Studio Movie Grill was founded in 1993 by Brian Schultz, who served as its CEO for twenty-seven years until April 2021.

[1] The company originated with the opening of the Granada Prestonwood in Addison, Texas, which featured five screens with private luxury boxes and valet parking.

[3] In October 2020, Studio Movie Grill filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The company's cash reserves were low due to losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

[6][7] Longtime CFO and COO Ted Croft also became the chain's new CEO after navigating Studio Movie Grill through the pandemic, in which many of its locations stayed open for food delivery orders, and securing funding in a new equity deal.