Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures is an American film production and distribution company based at the Universal Studios complex in Universal City, California. It is part of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, which belongs to NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast.

The studio was founded on April 30, 1912, by Carl Laemmle, Mark Dintenfass, Charles O. Baumann, Adam Kessel, Pat Powers, William Swanson, David Horsley, Robert H. Cochrane, and Jules Brulatour. Universal is the oldest surviving film studio in the United States and one of the oldest in the world.

Some of Universal's most successful film series include Fast & Furious, Jurassic Park, and Despicable Me. The studio also produced famous individual films like Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which were the highest-grossing films of all time when they were first released. Universal Pictures is a member of the Motion Picture Association and is one of the major studios in Hollywood.

History

Universal was founded on April 30, 1912, by Carl Laemmle and several others. It is the oldest surviving film studio in the United States and one of the "Big Five" film studios. The studio started by producing films without naming the stars, which helped create the star system in Hollywood.

Universal opened its first major studio facility, Universal City Studios, in 1915. The studio produced a mix of inexpensive melodramas, westerns, and serials, aiming for small-town audiences. In the 1920s, Universal introduced a branding system for its films, including low-budget, mainstream, and high-budget productions.

During the 1930s, the studio faced financial difficulties during the Great Depression but continued to produce popular series like horror films, westerns, and musicals. In 1946, Universal merged with International Pictures to form Universal-International, which focused more on high-quality productions and international films.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Universal expanded into television production and signed major talent, becoming a full-blown film studio. The studio produced many successful films and television shows, including "Jaws" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." In the late 1990s, Universal became part of NBCUniversal, which is now owned by Comcast.

Units

Universal Pictures has many different parts that help make movies and TV shows. Some of these parts include:

• Universal Pictures International
• Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Focus Features
• Working Title Films
• Rede Telecine
• Illumination
• DreamWorks Animation
• Back Lot Music
• Universal Products & Experiences
• United International Pictures
• Amblin Partners
• Blumhouse Holdings, LLC

These units work together to create and share many of the films and shows you enjoy.

Filmography

Main article: Lists of Universal Pictures films

Highest-grossing films

Universal Pictures was the first studio to release three movies that each made over a billion dollars in one year. This happened in 2015 with Furious 7, Jurassic World, and Minions.

Some of these movies are still showing in theaters as of May 15, 2026.

^‡ Includes theatrical reissue(s).

Logos

Universal Pictures has had many different logos over the years. Each logo represents a different time period when the company grew and changed. Some of the logos were used for special cartoons or on music related to the company.

One logo used from 1996 to 2012 is still seen today on some music properties, like those from Universal Music Group.