NEW YORK, December 29, 2025, 04:21 ET — Premarket
- Lionsgate Studios shares last closed up 4.6% at $9.31 on Friday.
- A new lawsuit against filmmaker Tyler Perry also names Lionsgate, the distributor of a 2016 film, the Associated Press reported.
- Investors are watching for any response from the company as trading resumes after the weekend.
Lionsgate Studios Corp shares were in focus ahead of Monday’s U.S. market open after the stock ended the prior session up 4.6%, as investors weighed a new lawsuit that also names Lionsgate as a defendant.
The legal headline lands as Lionsgate has drawn fresh attention in late December on optimism around its push into free, ad-supported streaming channels, a business where advertising technology partners can make a difference.
Any reaction to the lawsuit would come as trading volumes can be thin into year-end, which can amplify moves in smaller media names.
Actor Mario Rodriguez sued Perry in California, accusing him of repeated unwanted sexual advances and seeking at least $77 million in damages, the Associated Press reported.
Rodriguez also sued Lionsgate, which distributed the 2016 film “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” accusing the company of turning a blind eye, the report said. AP News
Lionsgate did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment, the Associated Press reported.
Lionsgate Studios shares closed at $9.31 on Friday, up 4.6%, after trading between $8.87 and $9.41. Volume was about 5.44 million shares, according to the company’s market data.
The stock’s recent run has followed an advertising partnership tied to Lionsgate’s FAST channels, or free ad-supported streaming television — 24/7 streaming channels funded by ads rather than subscriptions.
On Dec. 18, Comcast-owned FreeWheel said it became the exclusive ad-serving partner across Lionsgate’s U.S. FAST portfolio, with Lionsgate inventory available to buyers through FreeWheel’s supply-side platform, or SSP — a system publishers use to manage and sell ad space.
“It was an easy decision to choose FreeWheel, a leader in the space, as our exclusive technology partner across our ad-supported FAST business,” said Chase Brisbin, Lionsgate’s head of global channels, in the announcement. FreeWheel
FreeWheel said Lionsgate’s U.S. FAST portfolio includes nearly 30 channels and draws on franchises such as “John Wick,” “The Hunger Games” and “Twilight,” among others. FreeWheel
Investors are now watching for any comment from Lionsgate on the Perry lawsuit and whether it becomes a near-term overhang on sentiment after the late-December rally.
The next scheduled fundamental catalyst is Lionsgate’s next quarterly report. Nasdaq’s earnings calendar currently estimates an early-February release, though the company has not confirmed a date.
Lionsgate Studios began trading on the NYSE under the ticker LION in May after separating from Starz into two independent, publicly traded companies, the company said at the time.
