studio system

The studio system was a dominant force in American cinema, particularly from the 1920s through the mid-1960s. This era saw eight major companies—Fox, MGM, Paramount, RKO, Warner Bros., United Artists, Universal, and Columbia—controlling approximately 95 percent of film production.1

These studios were often vertically integrated, meaning they owned production facilities, distribution networks, and often movie theaters. This structure allowed them to maintain significant creative and financial control over filmmaking. The move to Hollywood was driven by factors like favorable weather for year-round shooting, diverse scenery, and access to labor and land. The studio system eventually declined due to factors like antitrust rulings, the rise of television, and changing audience tastes, paving the way for movements like New Hollywood.2345