Designed to give movie stars more creative control over their productions, the initial actors who formed First Artists were Paul Newman, Barbra Streisand, and Sidney Poitier; later joined by Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.

Movies made by First Artists include McQueen's The Getaway and the company's most successful film, Streisand's A Star Is Born.

[1] The company was formed in 1969 and was the idea of agent Freddie Fields of Creative Management Associates with assistance from his partner David Begelman.

[10] He increased the development slate, and moved First Artists into film distribution, television, and music to ensure a more constant source of income.

[11] Feldman decided to supplement the company's movies with other star's films, such as Bobby Deerfield, originally developed for Paul Newman, and made with Al Pacino at Columbia.

First Artists became involved in the production of The Gumball Rally, was a distribution consultant on The Ritz, and did TV movies like Minstrel Man.

[12] Other films the company planned to make included Repo, with Darren McGavin, Stevie with Glenda Jackson, and Devilfish with Bert Gordon.

Hoffman wound up suing First Artists for $65 million, claiming that he was denied creative control on Straight Time and Agatha.