Robert Bruce Simonds Jr. (born 1964) is an American film producer, entrepreneur, and the founder & chairman of STX Entertainment, which creates, produces, distributes, finances, and markets film (as STXfilms), television (as STXtelevision), digital media (as STXdigital), and live events as well as virtual reality (as STXsurreal).[ According to The Wall Street Journal in its first four years, Simonds more than tripled the company's valuation to an estimated US$3.5 billion.][Wayne Ma and Julie Steinberg, "'Bad Moms' Movie Studio Plans Hong Kong IPO," Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2017.][Anita Busch, "STX To Launch IPO On Hong Kong Stock Exchange In 2018," Deadline.com, September 27, 2017.]
In September 2017, it was reported that STX was close to an initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK),[David Ng, "STX Entertainment files for planned IPO in Hong Kong," Los Angeles Times, April 26, 2018.] In October 2018, it was announced that STX would not go through with the IPO, as political and market conditions had changed.[ Robert Simonds Movie Box Office Results] Simonds is reported to have a net worth of $800 million.
Early life and education
Simonds was born in Phoenix, the son of Robert Bruce Simonds, Sr., a businessman. He graduated from Yale University.[ "Robert Simonds Jr., Anne Biondi", New York Times, September 19, 1999.]
Producing
From 1990 to 2023, Simonds has produced, executive produced, or financed over 125 globally distributed star-driven films, generating over $11 billion in worldwide revenue.[ Robert Simonds IMDb Biography] His credits include the Adam Sandler films Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy and The Waterboy; Cheaper by the Dozen, and The Pink Panther, which star Steve Martin. He also produced This Means War with Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon and Tom Hardy, The Gentlemen with Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, The Upside with Academy Award-nominated actor Bryan Cranston, Bad Moms, Molly's Game with Academy Award-winning actress Jessica Chastain, The Foreigner, Hustlers, The Mauritanian with Academy Award-winning actress Jodie Foster, My Son, , Guy Ritchie's The Covenant with Academy Award-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal, Ferrari with Academy Award-nominated actor Adam Driver and Academy Award-winning actress Penelope Cruz, , Greenland, and .[ Robert Simonds IMDb Pro Page] Simonds has produced a number of highly-profitable including Joe Dirt and Half Baked.[Tim Carvell, "His Films Are Low on Taste, High on Profits," Fortune, November 23, 1998.] Simonds was mentored by his father-in-law, former Viacom and Universal head Frank Biondi Jr.[Cynthia Littleton, "Frank Biondi Jr., Former Viacom and Universal Studios Head, Dies at 74" Variety, November 25, 2019.]
STX Entertainment
Formation
In 2012, Simonds and Bill McGlashan, founder and managing partner of private equity firm TPG Capital, began conceptualizing and building a film, television and multimedia company that would make, market and distribute star-driven, commercial content to be distributed worldwide.[Anita Busch, "Is This Hollywood’s Next Major Studio? Bob Simonds & TPG Growth’s Venture Fully Financed, JP Morgan Says; Hiring, Deals To Start In Earnest," Deadline Hollywood, March 13, 2014.][Tad Friend, "The Mogul of the Middle," The New Yorker, January 11, 2016.] In 2014, STX Entertainment was formally launched with financing led by TPG Growth, and the company later secured investments from Chinese private equity firm Hony Capital and other individuals including Gigi Pritzker and William "Beau" Wrigley, Jr. II.[Anita Bush, "Is This Hollywood's Next Major Studio?" Deadline Hollywood, March 13, 2014.]
Serving as chairman and CEO of STX, Simonds hired entertainment industry veterans to build his executive team including former Viacom Entertainment Group COO Thomas B. McGrath[ "Adam Fogelson Hired as Motion Picture Head by STX" Deadline Anita Busch September 24, 2014] and former Disney and Fox production and marketing chief Oren Aviv were also added to the team.[Dave McNary, "STX Taps Discovery’s Andrew Warren as Chief Financial Officer," Variety, February 13, 2017.] and former Paramount Pictures and Condé Nast communications head Patricia Röckenwagner later also joined.[James Rainey, "STX Entertainment Names Patricia Rockenwagner Chief Communications Officer," Variety, December 14, 2016.]
The company has multiple divisions: film (STXfilms), which includes animation and family content; television (STXtelevision), which includes scripted and unscripted content; and digital media (STXdigital); along with an international partnership and distribution arm headquartered in London (STXinternational).
In 2016, the company received additional investment from Chinese Internet company Tencent and Hong Kong-based telecommunications company PCCW, and East West Bank's chairman and CEO Dominic Ng.[Ryan Faughnder, "STX Entertainment secures funding from China's Tencent and PCCW," Los Angeles Times, August 11, 2016.] In 2017, the world's largest international television and broadband company Liberty Global invested an undisclosed amount in the company.[Wayne Ma, "Fledgling Studio STX Secures Investment from Malone's Liberty Global," Wall Street Journal, November 30, 2017.] Funds from that round of financing will be used to continue to build STX Entertainment's TV division, further expand internationally and potentially make acquisitions.
STX Entertainment's Board of Directors is composed of investors and industry veterans including: Simonds, David Bonderman (founding partner of TPG Capital), John Zhao (CEO of Hony Capital), Gigi Pritzker (founder of MWM Studios), Janice Lee (managing director of PCCW Media Group), Tracy Cui (managing director of Hony Capital), Frank Biondi (former president and CEO of Viacom and former chairman and CEO of Universal Studios; senior managing director of WaterView Advisors), Dominic Ng (chairman and CEO of East West Bank), Carmen Chang (chairman of New Enterprise Associates), and Bruce Mann (chief programming officer of Liberty Global).
STXfilms
When STX was launched the film division of the company focused its efforts on creating a new model. Rather than pursuing the traditional distribution process the company secured direct distribution agreements with North American theater chains AMC Theatres, Regal, Cinemark, Goodrich, Marcus Theatres, and Carmike Cinemas.[ "Robert Simonds, Gigi Pritzker Pact with TPG, China’s Hony Capital on Production Venture," Variety, March 10, 2014.] In early 2015, the company signed a multi-year television output agreement to release films exclusively to Showtime Networks and its multiplex channels Showtime, TMC and Flix, covering STX theatrical releases through 2019.[Dave McNary, "STX Entertainment, Showtime Announce TV Output Deal and First 4 Films," Variety, January 20, 2015.] In April 2015, the company entered a multi-year partnership with Universal Studios Home Entertainment for Universal to handle marketing, sales and distribution services for Blu-ray, DVD and VOD platforms for STX theatrical titles in North America.[Rebecca Ford, "STX Entertainment Signs Pact With Universal Studios Home Entertainment," The Hollywood Reporter, April 7, 2015.] That same month, STXfilms closed a three-year slate deal with Huayi Brothers, one of China's largest film studios, enabling the companies to co-produce and co-distribute 12 to 15 films annually.[Brent Lang and Elsa Keslassy, "EuropaCorp, STX Enter Distribution and Marketing Agreement, ‘Valerian’ Part of Deal," Variety, January 3, 2017.]
STXfilms projects have included Bad Moms;[Anthony D'Alessandro, "'Bad Moms' Sleeps Its Way To The Top Of The B.O.; Becomes STX's First $100M Domestic Hit," Deadline.com, September 3, 2016.] Molly's Game;[Scott Mendelson, "With Jessica Chastain's 'Molly's Game,' STX Continues To Bet On Women," Forbes, August 15, 2017.] I Feel Pretty;[Mike Fleming Jr, "STXfilms Buys Amy Schumer Pic 'I Feel Pretty': Cannes," Deadline.com, May 25, 2017.] and Gringo with Amazon Studios;[Anita Busch, "Nash Edgerton Film Starring David Oyelowo, Charlize Theron Gets Title, Release Date," Deadline.com, May 19, 2017.] The Gift, written, co-produced and directed by Joel Edgerton;[Mannie Holmes, "Joel Edgerton, Jason Bateman Celebrate STX Entertainment’s First Premiere of ‘The Gift’," Variety, July 31, 2015.] The Edge of Seventeen;[Pete Hammond, "With ‘The Edge Of Seventeen’, Toronto Saves One Of The Best For Last," Deadline.com, September 16, 2016.] The Foreigner starring Jackie Chan;[Nancy Tartaglione, "'The Foreigner's Wayne Marc Godfrey On Decade-Long Journey; STX/Sparkle Roll China Co-Pro Soon Passing $100M Offshore," Deadline.com, October 27, 2017.] and Secret in Their Eyes starring Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts;[Nancy Tartaglione,
"....Acquired by STX" Deadline.com, December 2, 2014.] The Boy;[Nancy Tartaglione, "STX/Lakeshore Horror Pic ‘The Boy’ Scares Up China Release Date Via Huayi," Deadline.com, March 16, 2016.] and Free State of Jones starring Matthew McConaughey.[Nancy Tartaglione, "IM Global Strategy Pays Off With Strong Sales On ‘Free State Of Jones’ & More – AFM," Deadline.com, November 17, 2014.] STXfilms announced The Happytime Murders starring Melissa McCarthy and the film was released on August 24, 2018;[Dave McNary, "Melissa McCarthy to Star in Puppet Comedy 'Happytime Murders'," Variety, May 2, 2017.] a scrapped romantic comedy which was to be developed by and star Anne Hathaway;[Max Evry, "Anne Hathaway to star in untitled romantic comedy for STX," ComingSoon.net, May 23, 2017.] and Second Act, a romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez and directed by Peter Segal that came out December 21, 2018.[Mia Galuppo, "Jennifer Lopez to Star in Romantic Comedy 'Second Act' for STX," The Hollywood Reporter, June 22, 2017.]
STXtelevision
In 2014, the television division’s first project was the 13-episode series State of Affairs, starring Katherine Heigl and Alfre Woodard, which was sold to NBC.[James Hibberd, "Katherine Heigl drama plus 2 more get NBC series orders," Entertainment Weekly, May 6, 2014.][Saba Hamedy, "TV ratings: NBC wins key demo; 'State of Affairs' has decent premiere," Los Angeles Times, November 18, 2014.] In 2015, STXtelevision produced the NBC pilot Problem Child, based on the 1990 film of the same name.[Nellie Andreeva, "‘Problem Child’ Comedy Based On Movie Gets NBC Pilot Order," Deadline.com, January 29, 2015.] In April 2016, the STXtelevision Chinese variety show Number One Surprise premiered on Hunan TV, and became the #1 show in China with over 1 billion total views.[Patrick Brzeski, "STX Entertainment Scores Ratings Hit With First TV Show Made for China," The Hollywood Reporter, January 5, 2017.][Matt Donnelly, "STX Entertainment Struggles With Flops, Executive Exits and a Shift in Strategy," TheWrap, March 27, 2017.] In May 2017, STXtelevision announced it had acquired the first TV project from Kevin Kwan, author of Crazy Rich Asians.[Rebecca Sun, "'Crazy Rich Asians' Author Developing Scripted Series With STX," The Hollywood Reporter, May 4, 2017.] In November 2017, STXtelevision announced Valley of the Boom, a docudrama about the 1990s tech boom from showrunner and director Matthew Carnahan and executive producer Arianna Huffington, set to air on NatGeo.[Denise Petski, "Nat Geo Greenlights Silicon Valley-Themed Limited Series From Matthew Carnahan, Arianna Huffington & StxTV," Deadline Hollywood, November 15, 2017.] STXtelevision produced season 23 of True Life, which aired on MTV in 2017. In February 2018, Fox and STXtelevision announced it is developing an unscripted series based on STXfilms' Bad Moms.[Michael O'Connell, "Fox Developing 'Bad Moms' Unscripted Series," The Hollywood Reporter, February 8, 2018.] In October 2018, STXtv received a pilot order from YouTube for The Edge of Seventeen, based on the film of the same name released by STXfilms in 2016.
STXdigital
In August 2016, STXdigital acquired virtual reality (VR) studio Surreal, renaming it STXsurreal. Founded in 2015, in its first year Surreal produced over 70 immersive VR experiences.[Lucas Matney, "STX Entertainment acquires VR studio Surreal," TechCrunch, August 23, 2016.] In June 2017, STXsurreal announced a partnership with media services agency Horizon Media to develop and produce VR and immersive content for the brand's new UNCVR unit.[Carolyn Giardina, "Horizon Media Launches Virtual Reality Unit UNCVR; Partners With STXsurreal," The Hollywood Reporter, June 8, 2017.] In 2018, STXsurreal announced a slate of original projects including The Limit, a live-action, short-form series from Robert Rodriguez and starring Michelle Rodriguez;[Jon Fingas, "Robert Rodriguez preps VR action series 'The Limit'," Engadget, February 14, 2018.] New Tricks, directed and produced by Ed Helms;[Anita Busch, "STXSurreal Unveils Development Slate With Ed Helms, Dave Bautista, Peter Berg, And Kevin Smith’s ‘Jay And Silent Bob’," Deadline.com, April 4, 2018.] and The Kiev Exchange, a spinoff of STXfilms' Mile 22.[Anita Busch, "STX, Dick Clark Prods. Will Distribute ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ In China," Deadline.com, December 21, 2017.] STXdigital and Tencent partnered to broadcast both shows on Tencent Video.[Patrick Brzeski, "Jason Statham Developing Action Film With STX, China's Tencent Pictures," The Hollywood Reporter, January 16, 2018.] In January 2018, the companies announced they would also co-produce a live Chinese-language Golden Globes red carpet pre-show, to air live with the telecast.[Patrick Brzeski, "STX Partners With Tencent on Golden Globes Broadcast in China," The Hollywood Reporter, January 5, 2018.]
STXinternational
In April 2016, a dedicated international division (STXinternational) opened. Headquartered in London, the division is led by former Film4 head David Kosse.[Matt Mueller, "STX interview: president Sophie Watts on David Kosse's arrival and European distribution plans," Screen Daily, April 1, 2016.] The division launched with a slate of six films that included Andy Serkis's directorial debut Breathe (which opened the 2017 London Film Festival),[Gwilym Mumford, "Andy Serkis directorial debut Breathe to open 61st London film festival," The Guardian, June 29, 2017.] Home Again starring Reese Witherspoon, and Wind River starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen.[Dave McNary, "STX Announces Five-Film U.K. Slate, Opens International Headquarters in London," Variety, February 8, 2017.] Additional titles on the STXinternational slate include Ridley Scott's All the Money in the World, Morten Tyldum's The Marsh King's Daughter, and Bart Layton's American Animals; and titles from the main STXfilms slate.[Nancy Tartaglione, "STX Snatches International Rights To Ridley Scott’s Getty Kidnap Thriller ‘All The Money In The World’," Deadline.com, May 20, 2017.] In March 2019, John Friedberg was named president of STXinternational.
Accolades
In 2014, Simonds was featured as one of Hollywood's top dealmakers in Variety magazine's Dealmakers Impact Report for his work at STX.[ Dealmakers Impact Report, Variety, 2014.] The Hollywood Reporter has named Simonds one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Entertainment in each of their annual rankings through 2018, since first publishing them in 2016.[ "The THR 100: Hollywood Reporter's Most Powerful People in Entertainment," The Hollywood Reporter, June 22, 2016.][ "The THR 100: Hollywood Reporter's Most Powerful People in Entertainment," The Hollywood Reporter, June 21, 2017.]
Personal life
While attending Yale, Simonds dated actress Jennifer Beals.
Filmography
As producer
|
|
| $53,470,891 |
| $25,104,700 |
| $3,547,684 |
| $5,751,882 |
| $25,588,734 |
| $38,824,099 |
| $21,576,954 |
| $18,301,610 |
| $10,925,060 |
| $17,460,020 |
| $80,245,725 |
| $10,023,282 |
| $161,491,646 |
| $163,479,795 |
| $7,027,345 |
| $39,464,775 |
| $10,424,470 |
| $33,357,476 |
| $27,087,695 |
| $23,980,304 |
| $56,127,162 |
| $138,614,544 |
| $36,611,066 |
| $66,023,816 |
| $16,809,014 |
| $53,412,862 |
| $82,226,474 |
| $61,123,569 |
| $43,799,818 |
| $35,922,978 |
| $24,307,086 |
| $17,630,465 |
| $54,760,791 |
| $28,539,757 |
| |
| |
|
As executive producer
Television
As executive producer
External links
