Crown International Pictures is an independent film studio and distribution company formed in 1959 by Newton P. Jacobs Jacobs was a branch head of RKO Pictures until 1947, when he formed Favorite Films, a releasing organization. He became one of the first franchises for showing American International Pictures (AIP) product. Like AIP, Crown International is primarily known for low-budget flicks, grindhouse cinema, biker films, exploitation films and B-movie drive-in fare.