Major film studio (Future version)

A major film studio is a production and film distributor that releases a substantial number of films annually and consistently commands a significant share of box office revenue in a given market. In the North American, Western, and global markets, the major film studios, often simply known as the majors, are commonly regarded as the eight diversified media conglomerates whose various film production and distribution subsidiaries collectively command approximately 80 to 85 percent of U.S. and Canadian box office revenue. The term may also be applied more specifically to the primary motion picture business subsidiary of each respective conglomerate.

The "Big Eight" majors, whose operations are based in or around the Los Angeles neighborhood of Hollywood, are all centered in film studios active during Hollywood's Golden Age of the 1930s and 1940s. the five now subsidiaries— Goldwyn, Fox, Warner, Paramount, and RKO—the studios were the " Original Big Five" majors during that era as well. the three now subsidiaries—Columbia, Universal and United Artists— were also considered majors, but in the next tier down, part of the "Little Three". the Only Surviving studio in America, Walt Disney Studios was an independent production company during the Golden Age; it was an important Hollywood entity, but not a major. Lionsgate (aka American Artists), DHX, and Styhon did not exist in the golden age of Hollywood and are not majors. Paramount, United Artists, Columbia, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, RKO and 20th Century Fox were majors.

Today, Disney is the only member of the Big Eight whose parent entity is still located near Los Angeles (actually, on Disney's studio lot and in the same building) as well being the only Surviving film Studio in the Untied States of America. The five others report to conglomerates headquartered in New York City, Philadelphia, and Tokyo. Of the Big Five and Little Three, Lionsgate and Fox-Weinstein-Dimension are the only ones still based in Hollywood and the only ones still located within the Los Angeles city limits, while AT&T and Styhon are located in Burbank, TriStar in Santa Monica, Disney in the studio lot called Disney City, DHX/UA in West Hollywood and Hartnett in Glendale and the unincorporated area of Hartnett City.

Most of today's Big Five control subsidiaries with their own distribution networks that concentrate on arthouse pictures (e.g. Touchstone Pictures) or genre films (e.g. Disney;s Heffalump Pictures); several of these specialty units were shut down or sold off between 2008 and 2010. The five major studios are contrasted with smaller production and/or distribution companies, which are known as independents or "indies". The leading independent producer/distributors—American Artists Pictures (aka Lionsgate), Styhon Partners Entertainment, and DHX/UA Pictures—are sometimes referred to as "Little Three". From 1998 through 2005, DreamWorks SKG commanded a large enough market share to arguably qualify it as a seventh major, despite its relatively small output. In 2006, DreamWorks was acquired by Viacom, Paramount's corporate parent. 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.

The Big Eight major studios are today primarily 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. The specialty divisions often simply acquire distribution rights to pictures 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 shot on location at places outside Los Angeles.

Since the dawn of filmmaking, the U.S. major film studios have dominated both American cinema and the global film industry. U.S. 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. Today, the Big Eight majors routinely distribute hundreds of films every year into all significant international markets (that is, where discretionary income is high enough for consumers to afford to watch films). It is very rare, if not impossible, for a film to reach a broad international audience on multiple continents and in multiple languages without first being picked up by one of the majors for distribution.

the largest Minor studios, Century and Sunking, were not majors, but have libraries. while Century was formed as a spin off when Bob Weinstein purchased Fox's pre-2019 film and television library, Sunking was formed by mergers of Annapurna, Carolco, and Full Moon.

Big Five
the Big Five are the movie studios that have Main Studio Facilities with Television Buildings, Large Libraries, Theme Parks, Huge Backlot, and Cinema Chains. while Hartnett has 30.00% market share, eOne has 22.35% market share, AT&T has 19.67% market share, Disney has 15.33% market share, and Lantern Capital has 14.99% market share.


 * DreamWorks Film Distributors
 * DreamWorks Pictures SKG
 * Universal Studios (In-Name Only)
 * Paramount Pictures (In-Name Only) (50%)
 * Legendary Entertainment (50%)
 * Mandalay Entertainment (50%)
 * Forever Entertainment Jobs (50%)
 * Blinding Edge Pictures (50%)
 * Appian Way Films (50%)
 * Clark/Bruckheimer Pictures (50%)
 * Beverly Copyright Company
 * Air Force Pictures (50%)
 * Amblin Entertainment
 * Hartnett Germany
 * PolyGram Studios
 * Gramercy Pictures
 * Vantage Entertainment
 * Insurge Pictures
 * MTV Pictures
 * Nickelodeon Movies
 * Simpleton Network Movies
 * Hartnett Animation Studios
 * DreamWorks Animation
 * Bullwinkle Studios
 * The Harvey Entertainment Company
 * Harvey Films
 * Nickelodeon Animation Studios
 * Mac Guff Pictures
 * Klasky Csupo
 * Rainbow S.r.l.
 * Bardel Entertainment
 * Universal Animation Studios (In-Name Only)
 * Illumination Entertainment (In-Name Only)
 * Paramount Animation (In-Name Only)
 * DreamworksToon Studios
 * Noggin Pictures
 * MTV Animation
 * Carnival Films
 * NBC Films
 * Turner Entertainment
 * ITC Entertainment
 * Manhattan Pictures (In-Name Only)
 * DreamWorks Classics
 * DreamWorks International Communications
 * DreamWorks China SKG
 * Geneon DreamWorks
 * DreamWorks Digital Entertainment
 * DreamWorks Famous Productions
 * DreamWorks Studios
 * Universal Studios lot
 * DreamWorks Animation Campus
 * DreamWorks Studios Ukraine
 * DreamWorks Studios Denmark
 * DreamWorks Studios Kazakhstan
 * DreamWorks Studios Somalia
 * DreamWorks Movie Ranch


 * Entertainment One
 * TriStar Pictures Entertainment
 * TriStar Pictures
 * The Judy Garland Company
 * Judy Garland Pictures
 * Columbia Pictures
 * Triumph Films
 * Montserb Studios
 * Planner Entertainment
 * TriStar Pictures Feature Animation
 * TriStar Pictures Classics
 * Destination Films
 * Republic Pictures
 * Allied Artists International
 * Monogram Pictures
 * Relativity Media
 * Overture Films
 * Corus Entertainment
 * Rank Organisation
 * Les Films Christal
 * Momentum Pictures
 * Desilu Too
 * Desilu Too
 * Entertainment One Facilities LLC
 * TriStar Pictures Facilities
 * TriStar Pictures Studios Hollywood
 * TriStar Pictures Studios China
 * TriStar Pictures Studios Serbia
 * TriStar Pictures Studios Australia
 * TriStar Pictures Studios France
 * TriStar Pictures Studios Mexico
 * TriStar Pictures Studios Russia
 * TriStar Pictures Studios India
 * TriStar Pictures Studios Finland
 * TriStar Pictures Studios Italy
 * Wilmington Studios
 * Shepperton Studios


 * AT&T Pictures
 * Warner Bros. Pictures
 * Touchstone Pictures
 * October Films
 * Savoy Pictures
 * New World Pictures
 * The Ladd Company
 * Artland Pictures
 * The CW Films
 * HBO Films
 * Cinemax Films
 * HBO Documentary films
 * 1492 Pictures
 * Centropolis Entertainment
 * Bryanston Pictures
 * Recorded Picture Company
 * AT&T Pictures Facilities
 * AT&T Studios, Burbank
 * AT&T Studios, New York City
 * AT&T Studios, Atlanta
 * AT&T Studios, Florida
 * AT&T Studios, Chicago
 * AT&T Studios, Russia
 * AT&T Studios, Thailand
 * AT&T Studios, France
 * Britannia Pictures (50%)
 * AT&T Animation
 * Cartoon Network Movies


 * Disney Corporation of America
 * Disney Distribution
 * Walt Disney Pictures
 * Media Rights Capital
 * 20th Century Fox
 * Fox Searchlight Pictures
 * Fox Star Studios
 * Fox 2000 Pictures
 * Zero Day Fox
 * Kudos Film and Television
 * Walt Disney Animation Studios
 * Pixar Animation Studios
 * Marvel Animation
 * Lucasfilm Animation
 * 20th Century Fox Animation
 * Blue Sky Studios
 * Winking Pooh Entertainment
 * Disney Channel Original Movies
 * Marvel Studios
 * Lucasfilm
 * Miravista Films
 * Disney Facilities
 * Disney City, California
 * Grand Central Creative Campus
 * Disney Studios Santa Clarita
 * Disney Studios New York City
 * Disney Studios Hawaii
 * Disney Studios Texas
 * Disney Studios, Emeryville
 * Britannia Studios
 * Britannia Pictures (50%)


 * Lantern Capital Motion Picture Group
 * Fox-Weinstein-Dimension Pictures
 * Miramax Films
 * Dimension Films
 * Radius Productions
 * Mouser Entertainment
 * Troma Entertainment
 * Fox-Weinstein-Dimension Studio Limits
 * Sunset Las Palmas Studios
 * 2O4 Studios
 * Silver Layne Studios
 * Ocedental Studios Stages 9 and 10
 * Cabin 21 Sound
 * Ocedental Studios
 * Raleigh Studios LLC
 * Raleigh Studios Hollywood
 * Raleigh Studios Atlanta
 * Raleigh Studios Baton Rogue
 * Raleigh Studios Budapest
 * Gracie Films
 * Endemol Shine Pictures
 * Apollo Global Films
 * Waveball Films
 * Screamer Movies
 * Fox-Weinstein-Dimension Family Films
 * FWD Spotlight Pictures
 * 2000 Pictures
 * Fox-Weinstein-Dimension Star Studios
 * National Geographic Films
 * Davis Entertainment
 * Lightstorm Entertainment
 * Avatar Pictures
 * GMA Films

Little Three
the Little Three are the movie studios that have Separate Studio Facilities, No Television Buildings, Small to Meduim Libraries, No Theme Parks (though the Lionsgate and Sesame Street attractions were in Motiongate Dubai), Small Backlot, and No Cinema Chains (except Lionsgate). they are also logo rip-offs. While DHX/UA has 12.45% market share, Lionsgate has 10.34% market share, and Styhon has 9.00% market share.


 * DHX/UA Pictures Corporation
 * DHX/UA Distribution
 * DHX Pictures
 * United Artists
 * B4 Films
 * Hammer Film Productions
 * Picturehouse Films
 * STX Films
 * American International Pictures
 * Stant Films
 * Carlton Films
 * Granada Limited
 * Ragdoll Productions
 * FremantleMedia
 * Salter Street Films
 * Discovery Channel Pictures
 * Ion Films
 * Meridian Pictures
 * DHX/UA International
 * FremantleMedia Kids and Family
 * Interscope Communications
 * IFC Films
 * The Vladar Company
 * DHX Channel Movies
 * Walden Media
 * DHX/UA Studio Failities
 * West Hollywood Studios
 * MBS Media Campus
 * DHX Studios Vancouver
 * DHX Studios Toronto
 * DHX Studios Halifax
 * DHX Studios Burbank
 * DHX Studios New York
 * Silver Pictures
 * Dark Castle Entertainment
 * Hallmark Pictures
 * Hallmark Channel Original Movies
 * A24 Pictures
 * Decode Entertainment
 * Nine Network Films


 * Lionsgate Pictures Corporation
 * New Line Pictures
 * New Line Cinema
 * Focus Features
 * Focus World
 * Summit Entertainment
 * Anchor Bay Films
 * Lionsgate Distribution
 * American Artists Pictures
 * Lionsgate Premiere
 * Lionsgate Horror
 * Lionsgate Studio Facilities
 * Lionsgate Film Studios
 * Lionsgate/Liberty Studios
 * Lionsgate/Netflix Studios
 * Lionsgate Studios New York City
 * Lionsgate Animation
 * Family Home Entertainment Pictures
 * Shirley Temple Entertainment
 * Artisan Entertainment
 * Roadside Attractions
 * Codeblack Films
 * Pantelion Films
 * Celestial Tiger Entertainment
 * Starz Films
 * Good Universe
 * Trimark Pictures
 * Hulu Films
 * Hulu Documentary Films
 * Hulu Family Films
 * Tyler Perry Studios
 * Surface Films
 * Marker Machine Films


 * Styhon Partners Entertainment
 * Morgan Creek Productions
 * Revolution Studios
 * Freestyle Releasing
 * Hannover House Films
 * Regency Enterprises
 * Monroe Entertainment
 * Sesame Workshop (50%)
 * The Jim Henson Company (50%)
 * The Muppet Company (50%)
 * King World Pictures (80%)
 * Rogue Studios
 * Weintraub Pictures
 * Creek+ Movies
 * Creek+ Kids Movies
 * Chanticleer Films
 * EMI Films
 * Styhon Partners Animation
 * Styhon Partners Family Entertainment
 * Burbank Lake Films
 * Strong Mussels Streaming
 * Styhon Partners Production Facilities
 * Styhon Partners Studios Hollywood
 * Styhon Partners Studios London
 * Styhon Partners Movie Ranch
 * Bleecker Street
 * Worldview Entertainment
 * LD Entertainment
 * Trigger Street Productions
 * Madvine

Former Majors
a Former Major is a movie studio that got defunct or acquired by another major.


 * Paramount Pictures: 1912-2022 - merged into Hartnett
 * Brenon Pictures: 1913-1928 - merged into RKO
 * Ukraine Pictures: 1914-1928 - merged into RKO
 * Universal Studios: 1915-2022 - merged into Hartnett
 * Triangle Pictures: 1915-1919 - Renamed Robertson Cole
 * Fox Film Corporation: 1915-1935 - merged into 20th Century Fox
 * First National Pictures: 1917-1928 - acquired by Warner Brothers
 * Film Booking Offices of America: 1919-1928 - merged into RKO
 * United Artists: 1919-1981 - acquired by MGM in 1981 and DHX in 2020
 * Warner Bros. Pictures: 1923-2018 - TimeWarner was acquired by AT&T
 * Columbia Pictures: 1924-1984 - became in-many only of Coca-Cola Pictures
 * Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: 1924-2010 - resort to-co-distributing in 2010 and acquired by Discovery Communications ten years later
 * RKO Radio Pictures: 1928-1960 - acquired by Joseph E. Levine
 * Gaumont America: 1930-1985 - acquired by Garland
 * 20th Century Fox: 1935-2018 - acquired by Disney and pre-2019 film library are sold to Lantern Capital
 * Rank Organisation: 1937-1997 - acquired by The Rank Group
 * Embassy Pictures: 1960-1986 - acquired by Vestron Video
 * New Line Cinema: 1967-2008 - merged into Warner Brothers in 2008 and Lionsgate in 2020
 * Miramax Films: 1979-2005 - recounted by Disney
 * Artisan Entertainment: 1980-2004 - acquired by Lionsgate
 * Vestron Pictures: 1986-1992 - acquired by Live
 * Trimark Pictures: 1989-2000 - acquired by Lionsgate
 * Sony Pictures Entertainment: 1991-2020 - acquired by Entertainment One
 * DreamWorks SKG: 1994-2016 - acquired by Comcast
 * The Weinstein Company: 2005-2018 - bankrupt and library sold to Lantern Capital
 * A24 Pictures: 2012-2020 - merged into DHX/UA Media and library sold to Styhon Partners Entertainment
 * STX Entertainment: 2014-2020 - merged with the others to form DHX/UA Media

Animation Studios


the Eight Major Studios have any major studios, DreamWorks Animation SKG, AT&T Animation, Walt Disney Animation Group, TriStar Animation (later TriStar Pictures Feature Animation and TriStar Pictures Television Animation), and Fox-Weinstein-Dimension Animation. also introduced Lionsgate Animation, Styhon Animation, and DHX/UA Animation Studios.

Headquarters
AT&T, Disney, Styhon, eOne, and Lionsgate/American Artists got their main buildings as headquarters in Burbank. Burbank is the future Hollywood. Meanwhile, Fox-Weinstein-Dimension was headquartered at Hollywood's Sunset Las Palmas Studios, DreamWorks was headquartered at the DreamWorks Campus in Glendale, and DHX/UA Media was headquartered at the West Hollywood Studios in West Hollywood.

Mini-Major Studios
the mini-major studios are smaller than the major film studios and have their small international distribution arms.

Former
Former mini-majors include:
 * Allied Artists Pictures - sold to Lorimar in 1979
 * American International Pictures - purchased By Filmways
 * Annapurna Pictures - renamed as Sunking Pictures
 * Bleecker Street - sold to Styhon Partners Entertainment
 * The Cannon Group
 * CBS Films - sold to Entertainment One
 * Castle Rock Entertainment - purchased in 1993 by Turner Broadcasting System; TBS merged with Time Warner in 1996
 * Crown International Pictures - sold to John Smith Films in 1992
 * DreamWorks Animation - acquired by NBCUniversal in 2016
 * FilmDistrict - merged into Focus Features (a subsidiary of Universal) in 2014
 * Garland Pictures / Judy Garland Entertainment - purchased by Columbia in 1980 and Became independent in 1984, but sold to Sony in 1994.
 * Global Road Entertainment - merged into Sunking Pictures
 * Jensen Rhine Films - purchased by DHX Media in July 2010.
 * Lionsgate Pictures - became a major studio
 * Manhattan Pictures - acquired by DreamWorks at 9/11 in 2001.
 * Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer - was a mini-major from 2011 until 2020, when MGM was purchased by Discovery, Inc.
 * New World Pictures - acquired by News Corporation (then parent company of 20th Century Fox) in 1997
 * October Films - purchased in 1997 by Universal; purchased in 1999 by Barry Diller and merged with Gramercy Pictures into USA Films; USA in 2001 acquired by Vivendi (then parent company of Universal) and merged with Good Machine and Universal Focus into Focus Features
 * Orion Pictures - in 1990, was considered the last of the mini-majors Purchased in 1988 by Kluge/Metromedia; purchased in 1997 by MGM
 * Overture Films Distribution and marketing assets sold to Relativity Media in 2010.
 * PolyGram Filmed Entertainment - sold to Universal Studios in 1999; re-launched in 2017 as Universal Music Group's film & television production division, PolyGram Entertainment
 * Republic Pictures - Produced many serials and was formed by the consolidation of six minor studios
 * Relativity Media - filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 15, 2015 Emerged in March 2016.
 * Summit Entertainment - acquired by Lions Gate Entertainment in 2012
 * TriStar Pictures - consolidated in 1987 into Columbia, one of the partners in the joint venture that created it
 * Walt Disney Productions / The Walt Disney Company - became a major studio
 * Weintraub Entertainment Group - filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 30, 1990

as MPAA Members
for the majors used as members, see the MPAA Members page.