The Hollywood Studio System

The Hollywood Studio System was an era from the 1920s to the 1950s when a few major film studios, like MGM and Warner Bros., dominated film production. These studios controlled every aspect of filmmaking—from hiring actors and directors to distributing and exhibiting films—creating a vertically integrated system. They operated like factories, producing a high volume of movies efficiently, and maintained tight control over star images and story content to attract audiences. This system shaped Hollywood's golden age but declined due to antitrust laws and changing industry practices, leading to more independent production in later years.