Movie Star System

The Movie Star System was a Hollywood practice from the early to mid-20th century where studios closely managed actors' careers and public images. Studios signed star performers to exclusive contracts, shaped their personas, and promoted them to attract audiences. The system aimed to create reliable box office draws by cultivating star personas that viewers associated with certain genres or film types. This approach centralized control over actors' careers, turning them into branded celebrities. Over time, the system declined as actors gained more independence, but it fundamentally shaped Hollywood's star-driven marketing and film production practices for decades.