by ABBY ELYSSA

HISTORY

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, or 20^th Century Fox, is one of America’s top six film studios and a film distributor overseen by 21^st Century Fox. The corporation was formed in 1935, after the Twentieth Century Pictures and the Fox Film Corporation merger. William Fox, a film distributor, founded the Fox Film Corporation in 1914. When the Great Depression hit, the Fox Film Corporation had trouble financing its high-tech equipment, prompting the merger. Joseph Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck founded Twentieth Century Pictures in 1933. In 1981, Marvin Davis, who eventually sold it to publisher Rupert Murdoch in 1985, bought the corporation. Murdoch consolidated both his film and television companies into Fox Inc., which was under News Corporation. In 2013, it split into two publishing and television/film companies, News Corporation and 21^st Century Fox respectively. Its two highest grossing films were both of James Cameron’s Avatar (2009) and Titanic (1997) [1].

TOP EXECUTIVES

FINANCIALS

In 2014, 20^th Century Fox released 24 films domestically. The films are produced and/or distributed by the following companies: Twentieth Century Fox and Fox2000 (mainstream audiences), Fox Searchlight Pictures (specialized audiences), and Twentieth Century Fox Animation (animated films). Fox International Productions, Inc. co-produces, co-finances and acquires local-language motion pictures for international distribution. This year, the corporation plans to release 26 motion pictures total.

The corporation generates revenue through film distribution for theatrical exhibition in America, Canada and international markets, the distribution of films and other programming in various media formats, the distribution of films and other programming for exhibition on premium pay and subscription video-on-demand (SVOD), and through the distribution of films on free television networks and other broadcast program services.

In 2014, the corporation released approximately 1,249 produced and acquired titles, up from 1,230 the previous year. The Corporation also had 1,004 international releases, up from 934 the previous year. 20^th Century Fox also continued its arrangement to distribute DreamWorks Animation’s new release animated films and other catalog motion pictures and programming. It plans to distribute three DreamWorks films in 2015. Last year, 20^th Century Fox also continued its worldwide home video distribution agreement with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Lions Gate Films Inc. (Lions Gate) (U.S. only) and Anchor Bay Entertainment, LLC (Anchor Bay) (U.S. and Canada) [4].

IN THEATERS

“Kingsman: The Secret Service”

The action/adventure drama stars Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Taron Egerton and Michael Caine. The film was directed by Matthew Vaughn and is based on the comic book “The Secret Service” by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar. The film follows a spy organization with a new and young recruit and outside technological threats [5].

The film was released on February 13, 2015. Its opening weekend (President’s Day Weekend) grossed $36.2 million and received a #2 rank in 3,204 theaters, averaging 11,300 per theater, 29% its total gross. It grossed $124.7 million domestically and $266.8 overseas ($391.6 worldwide) [6]. The film is especially popular in South Korea, with a record-breaking $40 million at the box office, out-grossing James Bond and Jason Bourne. It’s Korea’s biggest hit since Avatar [7].

“Home”

Home is a 3-D animated comedy, distributed by 20^th Century Fox that stars Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Steve Martin. The film was directed by Tim Johnson and is based on the children’s book The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex. The film follows a runaway alien who ends up on planet Earth and finds a friend in search of adventure as well [8].

The film was released on March 27, 2015 and grossed $52.1 million its opening weekend. DreamWorks Animation, which produced the film, estimated an opening gross between $30-35 million. The film opened at #1 in 3,708 theaters, averaging $14,053 per theater, 39.8% its total gross [9]. Home also pulled in an international gross of $25.4 million, higher than its projected $24 million. The film’s domestic total is $130.8 million and $112.6 overseas ($243.5 million worldwide) [10].

“The Longest Ride”

The romantic drama based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel of the same name, stars Scott Eastwood, Britt Robertson, Jack Huston and Oona Chaplin. The film was directed by George Tillman, Jr. and follows the lives of two couples from different time periods facing the same relationship troubles [11].

The film was released on April 10, 2015 and grossed $13 million its opening weekend ranking #3. It opened in 3,366 theaters and averaging $3,868 per theater, 86.6% its total gross. Its domestic total is $15 million and $2.8 million overseas ($17.8 million worldwide) [12]. This is a good opening weekend for a Nicholas Sparks’ adaptation. The Longest Ride is above last year’s The Best of Me ($10 million), and is grossing similar figures as The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe. The film is projected to earn $30 million against a $34 million budget [13].

UPCOMING

Poltergeist (May 22, 2015)

The supernatural thriller is a remake of the 1982 film of the same name and stars Sam Rockwell, Jared Harris and Rosemarie Dewitt. The film was directed by Gil Kenan and follows a suburban family living in a haunted home with their daughter held captive [14].

Spy (June 5, 2015)

The action comedy stars Melissa McCarthy, Jason Stratham, Rose Byrne, Miranda Hart, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney and Jude Law. The film was directed by Paul Feig and is about an unlikely CIA analyst who goes on the agency’s most dangerous missions and tries to halt a global disaster [15].

THE FUTURE

On April 11, 2015, 20^th Century Fox passed the $1 billion box office mark. This is the fastest time the company reached this since 2010 after Avatar was released. Kingsman: The Secret Service and Home have been major assets, and are still in 31 and 69 markets respectively [16].

20^th Century Fox is currently teaming up with Hasbro to create a Play-Doh movie, based on the manufacturer’s modeling clay. The corporation is in contact with director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Spy) and screenwriter Jason Micallef for the project [17].

The corporation also seeks to expand its international YouTube presence. 20th Century Fox plans to do this through a deal with U.K. based tech group, Rightster [18]. Rightster currently manages the corporation’s branded content in Europe and Latin America. The  two-year deal will let Rightster manage 20th Century Fox’s YouTube marketing strategy for 35 of its channels. This will focus on channel management and audience  development, with execution of content and influencer-driven viral marketing campaigns [19].

SOURCES

[1] “20th Century Fox Film Corporation: American Motion-Picture Studio.” Britannica. 20 Aug. 2014. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.

[Image, James] Lang, Brent. “Fox’s Jim Gianopulos Leads Studio Through Uncertain Times.” Variety. 19 Aug. 2014. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

[2] “Management.” 21st Century Fox. Web. 9 Aug. 2014.

[3] “Stacey Snider Joins 20th Century Fox Today As Co-Chairman.” Deadline Hollywood. 3 Nov. 2014. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

[4] “Annual Reports.” 21st Century Fox. Web. 13 Aug. 2014.

[5] “Kingman: The Secret Service.” IMDb. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.

[6] “Kingsman: The Secret Service.” Box Office Mojo. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

[7] Cunningham, Todd. “How ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’ Blew Away Bond, Bourne in South Korea.” The Wrap. 23 Mar. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

[8] “Home.” IMDb. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.

[9] “Home.” Box Office Mojo. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.

[10, 13] Subers, Ray. “Weekend Report: ‘Furious 7’ Repeats, Sets Opening Day Record in China.” Box Office Mojo. 12 Apr. 2015. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

[11] “The Longest Ride.” IMDb. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

[12] “The Longest Ride.” Box Office Mojo. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

[14] “Poltergeist.” Movie Insider. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

[15] “Spy.” IMDb. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

[16] Busch, Anita. “Fox Hits $1B International Box Office Mark.” Deadline Hollywood. 6 Apr. 2015. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.

[17] Siouty, Michelle. “20th Century Fox and Hasbro in Talks to Create Play-Doh…the Movie.” Movie Pilot. 17 Apr. 2015. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.

[18] Harrington, John. “Rightster Group Deepens Relationship with 20th Century Fox.” Proactive Investors. 17 Apr. 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.

[19] Jarvey, Natalie. “20th Century Fox Pacts With Rightster to Bolster YouTube Presence Abroad.” Hollywood Reporter. 16 Apr. 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.

[20] “20th Century Fox Logo.” Fox Movies. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.