Andrew Cripps Named Disney’s Head of Global Theatrical Distribution

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It wasn’t much time at all before Andrew Cripps found himself moving on to Disney, taking over from Tony Chambers in his role as head of theatrical distribution, following his departure from Warner Bros.

He starts his performance on March 3. This role became available following Chambers’ promotion to managing Disney’s operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, which is part of a significant reorganization within the company.

Cripps is an experienced executive in film distribution who has worked for 20th Century Fox and Paramount. In his new position, he will oversee global theater distribution for all films produced and released by Disney’s seven labels: live action, Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight. Additionally, his area of responsibility includes the Cinema Partnerships team, non-theatrical sales, and the management of the famous El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.

Throughout his studio tenure, Cripps primarily managed the global aspects of the business, such as serving as president of international distribution for Warners since 2019. This role entailed overseeing the international theatrical release of films from Warner Bros., New Line, DC, and the Warner Animation Group. Notable titles under his jurisdiction included “Barbie”, the “Dune” series, “Joker”, and “Wonka”. Moreover, he was also tasked with distributing MGM’s films in all international markets.

Earlier in his career, he held the position of President for International Theatrical Distribution at 20th Century Fox and played a role in the production of “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Additionally, he was the president based in London for IMAX’s international division and served as the Executive Vice-President for IMAX Corporation. Recently, he relocated his family to Los Angeles, but continues to maintain his longstanding residence in London.

He’s responsible to Cathleen Taff, who holds the position of President of Production, Franchise Management, and Theatrical Distribution at Disney Entertainment.

Taff praised Andrew, saying he’s highly respected within the distribution industry and deeply knowledgeable about market trends. He added that Andrew’s enthusiasm for sharing films worldwide is commendable. Taff is excited to have him on our team, believing that his strategic mindset and extensive experience will be crucial as we strive to provide top-notch cinematic experiences globally.”

or, more concisely:

“Taff lauded Andrew’s industry reputation and market insights, praising his global film distribution passion. Taff is thrilled to have him on our team, confident that his strategic vision and wealth of experience will greatly benefit our mission to deliver exceptional cinematic experiences worldwide.

I’m over the moon to be hopping on board with Alan Bergman, Cathleen Taff, and the rest of The Walt Disney Studios team. Their consistent achievements are nothing short of awe-inspiring, and I can’t wait to lend a hand in maintaining this incredible momentum and help shape the studio’s future.

Originally from Sri Lanka, Cripps spent his childhood in Japan before attending the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management. He furthered his education by obtaining an MBA in International Business at Georgia State University. Notably, he is a member of both the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The rest of the year will see releases like “Snow White”, “Lilo & Stitch”, and “Freaky Friday” from Disney; Pixar’s “Elio”; Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts” and “The Fantastic Four: Initial Journey”; Walt Disney Animation Studios’ sequel to “Zootopia”; and from 20th Century Studios, we have “The Amateur”, “Predator: Badlands”, and “Avatar: Fire and Ash”.

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2025-03-03 20:54