Golan-Globus produced a distinct line of low-budget action films from 1979 to 1989.

Golan-Globus was named for Israeli producer Menahem Golan and his cousin Yoram Globus (b. 1929 and 1941 respectively in Tiberias, Israel). The duo initially produced Israeli films, then came to the United States in 1979. They bought controlling interest in Cannon Films and forged a business model of buying bottom-barrel scripts and putting them into production. This tapped into a ravenous market for action films.

By 1986, when company earnings reached their apex with 43 films in one year, Cannon shares had soared hundredfold. However during the late 1980s the market had cooled and Cannon Films was severely stretched, having purchased Thorn-EMI, and faced bankruptcy and SEC investigation. Cannon Films went to new owners in 1989. Golan became the head of 21st Century Film Corporation while Globus went on to preside over MGM/UA, which ironically now owns the rights to most of Cannon's film library.

Film critic Roger Ebert said of Golan-Globus in 1987, "No other production organization in the world today has taken more chances with serious, marginal films."

Among the films produced by the Golan-Globus team include Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, Cobra, Death Wish II, The Delta Force, Missing in Action, King Solomon's Mines, American Ninja, and Lifeforce. The films also boosted the careers of Chuck Norris, Charles Bronson, and Sylvester Stallone.

External links

• Cannon Films Appreciation Society (http://www.cannonfilms.com/)
• Menahem Golan (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0324875/) at the Internet Movie Database
• Yoram Globus (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1118823/) at the Internet Movie Database