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, Styhon, and DreamWorks did not exist in the golden age of Hollywood and are not before majors. Universal, Paramount, United Artists, Warner Bros., 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 DreamWorks in Glendale and the unincorporated area of Universal 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. However, DreamWorks bought Manhattan's film library in 2001. In 2006, DreamWorks SKG 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 under the Touchstone Pictures banner until 2016, at which point distribution switched to Universal Studios.

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.

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 DreamWorks 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 SKG
 * 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%)
 * DreamWorks Germany SKG
 * PolyGram Studios
 * Gramercy Pictures
 * Vantage Entertainment
 * Insurge Pictures
 * MTV Pictures
 * Nickelodeon Movies
 * Simpleton Network Movies
 * Hartnett Animation Studios
 * DreamWorks Animation SKG
 * 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)
 * Unicorn Pictures (50%)
 * DreamWorksToon Studios
 * Noggin Pictures
 * MTV Animation
 * Carnival Films
 * NBC Films
 * Turner Entertainment
 * ITC Entertainment
 * Manhattan Pictures (In-Name Only)
 * DreamWorks Classics SKG
 * DreamWorks International Communications SKG
 * DreamWorks China SKG
 * Geneon DreamWorks
 * DreamWorks Digital Entertainment
 * DreamWorks Famous Productions
 * DreamWorks Studios
 * Universal Studios lot
 * DreamWorks Animation Campus
 * DreamWorks Studios Ukraine SKG
 * DreamWorks Studios Denmark SKG
 * DreamWorks Studios Kazakhstan SKG
 * DreamWorks Studios Somalia SKG
 * DreamWorks Movie Ranch SKG
 * Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
 * Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation


 * 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
 * RLJE Films
 * Roadside Attractions (minor steak only)
 * LStar Capital
 * The Mark Gordon Company (51%)
 * Force Four Entertainment
 * Paperny Entertainment
 * Les Films Christal
 * Momentum Pictures
 * KaBoom! Entertainment Inc.
 * Maple Pictures
 * 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
 * Touchstone Pictures
 * Hollywood Pictures


 * AT&T Pictures
 * Warner Bros. Pictures
 * The CW Films
 * Kids WB Movies
 * 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
 * NLT Films
 * 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
 * AT&T Animation Group
 * Cannon Pictures
 * Big Idea Productions


 * Disney Corporation of America
 * Disney Distribution
 * Disney Pictures
 * 20th Century Fox
 * Fox Searchlight Pictures
 * Fox 2000 Pictures
 * Zero Day Films
 * Kudos Film and Television
 * Disney Animation Studios
 * Marvel Animation
 * Lucasfilm Animation
 * Blue Sky Studios
 * Winking Pooh Entertainment
 * Disney Channel Original Movies
 * Marvel Studios
 * Lucasfilm
 * Miravista Films
 * Disney-Styhon Ventures (50% only)
 * 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%)
 * Amblin Entertainment
 * Amblin Partners
 * HIT Entertainment


 * Lantern Capital Motion Picture Group
 * Lantern Pictures
 * Miramax Films
 * Dimension Films
 * Radius Productions
 * Mouser Entertainment
 * Troma Entertainment
 * Lantern 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
 * Pen Studios
 * Endemol Shine Pictures
 * Apollo Global Films
 * Waveball Films
 * Screamer Movies
 * Lantern Family Films
 * Lantern Spotlight Pictures
 * 2000 Pictures
 * Davis Entertainment
 * Lightstorm Entertainment
 * Avatar Pictures
 * GMA Films
 * Gaumont Film Company
 * Republic Pictures

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 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 (minor steak only)
 * 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
 * Decode Entertainment
 * Nine Network Films
 * Hemdale Film Corporation
 * Hemdale Pictures


 * Lionsgate Pictures Corporation
 * New Line Cinema
 * Lionsgate Focus
 * 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
 * Don Bluth Feature Animation


 * Styhon Partners Entertainment
 * Morgan Creek Productions
 * Revolution Studios
 * Freestyle Releasing
 * Hannover House Films
 * Regency Enterprises
 * Monroe Entertainment
 * 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
 * Disney-Styhon Ventures (50% only)
 * Pathé
 * Rank Organisation

Past Majors
a Past Major is a movie studio that got defunct, go downsized, or acquired by or merged with another major.


 * Paramount Pictures: 1912-2022 - merged into DreamWorks
 * Universal Studios: 1915-2022 - merged into DreamWorks
 * United Artists: 1919-1981 - former independent then mini-major in 1930 before becoming a major studio 1951; later 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-name only of Coca-Cola Pictures
 * Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: 1924-2010 - resort to-co-distributing in December 2010 and acquired by Discovery Inc. ten years later
 * RKO Radio Pictures: 1928-1960 - acquired by Joseph E. Levine
 * 20th Century Fox: 1935-2018 - acquired by Disney and pre-2019 film library are sold to Lantern Capital
 * Sony Pictures Entertainment: 1991-2020 - acquired by Entertainment One

Other Past Majors

 * Brenon Pictures: 1913-1928 - merged into RKO
 * Ukraine Pictures: 1914-1928 - merged into RKO
 * 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
 * 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
 * DreamWorks SKG: 1994-2005; bought by Viacom in 2005
 * The Weinstein Company: 2005-2018 - bankrupt and library sold to Lantern Capital
 * A24 Pictures: 2012-2020 - acquired by Apple Inc. and folded into Apple Pictures
 * 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 Pictures Animation (later TriStar Pictures Feature Animation and TriStar Pictures Television Animation), and Lantern 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, Lantern 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
for the Mini-Majors, see the Mini-Major film studio.

as MPAA Members
for the majors used as members, see the Members of the Motion Picture Association of America page.