History of 20th Century Studios
20th Century Studios, originally known as 20th Century Fox, was founded in 1935 through the merger of Fox Film Corporation and Twentieth Century Pictures. The studio quickly became one of Hollywood's major film production companies. Under the leadership of Darryl F. Zanuck, it achieved significant success, producing some of the most iconic films of the 20th century, including Gone with the Wind (1939), The Sound of Music (1965), and Star Wars (1977). 20th Century Fox became renowned for its technical innovations, including early adoption of color and sound in film, as well as for producing large-scale blockbusters and award-winning films.
Throughout the decades, the company underwent several changes in ownership. In 1985, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation acquired a controlling stake in the studio, marking the beginning of a new era for Fox. The studio continued to dominate the box office, producing hits such as Titanic (1997) and Avatar (2009). In 2019, Disney acquired 21st Century Fox, including 20th Century Fox's assets, leading to a rebranding of the studio as 20th Century Studios. The name change was part of Disney's strategy to consolidate its entertainment properties, while still maintaining the studio's legacy of producing high-quality films, such as Free Guy (2021) and The King's Man (2021).
Today, 20th Century Studios operates as a part of The Walt Disney Studios, continuing to release a wide range of films under its banner, from family-friendly productions to more mature content, thus upholding its legacy in Hollywood's rich cinematic history.