New Line Cinema, founded in 1967, was one of the major American film studios. Though it initially began as an independent film studio, it became a subsidiary of Time Warner. On February 28 2008, due mainly to the decision to sell the international rights to the Golden Compass film, surpassing $250 million for a total of $331 million worldwide to date, the company was folded into corporate sibling Warner Bros., maintaining separate operations such as development, production, marketing, distribution and business affairs. Founders Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne no longer serve as the company's co-chairmen and co-CEOs.