The Simpsons Movie, which has been 18 years in the making, is finally due to hit theaters July 27. The movie is creating quite a frenzy around the country -- with a dozen 7-Elevens in cities from New York to California turning into Kwik-E-Marts. They are also selling Simpsons branded products in all 7-Eleven stores (I bought a box of KrustyO's). The frenzy is even bigger in Springfield, Vermont, which was chosen to host the premier of the movie.

The biggest beneficiary of the movie will be the same company that has benefited from the long, successful run of the show -- News Corporation (NYSE: NWS). After 20 years on the small screen, making News Corp's Fox billions, the big screen version will look to take No. 1 at the box office. It shouldn't have any trouble, as most of this summer's blockbusters have already come and gone, and the other new movies out that week -- I Know Who Killed Me and No Reservations -- don't have anywhere near the hype, universal appeal or the marketing push of the Simpsons.

Other beneficiaries are the aforementioned 7-Eleven, which is owned by Seven-Eleven Japan Co, the privately-owned toy company McFarlane toys, which is making The Simpsons Movie toys, and Electronic Arts Inc (NADSAQ: ERTS), which is releasing a new Simpsons video game to coincide with the release of The Simpsons Movie on DVD.

For a look behind the scenes at the history of the longest running comedy on television, check out this article from Vanity Fair.

Subversive, controversial, and consistently funny, The Simpsons has been a staple throughout my adolescent and adult life. After 20 seasons on News Corp's (NYSE: NWS) Fox network, Homer's brood and all of everyone's favorite oddballs and ne'er do wells from Springfield will be trekking over to the big screen.

The feature-film version of the animated sitcom debuts in theaters July 27, and the marketing blitz is already underway. Today, 7-Eleven - a subsidiary of Seven-Eleven Japan - said it is converting 12 stores (11 in the U.S., one in Canada) into Kwik-E-Marts, the convenience store featured in The Simpsons and managed by beloved feature player Apu Nahasapeemapetilon (unknown by my spell check). Simpsons-themed products will be available not only in these converted locations, but in all 7-Eleven stores. Check out the list of the made-over Kwik-E-Marts here.

Other corporate sponsors of the Matt Groening-developed cartoon include Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), which offers many Simpsons-themed games for its Xbox 360 gaming system, and JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU), which recently proclaimed itself the "official airline of Springfield."

Speaking of Springfield, Simpsons fans have spent the better part of 2 decades debating which American Springfield provides the setting for Homer and friends. Fourteen Springfields across the country, from Oregon to Vermont, are now under the microscope competing for the right to host The Simpsons hometown premiere. Head to USA Today by July 9 to cast your vote. (Psst ... Illinois!)

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.