Fox Movies (TV channel)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Predecessor | Star Movies (in some markets) |
| Founded | 2007-02-08 |
| Fate | Rebranded in various regions (Star Films, Star Channel) |
| Owner | Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International |
| Parent | Fox Networks Group |
Fox Movies was a global film channel brand under the ownership of Fox Networks Group, which is a division of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International. Its initial launch occurred on February 8, 2007.
History
Originally, the US-based channel FXM adopted the name Fox Movie Channel in 2000 but reverted back to FXM in 2013.
In 2008, Fox Movies debuted in the Middle East through a partnership with Rotana Media Services, featuring content from Disney and American Broadcasting Company as part of a four-year contract. By 2010, Fox International Channels consolidated its operations for the Middle East and North Africa in Abu Dhabi. On July 1, 2011, Fox Movies broadened its reach to Portugal via pay television and to Angola and Mozambique through free-to-air broadcasts, showcasing a wide array of genres such as drama, comedy, science fiction, action, and horror with films like X-Men and The Queen.
On January 1, 2012, Star Movies was renamed Fox Movies Premium and FOX Movies Premium HD in Hong Kong and selected Southeast Asian markets. The Star Movies identity remained active in India, China, MENA, Taiwan, and the Philippines until July 2017 when it was replaced by Fox Movies.
Fox International Channels introduced Fox Movies to several Balkan nations—including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, and Kosovo—on October 2, 2012.
In June 2023, Disney revealed plans to substitute Fox Movies with Star Movies across the Balkans starting October 1, 2023. Subsequently, Disney confirmed that Fox Movies would be succeeded by Star Channel in Portugal as well as Angola and Mozambique beginning February 7, 2024. This followed Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
Effective March 1, 2024, the Fox Movies brand was transformed into Star Films within the Middle East and North Africa region.
Market channels
| Market | Type | Formerly | Launch date | Replacement | Replaced date | Other | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | channel, basic cable | FXM: Movies from Fox |
|
FXM |
|
— | |||||
| Middle East | channel, subscription via beIN Channels Network | — | May 1, 2008 | Star Films | March 1, 2024 | Fox Action Movies Fox Family Movies | |||||
| Southeast Asia | channel, pay | Star Movies (Vietnam), Fox Movies Premium (other Southeast Asia) |
|
Star Movies Gold (Taiwan), Discontinued (HK and Southeast Asia) |
| ||||||
| Japan | channel, pay | Fox Movies |
|
discontinued |
|
— | |||||
Portugal
|
channel, pay | — |
|
Star Movies | February 7, 2024 | ||||||
Balkans
|
channel, pay | October 15, 2012 | October 1, 2023 |