Motion Picture Production & Distribution Industry Profile

Companies in this industry produce and distribute motion pictures, videos, television programs, or commercials. Major companies include Fox Corporation, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros, as well as streaming services Amazon and Netflix (all based in the US). Outside the US, major companies include Reliance Entertainment (India), Toho Studios (Japan), Village Roadshow (Australia), and Wanda Media (China).

According to Gower Street analytics, the global box office will reach approximately $32 billion in 2024. As of 2024, the US is the top film-producing market globally, followed by the UK and France. China and India dominated the Asia-pacific region, according to Statista.

The US motion picture production and distribution industry includes about 15,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $70 billion.

The top motion picture studios are generally part of larger media companies. Most companies in the industry engage in both production and distribution of motion pictures; about 350 US establishments are solely distributors. Production and distribution of television programs is included in the industry but discussed more fully in a separate profile.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Consumer spending drives demand. The profitability of individual companies depends on creativity, marketing, and distribution. Large companies often have the advantages of attracting key actors and directors, a permanent staff of technical employees, and wide distribution networks. Small companies can compete successfully, despite lower budgets, by ...