Hollywood, is the home of the stars and the studios where they work. For many people around the world, Hollywood is synonymous with film and movie studios. However, that’s a limited understanding of what this district in Los Angeles is all about. If you look past the red carpets and celebrity gossip, there’s so much more to this place. Hollywood is also an important center for filmmaking - not just as a secondary location for shooting movies but as home to several film studios whose primary business is making films. There are so many different film studios in Hollywood that it can be hard to keep track of them all. As well as big names like Disney, Universal Studios and Paramount, there are smaller operations like Red Studios and The Collective that are big players in their own right thanks to the size and scope of their operations. In this article, we take a look at some of the biggest film studios in Hollywood and what makes each one special...
The Big 3: Disney, Universal, and Paramount
The Big 3 are Hollywood’s major film studios. They produce the most films, have the biggest names on their rosters, and operate at the very highest level of the film business. They have been making films for decades, and have been responsible for some of Hollywood’s most iconic films. In terms of revenue, these three companies are at the top of the tree. Disney is a name that practically everyone knows, thanks in part to the fact they have one of the biggest film franchises of all time on their belt - the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The House of Mouse is also responsible for beloved films like The Lion King and Aladdin and has produced some incredible modern films as well. Universal also has a wealth of film franchises under its belt, with classics like Jaws and Back to the Future and modern box office smashes like the Fast and Furious movies.
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation (DWA) is a smaller film studio that has become famous for producing children’s films. They have been a dominant voice in the animation world since the late 1990s, producing some of the most iconic and successful children’s films of all time. They have also been responsible for the spin-off series How to Train Your Dragon, which has become a hugely successful franchise in its own right. Since being bought by Comcast, the owners of Universal Studios, DWA has operated out of that studio’s premises. However, they have recently announced that they will be moving to Disney’s Burbank studios in 2021, which will make for an interesting partnership between two of the biggest children’s film studios out there.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. is a historic studio that has been around for more than a century. They are a major force in the film industry, producing some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters every year and putting out some iconic films. They have been responsible for some of the biggest cinematic franchises in history, including Superman, Harry Potter, and the DC Extended Universe. They also produce several lesser-known but incredibly interesting independent films too.
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox is a studio that has a rich history. They were once part of the original “Big 5” Hollywood film studios, but have now been bought by Disney and become part of their empire. Fox has been responsible for some of the biggest and most iconic films ever made. Some of their biggest franchises include the X-Men series, the Alien series, Deadpool, the Planet of the Apes series, and the recent iteration of the Fantastic Beasts series. While some of their franchises remain in their ownership, many of them will now be produced under the Disney banner. Fox has also been responsible for developing several smaller and more independent films, giving them a unique flavor with a focus on originality that is rare in Hollywood.
Sony Pictures Studios
Sony Pictures Studios is another major player in the world of Hollywood film studios. It is the home of Sony’s production and distribution operations, which produce a long list of Sony-made films that have been released in recent years. They have a significant number of recognizable franchises under their belt, including the Men in Black series and the James Bond movies. They also produce several smaller, more independent films and have been responsible for several critically-acclaimed dramas and comedies. Sony’s influence on the film industry is extremely significant. They are one of the most successful and profitable studios in the world and have a significant amount of power within the film industry.
Bottom line
Hollywood is home to some of the biggest and most well-known film studios in the world, and some of the most iconic films in history have been made there. These studios are the hub of the film industry and are responsible for producing and distributing the most popular and highest-grossing films every year. If you want to break into the film industry and make your mark, you’re going to have to work hard and climb the ladder. It’s not going to be easy, but if you have the passion and determination to succeed in Hollywood, you will find a way.