In 1989, Sony acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment, which became Sony Pictures Entertainment in 1991. RKO was defunct in 1959, and upon its sale from Turner to Kerkorian in 1986, MGM became a mini-major. It joined five others (Paramount, Warner Bros., Universal, Columbia, and 20th Century Fox) to comprise the 'Big Six'. Columbia Pictures eventually merged in 1987 with Tri-Star Pictures to form Columbia Pictures Entertainment.ĭuring the Golden Age, Walt Disney Productions was an independent production company and not considered a 'major studio' until the mid-1980s. United Artists began as a distribution company for several independent producers and later began producing its own films, and was eventually acquired by MGM in 1981. Universal Pictures was, during that early era, considered one of 'Little Three', along with United Artists and Columbia Pictures. were part of the original 'Big Five', along with RKO Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and 20th Century Fox. Three of these were among that original era's 'Big Eight' major film studios. The current 'Big Five' majors (Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, and Columbia) all originate with film studios that were active during Hollywood's 'Golden Age'. Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California Today, all the Big Five major studios are also members of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). 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. Today, the Big Five majors – Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures– 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). 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. major film studios have dominated both American cinema and the global film industry. The term may also be applied more specifically to the primary motion picture business subsidiary of each respective conglomerate.

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 conglomerates whose various film production and distribution subsidiaries collectively command approximately 80 to 85% of U.S.

Major film studios are production and distribution companies that release a substantial number of films annually and consistently command a significant share of box office revenue in a given market. Class=notpageimage| Big Five studios in Hollywood (Paramount Pictures) and on the Westside (Columbia Pictures)

Chicago movie production companies