About Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures is one of Hollywood's oldest major studios, tracing its roots to 1912 and standing today as the flagship film label of Paramount Skydance. The studio's mountain logo is among the most recognized symbols in entertainment, and its library spans decades of franchise filmmaking, including Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Transformers.
Paramount has also built a strong partnership model with outside production companies, most notably Skydance Media, whose 2025 merger with Paramount created Paramount Skydance and reshaped the studio's ownership and strategic direction heading into its second century.
History
1912–1920s
Founding era
Paramount forms as one of the earliest major American film distributors and becomes a cornerstone of the Hollywood studio system.
1966–present
Star Trek franchise
Star Trek begins as a TV series before growing into a long-running film franchise closely associated with Paramount.
1996–present
Mission: Impossible era
Tom Cruise headlines a franchise built on escalating, practically-filmed action across multiple decades.
2019–2025
ViacomCBS to Paramount Skydance
Viacom and CBS recombine into ViacomCBS, later renamed Paramount Global, which merges with Skydance Media in 2025 to form Paramount Skydance.
Key People
Adolph Zukor
Founder
Founded the studio in 1912, making Paramount one of the oldest continuously operating major Hollywood studios.
Notable Paramount Pictures Releases
| Title |
Year |
Notes |
| The Godfather |
1972 |
Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made |
| Titanic |
1997 |
Co-produced with 20th Century Fox; one of the highest-grossing films ever |
| Mission: Impossible |
1996 |
Launched the long-running Tom Cruise action franchise |
| Transformers |
2007 |
Began a major live-action franchise based on the Hasbro toy line |
| Top Gun: Maverick |
2022 |
A decades-later sequel that became one of 2022's biggest box-office hits |
Financials
| Founded |
1912, by Adolph Zukor |
How It Compares
| Compared To | Key Difference |
| Universal |
Both are century-old studios; Paramount's modern slate leans on Mission: Impossible and Transformers alongside its CBS/Paramount+ streaming ties. |
Trivia & Fan Culture
One of Hollywood's oldest studios
Founded in 1912, Paramount is among the oldest major film studios still operating today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Paramount Skydance?
Paramount Skydance is the company formed by Skydance Media's 2025 merger with Paramount Global, combining Paramount Pictures, CBS, and related assets with Skydance's production business.
Does Paramount still make Star Trek films?
Star Trek remains a Paramount-controlled franchise spanning film and the Paramount+ streaming series, with new film installments periodically in development.
Is Transformers based on the original 1980s cartoon?
The live-action Transformers films draw on the Hasbro toy line and its various animated adaptations, reimagining the Autobots and Decepticons for modern blockbuster filmmaking.
How old is Paramount Pictures?
Paramount was founded in 1912, making it one of the oldest major Hollywood studios.