It was inaugurated in 1945 following a 1943 agreement between
RKO Pictures and
Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta. In 1950, it was acquired by the
federal government of Mexico and merged with Estudios y Laboratorios Azteca to form Estudios Churubusco. Since 1958, it has been controlled by the Mexican government. Of the four motion picture studios active during the
golden age of Mexican cinema — the others being
Estudios América,
Televisa San Ángel, and Estudios Tepeyac — it and Televisa San Ángel remain in operation. It is estimated that 95% of films produced in Mexico since 2000 have used one or more of the studio's services. Films shot at Estudios Churubusco include the
James Bond film
Licence to Kill (1988),
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989),
Total Recall (1990),
Amores perros (2000), which was nominated for the
Academy Award for
Best Foreign Language Film, and
Frida (2002). In 2017, Estudios Churubusco celebrated its 72nd anniversary by opening its facilities to the public for the first time, allowing visitors to learn more about the studio and its film achievements. ==Selected films==