New Line Cinema was founded in 1967 as a film distribution company and is now one of the major American film studios. It produced its first successful film series, Nightmare on Elm Street, in 1984, earning it the nickname "The House that Freddy Built". In 1996, New Line Cinema merged with Time Warner and later merged with Warner Bros. in 2008. Some of New Line Cinema's most well-known and highest-grossing film franchises include The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Austin Powers, Rush Hour, and Final Destination. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was hugely successful, with The Return of the King becoming the third highest-grossing film ever. New Line Cinema promotes its films through trail