Higher Ground Productions
Higher Ground Productions is an American media production company founded in 2018 by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.[1] The company produces scripted and unscripted films, television series, documentaries, and podcasts with the stated aim of telling stories that entertain, inform, and inspire audiences.[1] In May 2018, Higher Ground signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to develop content, granting the streaming service first-look rights to its projects; this partnership was extended in June 2024.[2][3] Among its notable achievements, the company's first released project, the documentary American Factory, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 92nd Oscars in 2020.[4] Other prominent productions include the apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind (2023), the biographical drama Rustin (2023), and the comedy-thriller series Bodkin (2024).[5] While praised for elevating diverse voices, Higher Ground has faced criticism for the perceived high cost of its Netflix deal relative to output and occasional trademark disputes early in its formation.[6][7]History
Founding and Early Formation (2018)
Higher Ground Productions was founded in May 2018 by former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as an American media production company wholly owned by the couple.[8] The establishment coincided with the announcement of a multi-year agreement with Netflix on May 21, 2018, to develop scripted and unscripted films, documentaries, and television series for the streaming platform.[9] This deal marked the company's initial business model, focusing on content creation without disclosing specific financial terms publicly.[10] The Obamas articulated the company's mission as producing stories intended to entertain, inform, and inspire audiences while highlighting underrepresented voices and global issues.[1] In its formative months of 2018, Higher Ground operated primarily in the planning phase, leveraging the founders' post-presidential influence to secure the Netflix partnership, though no projects were released that year.[2] Early organizational structure remained lean, with key executive appointments, such as co-heads for the company, occurring in early 2019 to support project development.[11]Initial Projects and Growth (2019–2022)
Higher Ground Productions debuted with the documentary American Factory, directed by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, which Netflix released on August 21, 2019.[12] The film chronicles labor and cultural tensions at a Chinese-owned glass factory in post-industrial Ohio, originally developed by Participant Media before Higher Ground's involvement in its distribution and promotion.[13] It received the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 92nd Oscars on February 9, 2020, providing early validation for the company's focus on nonfiction storytelling.[12] In April 2019, Higher Ground announced an initial slate of Netflix-exclusive projects in various stages of development, encompassing documentaries on topics like Frederick Douglass and government operations, alongside scripted series and children's programming, signaling ambitions beyond single releases.[14] This was followed by two 2020 documentaries: Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, released March 25, which examines the origins of the U.S. disability rights movement through a 1970s summer camp, and Becoming, directed by Nadia Hallgren and released May 6, offering behind-the-scenes access to Michelle Obama's memoir tour and themes of personal resilience.[15][16] Both underscored the company's emphasis on inspirational nonfiction, with Crip Camp earning a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 100 reviews.[17] Expansion accelerated in 2021 with diversified formats, including the feature film Fatherhood, a comedy-drama starring Kevin Hart about single parenthood, released June 18, and children's series like Waffles + Mochi, hosted by Michelle Obama and focused on cooking and cultural education, which premiered March 16.[18] Ada Twist, Scientist, an animated series adapting Andrea Beaty's books to promote STEM curiosity among young audiences, followed in September 2021. These projects marked Higher Ground's entry into family-oriented and scripted content, building on the 2018 Netflix deal's multi-year scope.[18] By 2022, the company released Our Great National Parks, a docuseries narrated by Barack Obama highlighting global conservation efforts, on April 13, reflecting matured production capacity with four episodes covering sites like Yellowstone and the Galápagos.[18] Overall growth during this period included hiring key executives like Tonia Davis as president in February 2019 to oversee operations, alongside a February 2021 announcement of additional Netflix projects such as national parks docuseries and adaptations, demonstrating sustained pipeline development amid critical successes like the Oscar win.[19][20]Expansion and Recent Developments (2023–2025)
In June 2024, Higher Ground Productions extended its multi-year creative partnership with Netflix, securing an exclusive first-look deal for all future film and television projects, which builds on the original 2018 agreement and emphasizes continued collaboration on narrative and documentary content.[3] This extension followed the release of several projects and aimed to prioritize stories that explore themes of race, class, democracy, and civil rights, as articulated by the company's founders.[21] During 2023 and 2024, Higher Ground advanced multiple projects into development, including a feature film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight, with Regina King attached to direct, focusing on the abolitionist's life and legacy.[6] In August 2024, the company partnered with director Ben Proudfoot to acquire and produce the documentary short The Turnaround, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and examines themes of redemption through skateboarding in underserved communities.[22] Additional slate announcements in 2024 included adaptations like The Fifth Risk, a series based on Michael Lewis's book about government dysfunction.[23] By early 2025, Higher Ground expanded beyond Netflix, entering talks with Amazon MGM Studios to co-produce a biopic on golfer Tiger Woods, marking a diversification of distribution partnerships.[24] Internally, the company experienced leadership changes, with Vinnie Malhotra, who joined as president in April 2023 to oversee unscripted content, departing in October 2025 after less than three years, amid a strategic pivot toward scripted and high-profile features.[25] These moves reflect Higher Ground's efforts to scale operations while maintaining a focus on inspirational, fact-based storytelling.Leadership and Operations
Founders and Key Executives
Higher Ground Productions was established in 2018 by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as a production company dedicated to creating content that entertains, informs, and inspires audiences through diverse storytelling.[1][14] The Obamas serve as the primary founders and executive producers, overseeing the company's strategic direction and involvement in select projects, including documentaries, films, and series distributed primarily through Netflix under a multi-year partnership.[3] Day-to-day leadership is handled by a team of executives recruited from major studios and networks. Vinnie Malhotra has served as president since April 2023, having previously held the role of executive vice president of nonfiction programming at Showtime Networks, where he oversaw acclaimed documentaries.[26][27] Anikah McLaren was appointed head of film in August 2024, focusing on scripted feature development following her tenure at Annapurna Pictures and other production roles.[28] Jessie Dicovitsky joined as head of television in July 2024, bringing experience from Showtime where she developed unscripted and scripted series.[29] Ethan Lewis was promoted to head of non-fiction and sports in March 2025, after contributing to the company's documentary slate.[30] Earlier executives included Tonia Davis, who co-headed the company from 2019 until transitioning from head of motion pictures to a producer role in May 2024, and Priya Swaminathan, an initial co-head who departed in 2021.[31][32]Business Partnerships and Model
Higher Ground Productions operates primarily as a content production company, developing scripted series, documentaries, feature films, and podcasts under multi-year agreements with major streaming and audio platforms, leveraging the founders' public profiles to secure high-profile distribution deals.[3][2] The company's model emphasizes creating narrative-driven content aimed at broad audiences, with revenue derived from production fees, licensing, and potential backend participation in successful projects, though specific financial terms remain undisclosed in public announcements.[33] The cornerstone partnership is with Netflix, initiated in May 2018 through a multi-year deal granting the platform exclusive rights to Higher Ground's film and television output, including scripted and unscripted programming.[2][34] This agreement evolved into a first-look arrangement, renewed in June 2024 for an additional multi-year term, prioritizing Netflix for all future film and TV projects while allowing non-exclusive opportunities elsewhere under certain conditions.[3][35] In audio content, Higher Ground initially partnered with Spotify in June 2019 for exclusive podcasts, producing titles such as The Michelle Obama Podcast, which debuted in 2020 and featured interviews with figures like Conan O'Brien and Valerie Jarrett.[36][37] This three-year deal concluded in 2022, after which the company shifted to a multiyear first-look agreement with Audible, Amazon's audiobook and podcast platform, announced on June 21, 2022, to develop and distribute original audio series.[38][39] These partnerships reflect a strategic focus on digital distribution channels, enabling scalable production without owning distribution infrastructure.[3]Productions
Documentaries
Higher Ground Productions' inaugural release was the documentary American Factory, which premiered on Netflix on August 21, 2019.[40] The film examines the cultural and labor clashes at a Chinese-owned automotive glass plant in post-industrial Ohio, highlighting tensions between American workers and Chinese management practices.[41] It received the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 92nd ceremony on February 9, 2020, marking Higher Ground's first major accolade.[40] In 2020, the company executive produced Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, directed by Nicole Newnham and James Lebrecht, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23 before streaming on Netflix on March 25.[15] The documentary chronicles the influence of a 1970s summer camp for disabled teenagers on the broader disability rights movement in the United States, drawing from archival footage and interviews with participants who later advocated for legislative changes like the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.[42] It earned nominations for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards. Becoming, released on Netflix on May 6, 2020, focuses on Michelle Obama's book tour for her 2018 memoir of the same name, offering insights into her public engagements and personal reflections during a period of transition post-White House.[43] Directed by Nadia Hallgren, the film features intimate conversations with Obama and fans, emphasizing themes of resilience and connection, though critics noted its selective portrayal aligned with the promotional context.[16] It garnered a nomination for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards.[44] More recently, American Symphony, a 2023 Netflix release directed by Matthew Heineman, follows musician Jon Batiste as he composes an original symphony amid his wife Suleika Jaouad's leukemia treatment and relapse.[45] Premiering on November 14, 2023, the film interweaves Batiste's creative process with personal hardship, culminating in the symphony's live premiere at Carnegie Hall on September 21, 2021.[46] It holds a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 51 reviews, praised for its raw emotional depth.[47]Feature Films
Higher Ground Productions has produced three narrative feature films since its founding, all distributed by Netflix and emphasizing themes of personal resilience, racial justice, and societal disruption. These projects represent the company's pivot from documentaries to scripted storytelling, with production credits extending to development, financing, and executive oversight by founders Barack and Michelle Obama.[41][40] The first feature film, Fatherhood (2021), directed by Paul Weitz, stars Kevin Hart as a widower navigating single parenthood after his wife's death during childbirth. Adapted from the memoir *Two Kisses for Maddy* by Matthew Logelin, the film explores grief, family bonds, and emotional vulnerability, grossing an estimated viewership boost for Netflix in its debut week. Higher Ground's involvement marked its entry into narrative cinema, with the Obamas serving as producers to highlight authentic stories of modern fatherhood.[41][18] In 2023, Higher Ground released Rustin, a biographical drama directed by George C. Wolfe, focusing on civil rights activist Bayard Rustin's orchestration of the 1963 March on Washington. Colman Domingo portrays Rustin, with supporting roles by Aja Naomi King, Glynn Turman, and cameo appearances including Barack Obama as Martin Luther King Jr. The film addresses Rustin's marginalization due to his sexuality and strategic role in nonviolent protest, earning critical praise for its historical detail and Domingo's performance, alongside Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Original Song.[48][49] Also in 2023, Leave the World Behind, directed by Sam Esmail and adapted from Rumaan Alam's 2020 novel, depicts a cyberattack-induced apocalypse through intertwined families played by Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Myha'la. Higher Ground produced the thriller, which explores racial tensions, technology dependence, and class divides amid societal collapse, achieving 6.4 million views in its first week on Netflix and sparking debate over its apocalyptic themes.[48][49]| Title | Release Year | Director | Key Cast Members | Distributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatherhood | 2021 | Paul Weitz | Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard | Netflix |
| Rustin | 2023 | George C. Wolfe | Colman Domingo, Aja Naomi King | Netflix |
| Leave the World Behind | 2023 | Sam Esmail | Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali | Netflix |
Television Series
Higher Ground Productions has developed several television series since entering into an exclusive first-look deal with Netflix in 2018, encompassing animated children's content, scripted fiction, sports documentaries, and unscripted reality formats. These projects align with the company's emphasis on inspirational narratives, often highlighting themes of education, personal achievement, and underrepresented perspectives. As of 2025, their TV slate has expanded to include both family-oriented programming and adult-oriented series, with releases accelerating post-2021.[3][50]| Title | Premiere Date | Format/Description | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada Twist, Scientist | September 28, 2021 | Animated educational series for children promoting STEM concepts, based on the book series by Andrea Beaty. | Netflix [51] |
| Starting 5 | October 17, 2024 | Docuseries following the lives of five NBA stars during their offseason training and personal endeavors. | Netflix [52] |
| Our Oceans | September 26, 2024 | Docuseries exploring marine conservation efforts and ocean ecosystems, co-produced with Freeborne Media. | Netflix [52] [53] |
| The Later Daters | November 26, 2024 | Unscripted dating competition series featuring singles over 50 seeking romance. | Netflix [52] |
| Bodkin | May 9, 2024 | Scripted dark comedy-thriller miniseries about podcasters investigating disappearances in an Irish town; Higher Ground's first fully scripted TV project. | Netflix [51] [50] |
| Court of Gold | February 20, 2025 | Unscripted series using metal detectors to uncover historical artifacts in treasure hunts. | Netflix [52] |
| Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds | May 2, 2025 | Docuseries profiling the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatic team. | Netflix [52] |
Podcasts
Higher Ground Productions has produced a range of podcasts since 2020, often featuring Michelle Obama or Barack Obama as hosts or central figures, with distribution deals including Spotify and Audible. These series emphasize personal narratives, cultural reflections, and inspirational dialogues, typically spanning 6–12 episodes per season.[54] [55] The company's inaugural podcast, The Michelle Obama Podcast, launched exclusively on Spotify on July 29, 2020, as part of a multi-year partnership. Hosted by Michelle Obama, it consisted of eight episodes exploring themes of resilience, relationships, and self-care through conversations with guests including Conan O'Brien, Valerie Jarrett, and Gayle King. The series amassed over 14 million downloads in its first weeks.[54] In 2021, Higher Ground released Renegades: Born in the USA on Spotify, debuting February 22 with the first two episodes. Co-hosted by Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen, the eight-episode series featured in-depth discussions on fatherhood, race, economic inequality, and music's role in American identity, drawing from their shared experiences as performers and public figures. A companion book of the same name followed in October 2021.[55] [56] Your Mama's Kitchen, hosted by Michelle Obama, premiered in 2023 and focuses on the cultural and emotional significance of food through interviews with celebrities such as Matthew Broderick, D-Nice, and José Andrés. Episodes, produced in collaboration with iHeartMedia, highlight family recipes and memories, with the series emphasizing identity and heritage; early installments aired starting August 2023.[57] [58] Tied to Michelle Obama's 2022 memoir The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast debuted on Audible March 7, 2023, as a four-episode original. It combines narration from the book with reflective audio essays on overcoming fear and finding purpose, produced as Higher Ground's first Audible project.[59] Later releases include The Wonder of Stevie, a 2024 music documentary-style podcast chronicling Stevie Wonder's career with interviews from guests like Barack Obama, Questlove, and Smokey Robinson, premiering September 16. IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, an advice-oriented series addressing listener-submitted questions on family, career, and vulnerability, launched March 12, 2025, with episodes featuring guests such as Mara Brock Akil and Matt Barnes. Additional series like Ways To Win and The Sum of Us extend Higher Ground's audio portfolio into sports motivation and social cohesion themes, respectively.[60] [61] [62]Awards and Recognition
Major Awards and Nominations
Higher Ground Productions' debut feature documentary, American Factory (2019), received the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards on February 9, 2020.[63] The film, directed by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, also earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program in 2020.[3] The company's documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021.[64] Becoming (2020), a documentary special centered on Michelle Obama's memoir, garnered four Primetime Emmy nominations in 2020, including for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.[65] Higher Ground has secured additional Emmy wins through its children's programming, with Ada Twist, Scientist earning a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Interactive Media for a Preschool Audience in 2022, and We the People winning for Outstanding Preschool Children's Series in the same year.[66] Barack Obama, as narrator for Higher Ground-produced documentaries, won Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Narrator for Our Great National Parks (2022) and an unspecified project in 2025, alongside a 2023 nomination for Working: What We Do All Day.[67][68][69]| Production | Award | Category | Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Factory | Academy Awards | Best Documentary Feature | 2020 | Won[63] |
| American Factory | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program | 2020 | Won[3] |
| Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution | Academy Awards | Best Documentary Feature | 2021 | Nominated[64] |
| Becoming | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special | 2020 | Nominated[65] |
| Ada Twist, Scientist | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Interactive Media for Preschool Children | 2022 | Won[66] |
| We the People | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Preschool Children's Series | 2022 | Won[66] |