Lightworker

Formerly known as Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, 20th Century Studios is a prominent American film production and distribution company currently under the ownership of The Walt Disney Company. Established in 1935 through the merger of Fox Film Corporation and Twentieth Century Pictures, it was a foundational member of Hollywood's Golden Age 'Big Five' studios. The company has undergone significant ownership changes, notably its acquisition by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in 1985 and subsequent purchase by Disney in 2019. The studio adopted its current name in 2020 to distinguish itself from Fox Corporation.

Throughout its extensive history, the studio has been responsible for numerous commercially successful film franchises and critically acclaimed movies. It has adapted to technological advancements, such as the introduction of CinemaScope in the 1950s, and navigated periods of financial challenge and production difficulties. Today, it operates as one of five live-action film studios within Walt Disney Studios, continuing its legacy in film production with a diverse library of notable works.

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation was officially established on May 31, 1935, following the merger of Fox Film Corporation, which had faced financial struggles since its founder lost control in 1930, and Twentieth Century Pictures. The merger was facilitated by figures like Joseph Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck from Twentieth Century Pictures, and Sidney Kent, President of Fox Film. Spyros Skouras, then manager of Fox West Coast Theaters, also played a key role. Initially, the company was speculated to be named 'Fox-Twentieth Century,' but it debuted as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation. Darryl Zanuck took charge of production, bringing in new talent like Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, and Henry Fonda. The studio also established a training school for aspiring actors. Despite some historical debate, the company has recently recognized the 1935 merger as its founding date, though it previously identified with Fox Film's 1915 founding.

During World War II, increased theater attendance propelled Twentieth Century-Fox to become the third most profitable studio, surpassing RKO and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Darryl Zanuck served in the U.S. Signal Corps, overseeing the production of Army training films, with William Goetz stepping in as his replacement. In 1942, Spyros Skouras became president. Zanuck later developed a reputation for producing provocative adult films and successful adaptations of best-selling novels, including 'Leave Her to Heaven.' The studio also produced film versions of Broadway musicals. Following the war, audience numbers declined, leading the studio to divest its theaters in 1953. That same year, Twentieth Century-Fox gambled on new technology by acquiring the rights to CinemaScope, an anamorphic projection system, introducing it with the groundbreaking film 'The Robe.' This innovation was quickly adopted by other major studios, leading to a brief resurgence in attendance.

By the early 1960s, Twentieth Century-Fox faced significant financial and production challenges. The ambitious production of 'Cleopatra' (1963), starring Elizabeth Taylor, became notoriously over-budget and plagued by delays. Simultaneously, a remake of 'My Favorite Wife' intended to quickly generate profits, titled 'Something's Got to Give,' also ran into severe difficulties, particularly with star Marilyn Monroe. These escalating costs led the studio to sell its back lot in 1961 to raise funds. The difficulties surrounding 'Cleopatra' and the troubled production of the Monroe film, which was halted after her death, put the studio in a precarious position. In an effort to cut costs, the studio released many of its contract stars. Despite these setbacks, the studio continued to produce notable films and adapt to the changing landscape of the film industry.