21 Laps Entertainment
| Name | 21 Laps, Inc. |
| Logo |  |
| Logo Caption | Logo used since 2014 |
| Former Name | Wunjo, Inc. (1999–2005) |
| Trade Name | 21 Laps Entertainment |
| Foundation | (as Wunjo, Inc.) (as 21 Laps Entertainment) |
| Founder | Shawn Levy |
| Hq Location | 888 Seventh Avenue |
| Hq Location City | New York City, New York 10106 |
| Location Country | United States |
| Area Served | Worldwide |
| Key People | |
| Industry | Film Television |
| Products | Motion pictures, television programs |
21 Laps, Inc., doing business as 21 Laps Entertainment, is an American film and television production company founded and run by filmmaker Shawn Levy. The company is best known as the producers of Stranger Things, and exclusively distributes content through a partnership with Netflix. It has also produced films like Cheaper by the Dozen, The Spectacular Now, Real Steel, Arrival, and the Night at the Museum franchise, as well as Levy's collaborations with actor and producer Ryan Reynolds, which include Free Guy, The Adam Project and Deadpool & Wolverine. The company's name originates from the number of laps Levy's eldest daughter ran in a jogathon when she was 5 years old. In addition, the logo is supposed to represent a race track.
History
In 1999, Shawn Levy, who after his start on television incorporated and founded the company as Wunjo, Inc. It was in-name only from the beginning until 2005. Levy made his breakout role as a film director on Big Fat Liar, Just Married, and Cheaper by the Dozen.
In 2003, Levy, after the success of his aforementioned feature films, launched his own production company with a first-look deal at 20th Century Fox Television. The deal was to produce half-hour sitcoms and hour-long dramas.
In 2005, Levy rebranded the studio to 21 Laps Entertainment and it signed a non-exclusive deal with 20th Century Fox to produce their films. The film division would be run by Tom McNulty, formerly employee from Happy Madison Productions, and its television division by J.J. Klein. The first two products were Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and Pepper Dennis.
In 2010, Levy and Marty Adelstein signed on to form a television company called 21 Laps/Adelstein Productions, and they signed a deal with 20th Century Fox Television and hired Becky Clements to serve as president.
In 2014, both Levy and Adelstein parted ways, with the latter launching Tomorrow Studios as a joint venture with ITV Studios.
In July 2016, one of the company's television projects, Stranger Things, premiered on Netflix and achieved critical acclaim, earning a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes with 55 out of 58 reviews being positive. The show's first season was also one of Netflix's most watched series, averaging 14.07 million adults 18–49 in its first 35 days. Along with producing the series, Levy directed two of the premiere season's episodes. The third season premiered on July 4, 2019 and the fourth season premiered in two parts on May 27, 2022 and July 1, 2022. It was renewed for a fifth and final season. In 2020, the company signed a first look deal with Netflix.
Filmography
Films
Television
| Year | Title | Creator(s) | Network | Notes | Upcoming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Pepper Dennis | Gretchen J. Berg Aaron Harberts | The WB | co-produced with 20th Century Fox Television and Two Presbyterians Productions |
| 2011–2017 2018–2021 | Last Man Standing | Jack Burditt | ABC Fox | Credited as 21 Laps-Adelstein Productions co-produced with 20th Century Fox Television, Double Wide Productions, NestEgg Productions, Mr. Big Shot Fancy-Pants Productions and Lyonsberry Productions |
| 2014–2015 | Cristela | Cristela Alonzo Kevin Hench | ABC | Credited as 21 Laps-Adelstein Productions co-produced with 20th Century Fox Television and Hench in the Trench Productions |
| 2016–2025 | Stranger Things | The Duffer Brothers | Netflix | co-produced with Monkey Massacre Productions and Upside Down Pictures |
| 2017 | Imaginary Mary | Adam F. Goldberg David Guarascio Patrick Osborne | ABC | uncredited; co-produced with Sony Pictures Television, ABC Studios, Happy Madison Productions, Adam F. Goldberg Productions and David Guarascio Productions |
| 2020 | I Am Not Okay with This | Jonathan Entwistle Christy Hall | Netflix | co-produced with Ceremony Pictures and Raindrop Valley |
| 2020–present | Unsolved Mysteries | John Cosgrove Terry Dunn Meurer | co-produced with Cosgrove-Meurer Productions | |
| 2020 | Dash & Lily | Joe Tracz | co-produced with Boy Detective Inc. and Image 32 | |
| 2021–2023 | Shadow and Bone | Eric Heisserer | co-produced with Chronology and Loom Studios | |
| 2022 | Lost Ollie | Shannon Tindle | co-produced with Fufufufu Productions | |
| 2023 | All the Light We Cannot See | Steven Knight | co-produced with Nebula Star | |
| 2024 | The Perfect Couple | Jenna Lamia | co-produced with Blossom Films, Pathless Woods Productions Inc., Two–Four Two–Four Go and The Jackal Group | |
| 2026 | Stranger Things: Tales from '85 | Eric Robles | Netflix | co-produced with Upside Down Pictures and Netflix Animation Studios |
| TBA | Real Steel | TBA | Disney+ | co-produced with Compari Entertainment, Angry Films, DreamWorks SKG, and 20th Television |
| TBA | Untitled hockey drama series | Nick Naveda | Netflix |
References
- Fox Animation Acquires Film Rights to Sanrio's Mr. Men Little Miss Properties, Business Wire, 27 January 2015
- 21 LAPS, INC., OpenCorporates, 5 May 2024
- Breznican, Anthony, Shawn Levy to produce 'Man Made' book about toughened-up dad, EW.com
- 'Stranger Things' Producer Inks Massive Overall Deal With Netflix, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 December 2017, en, 2019-04-20
- The Story Behind The Name '21 Laps Entertainment', Shawn Levy, March 19, 2018, Producer's Guild of America
- Adalian, Josef, 2003-11-14, Twentieth TV takes up with 'Married' man, 2020-07-01, Variety, en
- Fleming, Michael, 2005-10-07, Levy homes in on Fox, 2020-07-01, Variety, en
- Andreeva, Nellie, 2010-06-18, Shawn Levy And Marty Adelstein Form TV Company, Sign With 20th Century Fox TV And Tap Becky Clements As Prez, 2020-07-01, Deadline, en
- Andreeva, Nellie, 2014-06-04, Marty Adelstein Sets Joint Venture With ITV Studios US To Launch Tomorrow ITV Studios, 2020-07-01, Deadline, en
- Stranger Things - Season 1 Reviews, Rotten Tomatoes
- 'Stranger Things' Ratings: Where Series Ranks Among Netflix's Most Watched, Holloway, Daniel, Variety.com, 25 August 2016
- How the man behind Netflix hit 'Stranger Things' is taking over Hollywood, Guerrasio, Jason, Business Insider
- Netflix Reveals 'Stranger Things' Season 3 Premiere Date, Wigler, Josh, The Hollywood Reporter, December 31, 2018, October 1, 2019
- 'Stranger Things' Renewed for Season 4 as Creators Ink Nine-Figure Netflix Deal, The Hollywood Reporter, Lesley, Goldberg, September 30, 2019, October 1, 2019
- McNary, Dave, 2020-11-19, 'Stranger Things' Producer Shawn Levy Signs First-Look Feature Deal With Netflix, Expands TV Pact, Variety, 2020-11-20
- A Filmmaker's Belief in Himself Pays Off, New York Times, Barnes, Brooks, 25 November 2016, 29 November 2016
- 'Creep' Director Patrick Brice's New Movie 'There's Someone Inside Your House' Crashes Netflix in October, Squires, John, BloodyDisgusting, August 23, 2021, August 23, 2021
- Grobar, Matt, 2023-02-06, 'The Backrooms' Horror Film Based On Viral Shorts By 17-Year-Old Kane Parsons In Works At A24, Atomic Monster, Chernin & 21 Laps, 2024-02-23, Deadline, en-US
- Star Wars Celebration: Shawn Levy, Ryan Gosling’s Movie Is Titled 'Starfighter', The Hollywood Reporter, Kit, Borys, Brzeski, Patrick, April 17, 2025, April 18, 2025
- Clea DuVall To Direct 'Abbi And The Eighth Wonder' For TriStar, 21 Laps, Matt, Grobar, Deadline Hollywood, May 9, 2024, September 28, 2024
- Kit, Borys, May 21, 2024, Disney's Club 33 Getting Movie Treatment From 'Goosebumps' Writer Darren Lemke, Shawn Levy's 21 Laps (Exclusive), November 24, 2024, The Hollywood Reporter, en-US
- Kit, Borys, November 4, 2019, 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' Filmmaker Sets Thriller 'Consume' With 21 Laps, Fox Searchlight (Exclusive), April 24, 2024, The Hollywood Reporter, en-US, August 18, 2021, live
- Kevin Jakubowski Adapting Evan S. Porter’s Debut Novel ‘Dad Camp’ For Netflix; 21 Laps & Happy Madison To Produce, August 22, 2025, October 29, 2025, Matt, Grobar, Deadline Hollywood
- Kroll, Justin, 'Peanut Butter Falcon' Filmmakers Michael Schwartz & Tyler Nilson To Helm 'Riders Of Justice' For Lionsgate; 21 Laps Producing, Deadline Hollywood, May 31, 2024
- Screen Gems Picks Up Female Thriller Spec 'Sabine' For 21 Laps, D’Alessandro, Anthony, Deadline Hollywood, July 8, 2020, April 24, 2024
- Netflix Picks Up 'Seismic' From 'Mortal Kombat's Greg Russo; Shawn Levy's 21 Laps Producing, Deadline Hollywood, Anthony, D'Alessandro, 13 February 2023, 13 February 2023
- Netflix & 21 Laps Developing Feature Adaptation Of Grady Hendrix Short Story “The Blanks”, June 4, 2025, October 29, 2025, Matt, Grobar, Deadline Hollywood
- Fleming, Mike Jr., 'Deadpool 3's Shawn Levy Boards Ryan Reynolds Heist Comedy As Director & Producer At Netflix, December 14, 2023, Deadline Hollywood, July 12, 2024
- Weintraub, Steven, 'Stranger Things: Tales From '85' Animated Series Premieres First Footage and Reveals What It's About, Collider, June 11, 2025, 16 August 2025
- Michelle Monaghan Cast In Netflix Hockey Drama From Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps, November 12, 2025, November 12, 2025, Rosy, Cordero, Deadline Hollywood
Category:Film studios in New York (state)
Category:21 Laps Entertainment films
Category:Television production companies based in New York (state)
Category:Entertainment companies established in 1999
Category:Entertainment companies established in 2005