Paramount Pictures Logo

Paramount Pictures is the movie production and distribution company behind some of the world’s best-known films and franchises, from The Godfather and Titanic to Transformers and Star Trek. The main subsidiary of Paramount Global, Paramount Pictures is based on Melrose Avenue, Hollywood.

Meaning and history

In 1912, the Famous Players Film Company was founded by Adolph Zukor, Daniel Frohman, and Charles Frohman. Their original plan was to release feature-length films involving some of the best-known theatrical actors of that era. By the middle of the following year, they had already finished working on 5 movies. In 2013, Lasky Feature Play Company was established, and in 2014, it released its first film. That same year, Paramount Pictures Corporation was established by W. W. Hodkinson, a Utah theatre owner. He began collaborating with the two above-mentioned companies, which eventually led to their merger in 1916.

What is Paramount Pictures?
Paramount is the sixth-oldest movie production company in the world and the second-oldest movie production company in the US. It’s the flagship division of Paramount Global.

1914

The original logo had a pronounced royal theme. Its centerpiece was a crown topped by the so-called globus cruciger (stavroforos sphaira), which is, simply speaking, an orb surmounted by a cross. It has been used as a Christian symbol of authority since the Middle Ages and can be seen in various royal regalia. There was a banner below featuring the slogan “Gloria in excelsis” in Latin, which alluded to the hymn “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” and also hinted that the company aims to produce something of high quality (“in excelsis”) and become famous (“gloria”).

1914 – 1917

Luckily, the old-fashioned and generic symbolism of the original emblem was promptly replaced by something unique and meaningful. That’s when the iconic combination of the name, the mountain, and the halo of stars was first introduced. The initial design contained clouds emphasizing the “high quality” and “glory”/”fame” concepts, which were also present in the previous version. The number of stars was 29.

1914 – 1918

The vintage logo of Paramount-Artcraft Motion Pictures was distinguished by its oval shape, encircled with a striking double outline in black. This emblem was enhanced with an ornate frame, featuring intricately carved-like designs at both the upper and lower extremities. Centrally positioned was the enterprise’s moniker, artfully split into two tiers. The typeface selected for this logo was reminiscent of classical handwriting, with the initial characters of each word adorned with sophisticated, calligraphic flourishes. This design resonated with the emblematic aesthetics typical of that historical period, offering a nod to the artistic trends of early 20th-century emblems.

1917 – 1967

The star count went down to 24. In this way, the emblem referred to the 24 actors who were hired by Adolph Zukor under contract in 1916. The typeface was somewhat tweaked but it didn’t lose its overall style. The clouds were still there, but they grew fluffier, more rounded. On the whole, the logo became less nuanced, with cleaner and more straightforward strokes.

1967 – Today

This version is also more streamlined in comparison with its predecessor. Gone are the clouds and the word “Pictures,” while the star count has become 22. The overall shape of the mountain remains unchanged, but the snowcap is now drawn in thicker strokes with fewer details.

The need for a logo update arose with the introduction of the Paramount+ streaming service in late 2021. It was essential that the logo came across clearly on digital platforms and applications. The star count was reduced to 13, the same as the number of words in the name “Paramount Plus.” The size of the stars had to grow a bit larger so that they become better visible on phone apps, push notifications, and other digital applications.

The 2021 version of the logo is currently used not only by Paramount+ but also by the parent company, Paramount Global. Its Paramount Pictures subsidiary still sticks to the version with 22 stars, though.

Font and Color

The typeface seems somewhat old-fashioned and is used to emphasize the company’s long history and, by extension, expertise. Paramount is one of the few companies that can get away with this retro touch, given all the modern digital tricks the studio uses in its movies.

Dark blue has been the color most often used for the emblem. The shade has been somewhat different, and the black-and-white version is also available.