Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is an American motion picture distributor owned by The Walt Disney Company. Established in 1953 as Buena Vista Film Distribution, the company handles distribution for films produced by the Walt Disney Studios; including Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, 20th Century Studios, Disneynature, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Blue Sky Studios, and Lucasfilm.
==History==
Prior to 1953, Walt Disney Productions' short films and feature films were distributed by Celebrity Productions, Columbia Pictures, United Artists and RKO Radio Pictures. A dispute with RKO over the value of Disney's True-Life Adventures series of live-action documentary featurettes in 1953 led to Walt and his older brother Roy Oliver Disney to form its wholly owned subsidiary Buena Vista Film Distribution Company, Inc. (BVD) to handle the U.S. distribution of their own films. Despite this, RKO would continue to distribute some of Disney's theatrical shorts until 1956. Buena Vista's first release was the Academy Award winning live-action feature The Living Desert on November 10, 1953 along with Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, Buena Vista's first animated release. Notable subsequent releases include the foreign film, Yang Kwei Fei (Most Noble Lady), released in US theaters in September of 1956, The Missouri Traveler in March 1958, and The Big Fisherman in July 1959 (the first third-party production financed by Disney). In 1961, Disney incorporated Buena Vista International, distributing its first PG rated film Take Down in January 1979.
Other names for the division were Buena Vista Distribution Company, Inc. (April 1960-July 1987) and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. (July 1987-April 2007).California Business Entity #: C0246226
In April 2007, Disney dissolved the Buena Vista moniker in its distribution branding and re-branded itself as Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
On October 12, 2020, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced the founding of Disney Media Distribution, as the result, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Music Group, and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment are all transferred to this new division.
==Distribution==
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is noteworthy for releasing 27 films that have surpassed the $1-billion-mark and 4 films of the $2-billion-mark in worldwide ticket sales:
*Avengers: Endgame (2019; $2,797,800,564)
*Avatar: The Way of Water (2022; $2,317,514,386)
*Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015; $2,068,223,624)
*Avengers: Infinity War (2018; $2,048,359,754)
*The Lion King (2019; $1,656,821,650)
*Inside Out 2 (2024; $1,649,011,114)
*The Avengers (2012; $1,518,594,910)
*Frozen II (2019; $1,450,026,933)
*Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015; $1,402,805,868)
*Black Panther (2018; $1,347,280,838)
*Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017; $1,332,539,889)
*Frozen (2013; $1,280,802,282)
*Beauty and the Beast (2017; $1,263,521,126) 
*Incredibles 2 (2018; $1,242,805,359)
*Iron Man 3 (2013; $1,214,811,252)
*Deadpool & Wolverine (2024; $1,211,303,366)
*Captain America: Civil War (2016; $1,153,304,495)
*Captain Marvel (2019; $1,128,274,794)
*Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019; $1,074,144,248)
*Toy Story 4 (2019; $1,073,394,593)
*Toy Story 3 (2010; $1,066,969,703)
*Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006; $1,066,179,725)
*Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016; $1,056,057,273)
*Aladdin (2019; $1,050,693,953)
*Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011; $1,045,713,802)
*Finding Dory (2016; $1,028,570,889)
*Alice in Wonderland (2010; $1,025,467,110)
*Zootopia (2016; $1,023,784,195)
Disney is the only major Hollywood studio that has released more than four films that have crossed the $1-billion-mark (in worldwide grosses). In addition, Disney is the first of only two studios to have released two $1-billion films in the same year (the other being Warner Bros.). The top three highest grossing animated films have been released by Disney (4 films if counted The Lion King). Seventeen of the twenty highest grossing G-rated films were also distributed by Disney. In 2012, Disney achieved its largest yearly box-office gross in North America.
The company distributes all features produced by The Walt Disney Studios except Searchlight Pictures (which operates its own distribution unit in the US only), other Disney film units and some third-parties including:
Current units
*Walt Disney Pictures
**Walt Disney Animation Studios
**Pixar Animation Studios
**Lucasfilm
**Buena Vista InternationalInternational distribution only.
*Marvel Studios
*Disneynature
*ESPN Films
*20th Century Studios
**20th Century Animation
**Searchlight Pictures	
Former units
*Blue Sky Studios (2019-2021; defunct)
*Disneytoon Studios (1988-2018; defunct)
*Fox 2000 Pictures (2019-2021; defunct)
*Hollywood Pictures (1990–2007; dormant)
*Miramax Films (1993–2010; sold)
**Dimension Films (1993–2005; sold)
*The Muppets Studio (2007-2014; transitioned back to Disney Consumer Products)
*ImageMovers Digital (2009–2011; defunct)
*Touchstone Pictures (1984–2018; defunct)
Active producer/distribution deals
*Mandeville Films (1996–present)
*Mayhem Pictures (2002–present)
*Martin Chase Productions
*Mark Gordon Co.
*Junction Entertainment
*Panay Films
*POW! Entertainment
*Regency Enterprises
**New Regency Productions (20% minority stake)	
Former producer deals
*Jerry Bruckheimer Films (1993-2014)
*Studio Ghibli (North America; 1998-2014)In 2011, independent distributor GKIDS acquired the North American theatrical distribution rights to Studio Ghibli's films. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment retained the home media distribution rights to 13 Ghibli films before those films transitioned to GKIDS in 2017. Disney retained the rights to The Wind Rises as Disney's rights had not expired yet, and would transition to GKIDS in 2020. Disney retains home media distribution rights to Studio Ghibli's catalogue in Japan and China.
*Walden Media (2003-2008)
*DreamWorks Pictures (2011-2016)
*Chernin Entertainment (2019-2020)
*Locksmith Animation (2019-2021)
*Pathe (2020-2021, UK only)
===International arrangements===
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International was formed in 1961 as Buena Vista International, Inc.California Business Entity #: C0412021, which is the owner of Disney Channel Asia.The Disney Studio Story, by Richard Holliss and Brian Sibley, 1988. In 1992, Disney opted to end a previous joint venture with , that began in 1988 to distribute their films in select overseas markets (UK, Ireland, , , among others). In those territories from 1993-2007, Disney reactivated the Buena Vista International name, and also sent distribution under it in countries that did not have any current arrangements with other companies. Distribution rights in were given to MGM (under CIC in the early 1970s) and later to 20th Century Fox before the Warner Bros. joint venture. In Russia and CIS, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, Greece, Singapore and the Philippines, Disney films had been distributed in a joint venture with Sony Pictures Entertainment.Disney, Sony team up for Russian content, The Hollywood Reporter, December 27, 2006.
;Other international distributors
*UK and Ireland — Rank Film Distributors (1954–1986) and (1987–1992)
*Brazil — Rank Film, , MGM, , , Buena Vista International
*Turkey — Warner Bros. (prior to 1994), (1994–present)
*Ukraine — United International Pictures, and Sony Pictures Releasing (2007–present)
*Kazakhstan — United International Pictures, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Releasing International (1997–present)
*Finland — 
*France — Cinedis (1954-1959), Discifilm (1959-1961), Athos Films (1961-1963), Walt Disney Productions France (1963-1987), Warner Bros (Transatlantic) Inc. (1988-1992), Gaumont Buena Vista International (1992–2004)
*Belgium/Netherlands/Benelux — Warner Bros. (1987–1992), United International Pictures (1993–present)
*Australia and New Zealand — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1959–1968; through in 1973–86), Greater Union Organization (1968–1972), CIC-Fox (1973–1981), (under UIP-Fox) (1982–1986), (1987–1992)
*Germany — Herzog Filmverleih (1954-1957), UFA (1957-1958), Rank-Film (1959-1963), Walt Disney Filmverleih (1964-1968)
*Italy — (1974–1981), United International Pictures (1982–1987), (1987–1991) and Columbia TriStar Films Italia (1992–1995)
*Japan - Daiei Film (1950-1959), Toho, Toei, and Warner Bros. Japan (both 1994-2000)
*China — and/or (1994-present)
Note that in Japan, Disney combined both theatrical and home media distribution (include licensed feature films and stage play lives) under Walt Disney Japan (Japanese: ウォルト・ディズニー・ジャパン, as Walt Disney Studios Japan between 2010 and 2016) name since 2000.
==Film franchises==
Title 	Years
Mickey Mouse & Friends 	1928–present
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs	1937–present
Pinocchio 	1940–2022
Fantasia 	1940–2018
Dumbo 	1941–2019
Bambi 	1942–present
Cinderella 	1950–2015
Alice in Wonderland 	1951–2024
Peter Pan 	1953–present
Lady and the Tramp 	1955–2019
The Shaggy Dog 	1959–2006
Sleeping Beauty 	1959–present
101 Dalmatians 	1961–present
The Absent-Minded Professor 	1961–1997
The Parent Trap 	1961–1998
The Incredible Journey 	1963–1996
Mary Poppins 	1964–2018
Winnie the Pooh 	1966–present
The Jungle Book 	1967–present
Herbie 	1968–2005
Witch Mountain 	1975–2009
The Apple Dumpling Gang 	1975–1982
Freaky Friday 	1976–2025
The Rescuers 	1977–1990
The Muppets 	1979–present
The Fox and the Hound 	1981–2006
Tron 	1982–present
Oz 	1985–2013
Who Framed Roger Rabbit 	1988–present
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids 	1989–1997
The Little Mermaid 	1989–present
White Fang 	1991–1994
Beauty and the Beast 	1991–present
The Mighty Ducks 	1992–1996
Aladdin 	1992–present
The Lion King 	1994–2024
Angels in the Outfield 	1994–2000
The Santa Clause 	1994-present
Pocahontas 	1995–1998
Toy Story 	1995–present
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 	1996–present
Hercules 	1997–present
George of the Jungle 	1997–2003
Air Bud 	1997–2013
Mulan 	1998–present
Tarzan 	1999–2005
Inspector Gadget 	1999–present
The Emperor's New Groove 	2000–2008
Atlantis: The Lost Empire 	2001–2003; TBA
Monsters, Inc. 	2001–present
The Princess Diaries 	2001–2004; TBA
Lilo & Stitch 	2002–present
Finding Nemo 	2003–present
Pirates of the Caribbean 	2003–present
Brother Bear 	2003–2006
The Incredibles 	2004–present
National Treasure 	2004–present
The Chronicles of Narnia 	2005–2008
Hocus Pocus 	1993–present
Bridge to Terabithia 	2007–present
Enchanted 	2007-2022
Cars 	2006–present
Bolt 	2008–2009
Marvel Animated Features 	2009–2011
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 	2008–2012
Up 	2009–2023
The Princess and the Frog 	2009–present
Tangled 	2010–2020
Marvel Cinematic Universe 	2012–present
Wreck-It Ralph 	2012–present
Planes 	2013–2014
Frozen 	2013–2027
Guardians of the Galaxy 	2014–2023
Star Wars 	2014–present
Big Hero 6 	2014–present
Disney Fairies 	2008–2015
Inside Out 	2015–present
Descendants 	2015–present
Zootopia 	2016–present
Moana 	2016–present
The Last Warrior 	2017–present
Stargirl 	2020–2022
The Kingsman 	2021–present
Encanto 	2021–present
Diary of a Wimpy Kid 	2021–present
Turning Red 	2022–present
Avatar 	2022–present
Alien 	2024–present
;Short films
#Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (1953)
#Ben and Me (1953)
#Grand Canyonscope (1954)
#How to Have an Accident in the Home (1956)
#Jack and Old Mac (1956)
#A Cowboy Needs a Horse (1956)
#The Story of Anyburg, U.S.A. (1957)
#The Truth About Mother Goose (1957)
#Paul Bunyan (1958)
#Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)
#How to Have an Accident at Work (1959)
#Noah's Ark (1959)
#Goliath II (1960)
#Aquamania (1961)
#The Saga of Windwagon Smith (1961)
#Donald and the Wheel (1961)
#The Litterbug (1961)
#A Symposium on Popular Songs (1962)
#Freewayphobia (1965)
#Steel and America (1965)
#Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966)
#Donald's Fire Survival Plan (1966)
#Scrooge McDuck and Money (1967)
#Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968)
#It's Tough to Be a Bird (1969)
#Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974)
#The Small One (1978)
#Vincent (1982)
#Fun with Mr. Future (1982)
#Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore (1983)
#Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
==Gallery==
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Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.png
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (2007) Disney Platform Distribution.jpg
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Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. (1990) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.jpg
2017 CinemaCon - Walt Disney Studios Presentation.jpg
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (1996-2007) Disney Platform Distribution.png
==Notes==
*Disney retains all the distribution rights to these 14 DreamWorks films in perpetuity.
*Buena Vista is only a distribution studio working for Disney, and does not exist as a separate company.
*Some home video prints of Disney movies released under RKO instead rely on later re-release under Buena Vista.
==References==
==External links==
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