View source for Major film studios

{{Short description|Large U.S. film companies}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{multiple image
| perrow            = 3/2
| total_width       = 400
| image_style       = border:none
| image1            = Universal_Pictures_logo.svg
| link1             = Universal Pictures
| image2            = Paramount Pictures with Skydance byline.svg
| link2             = Paramount Pictures
| image3            = Warner Bros. 2023 (Print).svg
| link3             = Warner Bros.
| image4            = Walt Disney Studios Logo.svg
| link4             = Walt Disney Studios (division)
| image5            = Sony Pictures Inc. logo.svg
| link5             = Sony Pictures
| footer            = The logos of the "Big Five" film studios, arranged in order by the year each studio was founded.
}}
{{Maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=right|frame-coord={{coord|34.1|-118.34}}|frame-width=200|frame-height=220|zoom=10
|type=point|marker=1|marker-size=small|coord={{coord|34.1407|-118.3487}}|title=[[Universal Pictures]]
|type2=point|marker2=2|marker-size2=small|coord2={{coord|34.0843|-118.3189}}|title2=[[Paramount Pictures]]
|type3=point|marker3=3|marker-size3=small|coord3={{coord|34.1495|-118.3381}}|title3=[[Warner Bros.]]
|type4=point|marker4=4|marker-size4=small|coord4={{coord|34.1571|-118.3252}}|title4=[[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]]
|type5=point|marker5=5|marker-size5=small|coord5={{coord|34.016677|-118.402426}}|title5=[[Sony Pictures]]
|text=The locations of the "Big Five" film studios in [[Los Angeles]]. {{Ubl|{{#invoke:overlay|icon|1|blue}} [[Universal Pictures]]|{{#invoke:overlay|icon|2|blue}} [[Paramount Pictures]]|{{#invoke:overlay|icon|3|blue}} [[Warner Bros.]]|{{#invoke:overlay|icon|4|blue}} [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]]|{{#invoke:overlay|icon|5|blue}} [[Sony Pictures]]}}}}
{{Anchor|Big Five studios}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2025}}

'''Major film studios''' are [[filmmaking|production]] and [[film distributor|distribution]] companies that release a substantial number of [[film]]s annually and consistently command a significant share of [[box office]] revenue in a given market. In the American and international markets, the major film studios, often known simply as the '''majors''' or the '''Big Five studios''', are commonly regarded as the five diversified [[media conglomerate]]s whose various film production and distribution subsidiaries collectively command approximately 80 to 85% of American box office revenue.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Epstein|first1=Edward Jay|title=The Big Picture: Money And Power in Hollywood|url=https://archive.org/details/bigpicturemoneyp00epst/page/14|url-access=registration|date=2006|publisher=Random House|location=New York|isbn=9780812973822|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bigpicturemoneyp00epst/page/14 14–19, 82, 109, 133]}}</ref><ref name="Schatz">{{cite book |last1=Schatz |first1=Thomas |editor1-last=Buckland |editor1-first=Warren |title=Film Theory and Contemporary Hollywood Movies |date=2009 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |isbn=9781135895747 |pages=19–46 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X0WSAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT31 |access-date=24 August 2020 |chapter=New Hollywood, New Millennium |archive-date=5 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405034822/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Film_Theory_and_Contemporary_Hollywood_M/X0WSAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PT31&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Bettig|first1=Ronald V.|author2=Jeanne Lynn Hall|title=Big Media, Big Money: Cultural Texts and Political Economics|date=2012|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|location=Lanham, MD|isbn=9781442204294|pages=59–108|edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ihOEMbFdXYC&pg=PA59|access-date=2020-05-26|archive-date=2021-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308123320/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Big_Media_Big_Money/3ihOEMbFdXYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA59&printsec=frontcover|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Davis">{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Glyn |last2=Dickinson |first2=Kay |last3=Patti |first3=Lisa |last4=Villarejo |first4=Amy |title=Film Studies: A Global Introduction |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge |location=Abingdon |isbn=9781317623380 |page=299 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dnXABgAAQBAJ&pg=PA299 |access-date=24 August 2020 |archive-date=16 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716143112/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Film_Studies/dnXABgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA299&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}</ref> The term may also be applied more specifically to the primary motion picture business subsidiary of each respective conglomerate.<ref name="Schatz" />

Since [[History of film|the dawn of filmmaking]], the major American film studios have [[List of film distributors by country|dominated]] both [[Cinema of the United States|American cinema]] and the global [[film industry]].<ref name="Kerrigan_Page_18">{{cite book |last1=Kerrigan |first1=Finola |title=Film Marketing |date=2010 |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann |location=Oxford |isbn=9780750686839 |page=18 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ufMdvuuTQ7MC&pg=PA18 |access-date=4 February 2022 |archive-date=16 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716143116/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Film_Marketing/ufMdvuuTQ7MC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA18&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Gomery_Page_143">{{cite book |last1=Gomery |first1=Douglas |last2=Pafort-Overduin |first2=Clara |title=Movie History: A Survey |date=2011 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |isbn=9781136835254 |page=143 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s0PP2Gm8xNcC&pg=PA143 |access-date=2021-01-27 |archive-date=2022-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716143113/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Movie_History_A_Survey/s0PP2Gm8xNcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA143&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}</ref> American studios have benefited from a strong [[first-mover advantage]] in that they were the first to industrialize filmmaking and master the art of mass-producing and distributing high-quality films with broad cross-cultural appeal.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Flew|first1=Terry|title=The Creative Industries: Culture and Policy|date=2012|publisher=SAGE|location=London|isbn=9781446273081|page=128|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UNwf-pWVBMgC&pg=PA128|access-date=2020-08-16|archive-date=2022-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716143113/https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Creative_Industries/UNwf-pWVBMgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA128&printsec=frontcover|url-status=live}}</ref> Today, the Big Five majors – [[Universal Pictures]], [[Paramount Pictures]], [[Warner Bros.]], [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], and [[Sony Pictures]] – routinely distribute hundreds of films every year into all significant international markets (that is, where [[Disposable and discretionary income|discretionary income]] is high enough for consumers to afford to watch films). The majors enjoy "significant internal [[economies of scale]]" from their "extensive and efficient [distribution] infrastructure,"<ref name="Scott_Page_139">{{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Allen J. |title=On Hollywood: The Place, the Industry |date=2005 |publisher=Princeton University Press |author-link=Allen J. Scott |location=Princeton |isbn=9780691116839 |page=139 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzCOBoy1o_MC&pg=PA139 |access-date=8 October 2023}}</ref> while it is "nearly impossible" for a film to reach a broad international theatrical audience without being first picked up by one of the majors for distribution.<ref name="Davis" /> Today, all the Big Five major studios are also members of the [[Motion Picture Association]] (MPA) and the [[Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers]] (AMPTP).

{{TOC limit|3}}

==Overview==
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = Gate 2, Universal Studios Lot.jpg
| caption1          = [[Universal Studios Lot|Universal Studios]] in [[Universal City, California]]
| image2            = Paramountpicturesmelrosegate.jpg
| caption2          = [[Paramount Pictures]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]]
| image3            = Gate 4 Warner Bros. Studios.jpg
| caption3          = [[Warner Bros. Studios Burbank|Warner Bros.]] in [[Burbank, California]]
| image4            = Walt Disney Studios Alameda Entrance.jpg
| caption4          = [[Walt Disney Studios (Burbank)|Walt Disney Studios]] in [[Burbank, California]]
| image5            = Sony Pictures Studios Motor Gate.jpg
| caption5          = [[Sony Pictures Studios]] in [[Culver City, California]]
}}

{{Pie chart
| caption = Summary of the 2024 North American market share of each studio.<ref name=":0" />
| value1 = 25.5
| label1 = [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]]
| value2 = 21.7
| label2 = [[Universal Filmed Entertainment Group|Universal Studios]]
| value3 = 13.7
| label3 = [[Warner Bros.|Warner Bros. Entertainment]]
| value4 = 11.5
| label4 = [[Sony Pictures]]
| value5 = 10.1
| label5 = [[List of assets owned by Paramount Skydance#Paramount Skydance Studios|Paramount Skydance Studios]]
| value6 = 3.4
| label6 = [[Amazon MGM Studios]]
| value7 = 2.9
| label7 = [[Lionsgate Studios]]
| value8 = 2.3
| label8 = [[A24]]
| other = yes
}}
The current '''Big Five''' majors (Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, and Sony) all originate from film studios that were active during [[classical Hollywood cinema|Hollywood's Golden Age.]] Four of these were among that original era's '''Eight Majors''', being that era's original Big Five plus its '''Little Three''', collectively the eight [[film studio]]s that controlled as much as 96% of the market during the 1930s and 1940s.

In addition to being members of today's Big Five, [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[Warner Bros.]] were also part of the original Big Five, along with [[RKO Pictures]], [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], and [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]].

[[Universal Pictures]] was, during that early era, considered one of the Little Three, along with [[United Artists]] and [[Columbia Pictures]]. RKO went defunct in 1959, but was brought back by [[RKO General]] in 1978. United Artists began as a distribution company for several independent producers, later began producing its own films, and was eventually acquired by MGM in 1981. Columbia Pictures eventually merged in 1987 with Tri-Star Pictures to form Columbia Pictures Entertainment, now known as Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.

During the Golden Age, [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney Productions]] was an independent production company and not considered a "major studio" until 1984, when it joined 20th Century Fox, Columbia, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, Paramount, Universal, and Warner Bros. to comprise the '''Big Seven'''. The decay of MGM in 1986 led the studio to become a mini-major upon its sale in 1986, reducing the majors to the '''Big Six'''. In 1989, [[Sony]] acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment, which became Sony Pictures Entertainment in 1991.

In 2019, [[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|Disney acquired Fox]], reducing the majors to a new Big Five for the first time since Hollywood's Golden Age.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fritz |first=Ben |date=December 11, 2017 |title=Disney Deal for Fox Would End Era of the 'Big Six' Studios |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-deal-for-fox-would-end-era-of-the-big-six-studios-1512907201 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171212020429/https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-deal-for-fox-would-end-era-of-the-big-six-studios-1512907201 |archive-date=December 12, 2017 |access-date=March 19, 2019 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> Thus, Paramount and Warner are the only Golden Age Big Five members to remain as majors today with the same names, while 20th Century Studios continues to be a major under the ownership of Disney.

While the Big Five's main studio lots are located within {{convert|15|miles|km}} of each other, Paramount is the only member of the Big Five still based ''in'' [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] and located entirely within the official [[city limits]] of the City of Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bingen |first1=Steven |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GC1IDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA8 |title=Paramount: City of Dreams |date=2016 |publisher=Taylor Trade Publishing |isbn=9781630762018 |location=Guilford, Connecticut |page=8 |access-date=10 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716005941/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Paramount/GC1IDQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA8&printsec=frontcover |archive-date=16 July 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Warner Bros. and Disney are both located in [[Burbank, California|Burbank]], while Universal is in the nearby unincorporated area [[Universal City, California|Universal City]], and Sony is in [[Culver City, California|Culver City]].

Disney is the only studio that has been owned by the same conglomerate since its founding. The offices of that parent entity are still located on [[Walt Disney Studios (Burbank)|Disney's studio lot]] and [[Team Disney|in the same building]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=Brooks|title=Disney Film Boss Ousted by Warner Finds Vindication in Success|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/10/business/media/alan-horn-rights-the-ship-at-disney-and-fortune-follows.html|access-date=9 November 2014|work=The New York Times|date=9 November 2014|archive-date=10 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110062721/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/10/business/media/alan-horn-rights-the-ship-at-disney-and-fortune-follows.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=Brooks|title=In Hollywood, a Decade of Hits Is No Longer Enough|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/business/27steal.html|access-date=10 November 2014|work=The New York Times|date=26 March 2011|archive-date=11 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411014419/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/business/27steal.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Meanwhile, [[Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group]] is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is owned by Tokyo-based [[Sony|Sony Group Corporation]] and is the only US film studio owned by a foreign conglomerate. Universal, now owned by Philadelphia-based [[Comcast]] (via [[NBCUniversal]]), was previously owned by foreign companies including Japan's [[Panasonic|Matsushita Electric]], Canada's [[Seagram]], and France's [[Vivendi]] in succession. Warner Bros. Pictures reports to a corporation headquartered in New York City — [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]. Paramount Pictures reports to a corporation headquartered in Hollywood — [[Paramount Skydance]]. Most of today's Big Five also control subsidiaries with their own distribution networks that concentrate on [[Art film|arthouse pictures]] (e.g., Universal's [[Focus Features]]) or [[B movie|genre films]] (e.g., Sony's [[Screen Gems]]); several other specialty units were shut down or sold off between 2008 and 2010.

Outside of the Big Five, there are several smaller American production and distribution companies, known as independents or "indies". The leading independent producers and distributors such as [[Lionsgate Studios Corp|Lionsgate Studios]], the aforementioned [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (now owned by [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]), [[A24]], and [[STX Entertainment]], are sometimes referred to as "mini-majors". From 1998 through 2005, during a portion of the Big Six period, [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks SKG]] commanded a large enough market share to arguably qualify it as a seventh major. In 2006, DreamWorks was acquired by [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]], Paramount's then-corporate parent (Viacom, after other mergers and acquisitions and rebrandings, included its movie studio's well-known name when the parent company merged with [[National Amusements]] and [[Skydance Media]] to form [[Paramount Skydance|Paramount Skydance Corporation]] in 2025). In late 2008, DreamWorks once again became an independent production company; its films were distributed by Disney's [[Touchstone Pictures]] until 2016, at which point distribution switched to Universal.

Today, the Big Five major studios are primarily financial backers and distributors of films whose actual production is largely handled by independent companies – either long-running entities or ones created for and dedicated to the making of a specific film. For example, Disney and Sony Pictures distribute their films through affiliated divisions ([[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures]] and [[Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group#Sony Pictures Releasing|Sony Pictures Releasing]], respectively), while the others function as both production and distribution companies. The specialty divisions (such as Disney's [[Searchlight Pictures]] and Universal's [[Focus Features]]) often acquire distribution rights to films in which the studio has had no prior involvement. While the majors still do a modicum of true production, their activities are focused more in the areas of development, financing, marketing, and merchandising. Those business functions are still usually performed in or near Los Angeles, even though the [[runaway production]] phenomenon means that most films are now mostly or completely [[location shooting|shot on location]] at places outside Los Angeles.<ref name="Mirrlees_Page_173">{{cite book |last1=Mirrlees |first1=Tanner |title=Global Entertainment Media: Between Cultural Imperialism and Cultural Globalization |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York and London |isbn=9781136334658 |page=173 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bKnNISWnoMQC&pg=PA173 |access-date=July 3, 2025}} This source uses acronyms used in [[political economy]] but not in Hollywood itself. NICL means new international division of cultural labor and TNMC means transnational media corporation.</ref>

The Big Five major studios are also members of the [[Motion Picture Association]] (MPA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motionpictures.org/who-we-are|title=Who We Are|website=Motion Picture Association|access-date=November 27, 2020|archive-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128202939/https://www.motionpictures.org/who-we-are/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers]] (AMPTP).
{{Clear}}

==Majors==
=== Current<span class="anchor" id="majors-current"></span> ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:0em;" | Studio<br />([[media conglomerate|conglomerate]])
! style="width:5.5em;" | {{Tooltip|Main units|Italic denotes a specialty division}}
! [[Film genre|Genre]]/[[B movie]]
! style="min-width: 19%;" | [[Animation]]
! style="min-width: 17%;" | Other divisions and brands
! [[Over-the-top media service|OTT]]/[[Video on demand|VOD]]
! style="width:0em;" | [[United States|US]]/[[Canada|CA]] market share (2024)<ref name=":0" />
|-
| [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]]<br />{{small|([[The Walt Disney Company]])}}
| align="center" | [[Walt Disney Pictures]]
----
[[20th Century Studios]]
----
''[[Searchlight Pictures]]''
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Marvel Studios]]|[[Lucasfilm]]|[[The Muppets Studio]]|[[Disneynature]]|[[List of National Geographic documentary films|National Geographic Documentary Films]] (73%)}}
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney Animation]]|[[Disney Television Animation]]|[[Pixar]]|[[Marvel Animation]]|[[Marvel Studios Animation]]|[[Lucasfilm Animation]]|[[20th Century Animation]]|[[20th Television Animation]]}}
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures]]|[[20th Century Family]]|[[Star Studio18]] (36.84%)|[[Regency Enterprises|New Regency]] (20%)}}
| align="center" | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Disney+]]|[[Hulu]]|4=[[Disney+ Hotstar|JioHotstar]] (36.84%)|6=[[Movies Anywhere]]}}
| align="center" | 25.5%
|-
| [[Universal Filmed Entertainment Group]]<br />{{small|([[Comcast]])}}
| align="center" | [[Universal Pictures]]
----
''[[Focus Features]]''
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Working Title Films]]|[[Universal 1440 Entertainment]]}}
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Universal Animation Studios|Universal Animation]]|[[Illumination (company)|Illumination]]|[[DreamWorks Animation]]|[[DreamWorks Animation Television]]}}
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[DreamWorks Classics]]|[[NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan|NBCUniversal Japan]]|[[United International Pictures|UIP]] (50%)|[[Amblin Partners]] (minority)}}
| align="center" | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]]|[[SkyShowtime]] (50%)|[[Fandango at Home]] (75%)}}
| align="center" | 21.7%
|-
| [[Warner Bros.]]<br />{{small|([[Warner Bros. Discovery]])}}
| align="center" | [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]
----
[[New Line Cinema]]
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Cartoon Network Movies]]|[[DC Studios]]|[[Alloy Entertainment]]|[[HBO Films]]|[[HBO Documentary Films]]}}
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Warner Bros. Animation]]|[[Warner Bros. Pictures Animation]]|[[Cartoon Network Studios]]|[[Williams Street]]|[[Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe]]}}
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Castle Rock Entertainment]]|[[DC Entertainment]]|[[Turner Entertainment Co.|Turner Entertainment]]||{{ill|Warner Bros. Japan|lt=|ja|ワーナー ブラザース ジャパン}}|[[Flagship Entertainment Group]] (49%)|[[Spyglass Media Group]] (minority)}}
| align="center" | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[HBO Max]]|[[Discovery+]]|[[Fandango at Home]] (25%)}}
| align="center" | 13.7%
|-
| [[Sony Pictures]]<br />{{small|([[Sony]])}}
| align="center" | [[Columbia Pictures]]
----
[[TriStar Pictures]]
----
''[[Sony Pictures Classics]]''
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Screen Gems]]|[[Stage 6 Films]]|[[Destination Films]]|[[Affirm Films]]|[[Ghost Corps]]}}
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Sony Pictures Animation]]|[[Sony Pictures Imageworks]]|[[Hayate Inc.|Hayate]]|[[Madhouse, Inc.|Madhouse]] (5%)}}
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group#3000 Pictures|3000 Pictures]]|[[Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan|Sony Pictures Japan]]|[[Sony Pictures Networks|Sony Pictures India]]|[[Sony Pictures Releasing]]|[[Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions]]}}
| align="center" | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Sony Pictures Core]]|3=[[SonyLIV]]|4=[[Crunchyroll]]|5=[[Great American Pure Flix]] (JV)}}
| align="center" | 11.5%
|-
| [[List of assets owned by Paramount Skydance#Paramount Skydance Studios|Paramount Skydance Studios]]<br />{{small|([[Paramount Skydance]])}}
| align="center" | [[Paramount Pictures]]
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Paramount Players]]|[[Republic Pictures]]|[[Nickelodeon Movies]]|[[Miramax]] (49%)}}
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Paramount Animation]]|[[Skydance Animation]]|[[CBS Eye Animation Productions|CBS Eye Animation]]|[[Nickelodeon Animation Studio|Nickelodeon Animation]]|[[MTV Animation]]|[[Avatar Studios]]}}
| {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[United International Pictures|UIP]] (50%)}}
| align="center" | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Paramount+]]|[[BET+]]|[[Pluto TV]]|[[SkyShowtime]] (50%)}}
| align="center" | 10.1%
|}

===Past===
Other major film studios of the 20th century included:
* [[Fox Film]] (1915–1935) – merged with [[20th Century Pictures]] to form [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]]
* [[First National Pictures]] (1917–1936) – acquired by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], dissolved in 1936. 
* [[RKO Pictures|RKO Radio Pictures]] (RKO) (1929–1958) – one of the Big Five studios, bought by [[Howard Hughes]] in 1948, was mismanaged and dismantled and was largely defunct by the 1957 studio lot sale;<ref name="tss">{{cite book |last=Schatz |first=Tom |title=The Studio System |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |chapter=The Studio System and Conglomerate Hollywood |quote=Disney also exploited new technologies and delivery systems, creating synergies that were altogether unique among the studios, and that finally enabled the perpetual "mini-major" to ascend to major studio status. |access-date=2012-07-03 |chapter-url=https://www.blackwellpublishing.com/content/BPL_Images/Content_store/Sample_chapter/9781405133876/9781405133876_C01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215045753/http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/content/bpl_images/content_store/sample_chapter/9781405133876/9781405133876_c01.pdf |archive-date=2019-02-15 |url-status=live}}</ref> revived several times as an independent studio, with most recent film releases in 2012 and 2015; now owned by [[Concord (entertainment company)#Concord Originals|Concord Originals]]. 
* [[United Artists]] (UA) (1919–1981) – one of the "Little Three" (or "major minor") studios, originally only a distributor for independent film producers,<ref name="tss" /> acquired by MGM in 1981; brand name was resurrected in 2019 when [[Annapurna Pictures]] and MGM renamed a distribution company, which was a joint venture between the two companies, to [[United Artists Releasing]]; revived in 2024 as a label under the [[Amazon MGM Studios]] umbrella.<ref name="revival">{{cite web|title=Scott Stuber Closes Deal To Revive United Artists|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Mike Jr|last=Fleming|date=26 July 2024|access-date=26 July 2024|url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/scott-stuber-closing-deal-to-revive-united-artists-1236023229/}}</ref>
* [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM) (1924–1986) – one of the Big Seven studios,<ref name="tss" /> acquired by [[Ted Turner]] in 1986, who sold the studio back to [[Kirk Kerkorian]] later that year while retaining MGM's pre-May 1986 library; became a mini-major studio upon the sale; emerged from [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|bankruptcy]] in 2010; now owned by [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]], which also owns and operates Amazon MGM Studios, [[Amazon Prime Video]], [[Amazon Freevee]], and [[MX Player]].
* [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]] (TCF, 20CF, 20th, or Fox) (1935–2019) – one of the Big Six studios,<ref name="tss" /> became part of [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]] when [[The Walt Disney Company]] [[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|acquired Fox's owner]] in 2019; 20th Century Fox was renamed 20th Century Studios the following year.

===Instant majors===
"Instant major" is a 1960s coined term for a film company that seemingly overnight had approached the status of major."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thomas|first1=Bob|title=Instant Major' Is New Term For Film Companies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39700755/|access-date=May 11, 2015|work=The Daily Times|agency=AP|date=May 8, 1968|location=Salisbury, Maryland|archive-date=May 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527174309/http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39700755/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1967, three "instant major" studios popped up, two of which were partnered with a [[television network]] theatrical film unit, with the most lasting until 1973:
* [[Cinerama Releasing Corporation]] (partnered with [[List of production companies owned by the American Broadcasting Company#ABC Pictures International|ABC Pictures International]], the film production company of ABC)
* [[National General Pictures|National General Corporation]] (distributor for [[Cinema Center Films]], the film production company of CBS)
* [[Commonwealth United Entertainment]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Craig |first1=Rob |title=American International Pictures: A Comprehensive Filmography |date=5 March 2019 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-6631-0 |pages=7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e0CIDwAAQBAJ&dq=commonwealth+united+entertainment&pg=PA7 |language=en}}</ref>

==Mini-majors==
'''Mini-major studios''' (or "mini-majors") are the larger, independent film production companies that are smaller than the major studios and attempt to compete directly with them.<ref name=vsl>{{cite web|title=mini-major|url=https://variety.com/static-pages/slanguage-dictionary/#m|work=Variety – Slanguage Dictionary|publisher=Reed Elsevier Inc.|access-date=2 July 2012|archive-date=9 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709050249/http://www.variety.com/static-pages/slanguage-dictionary/#m|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Current ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%"
|-
! Studio<br />([[Media conglomerate|conglomerate]])
! Main units
! colspan="3" | Other divisions and brands
! [[Over-the-top media service|OTT]]/[[Video on demand|VOD]]
! style="width:0em;" | US/CA market share (2024)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Whitten |first=Sarah |date=2025-01-15 |title=Disney wins the 2024 box office as year-end receipts offer a welcome boost |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/15/disney-wins-2024-box-office.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115144007/https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/15/disney-wins-2024-box-office.html |archive-date=2025-01-15 |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=[[CNBC]]}}</ref>
|-
| {{nowrap|[[Amazon MGM Studios]]}}<br />{{small|([[Amazon (company)|Amazon]])}}
| align="center"| {{nowrap|[[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]}}
----
[[United Artists]]
----
[[Orion Pictures]]
| colspan="3" | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Lightworkers Media]]|[[American International Pictures]]}}
| align="center" | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|{{nowrap|[[Amazon Prime Video|Prime Video]]}}|[[MGM+]]|[[MX Player]]}}
| align="center" | 3.4%
|-
| [[Lionsgate Studios]]
| align="center" | [[Lionsgate Films]]
----
[[Summit Entertainment]]
| style='border-style: solid none solid solid;' | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Lionsgate Canada]]|[[Lionsgate UK]]|Lionsgate India (10%)|[[Lionsgate Premiere]]}}
| style='border-style: solid none solid none;'  | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Good Universe]]|[[3 Arts Entertainment]]|[[Roadside Attractions]] (43%)}}
| style='border-style: solid solid solid none;' | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|[[Amblin Partners]] (minority)|[[Spyglass Media Group]] (18.9%)}}
| align="center" | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|{{nowrap|Lionsgate Play}}}}
| align="center" | 2.9%
|-
| colspan="2" align="center" | [[A24]]
| style="border-style: solid none solid solid;" | 
| style="border-style: solid none solid none;"  | 
| style="border-style: solid solid solid none;" | 
| align="center" | {{ubl|style=font-size:90%|A24 App}}
| align="center" | 2.3%
|}

===Past===
Past mini-majors include:
* [[20th Century Pictures]] – merged with [[Fox Film]] after a fallout with [[United Artists]] to become [[20th Century Fox]] in 1935.
* [[Republic Pictures]] – originally a "poverty row" B-movie producer,<ref name="tss" /> produced many serials and was formed by the consolidation of six minor production companies<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dixon |first1=Wheeler Winston |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sU_6AAAAQBAJ&q=%22Republic+Pictures%22+mini-major&pg=PA67 |title=Death of the Moguls: The End of Classical Hollywood |date=August 28, 2012 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=9780813553788 |edition=illustrated |page=67 |language=en |access-date=November 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203651/https://books.google.com/books?id=sU_6AAAAQBAJ&q=%22Republic+Pictures%22+mini-major&pg=PA67 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> in 1935. Ceased production in 1958.<ref>Scheuer, Philip K. (April 2, 1958). "Film Making to Be Ended by Republic: Studio Will Step Up Efforts to Rent Lot Use to Independents". Los Angeles Times. p. B1.</ref> It was rebooted in 1985. Viacom then purchased it in the early 2000s.
* [[Monogram Pictures]]/[[Monogram Pictures|Allied Artists Pictures]] –  filed for bankruptcy in 1979, acquired by [[Lorimar Productions]] in 1980.<ref name="li">{{cite book |last=Cook |first=David A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HVygqYMVP2wC&dq=ABC+Circle+Films&pg=PP1 |title=Lost Illusions: American Cinema in the Shadow of Watergate and Vietnam, 1970–1979 |date=2000 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520232655 |page=10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219163048/https://books.google.com/books?id=HVygqYMVP2wC&lpg=PA332&dq=ABC%20Circle%20Films&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=ABC%20Circle%20Films |archive-date=2019-12-19 |url-status=live}}</ref> The current entertainment company, [[Allied Artists International]], is considered the successor to AAP; library rights are currently split mostly between Amazon (through MGM), Warner Bros. Discovery (through Warner Bros.), and Paramount Skydance (through Paramount Pictures).
* [[The Walt Disney Company]]/[[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]]  – became a major studio in 1984.<ref name="tss" />
* [[Embassy Pictures|Avco Embassy]]<ref name="li" /> – acquired by [[Norman Lear]] and [[Jerry Perenchio]] in 1982;<ref name="Straits">{{Cite web |title='Avco's Way to Lick the Movie Giants of Hollywood', ''New Straits Times'', 6 Dec1981 p 8 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19811206&id=YedLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=140DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5701,1259340 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429012022/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19811206&id=YedLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=140DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5701,1259340 |archive-date=2016-04-29 |access-date=2018-03-03}}</ref> acquired by the Coca-Cola Company in 1985;<ref>"Norman Lear" {{cite news |author1=AL DELUGACH |author2=KATHRYN HARRIS |title=Lear, Perenchio Sell Embassy Properties |url=https://www.normanlear.com/backstory_press_2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518112723/http://www.normanlear.com/backstory_press_2.html |archive-date=2013-05-18 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |work=Los Angeles Times |via=normanlear.com}}</ref> its theatrical division was acquired by [[De Laurentiis Entertainment Group]] in 1985.<ref name="li" /> Sony Pictures currently owns the television rights to most of the theatrical library and the logo, names, and trademarks through its [[ELP Communications]] subsidiary.
* [[TriStar Pictures]]<ref name="tss" /> – consolidated in 1987 into Columbia, was one of the partners in the joint venture that created it.
* [[Weintraub Entertainment Group]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Cieply |first=Michael |date=January 11, 1989 |title=Weintraub's Worries : Box-Office Flops Add to Woes of Flashy 'Mini-Major' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-11-ca-194-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051137/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-01-11/entertainment/ca-194_1_box-office |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=2 July 2012 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> – filed for bankruptcy in September 1990, resulting in the company folding up operations; the library is now owned by [[Sony Pictures]] (through [[Columbia Pictures]]), with [[Paramount Skydance]] (through [[Paramount Pictures]]) owning television and streaming distribution rights.
* [[Miramax|Miramax Films]]<ref name="vsl" /> – acquired by [[The Walt Disney Company]] in 1993, sold to [[Filmyard Holdings]] in 2010, then to [[beIN Media Group]] in 2016, which sold a 49% stake to [[Paramount Global|ViacomCBS]] (now [[Paramount Skydance]], through [[Paramount Pictures]]) in 2020.
* [[The Cannon Group, Inc.|The Cannon Group]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Delugach |first=Al |date=August 24, 1986 |title=Cannon Bid as Major Studio Is Cliffhanger : Firm's Future at Risk in High-Stakes Gamble |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-08-24-fi-17584-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104034820/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-08-24/business/fi-17584_1_major-studios |archive-date=2012-11-04 |access-date=2 July 2012 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> – pushed into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1994.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1994-05-10 |title=Creditors give Cannon easier bankruptcy path |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2362013157 |access-date=2023-02-12 |work=Hollywood Reporter |location=Los Angeles |id={{ProQuest|2362013157}} }}</ref>
* [[Castle Rock Entertainment]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Film & TV Finance 101 |url=https://www.experience.com/alumnus/article?channel_id=Entertainment&source_page=editor_picks&article_id=article_1132770893333 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520170245/http://www.experience.com/alumnus/article?channel_id=Entertainment&source_page=editor_picks&article_id=article_1132770893333 |archive-date=20 May 2013 |access-date=2 July 2012 |work=Guidance |publisher=Experience, Inc}}</ref> – purchased in 1993 by [[Turner Broadcasting System]]; TBS merged with [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]] (now [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]) in 1996.
* [[New Line Cinema]]<ref name=vsl/> – purchased in 1994 by Turner Broadcasting System; TBS merged with Time Warner (now [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]) in 1996; and New Line merged with Warner Bros. in 2008.
* [[Turner Entertainment Co.#Divisions|Turner Pictures]] – purchased along with [[Hanna-Barbera]], [[Castle Rock Entertainment]], [[New Line Cinema]], and [[Turner Entertainment Co.]] (including most of the pre-May 1986 [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] library and US and Canadian distribution rights to the [[RKO Pictures|RKO Radio]] film library) in 1996 by [[Time Warner]] (now [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]). Currently, [[Warner Bros.]] and its subsidiaries make cartoons and movies based on Hanna-Barbera characters.
* [[New World Pictures]]<ref name="li" /> – acquired by [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] (then the parent company of [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]]) in 1997. The content library is held under the film studio.
* [[Regency Enterprises]] – had 20% acquired by 20th Century Fox as part of distribution deal in 1997.
* [[Orion Pictures]]<ref name="tss" /> – in 1990, was considered the last of the mini-majors.<ref>{{cite news |last=Easton |first=Nina J. |date=1990-07-19 |title=Whither Orion? : The Last of the Mini-Major Studios Finds Itself at a Crossroads |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-19-ca-363-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109001238/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-07-19/entertainment/ca-363_1_studio-executives |archive-date=2011-11-09 |access-date=2010-12-28 |work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Purchased in 1988 by Kluge/[[Metromedia]]; purchased in 1997 by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]].
* [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]] – purchased in 1996 by [[John Kluge]]/Metromedia International, making it the sister studio to [[Orion Pictures|Orion]]; it was purchased in 1997 by MGM.
* [[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment]]<ref name="vsl" /> – sold to [[Seagram]] and folded into [[Universal Pictures]] in 1999;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seagram buys PolyGram - May 21, 1998<!-- Bot generated title --> |url=https://money.cnn.com/1998/05/21/deals/tropicana/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401181145/https://money.cnn.com/1998/05/21/deals/tropicana/ |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 1998 |title=Seagram buys PolyGram from Philips for $10.6bn {{!}} The Independent<!-- Bot generated title --> |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/seagram-buys-polygram-from-philips-for-106bn-1158030.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425123948/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/seagram-buys-polygram-from-philips-for-106bn-1158030.html |archive-date=2019-04-25 |access-date=2019-04-25 |website=[[Independent.co.uk]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Seagrams completes PolyGram acquisition - Dec. 10, 1998<!-- Bot generated title --> |url=https://money.cnn.com/1998/12/10/companies/seagram/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425123948/https://money.cnn.com/1998/12/10/companies/seagram/ |archive-date=2019-04-25 |access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref> bulk of the pre-March 31, 1996, library sold to MGM.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mgm-to-buy-polygram-library/ |title=MGM To Buy PolyGram Library - CBS News<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=[[CBS News]] |date=October 22, 1998 |access-date=2019-04-25 |archive-date=2019-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219134525/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mgm-to-buy-polygram-library/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Artisan Entertainment]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/1998/biz/news/artisan-home-entertainment-ups-exex-1117480800/|title=Artisan Home Entertainment ups exex|last=Carver|first=Benedict|date=1998-09-28|newspaper=Variety|language=en-US|quote=Artisan Home Entertainment, a division of mini-major Artisan Entertainment, has upped Jed Grossman to senior vice president, rental sales and distribution.|access-date=2016-10-08|archive-date=2019-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710124116/https://variety.com/1998/biz/news/artisan-home-entertainment-ups-exex-1117480800/|url-status=live}}</ref> – purchased in 2003 by Lions Gate Entertainment.
* [[DreamWorks Pictures]] – purchased by [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]]; then owners of both [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[CBS Corporation]], in 2005; distributed the films from 2005 to 2011; reformed as an independent with [[The Walt Disney Company]] distributing the live-action films under their [[Touchstone Pictures]] banner until 2016; now a label after being reorganized as [[Amblin Partners]], in which [[Universal Pictures]] and [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]] own their respective stakes.
* [[Overture Films]]<ref name=fji/> – distribution and marketing assets sold to [[Relativity Media]] in 2010; film library acquired by [[Starz Entertainment|Lionsgate]] via its acquisition of [[Starz Inc.]] in December 2016
* [[Summit Entertainment]]<ref name=fji>{{cite news|title=Distributor report cards: Mini-majors, specialty divisions and indies|url=https://www.boxofficepro.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/features/movies/e3i0d1b247e2040d9db25b41c5a8fe4dae5?pn=1|access-date=2 July 2012|newspaper=Film Journal International|date=September 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024030803/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/features/movies/e3i0d1b247e2040d9db25b41c5a8fe4dae5?pn=1|archive-date=24 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> – acquired by [[Starz Entertainment|Lionsgate]] in 2012.
* [[FilmDistrict]]<ref name="ssn">{{cite news |last=Manis |first=Aimee |date=March 20, 2013 |title=Beyond the Big 6: Mini Majors Gain Momentum |url=http://www.studiosystemnews.com/beyond-the-big-6-mini-majors-gain-momentum/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902141446/http://www.studiosystemnews.com/beyond-the-big-6-mini-majors-gain-momentum/ |archive-date=September 2, 2014 |access-date=March 20, 2013 |newspaper=Studio System News}}</ref> – merged into [[Focus Features]] (a subsidiary of Universal) in 2014; the library acquired by Content Partners LLC (through [[Revolution Studios]]) in December 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=December 3, 2020 |title='Olympus Has Fallen,' 'Insidious' Bought in FilmDistrict Library Deal by Content Partners (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/olympus-has-fallen-insidious-filmdistrict-library-deal-content-partners-1234845013/ |access-date=September 11, 2022 |work=Variety}}</ref>
* [[Relativity Media]] – filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] on July 30, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Patten |first1=Dominic |last2=Fleming |first2=Mike Jr. |date=30 July 2015 |title=Ryan Kavanaugh's Relativity Media Finally Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy |url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/relativity-bankruptcy-ryan-kavanaugh-chapter-11-filing-1201485656/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218062605/https://deadline.com/2015/07/relativity-bankruptcy-ryan-kavanaugh-chapter-11-filing-1201485656/ |archive-date=18 December 2019 |access-date=7 August 2015 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> Emerged from bankruptcy in 2016, only to re-file in May 2018, sold to UltraV Holdings
* [[Alchemy (company)|Alchemy]]<ref>{{cite web |date=7 July 2016 |title=Alchemy Files For Chapter 7-Names Long List of Creditors |url=https://deadline.com/2016/07/alchemy-bankruptcy-chapter-7-long-list-of-creditors-1201783619/ |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> – filed for [[Chapter 7 bankruptcy]] on June 30, 2016.
* [[Revolution Studios]] – purchased by Content Partners LLC in 2017, focuses on distribution, remake, and sequel rights to its library following the end of its six-year deal with [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]].
* [[Open Road Films#Global Road Entertainment|Global Road Entertainment]] – formerly [[Open Road Films]], filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 6, 2018;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/global-road-files-bankruptcy-1140266|title=Global Road Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy for Film Division|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-09-07|language=en|archive-date=2018-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921055348/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/global-road-files-bankruptcy-1140266|url-status=live}}</ref> by November 2018, it had reverted to Open Road, purchased by Raven Capital Management on approval as of December 19, 2018 by a Delaware bankruptcy judge.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maddaus |first1=Gene |title=Open Road Bankruptcy Sale to Raven Capital Approved by Judge |url=https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/open-road-bankruptcy-sale-raven-capital-1203093387 |access-date=10 January 2019 |work=Variety |date=December 19, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=10 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710152642/https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/open-road-bankruptcy-sale-raven-capital-1203093387/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[The Weinstein Company]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 20, 2018 |title=Weinstein Company files for bankruptcy |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43466469 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201204421/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43466469 |archive-date=December 1, 2019 |access-date=March 20, 2018 |work=BBC News}}</ref> – filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but was bought by [[Lantern Entertainment]] in 2018; assets were transferred to [[Spyglass Media Group]], of which [[Warner Bros. Discovery]] (through [[Warner Bros.]]), Lantern Entertainment, and Lionsgate, which currently hold distribution rights to most of the TWC library, own their respective stakes.
* [[CBS Films]]<ref name=ssn/> – folded into the CBS Entertainment Group on October 11, 2019, and absorbed into CBS Studios to produce TV films for CBS All Access (later [[Paramount+]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/scene/news/jexi-premiere-adam-devine-1203358664/|title=Jexi, CBS films final movie, Premieres in Los Angeles|first=Nicholas|last=White|work=Variety|date=October 4, 2019|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212053147/https://variety.com/2019/scene/news/jexi-premiere-adam-devine-1203358664/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[STX Entertainment]] – acquired by [[Jahm Najafi|The Najafi Companies]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayden |first=Erik |date=2022-04-22 |title=STX Sold to Investor Group Led by Najafi Companies |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/stx-sold-to-investor-group-led-by-najafi-companies-1235084457/ |access-date=2025-07-30 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Since then, it withdrew from the US distribution market.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Box Office History for STX Entertainment |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/market/distributor/STX-Entertainment |access-date=2025-07-30 |website=The Numbers}}</ref>

====Other significant, past independent entities====
* [[Pixar|Pixar Animation Studios]] – purchased in 2006 by The Walt Disney Company.
* [[Marvel Studios]]/[[Marvel Entertainment]] – purchased in 2009 by The Walt Disney Company.
* [[Lucasfilm]] – purchased in 2012 by The Walt Disney Company.
* [[DreamWorks Animation]]<ref name="fb">{{cite web |title=MGM Nears Deal to Acquire All of Epix amid Stunning Turnaround |url=https://www.thestreet.com/story/14037136/1/mgm-nears-deal-to-acquire-all-of-epix-amid-stunning-turnaround.html |first=Leon |last=Lazaroff |work=TheStreet |date=March 10, 2017 |access-date=January 10, 2018 |archive-date=November 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117043707/https://www.thestreet.com/story/14037136/1/mgm-nears-deal-to-acquire-all-of-epix-amid-stunning-turnaround.html |url-status=live }}</ref> – acquired by [[Comcast]] (through [[NBCUniversal]]) in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/business/20160823_Comcast_completes_Dreamworks_acquisition.html|access-date=2016-10-08|archive-date=2018-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120135821/http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20160823_Comcast_completes_Dreamworks_acquisition.html|url-status=live |title=Comcast completes DreamWorks acquisition |date=August 22, 2016 }}</ref>

===Significant international entities===
* [[Nordisk Film]] (Denmark) - owned by [[Egmont Group]]
* [[Gaumont Film Company]] (France)
* [[Pathé]] (France)
* [[StudioCanal]] (France) - owned by [[Canal%2B S.A.]]
* [[Constantin Film]] (Germany) - owned by {{ill|Highlight Communications|de}}
* [[Leonine Holding#Leonine Production|Clasart Film]] (Germany) - owned by [[Leonine Holding]]
* [[UFA GmbH|UFA]] (Germany) - owned by the [[Fremantle]] subdivision of the [[RTL Group]] division of [[Bertelsmann]]
* [[Eros International]] (India) - owned by [[Eros Media World]]
* [[Yash Raj Films]] (India)
* [[Reliance Entertainment]] (India) - owned by [[Reliance Group]]
* [[Zee Studios]] (India) - owned by [[Zee Entertainment Enterprises]] & [[Essel Group]]
* [[Nikkatsu]] (Japan) - owned by [[Nippon Television]] & [[SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation]]
* [[Toho Studios]] (Japan) - owned by the [[Toho|Toho Co., Ltd.]] division of [[Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group]]
* [[Lenfilm]] (Russia) - owned by the [[Federal Agency for State Property Management]] subdivision of the [[Ministry of Economic Development (Russia)|Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation]] federal ministry of the [[Government of Russia|Russian government]] 
* [[Atresmedia Cine]] (Spain) - owned by [[Atresmedia]]
* [[Telecinco Cinema]] (Spain) - owned by [[Mediaset España]]
* [[SF Studios]] (Sweden) - owned by [[Bonnier Group]]
* [[Odesa Film Studio]] (Ukraine) - owned by the Government of Ukraine & Nova Film Studios
* [[BBC Film]] (United Kingdom) - owned by the [[BBC]]
* [[Film4 Productions]] (United Kingdom) - owned by the [[Channel Four Television Corporation]], which is owned by [[UK Government Investments]], which is owned by the [[His Majesty's Treasury]] economic & finance ministry of the British government
* [[Hammer Film Productions]] (United Kingdom) - owned by the [[John Gore Organization]]

==History==
===Before the Golden Age===<!--  This section is linked from Sound film -->
{{see also|Sound film}}
In 1909, [[Thomas Edison]], who had been fighting in the courts for years for control of fundamental motion picture patents, won a major decision. This led to the creation of the [[Motion Picture Patents Company]], widely known as the Trust. Comprising the eight largest U.S. film companies, it was "designed to eliminate not only independent film producers but also the country's 10,000 independent [distribution] exchanges and exhibitors."<ref>Hirschhorn (1983), p. 9.</ref> Though its many members did not consolidate their filmmaking operations, the New York–based Trust was arguably the first major North American movie conglomerate. The independents' fight against the Trust was led by [[Carl Laemmle]], whose Chicago-based Laemmle Film Service, serving the Midwest and Canada, was the largest distribution exchange in North America. Laemmle's efforts were rewarded in 1912 when the U.S. government ruled that the Trust was a "corrupt and unlawful association" and must be dissolved. On June 8, 1912, Laemmle organized the merger of his production division, IMP (Independent Motion Picture Company), with several other filmmaking companies, creating the [[Universal Pictures|Universal Film Manufacturing Company]] in [[New York City]]. By the end of the year, Universal was making movies at two Los Angeles facilities: the former Nestor Film studio in Hollywood, and another studio in [[Edendale, Los Angeles, California|Edendale]]. The first Hollywood major studio was in business.<ref>Hirschhorn (1983), p. 11.</ref>

In 1918, four brothers—[[Harry Warner|Harry]], [[Albert Warner|Albert]],  [[Sam Warner|Sam]], and [[Jack L. Warner|Jack Warner]]—founded the [[Old Warner Brothers Studios|first Warner Bros. Studio]] on [[Sunset Boulevard]] in Hollywood. On April 4, 1923, the Warner Bros. incorporated their fledgling movie company as "[[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.]]". Though their first film was ''[[My Four Years in Germany]]'', Warner Bros. released their full-fledged movie ''[[The Jazz Singer]]'' in 1927. Warner Bros. were the pioneers of the [[sound film]] era as they established [[Vitaphone]]. Because of ''The Jazz Singer'''s success (along with ''[[Lights of New York (1928 film)|Lights of New York]]'', ''[[The Singing Fool]]'' and ''[[The Terror (1928 film)|The Terror]]''), Warner Bros. was eventually able to acquire a [[Warner Bros. Studios Burbank|much larger studio]] in Burbank, which it began to use starting in 1928 (and which is famous for its [[Warner Bros. Water Tower|signature water tower]]). Warner Bros. eventually expanded its studio operations to Leavesden in London. [[Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden]] is the main studio in production of hit movies like the [[Harry Potter (film series)|''Harry Potter'' film series]], ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' and the recent ones like ''[[The Batman (film)|The Batman]]'' and ''[[Ready Player One (film)|Ready Player One]]''.

In 1916, a second powerful Hollywood studio was established when [[Adolph Zukor]] merged his [[Famous Players Film Company]] movie production house with the [[Jesse L. Lasky|Jesse L. Lasky Company]] to form [[Famous Players–Lasky]]. The combined studio acquired [[Paramount Pictures]] as a distribution arm and eventually adopted its name. That same year, [[William Fox (producer)|William Fox]] relocated his [[Fox Film|Fox Film Corporation]] from [[Fort Lee, New Jersey]] to Hollywood and began expanding.<ref>Thomas and Solomon (1985), p. 12</ref>

In 1923, [[Walt Disney]] had founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio and The Disney Brothers Features Company with his brother [[Roy O. Disney|Roy]] and animator [[Ub Iwerks]]. Renamed as [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney Productions]], Disney became a powerful independent over the next three decades focusing on animation with its shorts and films being distributed over the years by various majors; primarily Leslie B. Mace, Winkler Pictures, Universal Pictures, Celebrity Productions, Cinephone, Columbia Pictures, United Artists, United Artists Pictures and finally RKO. In its first year in 1928, Celebrity Productions and Cinephone had released its first blockbuster ''[[Steamboat Willie]]''.  In the decades that followed, Disney and its associated distributors were able to achieve occasional successes, but its relatively small output and exclusive focus on G-rated films meant that it was not generally considered to be one of the majors.

The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and the Independent Producers' Association declared war in 1925 on what they termed a common enemy — the "film trust" of [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], Paramount, and [[First National Pictures|First National]], which they claimed dominated the industry by not only producing and distributing motion pictures, but by entering into exhibition as well.<ref>"Theatre Owners Open War on Hays", ''The New York Times'', May 12, 1925, p. 14.</ref>

On October 6, 1927, Warner Bros. released ''[[The Jazz Singer]]'', starring [[Al Jolson]], and a whole new era began, with "pictures that talked", bringing the studio to the forefront of the film industry. ''The Jazz Singer'' played to standing-room-only crowds throughout the country and earned a special [[Academy Award for Technical Achievement]].<ref>Warner Bros. held 42,000 shares of common stock out of 72,000 outstanding shares, while Fox Pictures held 21,000 shares, and 12,000 shares were publicly held. *"Warner Buys First National", The Wall Street Journal, September 27, 1928, p. 3. Fox sold its shares of First National to Warner Bros. in November 1929.
* "Fox Holdings in First National Pictures Sold", The Washington Post, November 4, 1929, p. 3.
8.^
* "Film Concern Dissolves", The New York Times, July 12, 1936, p. F1.</ref> Fox, in the forefront of [[sound film]] technology along with Warner Bros., was also acquiring a sizable circuit of movie theaters to exhibit its product.<ref>Solomon, Aubrey (2011). *The Fox Film Corporation, 1915–1935: A History and Filmography*. McFarland & Co.</ref> The development of sound films like ''The Jazz Singer'' near the end of the [[Roaring Twenties]] resulted in a massive rush of Americans to movie theaters to watch the astonishing new "talkies".<ref name="Gomery_Page_143" /> At the peak of the fad, every person in the United States over the age of six was watching a motion picture in a theater at least once a week.<ref name="Gomery_Page_143" /> The box office revenue from the first sound films is what enabled the Hollywood majors to achieve their lasting domination of the global film industry.<ref name="Gomery_Page_143" />

===During the Golden Age===
{{See also|Sound film}}
{{Further|Studio system}}
Between late 1928, when [[RCA Corporation|RCA]]'s [[David Sarnoff]] engineered the creation of the [[RKO Pictures|RKO]] (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) studio, and the end of 1949, when Paramount divested its theater chain—roughly the period considered Hollywood's Golden Age—there were eight Hollywood studios commonly regarded as the "majors".<ref name=F364/><ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Film Daily | title=230 Pix On Season's Production Charts Ready | date=January 3, 1939 | pages=1, 3| url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdaily75wids#page/n3/mode/2up | access-date=December 26, 2015}}{{Open access}}</ref> Of these eight, the so-called Big Five were integrated conglomerates, combining ownership of a production studio, distribution division, and substantial theater chain, and contracting with performers and filmmaking personnel: Loews/MGM, Paramount, Fox (which became 20th Century-Fox after a 1935 merger), Warner Bros., and RKO. The remaining majors were sometimes referred to as the "Little Three" or "major minor" studios.<ref name=tss/> Two—Universal and Columbia (founded in 1924)—were organized similarly to the Big Five, except for the fact that they never owned more than small theater circuits (a consistently reliable source of profits). The third of the lesser majors, United Artists (founded in 1919), owned a few theaters and had access to production facilities owned by its principals, but it functioned primarily as a backer-distributor, loaning money to independent producers and releasing their films. During the 1930s, the eight majors averaged a total of 358 feature film releases a year; in the 1940s, the four largest companies shifted more of their resources toward high-budget productions and away from [[B movies]], bringing the yearly average down to 288 for the decade.<ref name=F364>Finler (2003), pp. 364–67.</ref>

Among the significant characteristics of the Golden Age was the stability of the Hollywood majors, their hierarchy, and their near-complete domination of the box office. At the midpoint of the Golden Age, 1939, the Big Five had market shares ranging from 22% (MGM) to 9% (RKO); each of the Little Three had around a 7% share. In sum, the eight majors controlled 95% of the market. Ten years later, the picture was largely the same: the Big Five had market shares ranging from 22% (MGM) to 9% (RKO); the Little Three had shares ranging from 8% (Columbia) to 4% (United Artists). In sum, the eight majors controlled 96% of the market.<ref>Finler (2003), p. 40.</ref>

===After the Golden Age===
====1950–1969====
The end of the Golden Age had been signaled by the majors' loss of a [[United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc.|federal antitrust case]] that led to the divestiture of the Big Five's theater chains. Though this had virtually no immediate effect on the eight majors' box-office domination, it somewhat leveled the playing field between the Big Five and the Little Three. In November 1951, [[Decca Records]] purchased 28% of Universal; early the following year, the studio became the first of the classic Hollywood majors to be taken over by an outside corporation, as Decca acquired majority ownership.<ref>Hirschhorn (1983), p. 157.</ref> In 1953, Disney established its own distribution division, [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Film Distribution]], to handle its own product which had been largely distributed by RKO. The 1950s also saw two substantial shifts in the hierarchy of the majors: RKO, perennially the weakest of the Big Five, declined rapidly under the mismanagement of [[Howard Hughes]], who had purchased a controlling interest in the studio in 1948. By the time Hughes sold it to the [[General Tire|General Tire and Rubber Company]] in 1955, the studio was a major by outdated reputation alone. In 1957, virtually all RKO movie operations ceased and the studio was dissolved in 1959. (Revived on a small scale in 1981, it was eventually spun off and now operates as a minor independent company.) In contrast, there was United Artists, which had long operated under the financing-distribution model the other majors were now progressively shifting toward. Under [[Arthur B. Krim|Arthur Krim]] and [[Robert Benjamin]], who began managing the company in 1951, UA became consistently profitable. By 1956—when it released one of the biggest blockbusters of the decade, ''[[Around the World in Eighty Days (1956 film)|Around the World in 80 Days]]''—it commanded a 10% market share. By the middle of the next decade, it had reached 16% and was the second-most profitable studio in Hollywood.

Despite RKO's collapse, the remaining seven majors still averaged a total yearly release slate of 253 feature films during the decade.<ref name=F364/> Following [[MCA Inc.]]'s acquisition of Decca Records and the aforementioned Universal under [[Lew Wasserman]] in 1962, the later half of the 1960s were marked by four others — Paramount, United Artists, Warner Bros., and MGM — involved in a spate of corporate takeovers that left Columbia, Fox, and its eventual parent company Disney under original ownership. [[Gulf and Western Industries|Gulf+Western]] took over Paramount in 1966; and the [[Transamerica Corporation]] purchased United Artists in 1967. Warner Bros. underwent large-scale reorganization twice in two years: a 1967 merger with the [[Seven Arts Productions|Seven Arts]] company preceded a 1969 purchase by [[Kinney National Company|Kinney National]], under [[Stephen J. Ross]]. MGM, in the process of a slow decline, changed ownership twice in the same span as well, winding up in the hands of financier [[Kirk Kerkorian]] also in 1969. The majors almost entirely abandoned low-budget production during this era, bringing the annual average of features released down to 160.<ref name=F364/> The decade also saw Disney/Buena Vista commanding a prominent position in the market. Buoyed by the success of ''[[Mary Poppins (1964 film)|Mary Poppins]]'', Disney achieved a 9% market share in 1964, more than Warner and its eventual subsidiary Fox. Though over the next two decades Disney/Buena Vista's share of the box-office would continue to reach this level, the studio was still not considered a major as it did not release many films, and those it did release were exclusively G-rated.

====1970–1989====
The early 1970s were difficult years for all the classic majors. Movie attendance, which had been declining steadily since the end of the Golden Age, hit an all-time low by 1971. In 1973, MGM president [[James T. Aubrey]] drastically downsized the studio, slashing its production schedule and eliminating its distribution arm (UA would distribute the studio's films for the remainder of the decade). From fifteen releases in 1973, the next year MGM was down to five; its average for the rest of the 1970s would be even lower.<ref>Finler (2003), pp. 155, 366.</ref> Like RKO in its last days under Hughes, MGM remained a major in terms of brand reputation, but little more. Disney by contrast began to ascend towards major status through a resurgence in its animated movies, beginning with ''[[The Rescuers]]'' (1977), and the studio began to enter the adult market with ''[[The Black Hole (1979 film)|The Black Hole]]'' (1979), its first non-G rated film.

By the mid-1970s, the industry had rebounded and a significant philosophical shift was in progress. As the majors focused increasingly on the development of the next hoped-for blockbuster and began routinely opening each new movie in many hundreds of theaters (an approach called "saturation booking"), their collective yearly release average fell to 81 films during 1975–84.<ref name=F364/> The classic set of majors was shaken further in late 1980, when the disastrously expensive flop of ''[[Heaven's Gate (film)|Heaven's Gate]]'' effectively ruined United Artists. The studio was sold the following year to Kerkorian, who merged it with MGM. After a brief resurgence, the combined studio continued to decline. From 1986, MGM/UA has been at best a "mini-major", to use the present-day term.

Meanwhile, a new member was finally admitted to the club of major studios and two significant contenders emerged. With the combined output of [[Walt Disney Pictures]], the establishment of the [[Touchstone Pictures]] brand in 1984, and increasing attention to the adult live-action market during the early 1980s, Disney/Buena Vista secured acknowledgment as a full-fledged major.<ref name="tss" /> Film historian Joel Finler identifies 1986 as the breakthrough year, when Disney rose to third place in market share and remained consistently competitive for a leading position thereafter.<ref>Finler (2003), pp. 324–25.</ref>

The two emerging contenders were both newly formed companies. In 1978, Krim, Benjamin, and three other studio executives departed UA to found [[Orion Pictures]] as a joint venture with Warner Bros. It was announced optimistically as the "first major new film company in 50 years".<ref>Cook (2000), p. 319.</ref> [[Tri-Star Pictures]] was created in 1982 as a joint venture of future corporate sibling Columbia Pictures (at that time acquired by the [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola Company]]), [[HBO]] (then owned by Warner Bros. Discovery's predecessor [[Time Inc.]]), and [[CBS]]. In 1985, [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] acquired 20th Century-Fox (dropping the hyphen), the last of both the classic Hollywood majors and the Golden Age majors to be taken over by an outside corporation; it remained independent until its 2019 sale to Disney brought back the total majors back to a "Big Five".

By 1986, the combined share of the six classic majors — Paramount, MGM/UA, Fox, Warner Bros., Columbia and Universal — fell to 64%, the lowest since the beginning of the Golden Age. Fox's future parent company Disney was in third place, behind only Paramount and Warner. Even including Disney/Buena Vista as a seventh major and adding its 10% share (only for them to acquire Fox 33 years later), the majors' control of the North American market was at a historic ebb. Orion (now completely independent of Warner) and Tri-Star were well positioned as mini-majors, each with North American market shares of around 6% and regarded by industry observers as "fully competitive with the majors", much like MGM and Lionsgate by the turn of the century.<ref>{{cite news| title=VCRs Sending People Back to Theaters| work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] | date=1987-05-10|author=Thompson, Anne | pages=29}}</ref> Smaller independents garnered 13%—more than any studio aside from Paramount. In 1964, by comparison, all of the companies outside of the then-seven majors and Disney had combined for a grand total of 1%. In the first edition of Finler's ''The Hollywood Story'' (1988), he wrote, "It will be interesting to see whether the old-established studios will be able to bounce back in the future, as they have done so many times before, or whether the newest developments really do reflect a fundamental change in the US movie industry for the first times since the 20s."<ref>Finler (1988), p. 35.</ref>

====1990–2009====
With the exception of MGM/UA—whose position was effectively supplanted by Disney—the old-established studios did bounce back. The aforementioned purchase of [[20th Century Fox]] by [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] left its future parent company Disney under original ownership and presaged a new round of corporate acquisitions not long afterward. As part of that series,  Columbia, Paramount and Warner Bros. received new owners once and for all while Universal changed corporate hands until the mid-2000s. Paramount's parent company [[Gulf and Western Industries|Gulf+Western]] was renamed Paramount Communications and Coca-Cola sold Columbia to Japanese electronics firm [[Sony]] in 1989, creating [[Sony Pictures]]. The following year, [[WarnerMedia|Warner Communications]] merged with [[Time Inc.]] to birth [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]] and Universal's parent company [[MCA Inc.|MCA]] was purchased by fellow Japanese electronics conglomerate [[Panasonic|Matsushita]]. At this time, both Tri-Star and Orion were essentially out of business: the former merged with Sony and Columbia, the latter bankrupt and sold to MGM. The most important contenders to emerge during the 1990s with Viacom's purchase of Paramount Communications in 1994 — [[New Line Cinema]], [[Miramax]], and [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks SKG]] — were likewise sooner or later brought into the majors' fold. Shortly after, Matsushita sold MCA (and Universal) to Seagram in 1996, then [[Vivendi]] in 2000, and later NBC's parent company [[General Electric]] in 2004 to become NBCUniversal.

The development of in-house pseudo-indie subsidiaries by the conglomerates—sparked by the 1992 establishment of [[Sony Pictures Classics]] and the success of ''[[Pulp Fiction (film)|Pulp Fiction]]'' (1994) on home video, significantly undermined the position of the true independents. The majors' release schedule rebounded: the six (later five) primary studio subsidiaries alone put out a total of 124 films during 2006; the three largest secondary subsidiaries (New Line, Fox Searchlight, and Focus Features) accounted for another 30. Box-office domination was fully restored: in 2006, the then-six (now five) major movie conglomerates combined for 89.8% of the North American market; Lionsgate and Weinstein were almost exactly half as successful as their 1986 mini-major counterparts, sharing 6.1%; MGM came in at 1.8%; and all of the remaining independent companies split a pool totaling 2.3%.<ref name="Box Office 2006">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/studio/?view=company&view2=yearly&yr=2006&p=.htm |title=Studio Market Share (2006) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927051337/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/studio/?view=company&view2=yearly&yr=2006&p=.htm |archive-date=2018-09-27 |url-status=dead |website=BoxOfficeMojo.com |access-date=May 20, 2007 }}</ref>

More developments took place among the majors' subsidiaries. The very successful animation production house [[Pixar]], whose films were distributed by Buena Vista, was acquired by Disney also in 2006. In 2008, New Line Cinema lost its independent status within Time Warner and became a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Time Warner also announced that it would be shutting down its two specialty units, Warner Independent and Picturehouse.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Hayes, Dade |author2=Dave McNary |name-list-style=amp |title=Picturehouse, WIP to Close Shop |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/picturehouse-wip-to-close-shop-1117985299/ |date=2008-05-08 |access-date=2009-01-18 |archive-date=2009-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803180011/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985299.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 2008, Paramount Vantage's production, marketing, and distribution departments were folded into the parent studio,<ref>{{cite web |author1=Goldsmith, Jill |author2=Tatiana Siegel |name-list-style=amp |title=Viacom Lays Off 850 Staffers |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2008/biz/markets-festivals/viacom-lays-off-850-staffers-1117996816/ |date=2008-12-04 |access-date=2009-02-23 |archive-date=2008-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223030035/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117996816.html?categoryid=3284&cs=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> though it retained the brand for release purposes.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Paramount Vantage Acquires Worldwide Rights |publisher=Paramount |url=https://www.paramount.com/news/press-releases/paramount-vantage-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-the-new-film-by-oscar®-winning-documentarian-davis-gu |date=2010-01-22 |access-date=2010-01-31 |archive-date=2010-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130194607/http://www.paramount.com/news/press-releases/paramount-vantage-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-the-new-film-by-oscar%C2%AE-winning-documentarian-davis-gu |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Ng, Philiana |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/paramount-vantage-sets-release-date-179119 |title=Paramount Vantage Sets Release Date for Sundance Winner 'Like Crazy' |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=2011-04-15 |access-date=2011-06-06 |archive-date=2011-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519200620/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/paramount-vantage-sets-release-date-179119 |url-status=live }}</ref> Universal sold off its genre specialty division, Rogue Pictures, to [[Relativity Media]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |author=Borys, Kit |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7fcfe6ddd3b5d6c23c7d5bc685b4e12d |title=Relativity Completes Rogue Acquisition |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=2009-01-04 |access-date=2009-08-09 |archive-date=2013-01-04 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104052206/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7fcfe6ddd3b5d6c23c7d5bc685b4e12d |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2010–present====
In January 2010,<ref>{{cite web |author=Waxman, Sharon |url=https://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/rip-miramax-13606 |title=Miramax Dies: Rest in Peace |publisher=The Wrap |date=2010-01-27 |access-date=2010-01-31 |archive-date=2010-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130183405/http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/rip-miramax-13606 |url-status=live }}</ref> Disney closed down Miramax's operations and sold off the unit and its library that July to an investor group led by Ronald N. Tutor of the [[Tutor Perini]] construction firm and [[Tom Barrack]] of the [[Colony Capital]] private equity firm.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Barnes, Brooks |author2=Michael Cieply |name-list-style=amp |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/business/media/31miramax.html |title=Disney Sells Miramax for $660 Million |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2010-07-30 |access-date=2010-07-30 |archive-date=2013-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217191541/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/business/media/31miramax.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2011, the majority of [[Acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast|Universal was acquired by Comcast]] when acquiring 51% of NBCUniversal from General Electric before acquiring the remaining 49% and taking complete ownership in March 2013.

On December 14, 2017, The Walt Disney Company (the parent company of major film studio Walt Disney Studios) [[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|announced to acquire key assets]] of [[21st Century Fox]] (including fellow major film studio [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]] along with [[Searchlight Pictures|Fox Searchlight Pictures]]).<ref name="disneyourbusinesses">{{cite web |title=Our Businesses |url=https://www.waltdisneystudios.com/our-businesses/ |website=[[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]] |access-date=2019-07-03 |archive-date=2021-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430061749/https://www.waltdisneystudios.com/our-businesses/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/walt-disney-company-acquire-twenty-first-century-fox-inc-spinoff-certain-businesses-52-4-billion-stock-2/|title=The Walt Disney Company To Acquire Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., After Spinoff of Certain Businesses, For $52.4 Billion in Stock|date=December 14, 2019|work=[[The Walt Disney Company]]|access-date=January 14, 2019|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731133830/https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/walt-disney-company-acquire-twenty-first-century-fox-inc-spinoff-certain-businesses-52-4-billion-stock-2/|archive-date=July 31, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> After winning the bidding war for Fox against Comcast, both Disney and Fox shareholders approved the deal on July 27, 2018, and completed on March 20, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/21st-century-fox-and-disney-stockholders-approve-acquisition-by-disney/|title=21st Century Fox And Disney Stockholders Approve Acquisition By Disney|work=The Walt Disney Company|date=July 27, 2018|access-date=January 14, 2019|archive-date=September 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905173853/https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/21st-century-fox-and-disney-stockholders-approve-acquisition-by-disney/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |last2=Hayes |first2=Dade |title=Disney Sets March 20 Closing Date For 21st Century Fox Acquisition |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/disney-sets-march-20-closing-date-for-21st-century-fox-acquisition-1202574146/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=March 12, 2019 |language=en |date=March 12, 2019 |archive-date=March 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319014744/https://deadline.com/2019/03/disney-sets-march-20-closing-date-for-21st-century-fox-acquisition-1202574146/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="disneyourbusinesses" /> The number of major film studios lowered to five for the first time since the Golden Age of Hollywood,<ref name="enderaofthebigsix" /> as the era of the "Big Six" studios and Fox as a major studio for 83 years ended.<ref name="enderaofthebigsix">{{cite news |last1=Fritz |first1=Ben |title=Disney Deal for Fox Would End Era of the 'Big Six' Studios |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-deal-for-fox-would-end-era-of-the-big-six-studios-1512907201 |access-date=January 14, 2019 |publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=December 11, 2017 |archive-date=December 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171212020429/https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-deal-for-fox-would-end-era-of-the-big-six-studios-1512907201 |url-status=live }}</ref>

From June 14, 2018, until its acquisition by Discovery in 2022, Warner Bros. was owned by [[AT&T]], which completed its acquisition of Time Warner, renaming it "WarnerMedia",<ref>{{cite web |title=AT&T Completes Acquisition of Time Warner Inc. |url=https://about.att.com/story/att_completes_acquisition_of_time_warner_inc.html |work=[[AT&T]] |access-date=January 14, 2019 |date=June 15, 2018 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115111308/http://about.att.com/story/att_completes_acquisition_of_time_warner_inc.html |url-status=live }}</ref> which contained all assets owned by Warner Bros. and its subsidiaries.

On August 13, 2019, Paramount Pictures parent, Viacom, announced [[2019 merger of CBS and Viacom|its reunion]] with CBS Corporation, and the combined company would be called [[Paramount Global|ViacomCBS]], renamed Paramount also in 2022. The two companies previously merged in 2000 but split in 2005. The deal was completed on December 4, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/13/cbs-and-viacom-reach-merger-deal.html|last=Sherman|first=Alex|title=CBS and Viacom reach merger deal, ending years of discussions|work=CNBC|date=August 13, 2019|access-date=August 13, 2019|archive-date=August 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813234838/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/13/cbs-and-viacom-reach-merger-deal.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bob-bakishs-memo-viacomcbs-staff-merger-a-historic-moment-1259584 | title = Bob Bakish's Memo to ViacomCBS Staff: Merger "A Historic Moment" | publisher = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date = December 4, 2019 | access-date = December 4, 2019 | first = Alex | last = Weprin | archive-date = April 6, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200406033606/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bob-bakishs-memo-viacomcbs-staff-merger-a-historic-moment-1259584 | url-status = live }}</ref> Meanwhile, CBS Corporation's mini-major film studio, CBS Films was folded into CBS Entertainment Group after releasing its 2019 film slate, switching its focus to creating original film content for [[CBS All Access]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lang |first1=Brent |title=CBS Films Being Folded Into CBS Entertainment Group, Focus Shifting to Streaming (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/cbs-films-folded-streaming-content-1203106121/ |access-date=August 19, 2019 |work=Variety |date=January 12, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174237/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/cbs-films-folded-streaming-content-1203106121/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 17, 2020, Disney discontinued the "Fox" name from both 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures and rebranded them as [[20th Century Studios]] and [[Searchlight Pictures]] respectively, to avoid brand confusion with [[Fox Corporation]]. The "Searchlight Pictures" and "20th Century Studios" name were first seen on ''[[Downhill (2020 film)|Downhill]]'' on February 14, and on ''[[The Call of the Wild (2020 film)|The Call of the Wild]]'' a week later on February 21 respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/disney-dropping-fox-20th-century-studios-1203470349/|title=Disney Drops Fox Name, Will Rebrand as 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures|first=Adam B.|last=Vary|work=Variety|date=January 17, 2020|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=January 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119154738/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/disney-dropping-fox-20th-century-studios-1203470349/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="20thCenturyStudiosNYT">{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/17/business/media/disney-fox-name.html | title = Disney Drops Fox From Names of Studios It Bought From Rupert Murdoch | work = [[The New York Times]] | first = Brooks | last = Barnes | date = January 17, 2020 | access-date = January 19, 2020 | archive-date = January 17, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200117180005/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/17/business/media/disney-fox-name.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

The studios were affected by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] with some cinema chains closing, precipitating [[box-office bomb|box office flops]] (like Disney's ''[[Onward (film)|Onward]]'' or Sony's ''[[Bloodshot (film)|Bloodshot]]''). Several films were delayed (Universal and MGM's ''[[No Time to Die]]'' or Paramount's ''[[A Quiet Place Part II]]'' and even Disney's ''[[Black Widow (2021 film)|Black Widow]]'' and ''[[Mulan (2020 film)|Mulan]]'') and others were launched to the digital market (like Universal's ''[[The Invisible Man (2020 film)|The Invisible Man]]'' and ''[[Trolls World Tour]]'' and Warner Bros.' ''[[Birds of Prey (2020 film)|Birds of Prey]]'', ''[[Scoob!]]'' and ''[[Wonder Woman 1984]]'').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-hollywood-movie-theaters-streaming-a1e499a4-fe6c-4d9f-9945-ae63179e98dc.html|title=coronavirus forces Hollywood into uncharted territory|last=Fischer|first=Sarah|work=Axios|date=March 16, 2020|access-date=March 25, 2020|archive-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325031418/https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-hollywood-movie-theaters-streaming-a1e499a4-fe6c-4d9f-9945-ae63179e98dc.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 16, 2021, it was reported that AT&T was in talks with [[Discovery, Inc.]] for it to merge with and acquire Warner Bros.' parent company [[WarnerMedia]], forming a publicly traded company that would be divided between its shareholders.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sherman|first=Alex|date=2021-05-16|title=AT&T in advanced talks to merge WarnerMedia with Discovery, deal expected as soon as tomorrow|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/16/att-in-advanced-talks-to-merge-warnermedia-with-discovery.html|access-date=2021-05-16|website=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=2022-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531031836/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/16/att-in-advanced-talks-to-merge-warnermedia-with-discovery.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The proposed spin-off and acquisition was officially announced the next day, which was structured as a [[Reverse Morris Trust]]. AT&T shareholders would receive a 71% stake in the enlarged Discovery, which would be led by its current CEO [[David Zaslav]]. As the transaction closed on April 8, 2022, Discovery renamed itself  [[Warner Bros. Discovery]] and ended AT&T's investment in the entertainment business.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last1=Kovach|first1=Steve|last2=Meredith|first2=Sam|date=2021-05-17|title=AT&T announces $43 billion deal to merge WarnerMedia with Discovery|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/17/att-to-combine-warnermedia-and-discovery-assets-to-create-a-new-standalone-company.html|access-date=2021-05-17|website=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=2022-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120133629/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/17/att-to-combine-warnermedia-and-discovery-assets-to-create-a-new-standalone-company.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Hayes|first=Dade|date=2021-05-17|title=David Zaslav And John Stankey Outline Plans For Merging Discovery And WarnerMedia, Addressing Future Of Jason Kilar, CNN, Streaming|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/discovery-warnermedia-att-merger-streaming-david-zaslav-1234758225/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-17|website=Deadline|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517131711/https://deadline.com/2021/05/discovery-warnermedia-att-merger-streaming-david-zaslav-1234758225/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=April 8, 2022 |title=Discovery Closes Acquisition of AT&T's WarnerMedia |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/discovery-warnermedia-merger-close-warner-bros-discovery-1235200983/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408211723/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/discovery-warnermedia-merger-close-warner-bros-discovery-1235200983/ |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |access-date=April 26, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

On the same day after the announcement of the acquisition/merger of [[WarnerMedia]] by [[Discovery, Inc.|Discovery]], [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] entered negotiations with MGM Holdings to acquire Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The negotiations were made directly with MGM board chairman Kevin Ulrich whose [[Anchorage Capital Group]] is a major shareholder.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Amazon Said to Make $9 Billion Offer for MGM |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/amazon-mgm-acquisition-talks-9-billion-1234975168/ |access-date=May 27, 2021 |work=Variety |date=May 17, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107163401/https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/amazon-mgm-acquisition-talks-9-billion-1234975168/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Toonkel |first1=Jessica |title=Amazon Pondering Deal to Buy MGM |url=https://www.theinformation.com/articles/amazon-pondering-deal-to-buy-mgm |access-date=May 27, 2021 |work=The Information |date=May 17, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222110253/https://www.theinformation.com/articles/amazon-pondering-deal-to-buy-mgm |url-status=live }}</ref> MGM already began to explore a potential sale of the studio since December 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the domination of streaming platforms due to the closure of movie theaters as contributing factors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shafer |first1=Ellise |title=MGM Is Exploring a Sale of Its Studio |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mgm-holdings-sale-james-bond-1234868114/ |access-date=May 27, 2021 |work=Variety |date=December 21, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206080106/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mgm-holdings-sale-james-bond-1234868114/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sweney |first1=Mark |title=Hollywood studio MGM puts itself up for sale at $5bn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/22/hollywood-giant-mgm-puts-itself-up-for-sale-at-5bn |access-date=May 27, 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=December 22, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206082226/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/22/hollywood-giant-mgm-puts-itself-up-for-sale-at-5bn |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 26, 2021, it was officially announced that MGM would be acquired by Amazon for $8.45 billion, subject to regulatory approvals and other routine closing conditions; with the studio continuing to operate as a label under Amazon's existing content arm, complementing [[Amazon Studios]] and [[Amazon Prime Video]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Amazon Buys MGM, Studio Behind James Bond, for $8.45 Billion |url=https://variety.com/2021/biz/news/amazon-buys-mgm-studio-behind-james-bond-for-8-45-billion-1234980526/ |access-date=May 27, 2021 |work=Variety |date=May 26, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125014617/https://variety.com/2021/biz/news/amazon-buys-mgm-studio-behind-james-bond-for-8-45-billion-1234980526/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The acquisition closed on March 17, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=March 17, 2022 |title=Amazon Closes $8.5 Billion Acquisition of MGM |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/amazon-mgm-merger-close-1235207852/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317133832/https://deadline.com/2022/03/amazon-mgm-merger-1234981037/ |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |access-date=April 26, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

On April 18, 2024, rumors began to circulate that Sony Pictures and [[Apollo Global Management]] were interested in jointly acquiring Paramount Global. Sony and Apollo presented a $26 billion all-cash offer to acquire Paramount Global on May 5, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2024-05-02 |title=Sony Pictures, Apollo Offer to Buy Paramount Global for $26 Billion in Cash |url=https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/sony-apollo-paramount-global-acquisition-offer-cash-1235981220/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> According to The New York Times, the board of directors of Paramount Global formally commenced negotiations with Sony and Apollo over the possible sale of the company.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mullin |first1=Benjamin |last2=Hirsch |first2=Lauren |date=2024-05-05 |title=Sony and Apollo in Talks to Acquire Paramount |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/05/business/media/sony-apollo-paramount.html |access-date=2024-05-06 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> If the deal is finalized, Sony will rank third in worldwide film studio rankings, behind The Walt Disney Company and NBCUniversal. In the US and Canada alone, Sony would have a 20.81% market share.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distributors Movie Breakdown for 2023 |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/market/2023/distributors |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=The Numbers}}</ref> On June 3, 2024, Paramount Global reportedly agreed to change mergers from Sony to [[Skydance Media]] for $8 billion. Skydance would first acquire [[National Amusements]], which controls 80% of the voting shares of Paramount and then pump cash into Paramount, which would then acquire Skydance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2024-06-03 |title=Paramount, Skydance Agree on New M&A Deal Terms but Shari Redstone Hasn't Approved Pact Yet |url=https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/paramount-skydance-agree-merger-shari-redstone-approval-1236023450/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-11 |title=National Amusements stops discussions with Skydance on Paramount deal, sources say |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/national-amusements-stops-discussions-skydance-paramount-deal-sources-rcna156659 |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> At first unsuccessful in June 2024, Skydance reached a preliminary agreement on July 2, 2024, to acquire National Amusements and [[Merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global|merge]] with Paramount, to form "[[Paramount Skydance|Paramount Skydance Corporation]]".<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last1=Mullin |first1=Benjamin |last2=Hirsch |first2=Lauren |date=2024-07-02 |title=Paramount and Skydance Are Said to Reach a Deal to Merge |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/business/media/paramount-skydance-merger-talks.html |access-date=2024-07-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=skydancepressrelease>{{Cite press release |last=Media |first=Skydance |date=2024-07-08 |title=Skydance Media and Paramount Global Sign Definitive Agreement to Advance Paramount as a World-Class Media and Technology Enterprise |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/07/08/2909354/0/en/Skydance-Media-and-Paramount-Global-Sign-Definitive-Agreement-to-Advance-Paramount-as-a-World-Class-Media-and-Technology-Enterprise.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en}}</ref>

On December 5, 2025, [[Netflix]] announced that it intends to purchase Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion.<ref name="Netflix">{{Cite news |last1=Szlalai |first1=Georg |last2=Weprin |first2=Alex|date=December 5, 2025 |title=It’s Official: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. in Deal Valued at $82.7 Billion |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/netflix-warner-bros-deal-hollywood-1236443081/ |access-date=December 5, 2025 |archive-date=December 5, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251205125124/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/netflix-warner-bros-deal-hollywood-1236443081/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The acquisition is expected to be completed after the previously announced separation of WBD's Global Networks division, Discovery Global, into a new publicly-traded company in the third quarter of 2026.<ref name="NetflixPressRelease">{{Cite press release|date=December 5, 2025 |title=Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. Following the Separation of Discovery Global for a Total Enterprise Value of $82.7 Billion (Equity Value of $72.0 Billion) |work=[[Netflix]] |url=https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-to-acquire-warner-bros |access-date=December 5, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Historical organizational lineage ==
=== The eight Golden Age majors ===

The eight major film studios of the Golden Age have gone through significant ownership changes ("independent" meaning customarily identified as the primary commercial entity in its corporate structure; "purchased" meaning acquired anything from majority to total ownership). For instance, this does not include [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], which despite being primarily an independent [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|animation studio]] during the Golden Age, is the only current existing major studio to remain under continuous autonomous ownership since its founding.

==== Universal Pictures ====
{{Further|Universal Pictures}}
* Independent, 1912–1936 ([[Carl Laemmle]], a German-born American film producer, founded [[Universal Pictures]].)
* Standard Capital, 1936–1946 ([[Carl Laemmle|Laemmle]] retired from the movie industry and sold a controlling interest of Universal to an American businessman [[Lewis Rosenstiel]] through Standard Capital.)
* [[Universal Pictures#Universal International and Decca Records|Universal-International]], 1946–1952 ([[Lewis Rosenstiel]], an American businessman, acquired a controlling interest in [[Universal Pictures]] and merged it with [[International Pictures]] and [[Universal Pictures#Universal International and Decca Records|Universal-International]], a subsidiary of [[Universal Pictures|Universal Pictures Company]] for international distribution was created)
* [[Decca Records|Decca]], 1951–1962 ([[Decca Records|Decca]] records bought [[Universal-International]])
* [[MCA Inc.]], 1962–1996 (MCA purchased [[Decca Records|Decca]], that's became then a subsidiary of MCA. MCA acquired also [[Universal Pictures]] and merged with Universal officially.)
** [[Panasonic Corporation|Matsushita Electric]], 1990–1995 (Japanese conglomerate [[Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.]] (now [[Panasonic]]) acquired [[MCA Inc.]] and with it [[Universal Pictures]].)
** [[Seagram]], 1995–1996 ([[Seagram Company Ltd.]] acquired a majority of 80% of [[MCA Inc.|MCA]] [[Universal Pictures]] from [[Matsushita Electric]].)
* [[Universal Filmed Entertainment Group|Universal Studios Inc.]], 1996 ([[MCA Inc.|MCA]] is renamed and reincorporated by [[Seagram]])
** [[Seagram]], 1996–2000 (On December 9, 1996, the new owners dropped the [[MCA Inc.|MCA]] name, the company became Universal Studios Inc. and the parent company of [[Universal Pictures]].)
* [[Vivendi]], 2000 ([[Edgar Bronfman Jr]] sold a controlling interest of Seagram's entertainment division and combined those business to French water utility and media company Vivendi, and with it, [[Universal Studios, Inc.|Universal Studios]].)
* [[Vivendi|Vivendi Universal]], 2001–2004 (created on January 8, 2001, with the merger of the [[Vivendi]] media empire with [[Groupe Canal+|Canal+]] television networks and the acquisition of media assets of Canadian company [[Seagram Company Ltd]], owner of [[Universal Studios, Inc.|Universal Studios]].)
* [[NBCUniversal]], 2004–present ([[NBC]] merged with the company, formed through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment)
** [[General Electric]]/[[Vivendi]], (formed on May 11, 2004, beginning on November 8, 2004, as [[NBC Universal, Inc.]], with the merger of [[General Electric]]'s [[NBC]] with [[Vivendi Universal]]'s film and television subsidiary [[Vivendi Universal Entertainment]], after [[GE]] had acquired 80% of the subsidiary, giving [[Vivendi]] a 20% share of the new company.)
*** [[General Electric]], 2004–2011 ([[General Electric|GE]] acquired 80% of [[Universal Studios, Inc.|Universal Studios]] from [[Vivendi]] as part of a larger deal that included the acquisition of [[Vivendi]]'s entertainment assets, forming [[NBC Universal]].)
*** [[Vivendi]], ([[Vivendi]] held the remaining 20%, giving [[Vivendi]] a 20% share of the new company. with an option to sell its share in 2006.)
** [[Comcast]]/[[General Electric]], 2011–2013 ([[Acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast|Comcast acquired 51% of NBC Universal from General Electric. Comcast merged the former GE subsidiary with its own cable-television programming assets, creating the current newly reformed NBCUniversal]], by purchasing shares from [[GE]], while GE bought out [[Vivendi]].)
** Comcast, 2013–present ([[Acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast|Comcast bought the remaining 49% of NBCUniversal for $16.7 billion, since 2013, the company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast, which bought out GE's ownership stake.]])
*** [[Universal Filmed Entertainment Group|Universal Studios Inc.]] renamed Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Jeff Shell became the new chairman of the new Universal Studios.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Masters |first=Kim |date=2013-09-09 |title=Jeff Shell Moving to Universal Studios Job; Adam Fogelson Out |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/jeff-shell-moving-universal-studios-624678/ |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Paramount Pictures ====
{{Further|Paramount Pictures}}

* Independent as [[Famous Players Film Company]], 1912–1916 (founded by [[Adolph Zukor]] and [[W. W. Hodkinson]])
* Independent as [[Famous Players–Lasky]], 1916–1921 (founded by Adolph Zukor and [[Jesse L. Lasky]])
* Independent, 1922–1968 (as Paramount Pictures, the company adopted its distribution division's name and folded into it in 1933)
* [[Gulf and Western|Gulf+Western Industries]], 1966–1989 (purchased by Gulf+Western)
** [[Paramount Pictures#History|Paramount Communications]], 1989–1995 (Gulf+Western changed the name after selling non-entertainment assets)
* [[National Amusements]], 1994–2025 (owner of the two iterations of Viacom; the first includes [[CBS Corporation]], the second involving the split; CBS and Viacom would reunite in 2019)
** [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]], 1994–2006 (Viacom purchased Paramount)
** [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]], 2005–2019 (Viacom split into two companies: "new" Viacom—with Paramount Pictures, [[MTV]], [[BET]], [[Nickelodeon]], [[VH1]], [[Comedy Central]], and other cable channels—and [[CBS Corporation]]—which includes [[CBS Studios|CBS Television Studios]]; both companies are controlled by [[National Amusements]])
** [[Paramount Global]], 2019–2025 (re-merger between Viacom and CBS to form ViacomCBS, now known as Paramount Global)
* [[Paramount Skydance|Paramount Skydance Corporation]], 2025–present (merger between Paramount Global, National Amusements and [[Skydance Media]] to form Paramount Skydance Corporation)

==== 20th Century Fox/20th Century Studios ====
{{Further|20th Century Studios}}

* [[Fox Film]], 1915–1935 (founded by [[William Fox (producer)|William Fox]])
* [[Twentieth Century Pictures|20th Century Pictures]], 1933–1935 (founded by [[Joseph Schenck]] and [[Darryl F. Zanuck]])
* Independent, 1935–1985 (merged both companies in 1935 as 20th Century-Fox; fully purchased by [[Marc Rich]] and [[Marvin Davis]] in 1981 with the hyphen removed; Rich's interest purchased by Davis in 1984; half of Davis's interest purchased by [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] in March 1985)
* [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]], 1985–2013 (purchased the remainder of Davis's shares in September)
* [[21st Century Fox]], 2013–2019 (renamed media conglomerate when News Corporation split into two companies on June 28, 2013)
* [[The Walt Disney Company]], 2019–present (Disney acquired 20th Century Fox as part of a [[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|$71.3 billion purchase]] of their owner 21st Century Fox, which was announced on December 14, 2017, and completed on March 20, 2019; was renamed [[20th Century Studios]] by January 17, 2020)

==== Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) ====
{{Further|Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer}}

* [[Metro Pictures]], 1915–1924 (founded by [[Richard A. Rowland]], George Grombacker, and [[Louis B. Mayer]])
* [[Goldwyn Pictures]], 1916–1924 (founded by [[Samuel Goldwyn]] (then Goldfish) and theatre producers [[Edgar Selwyn|Edgar]] and [[Archibald Selwyn]])
* [[Louis B. Mayer Pictures]], 1922–1924 (founded by [[Louis B. Mayer]]; brought over [[Irving Thalberg]] from Universal as head of production)
* [[Loews Cineplex Entertainment|Loew's Inc.]], 1924–1959 (in 1924, [[Marcus Loew]] merged the first two studios and Louis B. Mayer offered up the third and was named head of MGM; controlling interest in Loew's purchased by [[William Fox (producer)|William Fox]] in 1929, but was then forced to sell off interest due to stock market crash; operational control ceded by Loew's to studio management in 1957)
* Independent, 1959–1981 (fully divested by Loew's; purchased by [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]] in 1967; purchased by [[Kirk Kerkorian]] in 1969)
* [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM/UA Entertainment Co.]], 1981–1986 (United Artists purchased by Kerkorian in 1981 and merged into MGM)
* [[Turner Broadcasting System]], 1986 (purchased by [[Ted Turner]] in 1986)
** [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM Entertainment Co.]], 1986
* [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM/UA Communications Co.]], 1986–1990 (repurchased by Kerkorian seventy-four days later)
* [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM-Pathe Communications]], 1990–1992 (purchased by [[Giancarlo Parretti]] in 1990)
* [[Crédit Lyonnais]], 1992–1997 (foreclosed upon by bank after Parretti defaulted)
* [[Tracinda Corporation]], 1997–2005 (repurchased by Kerkorian)
* [[MGM Holdings]], 2005–2023
** Sony/[[Comcast]]/4 private equity firms, 2005–2010 (purchased by Sony, Comcast, and private investment firms—[[Providence Equity Partners]] currently owns the greatest number of shares—and privately held as a minor media company independent of Sony/Columbia)
** [[Credit Suisse]], [[JPMorgan Chase]], other former bondholders (2011–2022), including [[Carl Icahn]] (2011–2012)
** [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]], 2022–present
* [[Amazon MGM Studios]], 2023–present

==== Warner Bros. ====
{{Further|Warner Bros.}}

* Independent as Warner Brothers Studio, 1918–1923 (founded by [[Jack L. Warner]], [[Harry Warner]], [[Albert Warner]], and [[Sam Warner]]; was not incorporated until 1923)
* Independent, 1923–1929 (formally incorporated and renamed Warner Bros. Pictures, Incorporated; Sam Warner died in 1927)
** Warner Bros.–First National, 1929–1967 (acquired [[First National Pictures]]; syndicate led by Jack Warner, [[Serge Semenenko]] of [[BankBoston|First National Bank of Boston]], and Charles Allen Jr.; purchased a controlling interest in 1956)
** [[Warner Bros.-Seven Arts|Warner Bros.–Seven Arts]], 1967–1969 (purchased by and merged with [[Seven Arts Productions]])
* [[Kinney National Company|Kinney]], 1969–1972 (Kinney purchased Warner Bros.–Seven Arts)
** [[Warner Communications]], 1972–1990 (Kinney spun off non-entertainment assets and changed name)
* Time-Warner, 1990–2001 (on January 10, 1990, in New York City, New York as a merger of [[Time Inc.]] and Warner Communications)
** AOL Time Warner, 2001–2003 ([[AOL]] merged with Time Warner in 2001)
** Time Warner, 2003–2018 (AOL Time Warner reverted to their original name in 2003, which remained until AT&T's acquisition in 2018, despite spinning off AOL and Time Inc.)
** [[WarnerMedia]], 2018–2022 (Time Warner renamed after [[AT&T]] [[WarnerMedia#History|acquisition]])
*** [[AT&T]], 2018–2022
* [[Warner Bros. Discovery]], 2022–present (AT&T spin-off and merged with [[Discovery, Inc.]])

==== Columbia Pictures ====
{{Further|Columbia Pictures}}

* Independent as CBC Film Sales, 1918–1924 (founded by [[Harry Cohn]], [[Joe Brandt]], and [[Jack Cohn]])
* Independent, 1924–1968 (company changes name to Columbia Pictures Corporation; goes public in 1926)
* Columbia Pictures Industries, 1968–1987  (merger between Columbia Pictures Corporation and [[Screen Gems]]. CPI becomes the parent of both companies)
** [[The Coca-Cola Company]], 1982–1987 (purchased by Coca-Cola; [[TriStar Pictures|Tri-Star Pictures]], a joint venture with [[HBO]] and [[CBS]] initiated in 1982—CBS drops out in 1985 and HBO in 1986)
* Columbia Pictures Entertainment, 1987–1991 (divested by Coca-Cola; Coke's entertainment business sold to Tri-Star and takes 49% in CPE)
* [[Sony Pictures|Sony Pictures Entertainment]], 1991–present (Columbia Pictures Entertainment rebrands itself two years after purchase)
** Sony, 1989–2021 (purchased by Sony Corporation in November 1989)
** [[Sony|Sony Group Corporation]], 2021–present (Sony reorganized)

==== RKO Radio Pictures/RKO Pictures ====
{{Further|RKO Pictures}}

* Independent as [[Film Booking Offices of America|FBO]], 1918–1928 (founded by Harry F. Robertson)
* [[RCA Corporation|RCA]], 1928–1935 (merger engineered under RCA by its president [[David Sarnoff]], bringing together FBO and [[Keith-Albee-Orpheum]])
* Independent, 1935–1955 (half of RCA's interest purchased by [[Floyd Odlum]], control split between RCA, Odlum, and [[Rockefeller family|Rockefeller brothers]]; controlling interest purchased by Odlum in 1942; controlling interest purchased by [[Howard Hughes]] in 1948; Hughes's interest purchased by Stolkin-Koolish-Ryan-Burke-Corwin syndicate in 1952; interest repurchased by Hughes in 1953; studio nearly fully purchased by Hughes in 1954)
* [[General Tire|General Tire and Rubber]], 1955–1984 (purchased by General Tire and Rubber—coupled with General Tire's broadcasting operation as RKO Teleradio Pictures; production and distribution halted in 1957; movie business dissolved in 1959 and RKO Teleradio renamed [[RKO General]]; RKO General establishes RKO Pictures as production subsidiary in 1981)
* [[GenCorp]], 1984–1987 (reorganization creates holding company with RKO General and General Tire as primary subsidiaries)
* [[Wesray Capital Corporation]], 1987–1989 (spun off from RKO General, purchased by Wesray—controlled by [[William E. Simon]] and [[Ray Chambers]]—and merged with amusement park operations to form RKO/Six Flags Entertainment)
* Independent as RKO Pictures LLC, 1989–2025 (owned by [[Ted Hartley]], who also is the CEO. As of 2015, the company's recent films released were ''[[A Late Quartet]]'' and ''[[Barely Lethal]]'')
* [[Concord (entertainment company)|Concord]], 2025–present

==== United Artists (UA) ====
{{Further|United Artists}}

* Independent, 1919–1967 (founded by [[Charles Chaplin]], [[Douglas Fairbanks]], [[D. W. Griffith]], and [[Mary Pickford]]; operational control by [[Arthur Krim]] and Robert Benjamin from 1951; fully purchased by Krim and Benjamin in 1956)
* [[Transamerica Corporation|Transamerica]], 1967–1981 (purchased by Transamerica)
* [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]], 1981–2023 (purchased by Kirk Kerkorian from Transamerica and merged into MGM)
** [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM/UA Entertainment Co.]], 1981–1986 (United Artists purchased by Kerkorian in 1981 and merged into MGM)
** [[Turner Broadcasting System]], 1986 (purchased by [[Ted Turner]] in 1986)
*** [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM Entertainment Co.]], 1986
** [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM/UA Communications Co.]], 1986–1990 (repurchased by Kerkorian seventy-four days later)
** [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM-Pathe Communications]], 1990–1992 (purchased by [[Giancarlo Parretti]] in 1990)
** [[Crédit Lyonnais]], 1992–1997 (foreclosed upon by bank after Parretti defaulted)
** [[Tracinda Corporation]], 1997–2005 (repurchased by Kerkorian)
** [[MGM Holdings]], 2005–2023
*** Sony/[[Comcast]]/4 private equity firms, 2005–2010 (purchased by Sony, Comcast, and private investment firms—[[Providence Equity Partners]] currently owns the greatest number of shares—and privately held as a minor media company independent of Sony/Columbia)
*** [[Credit Suisse]], [[JPMorgan Chase]], other former bondholders (2011–2022), including [[Carl Icahn]] (2011–2012)
*** United Artists was revived in 2019 as [[United Artists#United Artists Releasing|United Artists Releasing]], the distribution banner. (2019–2023)
*** [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]], 2022–2023; 2024–present
* [[Amazon MGM Studios]], 2024–present (revived on July 26, 2024, after more than a decade of dormancy)

==See also==
* [[Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers]]
* [[Concentration of media ownership]]
* [[Media conglomerate]]
* [[Media cross-ownership in the United States]]
* [[Motion Picture Association]]
* [[List of film production companies]]
* [[List of animation studios]]
* [[List of streaming media services]]
* [[Lists of films by studio]]
* [[List of film production companies in India]]
* [[List of home video companies]]
* [[Major record labels]]
* [[Big Three (American television)|Major US TV broadcast networks]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* Cook, David A. (2000). ''Lost Illusions: American Cinema in the Shadow of Watergate and Vietnam, 1970–1979'' (Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London: University of California Press). {{ISBN|0-520-23265-8}}.
* Eames, John Douglas (1985). ''The Paramount Story'' (New York: Crown). {{ISBN|0-517-55348-1}}.
* Finler, Joel W. (1988). ''The Hollywood Story'', 1st ed. (New York: Crown). {{ISBN|0-517-56576-5}}.
* Finler, Joel W. (2003). ''The Hollywood Story'', 3d ed. (London and New York: Wallflower). {{ISBN|1-903364-66-3}}.
* Hirschhorn, Clive (1983). ''The Universal Story'' (London: Crown). {{ISBN|0-517-55001-6}}.
* Hirschhorn, Clive (1999). ''The Columbia Story'' (London: Hamlyn). {{ISBN|0-600-59836-5}}.
* Jewell, Richard B., with Vernon Harbin (1982). ''The RKO Story'' (New York: Arlington House/Crown). {{ISBN|0-517-54656-6}}.
* Schatz, Thomas (1998 [1989]). ''The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era'' (London: Faber and Faber). {{ISBN|0-571-19596-2}}.
* Thomas, Tony, and Aubrey Solomon (1985). ''The Films of 20th Century-Fox'' (Secaucus, N.J.: Citadel). {{ISBN|0-8065-0958-9}}.

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline|Film studios}}
* {{commons category-inline|Film production companies}}

{{Film Studio}}
{{Film genres}}

[[Category:Major film studios| ]]
[[Category:Film studios in Southern California|*]]
[[Category:Film distributors of the United States|*]]
[[Category:Anti-corporate activism]]
[[Category:Culture of California]]