 Logo used as of 2020 | |
| Formerly | Fox Family (2017–2020) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Division |
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 2017; 8 years ago (2017) |
| Headquarters | 500 Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California ,United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Parent | 20th Century Studios |
| Website | family |
20th Century Family (also known as20th Century Studios Family; formerly known asFox Family or20th Century Fox Family[1]) is a division of20th Century Studios founded in 2017 which produces family-friendly films and television programs. Besidestheatrical films, the division oversees mixed media (live-action with animation), family animated holiday television specials based on film properties, and feature films based on television shows.
The division is in charge of such franchises asIce Age,Rio,Night at the Museum,Diary of a Wimpy Kid,Anastasia, andHome Alone.
Before Fox started its family division,20th Century Animation was known asFox Family Films, as one of four film divisions of 20th Century Fox under executiveJohn Matoian. The division was planned to produce six feature films a year as part of a plan to produce more films per year overall.[2] Fox senior vice president of productionChris Meledandri was transferred into the unit as executive vice president in March 1994 after having been hired the previous year.[3] The week of May 6, 1994, Fox Family announced the hiring ofDon Bluth andGary Goldman for a new $100 millionanimation studio[4] which began construction that year inPhoenix, Arizona. In three years, the animation studio would produce and release its first film,Anastasia.[5] In September 1994, Matoian was promoted byRupert Murdoch to head up theFox network.[6] Meledandri was selected to head up the unit in 1994.[7]
It produced live-action films such asMighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995),Dunston Checks In (1996) andHome Alone 3. By August 1997, Fox Family had decreased the number of live-action films.[5]R.L. Stine agreed with Fox Family Films in January 1998 for a film adaptation of theGoosebumps book franchise withTim Burton producing, but it never came to fruition.[8]
After the success ofAnastasia, Fox Family Films was renamed toFox Animation Studios, later20th Century Fox Animation, and simply20th Century Animation.
On October 30, 2017, Morrison was transferred from her post as president of20th Century Fox Animation, the prior Fox Family Films, to be president of a newly created 20th Century Fox division, Fox Family, which as a mandate similar to Fox Family Films. During this time, the president of the division also picked up supervision of aBob's Burgers film[9] and some existing deals with animation producers, including Tonko House.[10] With the sale of 21st Century Fox to Disney in March 2019, rights toThe Dam Keeper feature animated film returned to Tonko House.[11]
After theDisney acquisition in 2019, the company was renamed to20th Century Family in 2020 to avoid confusion withFox Corporation. On March 12, 2020, Morrison was named president, Streaming, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production to oversee live action development and production ofWalt Disney Pictures and 20th Century Studios for Disney+.[12] Lisa Fragner, who would later become Vice-President of Development atDisney Television Animation, secured the rights to adapt the 2013 book,Better Nate Than Ever, as a feature film to be developed under the division.[13]
In April 2025, Disney announced that it would not renew its lease with Fox Corporation and that it would vacate the Fox Studio Lot in Century City at the end of 2025. As a result, 20th Century Family will relocate to theWalt Disney Studios in Burbank.[14][15]
| # | Title | Release date | Ref(s) | Co-production with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home Sweet Home Alone | December 11, 2021 | 20th Century Studios, Hutch Parker Entertainment | |
| 2 | Better Nate Than Ever | April 1, 2022 | [13] | Walt Disney Pictures[a],Marc Platt Productions |
While Meledandri might have been a late convert to the genre, his big break came in 1994, when he was tapped to head Fox's family division,...
.svg)
