Syracuse Sun

President of Domestic Distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures Group, Jeffrey Goldstein ’77, is a notable alumnus of the School of Education (SOE). His journey from a summer intern at Warner Bros. in Los Angeles to becoming a key executive responsible for domestic movie roll-out strategy, including the mega-hit "Barbie," is remarkable.

“I’m an OG at Warner Bros.!” says Goldstein, referencing his long career. “I never planned out what I wanted to do. When I graduated college, I thought I would go into teaching special education. I just fell into Warner Bros.”

Goldstein's career began after he graduated with a special education degree and took a year off before considering his next move. He had an uncle in the entertainment business who secured him a summer job at Warner Bros. Drawing an analogy with George Costanza from "Seinfeld," Goldstein humorously recounts how he continued showing up for work even after his internship ended.

Eventually, his superiors noticed but suggested he apply for a sales job in Jacksonville, Florida, instead of dismissing him. This marked the first time Goldstein moved somewhere without any support structure, leading to homesickness and misery initially. However, things improved over time as he took on various roles within the company.

Today, Goldstein oversees domestic distribution for all Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, and DC Studios movies in the U.S. and Canada. Since 2016, under his leadership, Warner Bros. Pictures has earned more than $10 billion at the domestic box office with numerous successful films.

The 2023 summer blockbuster "Barbie" set several records under Goldstein's watchful eye: it earned $1 billion in just 17 days and became the studio’s fastest film to reach $400 million domestically.

Reflecting on his time at Syracuse University and its influence on his career, Goldstein credits jobs in the dining hall and as a residence advisor for fostering his entrepreneurial spirit: “While at Syracuse, I realized I had a bent for business.”

Goldstein also highlights two legendary SOE professors who influenced him early on: Burton Blatt and Douglas Biklen: “Both Burton Blatt and Douglas Biklen were unbelievable."

He emphasizes that skills gained from his education degree—teaching, mentoring, listening—have been crucial in his role at Warner Bros.: “The thing I’m known for here is listening to colleagues and teams and elevating them.”

Goldstein acknowledges that diversity and inclusion are essential in serving broad audiences: “To be successful you need to seek out a broad audience...You need to look at the world as diverse and positive as it is and include everyone you can."

For graduates looking to leverage their education degrees outside teaching careers, Goldstein advises keeping an open mind: “Find the things that make you smile...Be open and have curiosity to find out what you don’t know.”

His enthusiasm remains evident even during remote conversations: “That’s one reason I’m the OG here. I love my job and that enthusiasm really resonates,” says Goldstein.

In April 2023 at CinemaCon in Las Vegas—a major movie industry trade show—Goldstein appeared on stage in a pink suit for the roll-out of "Barbie," capturing media attention.

“That’s one reason I’m the OG here,” he concludes with a smile.