Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group

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Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group
FormerlyColumbia TriStar Motion Picture Group (1998–2013)
TypeDivision
IndustryEntertainment
Founded1998; 24 years ago (1998)
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Headquarters10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Tom Rothman
(Chairman and CEO)
Josh Greenstein
(Co-President)
Sanford Panitch
(Co-President)
ProductsMotion pictures
ServicesFilm production and distribution
ParentSony Pictures Entertainment
Websitewww.sonypictures.com

Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group (commonly known as the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, formerly known as the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group until 2013, and abbreviated as SPMPG) is a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment to manage its motion picture operations. It was launched in 1998 by integrating the businesses of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and TriStar Pictures, Inc.[1]

History[]

The Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group was launched in 1998 as the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, as a current division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, owned by Sony. It also has many of Sony Pictures's current motion picture divisions as part of it. Its divisions at that time were Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Triumph Films, Sony Pictures Classics, and Sony Pictures Releasing.

On December 8, 1998, SPE resurrected its former animation and television division Screen Gems as a film division of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group that has served several different purposes for its parent companies over the decades since its incorporation.[2]

In 2002, Columbia TriStar Television was renamed as Sony Pictures Television. The last three remaining companies, with the "Columbia TriStar" brand in its name, were Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, and Columbia TriStar Marketing Group. Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment and Columbia TriStar Film Distributors became Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Releasing International in 2004 and 2005 and Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group became the second-to-last subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment to use the "Columbia TriStar" brand name in its name.

In 2013, TriStar Productions was launched, as a joint venture of Sony Pictures Entertainment and former 20th Century Fox chairman Thomas Rothman.[3][4]

In October 2013, Sony Pictures renamed its motion picture group as the "Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group". Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks were moved from Sony Pictures Digital to its motion picture group.

On June 2, 2016, Doug Belgrad had announced he was to step down as president of the SPMPG and would transition his role to producer at the studio.[5] Belgrad was promoted as president of the SPMPG back in 2014.[5]

On July 15, 2019, former Fox 2000 Pictures president Elizabeth Gabler and the entire Fox 2000 staff joined Sony Pictures Entertainment and formed 3000 Pictures with the motion picture group. HarperCollins would be funding half of the division's overhead and development. 3000 Pictures would also pursue projects for TV and streaming.[6]

Film divisions[]

Studio divisions
Production Distribution Other
  • Columbia Pictures
  • TriStar Pictures (TriStar Productions)
  • Sony Pictures Classics
  • Screen Gems
  • Sony Pictures Animation
  • Sony Pictures Imageworks
  • 3000 Pictures
  • Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (Destination Films, Stage 6 Films, and Affirm Films)
  • Sony Pictures Releasing
  • Sony Pictures Releasing International
  • Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Sony Pictures Releasing[]

Sony Pictures Releasing
FormerlyTriumph Releasing Corporation (1982–1994)
Columbia TriStar Pictures Releasing (1994-2004)
TypeDivision
IndustryMotion pictures
FoundedNovember 23, 1994; 27 years ago (November 23, 1994)
Headquarters
10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California
,
United States
ServicesFilm distribution and marketing
OwnerSony
Parent
  • Sony Pictures Entertainment
Websitewww.sonypictures.com

Sony Pictures Releasing is an American film distributor owned by Sony. Established in 1994[7] as a successor to Triumph Releasing Corporation, the company handles theatrical distribution, marketing and promotion for films produced and released by Sony Pictures Entertainment, including Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures (as well as TriStar Productions), Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Classics, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, Affirm Films, Destination Films, and Triumph Films. It is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group. It also has an international division called Sony Pictures Releasing International, which from 1991 until 2005 was known as Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International.

International arrangements[]

From 1971 until the end of 1987, Columbia's international theatrical distribution operations were a joint venture with Warner Bros. named Columbia-Warner, and in some countries, this joint venture also distributed films from other companies like with EMI Films and Cannon Films in the UK under the names of Columbia-EMI-Warner and later Columbia-Cannon-Warner. The UK venture was dissolved in 1988.

On February 6, 2014, Columbia TriStar Warner Filmes de Portugal Ltda., a joint venture with Warner Bros. which distributed films from both companies in Portugal, announced that they will close their offices on March 31.[8] Sony Pictures' films are distributed in Portugal by Big Picture Films since then, while NOS Audiovisuais took over the distribution duties for Warner Bros. films in the country.

From June 2014 until February 2020, Sony Pictures' Philippine releasing arm under the name of Columbia Pictures distributed films by United International Pictures' partner studios, Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures (including films by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), after UIP ended its nine year distribution agreement with the studio's local distributor Solar Entertainment Corporation and their Solar Films subsidiary. The Philippine distribution to films made by Universal lasted until January 2020; when distribution reverted back to Warner Bros. (UIP's former local distributor from the 1990s to 2000) in October 2021 while most Focus Features titles are instead released through a start-up online distribution company, UPSTREAM. Paramount later renewed their distribution agreements with Sony in October 2021.

The theatrical distribution of Sony Pictures' films in Italy is still handled by Warner Bros. One notable example of this is Call Me By Your Name, where Warner Bros. handled Italian theatrical distribution (although the Sony label is still being used) while home video distribution went through Sony itself.

Sony Pictures and Walt Disney Studios formed a film distribution joint venture in Southeast Asia in 1997.[9] By December 2006, 14 joint distribution ventures between Sony Pictures Releasing International and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures were formed and exist in countries including Brazil, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. In January 2007, their 15th such partnership began operations in Russia and CIS.[10] In February 2017, Sony starting leaving the Southeast Asia venture with the Philippines. In August 2017, Sony terminated the joint venture agreement for their own operations.[9] On January 31, 2019, in anticipation of Disney's then-pending acquisition of the most 21st Century Fox assets (which includes 20th Century Fox), it was agreed that Disney would sell its stake in the Mexican joint venture named Walt Disney Studios Sony Pictures Releasing de México to Sony Pictures Releasing.[11] As part of the global economic fluctuations caused by the Disney's acquisition, Sony Sony Pictures Production and Release LLC and Disney Studios LLC parted amicably signing a formal demerger on 21 January 2020. The contract would allow Sony Pictures Releasing to operate autonomously.[12][13]

In Argentina and Poland, United International Pictures handles theatrical distribution of films released by Sony Pictures.

In the Netherlands, Universal Pictures International currently handles theatrical distribution of films released by Sony Pictures since 2013.

In the Netherlands and Sweden, Columbia TriStar Films (now known as Sony Pictures Releasing) formerly handled theatrical distribution of films released by 20th Century Fox from 1992 to 1997 in the former country and from 1994 to 1996 in the latter.

Film library[]

Main article: Lists of Columbia Pictures films

Film series[]

Title Release date Notes
The Three Stooges 1934–70
Blondie 1938–50 co-production with King Features Entertainment
Five Little Peppers 1939–40
Boston Blackie 1941–49
Crime Doctor 1943–49
The Whistler 1944–48
Rusty 1945–49
Jungle Jim 1948–56
Spider-Man 1977–present co-production with Danchuck Productions and Marvel Television (1977-81 series only), Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Animation (including the MCU Spider-Man films)
Fantasy Island
When a Stranger Calls 1979–2006
The Blue Lagoon 1980–91
Heavy Metal 1981–2000 co-production with CineGroupe
Annie 1982–2021 co-production with Rastar, Overbrook Entertainment, Village Roadshow Pictures, Storyline Entertainment, Chris Montan Productions and Walt Disney Television (1999 TV movie only)
Ghostbusters 1984–present co-production with Ghost Corps (since 2016) and Village Roadshow Pictures
The Karate Kid co-production with JW Films and Overbrook Entertainment
The Muppets 1984–2002 co-production with The Jim Henson Company and Jim Henson Pictures
Fright Night 1985–89
Rambo 1985–2008 co-production with Carolco Pictures, Lionsgate, StudioCanal, and The Weinstein Company
Wild Orchid 1989–91
Look Who's Talking 1989–93
Weekend at Bernie's
Total Recall 1990–2012 co-production with Carolco Pictures, Original Film, and Relativity Media
Flatliners 1990–2017
City Slickers 1991–94 co-production with Castle Rock Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment (1991 film only) and Face Productions
My Girl co-production with Imagine Entertainment
Terminator 1991–2009 co-production with Carolco Pictures, Intermedia, C2 Pictures, Warner Bros., and The Halcyon Company
Universal Soldier 1992–present
Sniper 1993–present
Fortress 1993–2000 co-production with Dimension Films, Village Roadshow Pictures, Davis Entertainment, Gower Productions, The Carousel Picture Company, and John Flock Productions
El Mariachi 1993–2003 co-production with Dimension Films and Troublemaker Studios
RoboCop 1993–2014 co-production with Orion Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn Mayer
3 Ninjas 1994–98 co-production with Touchstone Pictures
Little Women 1994–2019
The Swan Princess 1994–present
Bad Boys 1995–present co-production with Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Jumanji
The Net 1995–2006
Screamers 1995–2009
Anaconda 1997–present
Men in Black co-production with Amblin Entertainment, Parker MacDonald, Imagenation Abu Dhabi, Overbrook Entertainment, and Relativity Media
I Know What You Did Last Summer co-production with Mandalay Entertainment and Amazon Studios
Starship Troopers co-production with Touchstone Pictures
Godzilla 1998–2005 co-production with Toho and Centropolis Entertainment (1998)
Zorro co-production with Spyglass Entertainment, Amblin Entertainment and Parker MacDonald
Wild Things 1998–2010 co-production with Mandalay Entertainment
Urban Legend 1998–present co-production with Phoenix Pictures
Baby Geniuses 1999–2013 co-production with Crystal Sky Pictures
Stuart Little 1999–2005
Bats 1999–2007
The Bone Collector 1999–2020 co-production with Universal Pictures, Signal Hill Productions, Sin Video, and Bregman Productions
Anatomy 2000–03
Hollow Man 2000–06
Charlie's Angels 2000–19 co-production with Leonard Goldberg Productions (2000-03), Flower Films (2000-03), Tall Trees Productions (2000-03), Wonderland Sound and Vision (2003), 2.0 Entertainment (2019), Brownstone Productions (2019) and Cantillon Company (2019)
Final Fantasy 2001–present co-production with Square Enix
Resident Evil 2002–present co-production with Constantin Film, Capcom, Davis Films, Impact Pictures and New Legacy Films (2002)
XXX 2002–05 co-production with Original Film, Paramount Pictures and Revolution Studios
Daddy Day Care 2003–07 co-production with Revolution Studios
S.W.A.T. 2003–present co-production with Original Film
Underworld 2003–16 co-production with Lakeshore Entertainment and Sketch Films (2009-16)
The Grudge 2004–present co-production with Ghost House Pictures
The Punisher 2004–08 International distributor; co-production with Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Studios, and Lionsgate
Boogeyman 2005–present co-production with Ghost House Pictures
Into the Blue 2005–09 co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Mandalay Pictures
Hostel 2005–11 co-production with Lionsgate Films
The Robert Langdon series 2006–16 co-production with Imagine Entertainment and Relativity Media
Open Season co-production with Sony Pictures Animation
James Bond 2006–15 co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (from Casino Royale to Spectre)
Stomp the Yard 2007–11 co-production with Rainforest Films
Ghost Rider 2007–12 co-production with Marvel Entertainment, Crystal Sky Pictures, Hyde Park Entertainment, Saturn Films, Imagenation Abu Dhabi, and Relativity Media
Surf's Up 2007–17 co-production with Sony Pictures Animation and WWE Studios
Quarantine 2008–11 co-production with Vertigo Entertainment
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2009–15 co-production with Happy Madison Productions
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2009–18 co-production with Sony Pictures Animation
Grown Ups 2010–13 co-production with Happy Madison Productions
Insidious 2011–present co-production with Blumhouse Productions, Atomic Monster, and Universal Studios
The Smurfs 2011–17 co-production with Sony Pictures Animation and The K Entertainment Company
Jump Street 2012–14 co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Relativity Media, and Original Film
Hotel Transylvania 2012–22 co-production with Sony Pictures Animation
The Equalizer 2014–present co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures, Relativity Media, and Original Film
Goosebumps 2015–present co-production with Sony Pictures Animation, Scholastic Productions, Village Roadshow Pictures, and Original Film
The Angry Birds Movie 2016–present co-production with Rovio Animation and Sony Pictures Animation (2019–present)
Don't Breathe co-production with Screen Gems, Stage 6 Films, and Ghost House Pictures
Marvel Cinematic Universe 2017–present in association with Marvel Studios, Pascal Pictures and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (licensed only)
Peter Rabbit 2018–present co-production with Sony Pictures Animation (2018), Animal Logic, Olive Bridge Entertainment, 2.0 Entertainment, Screen Australia, and Screen NSW
Sony's Spider-Man Universe co-production with Marvel and Pascal Pictures
Spider-Verse co-production with Sony Pictures Animation, Marvel, and Pascal Pictures
My Hero Academia co-production with Bones, Toho and Funimation Films
Escape Room 2019–present co-production with Original Film

Highest-grossing films[]

Highest-grossing films in North America
Rank Title Year Domestic gross Studio label(s)
1 Spider-Man: No Way Home 2021 $735,886,280 Columbia/Marvel
2 Spider-Man 2002 $407,022,860 Columbia
3 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 2017 $404,540,171
4 Spider-Man: Far From Home 2019 $390,532,085 Columbia/Marvel
5 Spider-Man 2 2004 $373,585,825 Columbia
6 Spider-Man 3 2007 $336,530,303
7 Spider-Man: Homecoming 2017 $334,201,140 Columbia/Marvel
8 Jumanji: The Next Level 2019 $320,314,960 Columbia
9 Skyfall 2012 $304,360,277 Columbia/MGM
10 The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 $262,030,663 Columbia
11 Men in Black 1997 $250,690,539
12 Ghostbusters 1984 $229,242,989
13 Hancock 2008 $227,946,274
14 The Da Vinci Code 2006 $217,536,138
15 Venom: Let There Be Carnage 2021 $213,517,649
16 Venom 2018 $213,515,506
17 Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991 $204,843,345 TriStar/Carolco
18 Bad Boys for Life 2020 $204,292,401 Columbia
19 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 2014 $202,853,933
20 Spectre 2015 $200,074,609 Columbia/MGM
21 22 Jump Street 2014 $191,719,337 Columbia
22 Men in Black II 2002 $190,418,803
23 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse 2018 $190,241,310
24 Hitch 2005 $179,495,555
25 Men in Black 3 2012 $179,020,854
Highest-grossing films worldwide
Rank Title Year Worldwide gross Studio(s)
1 Spider-Man: No Way Home 2021 $1,738,886,280 Columbia/Marvel
2 Spider-Man: Far From Home 2019 $1,131,927,996
3 Skyfall 2012 $1,108,569,499 Columbia/MGM
4 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 2017 $962,126,927 Columbia
5 Spider-Man 3 2007 $894,983,373
6 Spectre 2015 $880,674,609 Columbia/MGM
7 Spider-Man: Homecoming 2017 $880,166,924 Columbia/Marvel
8 Venom 2018 $855,013,954 Columbia
9 Spider-Man 2002 $825,025,036
10 Jumanji: The Next Level 2019 $800,059,707
11 Spider-Man 2 2004 $788,976,453
12 2012 2009 $769,679,473
13 The Da Vinci Code 2006 $758,239,851
14 The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 $757,930,663
15 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 2014 $708,982,323
16 Hancock 2008 $624,386,746
17 Men in Black 3 2012 $624,026,776
18 Casino Royale 2006 $606,099,584 Columbia/MGM
19 Quantum of Solace 2008 $589,580,482
20 Men in Black 1997 $589,390,539 Columbia
21 The Smurfs 2011 $563,749,323
22 Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation 2018 $520,736,445
23 Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991 $519,843,345 TriStar/Carolco
24 Venom: Let There Be Carnage 2021 $501,138,437 Columbia
25 Angels & Demons 2009 $485,930,816

References[]

  1. ^ "Sony Hitches TriStar to Col", Variety, March 31, 1998.
  2. ^ "Los Angeles Times" Sony Forms New Movie Division articles.latimes.com December 8, 1998, Retrieved on April 4, 2016
  3. ^ Abrams, Rachel (August 1, 2013). "Tom Rothman in Joint Venture With Sony to Run TriStar Productions". Variety. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  4. ^ CIEPLY, MICHAEL (August 1, 2013). "Sony Hires Rothman to Head Revived TriStar Unit". The New York Times. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Doug Belgrad exits as president of Sony Pictures' motion picture group latimes.com, Retrieved on June 3, 2016
  6. ^ Masters, Kim. "Elizabeth Gabler Breaks Silence on Sony Move, Disney Exit, HarperCollins and Streaming Plans (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  7. ^ SONY PICTURES RELEASING CORPORATION businessprofiles.com, Retrieved on January 20, 2014
  8. ^ de Barros, Eurico (February 6, 2014). "Columbia Tristar Warner encerra escritórios em Portugal" [Columbia Tristar Warner closes offices in Portugal]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Frater, Patrick (August 14, 2017). "Sony Launches Its Own Theatrical Distributors in Southeast Asia". Variety. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  10. ^ Holdsworth, Nick (December 27, 2006). "Disney, Sony team up for Russian content". The Hollywood Reporter. AP. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  11. ^ "Clarification on Disney/Fox transaction" (PDF). Cofece. February 6, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  12. ^ "Walt Disney to create a new distribution company in Russia". news.ru. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  13. ^ "Disney и Sony разделят экраны" [Disney and Sony to split screens]. Kommersant (in Russian). Retrieved April 13, 2021.

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