Michael Burns (born August 21, 1958) is an American entertainment executive and Vice Chairman of Lionsgate, a film studio and global content platform.

[5] Burns was recruited to join the Board of Directors of Lionsgate, an independent studio known for art house successes such as Gods and Monsters, Affliction and The Red Violin, in 1999.

[8] Lionsgate soon generated a string of fiercely independent hits such as Monster's Ball, which earned a Best Actress Academy Award for Halle Berry in 2002, Fahrenheit 9/11, the highest-grossing documentary film of all time, Crash, which surprised the Hollywood community by winning three Oscars,[9] including Best Picture, in 2006, and Saw, acquired for $1 million from 90 seconds of video and a script, which went on to become one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time, generating $860 million at the worldwide box office as well as La La Land and the Hunger Games and John Wick franchisees.

[10] As Lionsgate continued to grow, it listed on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2004 and diversified into television production and distribution as well as investments in branded channels.

[citation needed] Lionsgate films and franchises have collectively grossed billions of dollars at the worldwide box office, and has produced ground-breaking television series such as Orange is the New Black, Nashville, Love Life, Ghosts, Mythic Quest, Power, Minx, P-Valley and the iconic Mad Men, which won four consecutive Best Drama Emmys.

[11] The Company also has a fast-growing location-based entertainment business that includes theme park attractions, rides and exhibitions currently operating or planned in the U.S., UK, Europe, the Middle East and China, and its ground-breaking Atom Tickets partnership with Disney and Fox.