When discussing popular entertainment studios, it is impossible to ignore the "Big Five" legacy studios that have survived the collapse of the old studio system. These vertically integrated giants are now part of larger media conglomerates, but their production arms remain the most powerful forces in film and television.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it includes many of the most well-known and influential entertainment studios and productions in the film, television, animation, music, and theater industries.

Historically, “popular entertainment studios” referred to Hollywood’s “Big Five” (Paramount, Warner Bros., RKO, MGM, 20th Century Fox) during the Golden Age. They controlled every stage: production, distribution, and exhibition. Today, the landscape has fragmented and globalized.