In an extremely unexpected move, Variety reports that Warner Bros. has decided to close down two of its sub-distributors, Picturehouse and Warner Independent Pictures.

Basically, the move is to remove the two and replace them with the now smaller New Line Cinema, allowing them to accomplish all that they want to with this massive one-two combo. The move leaves WB with no need for the little guys, and unfortunately the 70+ people who worked at the two companies may be out of a job.

President and Chief Operating Officer, Alan Horn says that “We concluded that carrying the Picturehouse and WIP infrastructures wasn’t the most economic use of our resources,” and also that “We have the capacity to distribute and market anything.” Horn also stressed that didn’t mean that they would stop pursuing and distributing movies like this and said “I’m a card-carrying adult and I love these movies, but it’s never been a high-margin business.”

Below is a list of some of the big name movies that were released by both distributors.

Picturehouse

Pan’s Labyrinth — Oscar Winner: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup; Oscar Nominated: Best Foreign Language Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score

La Vie en Rose — Oscar Winner: Best Actress, Best Makeup; Oscar Nominated, Best Costume Design

Mongol — Oscar Nominee: Best Foreign Language Film

Warner Independent Pictures

A Very Long Engagement — Oscar Nominated: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography

March of the Penguins — Oscar Winner: Best Documentary Feature

Paradise Now — Oscar Nominated: Best Foreign Language Film

Good Night, and Good Luck — Oscar Nominated: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction

In the Valley of Elah — Oscar Nominated: Best Actor

And those are just some of the many other well-known, highly-praised movies released here. Time will tell if they do indeed keep picking up these types of movies or if they’re going to begin concentrating strictly on the money-makers and not the gold-winners. I really liked what I was coming out of these two, especially Picturehouse, so I don’t know if I like this move and do hope they plan on continuing to puruse these movies. If not, other distributors may have plenty to feast on.

What does everyone think? Good move or bad?