20th Century Studios

20th Century Fox was formed on May 31, 1935, as a result of a merger between Fox Film Corporation, founded by William Fox in 1915, and 20th Century Pictures, established by Joseph Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck in 1933. This merger was designed to create a more financially stable company that could compete with the major studios of the time. The new entity brought together Fox's extensive theater chain and 20th Century Pictures' innovative production and marketing strategies. Over the years, 20th Century Fox became one of the founding members of the Big Six American film studios, producing a wide array of critically acclaimed films.

'The Grapes of Wrath' is a film adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Directed by John Ford and released by 20th Century Fox on September 12, 1940, the film stars Henry Fonda as Tom Joad and tells the story of the Joads, an impoverished family of tenant farmers displaced from their Oklahoma home by economic hardship during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. The film was praised for its direction, screenplay, and performances, especially Fonda's. It received seven nominations at the 13th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won two: Best Director for Ford and Best Supporting Actress for Jane Darwell.

On January 7, 1953, 20th Century Fox announced CinemaScope, a widescreen filming process that became a significant technological advancement in the film industry. The Robe, released on September 16, 1953, was the first feature film shot in CinemaScope, enhancing the visual spectacle of cinema and setting the stage for widescreen films. CinemaScope used an anamorphic lens to compress the image laterally during filming and expand it during projection, allowing for a much wider image than was previously possible. This innovation reinvigorated the movie-going experience and helped counter the rising popularity of television.

Released on December 14, 1965, 'The Sound of Music' is a musical drama film produced and released by 20th Century Fox. Directed by Robert Wise, the film is based on the 1959 stage musical of the same name by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The film stars Julie Andrews as Maria von Trapp and Christopher Plummer as Captain Georg von Trapp. Set in Austria on the eve of World War II, it tells the story of Maria, a young woman studying to become a nun who is sent to the villa of a retired naval officer and widower to be governess to his seven children. Praised for its cinematography, music, and performances, the film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Released on May 25, 1977, 'Star Wars', later retitled 'Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope', is a groundbreaking science fiction film produced by Lucasfilm Ltd. and released by 20th Century Fox. Directed by George Lucas, it became a cultural phenomenon and was praised for its innovative special effects, production design, and its influence on modern filmmaking. The film follows the story of Luke Skywalker, a young farm boy who discovers his destiny in fighting the oppressive Empire alongside Princess Leia, Han Solo, and others. 'Star Wars' set new benchmarks for the use of special effects in cinema and spawned a multi-billion-dollar franchise, making it one of the most significant and enduring film series in history.

On September 15, 1993, 20th Century Fox Television released 'The X-Files', a science fiction television series created by Chris Carter. The show follows FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they investigate X-Files: marginalized, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. With its mixture of believable science fiction and a compelling mystery format, the series became one of the defining television shows of the 1990s, influencing countless similar shows. Known for exploring themes of government conspiracy and alien life, 'The X-Files' became one of the longest-running science fiction series in TV history, spanning eleven seasons and two feature films.

Released by 20th Century Fox on December 18, 2009, 'Avatar' is an epic science fiction film directed by James Cameron. The film was noted for its groundbreaking visual effects, utilizing revolutionary motion capture technology and stereoscopic filmmaking for its 3D presentation. Set in the mid-22nd century on the lush habitable moon of Pandora, it focuses on an expedition of humans mining the body type, involving a paraplegic marine whose consciousness is transferred into an avatar body to interact with the indigenous Na'vi people. 'Avatar' became the highest-grossing film of all time, surpassing Cameron's previous film 'Titanic', with over $2.8 billion worldwide, highlighting 20th Century Fox's legacy in the film industry.

On December 14, 2017, The Walt Disney Company announced its intention to acquire most of 21st Century Fox, including its 20th Century Fox film and television studios, in a deal valued at $52.4 billion. This acquisition brought major franchises such as 'Avatar', 'X-Men', and 'The Simpsons' under Disney's ownership. The merger was part of Disney's strategy to bolster its content for a competitive edge in streaming services, directly challenging rivals like Netflix. By acquiring 21st Century Fox, Disney expanded its resources significantly, including FX Networks, National Geographic Partners, and Fox's regional sports networks, marking a monumental shift in Hollywood's landscape.

On March 20, 2019, The Walt Disney Company finalized the acquisition of 21st Century Fox, resulting in significant restructuring and the rebranding of 20th Century Fox to 20th Century Studios. This acquisition was a historic event in the entertainment industry, consolidating multiple intellectual properties and changing the competitive dynamics of media and entertainment. The completion of this merger allowed Disney to control Fox's vast back-catalog of films and television series, further enhancing its content library ahead of the launch of Disney Plus, its streaming platform. The deal was heralded by some as a bold venture into the future of digital content and streaming services.

On January 17, 2020, following the acquisition by Disney, the historic film studio 20th Century Fox was rebranded as 20th Century Studios. This rebranding was part of Disney's broader effort to integrate 20th Century Fox's film production assets and differentiate them from the Fox Corporation's remaining entities, which include the Fox Broadcasting Company and Fox News Channel, in which Disney had no stake. By dropping 'Fox' from its name, Disney aimed to steer clear of any confusion, maintaining the iconic imagery and fanfare associated with its productions while embracing a new era of filmmaking under its expansive corporate umbrella.