Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures
Name	Paramount Pictures
Founded	08 May 1912
Founder	Adolph Zukor, Jesse L. Lasky, W. W. Hodkinson
Headquarters	Hollywood, California, U.S.
Key people	Brian Robbins (CEO)
Parent	National Amusements
Divisions	Paramount Players, Paramount Animation
Website	www.paramount.com

Paramount Pictures. It is one of the "Big Five" major film studios and a subsidiary of National Amusements. Founded in 1912, it is the fifth oldest surviving film studio in the world and the second oldest in the United States, after Universal Pictures. The studio is known for iconic franchises and has been home to legendary stars and filmmakers throughout Hollywood history.

History

The company was formed on May 8, 1912, by the merger of Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company and Jesse L. Lasky's Lasky Feature Play Company, with distributor W. W. Hodkinson naming it and designing its famous mountain logo. In the 1920s, it became a vertically integrated powerhouse under Zukor's leadership, acquiring theater chains to form Paramount Publix Corporation. The studio weathered the Great Depression and the Paramount antitrust case of 1948, which forced the separation of its production and exhibition arms. Under legendary production head Robert Evans in the 1960s and 70s, it produced a string of critical and commercial hits like The Godfather. The studio was acquired by Gulf+Western in 1966, later becoming part of Viacom in 1994, and has undergone several corporate restructurings since.

Film Library

The studio's vast library encompasses thousands of titles from its own production history as well as acquisitions from other studios. This includes the pre-1950 sound feature film library of RKO Pictures, acquired in the 1950s. Through corporate mergers, it also controls the libraries of Republic Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures (live-action films prior to 2005), and Miramax (films released between 1993 and 2005). The library features classics from the Golden Age of Hollywood, such as those directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Marlene Dietrich, as well as modern blockbusters. These assets are monetized through global television syndication, streaming on Paramount+, and physical home media releases.

Notable Films

The studio has been responsible for numerous landmark and commercially successful films. Its early successes included the first Best Picture Academy Award winner, Wings (1927). It produced epic films by Cecil B. DeMille like The Ten Commandments and launched major franchises including Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Mission: Impossible, and Transformers. Critically acclaimed films from its history include Sunset Boulevard, Chinatown, Forrest Gump, and Titanic (co-production with 20th Century Fox). Recent hits include films in the Top Gun and A Quiet Place series.

Television Productions

Its television production arm, originally known as Desilu Productions which it purchased in 1967, has been a major force in the industry. This division, later renamed Paramount Television Studios, has produced a vast number of iconic series, including Star Trek: The Original Series, Happy Days, Cheers, Frasier, and NCIS. It also produced the first two seasons of the hit series Glee. Current productions span network, cable, and streaming, with shows for CBS, Showtime, and Paramount+, such as Yellowstone and its spin-offs.

Theme Park Attractions

The studio has licensed its properties for attractions at various theme parks globally. At Universal Parks & Resorts, major attractions include Transformers: The Ride-3D and zones based on DreamWorks Animation films. Its former Paramount Parks chain, which included locations like Kings Island and Canada's Wonderland, was sold to Cedar Fair in 2006. The iconic Star Trek franchise has been featured in experiences such as Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. Current partnerships continue to bring its film brands to life in immersive entertainment venues.

Corporate Affairs

It operates as a core component of Paramount Global, the media conglomerate controlled by National Amusements. The studio's operations are divided into various divisions, including Paramount Players for co-productions and Paramount Animation. It distributes films from other labels within the conglomerate, such as Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Entertainment Studios. The studio's output is a key driver for the Paramount+ streaming service. It maintains long-term distribution partnerships with independent studios like Skydance Media and has production facilities at the historic Paramount Studios lot in Hollywood.

Category:Paramount Pictures Category:Film studios in the United States Category:Companies based in Los Angeles