Walden Media, LLC is an American independent studio that develops, produces, and finances feature films and television series for the U.S. and global markets. Its films focus on stories of courage drawn from biographies, historical events, and literature adaptations, as well as original screenplays. The company has also produced feature documentaries.
The corporate headquarters of Walden Media are located inLos Angeles, California. The company is owned by the Christian conservativePhilip Anschutz, who has said he expects their movies "to be entertaining, but also to be life affirming and to carry a moral message."[1]
Walden Media was founded in 2000 byMicheal Flaherty andCary Granat as a movie, television, publishing and Internet enterprise whose goal is to teach and entertain kids.[5] Granat was president ofMiramax'sDimension Films division,[5][2] and Flaherty came from the world of education. The two were housemates atTufts University before following different paths, and later reunited to form the company. The company's formation was officially announced in May 2001.[6][7] During the summer of 2001, Walden entered into their first film deals; withPhoenix Pictures to finance and co-produceHoles, an adaption of thechildren's book of the same name, in July[8] and with directorJames Cameron to distribute his documentaryGhosts of the Abyss, focusing on the remains of theRMS Titanic, in August.[9] In December, Walden announced that they had acquired the rights to produce films based onThe Chronicles of Narnia.[10] In late 2001,Anschutz Entertainment Group purchased a majority stake in the company, leaving the founders as minority shareholders.[5]
In February 2002, Walden entered into a partnership withSummit Entertainment who would pre-sell their films internationally.[11] In September, Walden entered into a two-year first-look agreement withThe Walt Disney Company following their acquisition of the distribution rights toGhosts of the Abyss in North America and the United Kingdom, andHoles in a majority of territories.[12] Walden's first film,Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey, was released theatrically that same month.[13]
In July 2004, Walden signed a five-picture production and deal with20th Century Fox.[14]
On August 9, 2006, Walden Media announced an extension to their partnership withFox Filmed Entertainment, which would release education-themed family-friendly pictures that would be released under G or PG ratings. All films would be released under the20th Century Fox banner.[15] The company, now named "Fox-Walden", announced the release of its first four films in May 2007.[16]
In March 2008, Michael Bostick, formerly of Imagine Films, was hired as creative officer. Cary Granat was released from his co-CEO title effective December 1, 2008, with Bostick replacing him.[5] Walden Media created a joint publishing venture withHarperCollins during the same year calledWalden Pond Press.[17] On October 2, 2008, it was announced that Fox-Walden would reduce its staff and cease operations as a standalone company, being folded into 20th Century Fox as a division. This was after all the films released under the venture had flopped at the box office in North America. The downsizing of Fox-Walden did not affect the partnership between both Fox and Walden Media and they would still release family-friendly movies together under the Fox-Walden banner.[18][5]
In April 2023, Benjamin Tappan, a former EPIX executive, was named President of Production for Walden, overseeing the company's film and television development and production.[20]
Walden Media is unique among film production and distribution companies in that it works with teachers, museums, and national organizations to develop supplemental educational programs and materials associated with its films and the original events and/or novels that inspire the films.[21]
Walden Media offers in-class teaching tools like educational guides and teacher kits[22] and sponsors seminars and forums for teachers to discuss their practice and to share ideas on using media in the classroom. Directors, writers, and stars of the productions participate in these events.
In 2006, Walden Media sponsored the "Break the World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web". At noon on Wednesday, December 13, 547,826 readers in 2,451 locations, 50 states and 28 countries read an excerpt fromCharlotte's Web, breaking the world record of 155,528 students from 737 schools in the United Kingdom who readWilliam Wordsworth's poem, "Daffodils" in 2004.[23]
^Lyons, Charles; Dunkley, Cathy (September 30, 2002)."Disney digs Walden".Variety.Archived from the original on August 24, 2025. RetrievedAugust 24, 2025.
