Film stocks
Lights, camera, action: Film shares to look out for
Cinephiles across the world are keeping a close eye on this year’s Academy Awards – the world of trading is no exception to this, as Oscar buzz can generate big market movements for entertainment stocks. We’ve rolled out the red carpet for some of the biggest names in film and television on the stock market in this article, so you can get the lowdown on Hollywood’s movers and shakers ahead of the Oscars.
First, a quick note on the statistics we used. The data we’ve cited below was drawn from Google Finance and was correct as of 26 February 2025.
Film studios
These entertainment giants are responsible for producing and distributing the film and television that drive mainstream cultural conversations, spanning genres and mediums across their individual media empires through their many subsidiaries.
The Oscars could benefit these companies whether they win or not – any Oscar nominee will be the subject of much discussion and could bring in potential viewers just by being nominated. Of course, the most publicity – and the biggest potential influx of new customers – will go to the winners of what BBC Culture has described as “one of the closest and most thrilling Oscar races ever”.
Streaming services
These companies specialise in streaming and video-on-demand services, which saw a significant boom during the Covid-19 pandemic and have continued to thrive post-lockdown, as people’s media habits change. These stocks could benefit from the Oscars if nominees and winners find their way to streaming services, potentially bringing in new customers curious about the latest cinematic crazes.
It’s worth noting that many of the media companies listed above also have their own streaming services as arms of their media empires – Disney owns Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, for example.
Where next for film stocks?
Our look at major entertainment stocks shows that 2024 was a positive year overall for media giants on the stock market, though some fared better than others. It’s perhaps unsurprising that Amazon and Netflix have made some of the biggest year-on-year gains, as these members of the magnificent seven stocks are also the companies that benefited most from Covid-19 lockdowns, whereas other companies are just starting to shake off the effects of the pandemic.
Film production for many of the larger studios has also been heavily impacted by industry action and shifting financial landscapes, resulting in slimmer cinematic pipelines that could send ripples along the industry for years to come.
2024 was also a year defined largely by technological developments, and the world of cinema was no exception. The shift to streaming and video-on-demand continues to reshape consumer habits and studio strategies, but the emergence of artificial intelligence was the biggest talking point for execs and creatives alike last year (being a major reason for the aforementioned industrial action), and the technology has brought a shadow of uncertainty over Hollywood coming into 2025.
Whatever the future holds for the entertainment sector, one thing is for certain – the show must go on.
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