Walt Disney Pictures is an American film production studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Established as a division of Walt Disney Productions in 1983, it has become one of the most prominent studios in Hollywood, known for its animated and live-action films.
The studio's roots can be traced back to the 1920s when Walt Disney and his brother Roy O. Disney founded Disney Brothers Studio. Over the years, the company evolved, and in 1983, during a corporate restructuring, Walt Disney Productions became The Walt Disney Company, with Walt Disney Pictures serving as the primary film production arm.
The studio initially focused on animated features, with its first success being Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. However, Disney's live-action film production began in the 1950s, marking a significant expansion of the studio's output.
Walt Disney Pictures has produced numerous iconic films:
Over the years, Walt Disney Pictures has grown through acquisitions, notably:
Today, Walt Disney Pictures continues to produce a mix of animated and live-action films, with a strong emphasis on family entertainment. It operates alongside other Disney film production units like Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and Lucasfilm, each contributing to different aspects of Disney's cinematic offerings.