 95% onRotten Tomatoes with 55 out of 58 reviews being positive.[10] The show's first season was also one of Netflix's most watched series, averaging 14.07 million adults 18–49 in its first 35 days.[11] Along with producing the series, Levy directed two of the premiere season's episodes.[12] The third season premiered on July 4, 2019[13] and the fourth season premiered in two parts on May 27, 2022 and July 1, 2022. It was renewed for a fifth and final season.[14] In 2020, the company signed a first look deal with Netflix.[15]
| Year | Title | Creator(s) | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Pepper Dennis | Gretchen J. Berg Aaron Harberts | The WB | co-produced with20th Century Fox Television and Two Presbyterians Productions |
| 2011–2017 2018–2021 | Last Man Standing | Jack Burditt | ABC Fox | Credited as 21 Laps-Adelstein Productions co-produced with20th Century Fox Television, Double Wide Productions, NestEgg Productions, Mr. Big Shot Fancy-Pants Productions and Lyonsberry Productions |
| 2014–2015 | Cristela | Cristela Alonzo Kevin Hench | ABC | Credited as 21 Laps-Adelstein Productions co-produced with20th Century Fox Television and Hench in the Trench Productions |
| 2016–present | Stranger Things | The Duffer Brothers | Netflix | co-produced with Monkey Massacre Productions and Upside Down Pictures |
| 2017 | Imaginary Mary | Adam F. Goldberg David Guarascio Patrick Osborne | ABC | uncredited; co-produced withSony Pictures Television,ABC Studios,Happy Madison Productions, Adam F. Goldberg Productions and David Guarascio Productions |
| 2020 | I Am Not Okay with This | Jonathan Entwistle Christy Hall | Netflix | co-produced with Ceremony Pictures and Raindrop Valley |
| 2020–present | Unsolved Mysteries | John Cosgrove Terry Dunn Meurer | co-produced with Cosgrove-Meurer Productions | |
| 2020 | Dash & Lily | Joe Tracz | co-produced with Boy Detective Inc. and Image 32 | |
| 2021–2023 | Shadow and Bone | Eric Heisserer | co-produced with Chronology and Loom Studios | |
| 2022 | Lost Ollie | Shannon Tindle | co-produced withFufufufu Productions | |
| 2023 | All the Light We Cannot See | Steven Knight | co-produced with Nebula Star | |
| 2024 | The Perfect Couple | Jenna Lamia | co-produced withBlossom Films, Pathless Woods Productions Inc., Two–Four Two–Four Go and The Jackal Group | |
| Upcoming | ||||
| 2026 | Stranger Things: Tales from '85[29] | Eric Robles | Netflix | co-produced with Upside Down Pictures |
| TBA | Real Steel | TBA | Disney+ | co-produced with Compari Entertainment, Angry Films,DreamWorks SKG, and20th Television |
| TBA | Untitled hockey drama series[30] | Nick Naveda | Netflix | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
