-
The largest film studio in the US is Columbia Pictures, with a revenue of $88.30 billion.
-
As of 2022, the US film industry has a market size of $95.45 billion.
-
As of 2022, there are 4,912 film studios in the US.
-
The US film market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% through 2025.
The movie industry remains one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving sectors in the United States. With the rise of streaming platforms and technological advancements, traditional cinema has adapted and thrived. Consumer spending in movie theaters has continued to rise, showcasing the industry’s resilience and ability to innovate.
To understand the current state of the industry and future trends, it is essential to analyze the activities of major film studios. This article highlights the ten largest film studios in the U.S. based on box office performance, providing insights into their histories, operations, and best-performing titles.
10 Largest Film Studios By Box Office Performance
-
Columbia Pictures. Los Angeles, California
2022 Annual Revenue: $88.30 billion
Columbia Pictures is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures, owned by the Japanese multinational conglomerate Sony. It ranks among the largest film producers and distributors globally and is part of the “Big Five” major American movie studios.
Since its founding in 1924, the studio has produced 245 movies, including top box office hits such as:
-
Spider-Man: Far From Home
-
Skyfall
-
Spider-Man 3
-
Spider-Man: Homecoming
-
Venom
-
-
Walt Disney Pictures. Burbank, California
2022 Annual Revenue: $82.72 billion
Walt Disney Pictures serves as the film studio division of The Walt Disney Company. It produces a wide array of live-action and animated films under its subsidiaries, Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Unlike many other studios, Walt Disney Pictures does not handle the marketing or distribution of its films; this is managed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, another branch of the company. The studio has released 130 films, including box office favorites like:
-
Avengers: Endgame
-
Star Wars Ep. VII: The Force Awakens
-
Avengers: Infinity War
-
The Lion King
-
Frozen II
In recent years, Walt Disney Pictures has focused on producing exclusive films for the Disney+ streaming service to stay competitive with platforms like Netflix.
-
-
Paramount Pictures. Hollywood, California
2022 Annual Revenue: $30.15 billion
Paramount is an American film producer and distributor owned by ViacomCBS. It is noted as the smallest of the “Big Five” major American studios.
Founded in 1912, Paramount has produced 168 films, including numerous box office hits like:
-
Titanic
-
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
-
Transformers: Age of Extinction
-
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
-
Shrek the Third
Paramount Pictures also operates several subsidiaries, including:
-
Paramount Home Entertainment. This division manages film licensing across distribution platforms, including mobile devices and Blu-ray.
-
Paramount Players. This subsidiary encompasses MTV Films, Nickelodeon Movies, and Comedy Central Films.
-
-
Legendary Entertainment. Burbank, California
2022 Annual Revenue: $19 billion
Legendary Entertainment, established in 2000 by Thomas Tull, is an American mass media company. In 2005, it entered into co-financing agreements with Universal Pictures and Warner Bros., resulting in the production of 53 feature films, including hits like:
-
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
-
Kong: Skull Island
-
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu
-
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!
-
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Legendary Entertainment manages various divisions, including Legendary Pictures, Legendary Television, and Legendary Animation. Acquired by the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group in 2016, it continues to operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
As of early 2021, the company initiated a downsizing effort to concentrate on its primary business segments in film and television.
-
-
Twenty-First Century Fox. Los Angeles, California
2022 Annual Revenue: $10 billion
20th Century Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios, is famous for its distinct logo and fanfare that precedes each of its films. Since its founding in 1935, the studio has released 108 movies, including blockbuster successes like:
-
Avatar
-
Titanic
-
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
-
Bohemian Rhapsody
-
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
20th Century Fox also operates 20th Century Family, a television studio dedicated to producing family-friendly films and holiday specials. The company employs over 2,300 workers.
-
-
Universal Studios Hollywood. Universal City, California
2022 Annual Revenue: $7.5 billion
Universal Pictures is the largest film production and distribution company globally by annual revenue. Founded in 1912, it is the oldest film studio in the U.S. and the fourth oldest worldwide.
As a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, which is wholly owned by Comcast, Universal Pictures has produced 254 films, including celebrated classics across various genres such as Jaws, Psycho, Halloween, and Back to the Future. Recent box office successes include:
-
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
-
Insidious
-
Boss Baby
-
Minions
-
The Fate of the Furious
Universal Pictures also oversees several well-known subsidiary studios, such as Illumination, Dreamworks Animation, and Working Title Films, and is a member of the Motion Pictures Association.
-
-
Marvel Studios. Burbank, California
2019 Annual Revenue: $2 billion
Marvel Studios, a prominent American film and television studio, is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios. It specializes in creating content based on Marvel Comics characters such as Iron Man, Spider-Man, and the Hulk.
In recent years, Marvel Studios has gained acclaim for its Marvel Cinematic Universe films, including the second highest-grossing film of all time, Avengers: Endgame, which grossed over $2.79 billion. Other successful Marvel films include:
-
Avengers: Infinity War
-
The Avengers
-
Avengers: Age of Ultron
-
Black Panther
-
Iron Man 3
Marvel Studios also produces exclusive films and series for Disney+, including WandaVision and Cloak & Dagger.
-
-
Warner Bros. Burbank, California
2022 Annual Revenue: $934 million
Warner Bros is an entertainment and mass media conglomerate owned by AT&T as part of its WarnerMedia division. It ranks as the second-largest movie studio in the U.S. based on box office performance and is second in total films produced, with a count of 249.
A member of the Motion Pictures Association, Warner Bros is widely regarded as one of the “Big Five” American film studios. Its film division, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, includes notable subsidiaries such as DC Films, Castle Rock Entertainment, and New Line Cinema. Recent successful franchises include:
-
Harry Potter Series
-
The Dark Knight
-
Joker
-
Aquaman
-
The Hobbit
-
-
RatPac-Dune Entertainment. Los Angeles, California
2022 Annual Revenue: N/ARatPac-Dune Entertainment is a film studio formed through a joint venture between RatPac, owned by Brett Ratner, and Dune Entertainment. RatPac frequently collaborates with major American film studios to produce films.
Notable projects from these collaborations include:
-
Avatar
-
Batman v Superman
-
Wonder Woman
-
Suicide Squad
-
Life of Pi
In 2013, the company secured a four-year co-financing arrangement with Warner Bros, followed by a similar agreement with New Regency and Plan B Entertainment the subsequent year.
-
-
Relativity Media. Beverly Hills, California
2022 Annual Revenue: N/AFounded in 2004, Relativity Media is a motion picture and digital media production company. It produces its films and acquires titles from other studios for development and distribution.
Relativity Media manages several divisions, including:
-
Relativity Studios. The film production segment has released nearly 200 feature films, grossing over $17 billion.
-
Relativity Media Home Entertainment. This division distributes both its and third-party films across various platforms.
-
Relativity Media International. This division oversees global marketing and distribution of the studio’s films.
Prior to its bankruptcy in 2015, Relativity was the third largest mini-major film studio globally. Following bankruptcy, it sold rights to many films, including Suffragette and The Foreigner, before emerging from bankruptcy in 2016 and facing another chapter 11 filing in 2018. It was subsequently acquired by UltraV Holdings.
Relativity Media’s highest-grossing films to date include:
-
Fast and Furious 6
-
Hancock
-
Les Miserables
-
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
-
Wanted
-
Find Columbia Pictures Jobs Near Me
Find Walt Disney Company Jobs Near Me
Find Paramount Pictures Jobs Near Me
Find Legendary Entertainment Jobs Near Me
Find Twenty-First Century Fox Jobs Near Me
Find Universal Studios Hollywood Jobs Near Me
Largest Film Studios FAQ
-
How many people does the movie and video production industry employ in the U.S.?
There are 45,215 people employed in the movie and video production industry in the U.S. The number of employees in this sector has seen fluctuations, with a decline of approximately -4% on average between 2018 and 2023, but is expected to stabilize as the industry evolves.
-
Where is the largest film industry in the world located?
While China leads in box office revenue, Hollywood remains the largest film industry globally, known for its influential productions and cultural impact.
-
How much does the film industry contribute to the U.S. economy?
The film industry significantly contributes to the U.S. economy. Prior to the pandemic, Hollywood accounted for $504 billion of the U.S. GDP, representing 3.2% of the total GDP related to goods and services.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
