Jump to content

Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group
FormerlyColumbia TriStar Motion Picture Group (1998–2013)
Company type
Division
IndustryEntertainment
Founded1998; 28 years ago (1998) Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Headquarters10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
ProductsMotion pictures
Services
ParentSony Pictures Entertainment
Divisions
Websitesonypictures.com/movies

Sony Pictures Entertainment 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 and TriStar Pictures.[1]

History

[edit]

The Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group was founded in 1998 as the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, as a current division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, owned by Sony. It has many of Sony Pictures' 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, specifically to fill the void left by the shuttering of Triumph Films.[2][3]

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.[4][5]

In October 2013, Sony Pictures rebranded its motion picture group under the monicker "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.[6] Belgrad was promoted as president of the SPMPG back in 2014.[6]

Film divisions

[edit]
Studio divisions
Production and distribution Distribution arms Other
  • Sony Pictures Releasing
  • Sony Pictures Releasing International

3000 Pictures

[edit]
3000 Pictures, Inc.
Company type
Subsidiary
IndustryMotion pictures
PredecessorFox 2000 Pictures
Founded2019; 7 years ago (2019)
Key people
Elizabeth Gabler (president)
ParentSony Pictures Motion Picture Group

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.[7]

Filmography

[edit]
Title Director Release date Gross (worldwide) Notes
Where the Crawdads Sing Olivia Newman July 15, 2022 (United States) $144.3 million co-production with Columbia Pictures, HarperCollins Publishers, and Hello Sunshine, distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Lady Chatterley’s Lover Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre November 25, 2022 (UK/US) December 2, 2022 (Netflix) N/a co-production with Laurence Mark Productions, Blueprint Pictures, and HarperCollins; distributed by Netflix
People We Meet on Vacation Brett Haley January 9, 2026 (Netflix) N/a co-production with HarperCollins Publishers and Temple Hill Entertainment; distributed by Netflix

Upcoming

[edit]

Sony Pictures Releasing

[edit]
Sony Pictures Releasing Corporation
Company type
Subsidiary
IndustryMotion pictures
PredecessorTriumph Releasing Corporation
FoundedNovember 23, 1994; 31 years ago (1994-11-23)
Headquarters
10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California
,
United States
Key people
Adam Bergerman (president)
Services
ParentSony Pictures Entertainment
DivisionsSony Pictures Releasing International
Websitesonypictures.com

Sony Pictures Releasing Corporation is an American film distributor owned by Sony. Established in 1994[11] 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, Crunchyroll, Stage 6 Films, Affirm Films, Destination Films, and Triumph Films.[citation needed] 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 to 2005 was known as Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International.[citation needed]

International arrangements

[edit]
Sony Pictures Releasing International Corporation
FormerlyColumbia Tri-Star Film Distributors International (1988–1991)
Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (1991–2005)
Company type
Subsidiary
IndustryMotion pictures
FoundedDecember 21, 1988; 37 years ago (1988-12-21)
Headquarters
10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California
,
United States
Services
ParentSony Pictures Entertainment
Websitesonypictures.com
Main article: List of Sony Pictures Releasing International films

Columbia Pictures started its own UK theatrical arm in 1929, operating under the name Columbia Pictures Corporation Limited.[12] from 1971 until the end of 1987, Columbia's international theatrical distribution operations were a joint venture with Warner Bros. named Columbia-Warner Distributors, 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 Distributors in 1978 and later Columbia-Cannon-Warner Distributors in 1986. When its theatrical distribution joint venture ended in 1988, the company was later renamed Filmbank Distributors as a non-theatrical licensor.[13][14] Columbia Pictures Corporation Limited remained the sole distributor in the UK.[15]

In Australia, Columbia Pictures Pty Ltd operated the theatrical release from 1935.[16] which from 1975 to 1996, 20th Century-Fox and Columbia Pictures formed an alliance that they would distribute films for the Australian market, initially going under the name Fox Columbia Film Distributors, before Hoyts came to the venture, and it was renamed first to Hoyts Fox Columbia TriStar Films, then Fox Columbia TriStar Films.[17] Sony Pictures Releasing Pty Limited took over distribution operations directly.[18][19]

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.[20] 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 Philippines 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 and their Solar Films subsidiary. The Philippine distribution to films made by Universal lasted up until January 2020, when distribution reverted 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 (which later reverted to Warner Bros. after its closure). Paramount later renewed their distribution agreements with Sony in October 2021.

The theatrical distribution of Sony Pictures' films in Italy was handled by Warner Bros. from 2011 to 2023. 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. In 2023, Eagle Pictures, which was already distributing Sony's films on home video in the country, took over their theatrical distribution as well.

Sony Pictures and Walt Disney Studios formed a film distribution joint venture in Southeast Asia in 1997.[21] 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.[22] 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.[21] On January 31, 2019, in anticipation of Disney's then-pending acquisition of most 21st Century Fox assets (including 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.[23] As part of the global economic fluctuations caused by the Disney's acquisition, 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.[24][25]

On June 27, 2025, Sony Pictures Releasing and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer formed a multi-year deal in which Sony would handle the international theatrical distribution of their newer titles, following the expiration of MGM's international deal with Warner Bros. Pictures. This deal would reunite Sony with MGM for the first time since 2020. It does not affect the physical media releases, as MGM Home Entertainment will still have its titles distributed on physical media by Alliance Entertainment in North America since 2026.[26]

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

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

In the Nordic countries, Columbia TriStar Films (now known as Sony Pictures Releasing) formerly handled Sweden theatrical distribution of films released by 20th Century Fox from 1992 to 1997. Sony Pictures had strong partnership with Nordisk Film, which ended in early 2007.[27] Sony Pictures later struck a deal with local partner AB Svensk Filmindustri, which included theatrical and home entertainment distribution.[28][29]

In South Africa, Ster-Kinekor handles theatrical and home video distribution of films released by Sony Pictures.

In Greece, Sony Pictures and Feelgood Entertainment has long standing partnership for theatrical distribution.[30] In addition, the Middle East is handled by Empire International.[31] For Israel, they struck a deal with Forum Films.[32]

Filmography

[edit]
Main articles: Lists of Columbia Pictures films, List of TriStar Pictures films, List of Screen Gems films, List of Sony Pictures Animation productions, List of Sony theatrical animated feature films, List of Sony Pictures Classics films, and List of Sony Pictures Releasing International films


Highest-grossing films

[edit]
† indicates films playing in theaters around the world in the week commencing 12 May 2026.
Highest-grossing films in North America
Peak Rank Title Year Domestic gross Studio label(s)
1 1 Spider-Man: No Way Home 2021 $814,108,407 Columbia/Marvel
1 2 Spider-Man 2002 $407,022,860 Columbia
2 3 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 2017 $404,540,171
3 4 Spider-Man: Far From Home 2019 $390,532,085 Columbia/Marvel
5 5 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 2023 $381,593,754 Columbia
2 6 Spider-Man 2 2004 $373,585,825
3 7 Spider-Man 3 2007 $336,530,303
4 8 Spider-Man: Homecoming 2017 $334,201,140 Columbia/Marvel
7 9 Jumanji: The Next Level 2019 $320,314,960 Columbia
4 10 Skyfall 2012 $304,360,277 Columbia/MGM
4 11 The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 $262,030,663 Columbia
1 12 Men in Black 1997 $250,690,539
1 13 Ghostbusters 1984 $229,242,989
6 14 Hancock 2008 $227,946,274
5 15 The Da Vinci Code 2006 $217,536,138
14 16 Venom: Let There Be Carnage 2021 $213,550,366
12 17 Venom 2018 $213,515,506
1 18 Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991 $204,843,345 TriStar/Carolco
16 19 Bad Boys for Life 2020 $204,292,401 Columbia
11 20 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 2014 $202,853,933
12 21 Spectre 2015 $200,074,609 Columbia/MGM
22 22 Bad Boys: Ride or Die 2024 $193,410,058 Columbia
12 23 22 Jump Street 2014 $191,719,337
5 24 Men in Black II 2002 $190,418,803
18 25 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse 2018 $190,241,310
Highest-grossing films worldwide
Peak Rank Title Year Worldwide gross Studio(s)
1 1 Spider-Man: No Way Home 2021 $1,916,306,995 Columbia/Marvel
1 2 Skyfall 2012 $1,142,471,295 Columbia/MGM
2 3 Spider-Man: Far From Home 2019 $1,131,927,996 Columbia/Marvel
2 4 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 2017 $962,126,927 Columbia
1 5 Spider-Man 3 2007 $894,983,373
3 6 Spectre 2015 $880,674,609 Columbia/MGM
4 7 Spider-Man: Homecoming 2017 $880,166,924 Columbia/Marvel
6 8 Venom 2018 $855,013,954 Columbia
1 9 Spider-Man 2002 $825,025,036
2 10 The Da Vinci Code 2006 $801,000,000
10 11 Jumanji: The Next Level 2019 $800,059,707
12 12 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Infinity Castle † 2025 $795,346,072 Aniplex/Crunchyroll
4 13 2012 2009 $791,217,826 Columbia
2 14 Spider-Man 2 2004 $788,976,453
6 15 The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 $757,930,663
8 16 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 2014 $708,982,323
16 17 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 2023 $690,897,910
5 18 Hancock 2008 $624,386,746
7 19 Men in Black 3 2012 $624,026,776
4 20 Casino Royale 2006 $606,099,584 Columbia/MGM
7 21 Quantum of Solace 2008 $589,580,482
1 22 Men in Black 1997 $589,390,539 Columbia
10 23 The Smurfs 2011 $563,749,323
18 24 Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation 2018 $528,583,774
1 25 Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991 $519,843,345 TriStar/Carolco

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sony Hitches TriStar to Col" Archived December 26, 2025, at the Wayback Machine, Variety, March 31, 1998
  2. ^ "Los Angeles Times" Sony Forms New Movie Division Archived August 1, 2020, at the Wayback Machine articles.latimes.com December 8, 1998, Retrieved on April 4, 2016
  3. ^ Cox, Dan (December 7, 1998). "SPE hopes new Screen Gems unit will shine". Variety. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  4. ^ Abrams, Rachel (August 1, 2013). "Tom Rothman in Joint Venture With Sony to Run TriStar Productions". Variety. Archived from the original on August 3, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  5. ^ Cieply, Michael (August 1, 2013). "Sony Hires Rothman to Head Revived TriStar Unit". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Faughnder, Ryan (June 2, 2016). "Doug Belgrad exits as president of Sony Pictures' motion picture group". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  7. ^ Masters, Kim. "Elizabeth Gabler Breaks Silence on Sony Move, Disney Exit, HarperCollins and Streaming Plans (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  8. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 1, 2021). "Don Winslow's 'City On Fire' Crime Saga Trilogy Acquired In Mid-7 Figure Outright Purchase By Sony & Elizabeth Gabler's 3000 Pictures". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  9. ^ Lang, Brent (March 14, 2025). "Jenna Ortega and Taylor Russell in Talks for 'Single White Female' Remake". Variety. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  10. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 12, 2026). "'Single Female' Movie Starring Jenna Ortega And Taylor Russell Taps Sarah DeLappe To Write; Stacey Sher And Marisa Paiva Join As Producers". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  11. ^ SONY PICTURES RELEASING CORPORATION Archived November 22, 2021, at the Wayback Machine businessprofiles.com, Retrieved on January 20, 2014
  12. ^ "Columbia Pictures Corporation Limited". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. GOV UK - Company House. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  13. ^ "Filmbank Website". FilmBank Distributors. Columbia Pictures & Warner Bros. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  14. ^ "Filmbank Distributors". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. UK Gov - Company House.
  15. ^ "Spider-Man No Way Home: BBFC UK Age Rating". BBFC. BBFC. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  16. ^ "Sony Pictures Releasing Pty Ltd (Formerly Columbia Pictures Pty Ltd)". connectonline.asic.gov.au. ASIC GOV AU. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  17. ^ "The Australian Film Industry - A Duopoly in Distribution in Exhibition". Cinema Papers. March 1975. p. 37.
  18. ^ "Sony Pictures Releasing Pty Limited". abr.business.gov.au. ABR GOV AU. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  19. ^ "Screen Australia & Sony Pictures AU". screenaustralia. Screen AU. Archived from the original on April 13, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ a b Frater, Patrick (August 14, 2017). "Sony Launches Its Own Theatrical Distributors in Southeast Asia". Variety. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  22. ^ Holdsworth, Nick (December 27, 2006). "Disney, Sony team up for Russian content". The Hollywood Reporter. AP. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  23. ^ "Clarification on Disney/Fox transaction" (PDF). Cofece. February 6, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  24. ^ "Walt Disney to create a new distribution company in Russia". news.ru. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  25. ^ "Disney и Sony разделят экраны" [Disney and Sony to split screens]. Kommersant (in Russian). Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  26. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 27, 2025). "Amazon MGM Studios & Sony Pictures Ink Multi-Year International Theatrical Distribution Deal". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  27. ^ "Nordisk Split off Sony Pictures". Screen Daily. Screen Daily. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  28. ^ "SF Studios Distribution". SF Studio - Distribution. AB Svensk Filmindustri. Archived from the original on February 16, 2026. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  29. ^ "Sony Pictures Inks Nordics DVD/Blu-ray Disc Distribution Deal With SF Studios". mediaplayernews. Media Player News. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  30. ^ "Feelgood Entertainment Site". Feelgoodentertainment. Feelgood Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 19, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  31. ^ "Empire International". linkedin.com. Linkedin. Archived from the original on January 30, 2025. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  32. ^ "Forum Film Ltd". planetcinema.co.il. Planet Cinema. Archived from the original on November 27, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sony_Pictures_Motion_Picture_Group&oldid=1350859529"