Prestige picture

A prestige picture is a film produced to bolster the film studio's perceived artistic integrity, rather than to turn a large profit; the studio may even expect the film to lose money.

History

Prestige pictures are largely the province of major Cinema of [the United States|Hollywood] film studios — such as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. — that produce numerous films every year.
In the 1930s, such studios might release one prestige picture per year. The films' screenwriters drew material from historical events, well-known literary classics, or popular novels or plays.