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20th Century Studios

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20th Century Studios is a major American film production and distribution company.

It has functioned as a leader in the film industry for approximately 90 years. The studio is currently a part of the Walt Disney Studios division. This division belongs to the Disney Entertainment segment of the Walt Disney Company. 20th Century operates as one of five live-action film studios within this group. Its sister units include Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and Searchlight Pictures.

20th Century Studios (2021)
20th Century Studios (2021)

The company also maintains an animation division called 20th Century Animation.

The studio manages films through a specific process of production and marketing. First, the studio produces the actual film content. Next, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures handles the distribution. This means they manage how the films reach theatrical markets. They also oversee the marketing efforts to ensure audiences see the movies. This organized system allows the studio to release massive franchises to global audiences.

The studio is responsible for both live-action films and animated features.

Historically, the company emerged from a significant merger. In 1935, Fox Film Corporation and Twentieth Century Pictures joined together. This merger created the Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation.

Again in 1939 ... 20th Century Fox
Again in 1939 ... 20th Century Fox

Two men, Joseph Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck, led these merger talks. They joined forces with the management of the struggling Fox Film. Sidney Kent was the president of Fox Film at that time. Spyros Skouras helped facilitate the merger and later became president. The company officially began trading on May 31, 1935.

During the Golden Age of Hollywood, the studio held great importance. It was one of the original "Big Five" major studios. The company also established a special training school for talent. In August 1935, the studio launched 14 young women into stardom. These women received six-month contracts after 18 months of training. The studio also signed famous actors like Henry Fonda and Carmen Miranda.

Photo Don Ameche, Alice Faye, and Carmen Miranda in THAT NIGHT IN RIO (1941)
Photo Don Ameche, Alice Faye, and Carmen Miranda in THAT NIGHT IN RIO (1941)

During World War II, the studio became very profitable. It rose to become the third most profitable film studio.

Innovation has always been a key part of the studio's history. In 1953, the company took a massive financial risk. They wanted to compete with new technologies like Cinerama and 3D. President Spyros Skouras purchased the rights to an anamorphic projection system. This system was called CinemaScope, and it was invented by Henri Chrétien.

CinemaScope created a wide-screen illusion without needing special glasses. The studio introduced this in the film *The Robe*. To help theaters adopt this, the studio paid roughly $25,000 per screen for conversion. This move forced many rival studios to adopt the technology quickly.

The studio has faced many periods of intense financial struggle. In the early 1960s, production costs for certain films became uncontrollable. The movie *Cleopatra* saw its budget rise from $10 million to $40 million.

Foxstudios
Foxstudios

Other projects, like *Something's Got to Give*, faced massive delays and costs. To raise necessary funds, the company sold its back lot in 1961. This land eventually became the site of Century City. These difficult years led to significant changes in how the company was managed. Eventually, Darryl Zanuck became chairman to stabilize the organization.

Ownership of the studio has changed hands several times over the decades. In 1985, Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation acquired the company. News Corporation later became 21st Century Fox in 2013. On March 20, 2019, Disney purchased most of the 21st Century Fox assets. This included the film studio itself. The company officially adopted its current name, 20th Century Studios, on January 17, 2020. This name change helped avoid confusion with the Fox Corporation.

Foxstudiosentrance
Foxstudiosentrance

The studio also moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to Burbank.

Today, the studio's library contains some of the most successful films ever made. It is responsible for massive franchises like *Star Wars*, *Avatar*, and *X-Men*.

The studio also produced *Titanic* and *The Sound of Music*. Both of these films won the Academy Award for Best Picture. At the time of their initial releases, they were the highest-grossing films in history. The studio continues to be a vital part of the global entertainment landscape.

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🖼️ Images & Media (12)
File:Gangs all here trailer.jpg
Gangs all here trailer.jpg
File:Photo Don Ameche, Alice Faye, and Carmen Miranda in THAT NIGHT IN RIO (1941).jpg
Photo Don Ameche, Alice Faye, and Carmen...
File:Again in 1939 ... 20th Century Fox.jpg
Again in 1939 ... 20th Century Fox.jpg
File:Viva Zapata movie trailer screenshot (3).jpg
Viva Zapata movie trailer screenshot (3).jpg
File:20th Century Fox logo.svg
20th Century Fox logo.svg
File:Foxplazafromolympicblvd.jpg
Foxplazafromolympicblvd.jpg
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Foxstudios.jpg
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Foxstudiosentrance.jpg
File:20th Century Studios (2021).svg
20th Century Studios (2021).svg
File:Fox-Paramount Home Entertainment.svg
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20th Century Studios logo animation and...
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