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One thing is certain: Whether you are watching a 3-hour epic on an IMAX screen or a 30-minute comedy on your phone, these studios are competing for the most valuable real estate in the world: your attention.

From the watercooler moments of Succession to the mind-bending theories of Stranger Things , we are living in a golden—and sometimes overwhelming—age of content. But have you ever wondered who is actually pulling the strings?