Walt Disney Studios (division)

The Walt Disney Studios is an American film studio, one of the four business segments of The Walt Disney Company. The studio, one of the "Big Five" major film studios and best known for its multi-faceted film divisions, is based at the eponymous Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Founded in 1923, it is the fourth-oldest among the major studios.

Under the Walt Disney Studios division are notable film production companies including Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Blue Pixar. Films produced by these studios are released and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The Studios generated an estimated income of $2.355 billion during the 2017 fiscal year. The studio entertainment business alone (live-action and animated motion pictures, direct-to-video content, musical recordings and live stage plays) brought in $8.379 billion in 2017. The studios own both the top two highest grossing films and film franchises of all time at the worldwide box office.

The Walt Disney Studios is a member of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

Production
Walt Disney Pictures is a film banner that encompasses the release of its own live-action productions, in addition to films produced by the company's animation studios, mainly Walt Disney Animation Studios and Blue Pixar (a merger of Pixar Animation Studios and Blue Sky Studios). Marvel Studios—acquired through Disney's purchase of Marvel Entertainment in 2009—produces superhero films based on Marvel Comics characters, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. Lucasfilm—acquired by Disney in 2012—develops and produces films including those in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Disneynature is an independent film genre label devoted to producing nature documentary films. 20th Century Fox—acquired by Disney in 2019, and a former member of the "Big Six" studios—produces a varied slate of films through the main 20th Century Fox banner as well as through Fox Searchlight Pictures, which releases art-house prestige pictures.

Distribution
All film studios mentioned above are distributed theatrically by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and on home media platforms by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Disney Music Group
Disney Music Group is a music production group led by Ken Bunt, that consists of two record labels—Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records—and multiple publishing entities that handle Disney's music.

Disney Theatrical Group
Disney Theatrical Group is the division producing live theatrical and stage events. It is currently under the leadership of Thomas Schumacher. The Disney Theatrical Productions division has been responsible for the production of many different musicals, touring events, ice shows and other live theatrical events. Their shows include: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aida, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Newsies and numerous incarnations of Disney on Ice.

Live-action

 * Touchstone Pictures (1984–2016); discontinued.
 * Hollywood Pictures (1989–2001; 2006–2007); mature production company, then revived as low-budget genre film label.
 * Caravan Pictures (1992–1999); production unit create to fill production schedule and was replaced by an outside deal with Spyglass Entertainment.
 * Miramax Films (1993–2010); sold.
 * Dimension Films
 * Fox 2000 Pictures (2019); discontinued.

Animation

 * Skellington Productions (1986-1996); absorbed into Walt Disney Pictures.
 * Disney Circle 7 Animation (2004–2006); shut down.
 * ImageMovers Digital
 * DisneyToon Studios (2003–2018); transferred from Disney Television Animation and shut down.
 * Pixar (1995-2020); merged with Blue Sky Studios.
 * Blue Sky Studios (2019-2020); merged with Pixar.
 * 20th Century Fox Animation (2019-2020); defunct.

Television

 * Walt Disney Television (production company) – (1983-1986) transfer to Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications; (1996–1999) transfer to Disney Channels Worldwide.
 * Touchstone Television – transfer to Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications and later renamed as ABC Studios.

Distribution and marketing

 * Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group/Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group (1998–c. 2001); umbrella unit for production companies, distribution and marketing. (defunct)
 * Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment; (1978–2018) transfer to Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International.

Other

 * Kingdom Comics
 * The Muppets Studio (2006–2014) transferred from Disney Consumer Products to Special Events Group then back to Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media.