Relativity Media

Background

Relativity Media was founded in 2004 by Ryan Kavanaugh and Lynwood Spinks as a film production company arranging multi-film slate deals with studios by way of financial support from banks. In 2009, the company acquired Rogue Pictures from Universal Studios. In 2010, the company become a mini major by acquiring the marking and distribution assets of Overture Films. In 2015, Relativity filed for bankruptcy, due to lawsuits and missing loans. In 2016, the company acquired Trigger Street Productions, producer of Netflix series House of Cards, Relativity's television division was spun off as Critical Content, and emerged from bankruptcy in March 2016; however, after continuing to struggle, Relativity filed for bankruptcy again in May 2018, and was sold to UltraV Holdings that August. Relativity returned to film distribution in 2020 with Come Away, their first film in four years.

1st Logo (June 16, 2006)

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Nickname: "The Door Effect"

Logo: On a black background, we see a light flash create a white pillar coming down from the flash. It rotates to then reveal four connected pillars. As they are rotating, they are colored in blue and white, revealing a "r" and a "m". A white spark then passes through, drawing the words "RELATIVITY MEDIA" in a typewriter font below the connected letters.

FX/SFX: The light flashing, the rotating/coloring of the letters, and the spark creating the words.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the movie.

Availability: Only seen on The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Editor's Note: A wasted logo, since this only appeared on one film. The light streaks might get to some, but it's pretty harmless.

2nd Logo (September 7, 2007-September 18, 2009)

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Nickname: "Planets of Relativity"

Logo: In space, we see a bright light that illuminates us a vision of different sized planets. As we move faster in the center of the planets, tiny planets and small rings of different colors appear and form a bond between the planets that we saw earlier, which now form big and small circles. As this happens, the words "RELATIVITYMEDIA" are seen below with "RELATIVITY" in Trajan Pro and "MEDIA" in Century Gothic as it shines.

Variant: On 9, a print version is used.

FX/SFX: The planets forming.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the film. Otherwise silent or a somber string piece on some films.

Availability: Uncommon. Seen on quite a few of Relativity Media's films during the era, including 3:10 to Yuma.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (January 9, 2009-October 11, 2013)

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Nicknames: "Relativity Theory", "The Blue Galaxy", "CGI Black Hole"

Logo: On a black background, we see an atom with some electrons zooming out from us. As the view continues to zoom out, we see other atoms, then the molecular structure, the planets and finally the whole galaxy. It stands rotated near to the right side and its center emits a light beam to the upper left corner. The background consists of stars and a few planets. The words "RELATIVITY MEDIA" appear separated by the galaxy center, each letter being followed by a light curve and shining. Some planets appear from underneath while the logo forms itself and then fades out.

Trivia: This was designed by Mark Whiting, who's otherwise known for his work on animated productions such as The Iron Giant and Duck Dodgers.

Closing Variant: At the end of The Raven, a print version of the logo on a black background is used.

FX/SFX: The atoms forming.

Music/Sounds: A "whoosh" when the galaxy zooms out. Otherwise, it's silent or has the opening/closing theme of the film. On Mirror Mirror, the logo had a calm orchestral theme composed by Alan Menken (based on his soundtrack).

Availability: Common. Can be seen on The Unborn, Fighting, 9, Limitless, Immortals, Mirror Mirror, Act of Valor, and The Raven, among others.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (2010-2017)

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Logo: On a black background, the word "RELATIVITY" appears, with an ellipse coming through the letter "A".

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the movie.

Availability: Seen at the end of some films such as My Soul to Take and Limitless, among others, and is used seen as a print logo on movie posters and DVD covers on most of their films.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo (June 19, 2013-)

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  Textless version

Nicknames: "Relativity Theory II", "The Blue Galaxy Redux", "CGI Black Hole II"

Logo: Pretty much an updated version of the 3rd logo with more advanced CGI and a more atmospheric feel. However, after the black hole is revealed, we move further and see several meteors, then we see the word "RELATIVITY" (like in the previous logo, but without the ellipse) turning from above and positioning itself as we go out even more to see several clouds and a planet.

Trivia: Like the 3rd logo, this was designed by Mark Whiting. A look behind the scenes of this and the 3rd logo can be found here (profanity warning). A textless version of the logo used to be the background of Relativity's website.

FX/SFX: Great CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Zooming sounds that sound similar to the 3rd logo, along with a deep voiced vocal ambience.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• On Free Birds, sounds of particles and whooshing planets (designed by Randy Thom, the film's sound designer/re-recording mixer) and a fanfare are heard, which continue into the Reel FX logo.
• On Out of the Furnace, it's silent.
• On Relativity's Whiting Pictures' webpage and on Violet, near the end the sound uses a weird synth drone.

Availability: First appeared on the trailer for Free Birds. The fully animated version debuted on the film itself, and appears on newer Relativity Media movies like Out of the Furnace, 3 Days to Kill, and Oculus.

Editor's Note: None.