1st Edition

The Business Strategies of the Major Hollywood Film Studios (1929–2024)

By Guy Di Piazza Copyright 2025
332 Pages 25 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

332 Pages 25 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

332 Pages 25 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Surveying the strategies employed by film studios to market and produce their most successful films between 1929 and present day, this book incorporates multilayered comprehensive analysis on the media industry and how it works. Author and business strategist Guy Di Piazza draws on over 25 years of experience and provides insights into the corporate, business, market and production strategies... Read more

Chapter 1                          The Golden Age of Hollywood (1929 to 1949)

Early developments in the American film industry

Theatre wars and the business of exhibition

The studio system and the business of production

The Paramount Pictures et al anti-trust case

Premium movies and market shares

The business, market and film production strategies of the leading motion picture companies

Assessments of the 475 premium movies of the period 1929 to 1949

Analysis of the strategies of the leading motion picture companies

 

Chapter 2                          Hollywood in Decline and in Transition (1950 to 1966)

Structural changes in the American film industry

Big production budgets and the business of ‘hits’

Changes in production-financing and distribution

The importance of film distribution and the rise of independent productions

The development of commercial television

The availability of Hollywood films on television

Premium movies and market shares

The business, market and film production strategies of the leading movie companies

Assessments of the 370 premium movies of the period 1950 to 1966

Analysis of the strategies of the leading movie companies

 

Chapter 3                          The New American Cinema (1967 to 1976)

Changes and continuities in the American film industry

The conglomerates that saved Hollywood

A renaissance in American films

Wide releases and the business of distribution

Premium movies and market shares

The strategies of the eight major film companies

Assessments of the 200 premium movies of the period 1967 to 1976

Analysis of the strategies of the major film companies

 

Chapter 4                          The Era of Media Giants (1977 to 2024)

A proliferation of media outlets

New media opportunities and the business of tiered releasing

Transitioning into focused media conglomerates

One house, many windows

Going digital

The media giants’ struggle with digital distribution

Disrupting the multiple-media ecosystem

A re-shaping of strategies and the business of franchise films

Premium movies and market shares

The business, market and film production strategies of the major film companies

Assessments of the 955 premium movies of the period 1977 to 2024

Current and future strategic challenges

Biography

Guy Di Piazza is a leading media and entertainment specialist and has over 25 years of experience as a management consultant and corporate finance executive in the field of media and entertainment. His experience spans globally at some of the world’s leading film and television companies, helping business leaders shape their future business, market and product strategies. During the past 25 years, Guy has worked with Motion Picture Association (MPA), NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, AMC Networks, Mitsui Media, BBC, ITV and many other media organisations.