Optimum Releasing, the UK indie distributor which last year made a mark with Mexican hit Amores Perros, has picked up a clutch of titles including two MGM comedies - What's The Worst That Could Happen' and Tortilla Soup.

Optimum has also acquired Argentinian hit Nine Queens from Lions Gate Films and Claude Miller's French-language film Betty Fisher And Other Stories from President Films. The distributor plans to release What's The Worst, which stars Martin Lawrence and Danny DeVito, in April, while Tortilla Soup and Nine Queens are scheduled for the summer. Betty Fisher is to go out in June.

Optimum has previously collaborated with MGM on films including Flawless, Spinal Tap and Born Romantic. The distributor last year grossed more than $1.1m (£780,000) with Amores Perros and has taken Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone to $340,000 (£240,000) so far.