Columbia Pictures

Posted on December 1, 2014 by iwmccour

by Ian McCourt

Columbia Pictures

Image Courtesy Fortune.com [i]

Contact Information: [ii]

10202 West Washington Boulevard

Culver City, CA 90232

310-244-4000

www.sonypictures.com

Key Executives:

Michael Lynton CEO, Sony Entertainment, Chairman and CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Amy Pascal Co-Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group

Doug Belgrad President, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group President, Columbia Pictures

David Hendler Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Michael De Luca
President, Production, Columbia Pictures

Hannah Minghella President, Production, Columbia Pictures

Executives Photos and Information Courtesy of: http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/management.html [iii]

About Columbia Pictures:

In 1918, Harry and Jack Cohn formed CBC Film Sales with an associate of theirs, Joe Brandt. CBC Film Sales (Cohn-Brandt-Cohn) then produced small-budget short films and featurettes until a few experiments with feature films and an eye for larger profits prompted them to form Columbia Pictures Corporation in 1924. Columbia established itself in the cinema world, however, with the discovery of director Frank Capra in 1927. He would bring the company many Academy Awards, including the Best Picture films “It Happened One Night” and “You Can’t Take it With You.” Columbia would continue to grow and prosper as the decades moved past, and it was bought by Coca-Cola in 1982. However, a mere seven years later, Columbia Pictures and all of its holdings were bought by the Sony Corporation in 1989. [iv] It is now a part of Sony Pictures Entertainment‘s Columbia Tristar Motion Picture Group, along with Tristar Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics and Screengems. [v]

Financials:

It is to be noted that Sony’s Financial Reports for the Pictures Division encompasses not only Columbia Pictures, but also the Tristar Pictures and Screengems studios, as well as any TV production and distribution financials. Regardless, Sony Pictures Entertainment reported that revenue decreased 3% on a constant currency (U.S. dollar) standard to 1,671 million dollars for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2014 from 1,815 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2013. [vi][vii] This was due to lower theatrical revenues due to fewer theatrical releases in Q2 FY14 as opposed to Q2 FY13. [viii] Sony predicts that the pictures division will make 8,100 million U.S. dollars for the total Fiscal Year ending March 31, 2015. [ix]

What’s Happening Now?

In 2014, Columbia Pictures has released nine films, three of which are still in theaters as of December 1, 2014. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and 22 Jump Street are leading in gross so far respectively, with 22 Jump Street still in theaters. [x]

22 Jump Street
This sequel to the hit 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street stars Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum and follows the adventures of Officers Schmidt and Jenko as they go undercover as college students. The film is directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord.

Image and Synopsis Courtesy IMDB [xi]

In its opening weekend (June 13-15, 2014), 22 Jump Street opened at number one, making $57,071,445 domestically to its $50 million budget. The film is now in its twenty-third week, having made $331,333,876 worldwide as of December 1, 2014. [xii]

The Equalizer
In The Equalizer, Denzel Washington stars as a man who has put his dark past behind him, only to return to his old ways when he meets a girl who is under the control of Russian gangsters. The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua.

Image and Synopsis Courtesy IMDB [xiii]

In its opening weekend (Sept. 26-28, 2014) The Equalizer opened number one at the box office, earning $34,137,828 to its $55 million budget. Now in its ninth week, the film has made $190,173,178 internationally as of December 1, 2014. [xiv]

Fury
Fury, starring Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, and Shia LaBeouf, tells the tale of an Army Sergeant nicknamed Wardaddy (Pitt) who commands a Sherman tank with a five-man crew against amazing odds in an attempt to cripple Nazi Germany. The film is written and directed by David Ayer.

Image and Synopsis Courtesy IMDB [xv]

Opening number one at the box office, Fury made $23,702,421 to its $68 million budget during its opening weekend (Oct. 17-19, 2014). Going through its seventh week in theaters, Fury has made $171,707,000 internationally as of December 1, 2014. [xvi] On Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, 2014, the movie was free at Regal and AMC Theaters for all current personnel or veterans with a valid I.D. [xvii]

Ghostbusters (30th Anniversary Re-Release)
To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the 1984 classic, Ghostbusters was back in theaters beginning August 29, 2014. [xviii] It tells the story of three parapsychology professors struggling for work who decide to open up a ghost removal business. It stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Sigourney Weaver. It is directed by Ivan Reitman. [xix]

Image Credit Fandango.com [xx]

The re-release opened at fifteenth its opening weekend (August 29-31, 2014), making $1,756,513. It closed on September 18, 2014, despite being advertised as only being open for one week. During this time, it made $3,580,343. This makes the film’s total lifetime gross $242,212,467 as of December 1, 2014. [xxi]

In Other News:

In early November, Columbia Pictures requested to a Florida federal court that its anti-piracy policies be kept secret. The information on these policies is now in a closed case between Hotfile, a file-sharing site that closed down in 2013, and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). [xxii] Columbia is insisting that if this information were released, it would render the company incapable to protect its copyrighted works. This comes after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that the information is in the public interest and should be released. [xxiii]

Image Courtesy Dailytech [xxvi]

On November 24, 2014, hackers took control of Sony’s computer systems. A group claiming to be the hackers then criticized Sony CEO Michael Lynton in a tweet, calling him “a criminal.” [xxiv] Since then, versions of five films belonging to Sony Pictures have been released online: Annie, Fury, Still Alice, Mr. Turner, and To Write Love on Her Arms. Of those five films, only Fury has been released in theaters, but even that film hasn’t had a DVD release yet. These films are already reported to have been illegally downloaded hundreds of thousands of times. [xxv] Sony has since hired Mandiant Forensics Unit to clean up the attack, and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations has begun looking into the incident. Sony has been looking to see if the attack was perpetrated by North Korea-backed hackers in retaliation to the upcoming release of the movie, The Interview, which is a comedy about an attempt to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. [xxvii]

What’s To Come:

Annie

Image Courtesy IMDB [xxix]

One of the films leaked from the hack, Annie will be released in theaters on December 19, 2014. Starring Quvenzhane Wallis, Jamie Foxx, and Cameron Diaz, this musical film tells of a young foster kid (Wallis) who toughs out the hard knock life of New York City in 2014. While it will be competing against Disney‘s Into The Woods, the film is predicted to make about $95 million. [xxviii]

The Interview

Image Courtesy IMDB [xxxi]

To be released on Christmas Day, December 25, 2014, The Interview is the latest comedy co-directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Starring Rogen and James Franco, the film is about journalist Dave Skylark and producer Aaron Rapoport from the popular TV show Skylark Tonight as they are hired by the CIA to assassinate Kim Jong Un. It is predicted to make $90 million. [xxx]

[i] Columbia Pictures Logo. Retrieved 11/29/2014.
[ii] Sony Pictures Contacts. Retrieved 11/29/2014.
[iii] Sony/Columbia Executives. Retrieved 11/29/2014.
[iv] History of Columbia Pictures. Retrieved 11/29/2014.
[v] Sony Divisions. Retrieved 11/29/2014.
[vi] Sony Financials Q2 FY14. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[vii] Sony Financials Q2 FY13. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[viii] Sony Financials Q2 FY14. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[vix] Sony Predictions. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[x] Columbia Films 2014. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xi] 22 Jump Street Info. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xii] 22 Jump Street Box Office. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xiii] The Equalizer Info. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xiv] The Equalizer Box Office. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xv] Fury Info. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xvi] Fury Box Office. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xvii] Fury Free for Veterans 11/11. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xviii] Ghostbusters Re-release Info. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xix] Ghostbusters Info. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xx] Ghostbusters Re-release Poster. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xxi] Ghostbusters Re-Release Box Office. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxii] Hotfile Shuts Down. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxiii] Columbia Anti-Piracy Case. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxiv] Hackers take Sony. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxv] Sony Movies Leaked. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxvi] Hackers Call Out Lynton on Twitter. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxvii] Sony Responds to Hack. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxviii] Annie Info. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxiv] Annie Poster. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxx] The Interview Info. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxxi] The Interview Poster. Retrieved 12/1/2014.

Columbia-TriStar Pictures

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Alexandra Trifunovic

Columbia/TriStar Pictures

COLUMBIA/TRISTAR PICTURES:

10202 W Washington Blvd

Culver City, California 90232 [1]

Telephone: (310) 224-4000

Website: www.sonypictures.com

Executives:

Co-Chairman & CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment: Michael Lynton [4]

Co-Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment; Chairman, Sony Pictures: Amy Pascal

President, Columbia Pictures: Doug Belgrad [3]

Entertainment Motion Picture Group

Holdings:

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group

Columbia Pictures

TriStar Pictures

Locations:

Headquarters: Culver City, CA [1]

Columbia Pictures Producciones Mexico: Mexico City

Columbia Pictures Producciones Espanolas: Madrid, Spain

Columbia Pictures Production Asia: Hong Kong [2]

Additional operation in Japan, Brazil, UK

Competition:

The Walt Disney Studios [1]

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

Warner Brothers Pictures

Who Is Columbia/TriStar Pictures:

Columbia and TriStar Pictures function as divisions under the Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) [2]. Columbia Pictures produces Sony Pictures’ commercial motion pictures. TriStar Pictures allocates and markets Sony Pictures’ Entertainment films, distributing entertainment to over 150 countries around the globe [5] [11].

Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group has released many notable franchises such as the James Bond, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Men In Black franchises [6]. The Sony Pictures library includes over 3,500 films, 12 of which have won Academy Award Best Picture [2].

Having appeared since the creation of Columbia, the “Columbia Lady” paves the way for each and every motion picture. It is the studio’s icon [22].

History:

Columbia Pictures was the 1918 creation of Jack Cohn, Joe Brandt and Harry Cohn, who began by making short films [9]. By 1922, CBC Films – first named after its creators – produced the very famous, More to Be Pitied Than Scorned. Within the next two years, CBC Films transformed into Columbia Pictures Corporation.

Columbia Pictures began to rise in fame when renowned director, Frank Capra, began directing in 1927 [9]. He took the company by surprise with its first Best Picture Academy Award for the film, It Happened One Night (1934). He was also the reason for the studio’s first “talkie” film.

By 1982, The Coca-Cola Company purchased Columbia Pictures [9].

By 1983, TriStar Pictures was created when Columbia came together with HBO and CBS. Seeing that it was one of the newest production studios, it quickly surfaced as a chief competitor in the film arena by releasing popular blockbusters such as The Natural and Peggy Sue Got Married.

By 1989, Sony Corporation purchased Columbia Pictures from Coca-Cola [9]. The new owner positioned Columbia beneath its new division, Sony Pictures Entertainment. They company also transferred from Burbank to Culver City, CA. Here is where the studio produced such classics like Gone With the Wind and Citizen Kane. They produced these on the MGM lot.

In 2000, Sony created Sony Pictures Digital, which was comprised of Sony Picture Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation [9]. Imageworks developed CGI and VFX for Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group and the animation division. Animated feature films were produced by the animation division in Sony.

Today, the Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group releases Sony Pictures’ biggest films. These include 21 Jump Street, Julie and Julia, Men in Black 3, Zero Dark Thirty (5 Academy Award Nomination & Best Picture), and Skyfall – to only name a few [7].

Winter-Spring 2013:

Skyfall [28]

Action/Adventure/Crime

Worldwide Gross: $872 million

Budget: $200 million

U.S. Release Date: Nov 9

Directed by Sam Mendes

Produced by Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli

Featuring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, & Bereniche Marlohe

“The name is Bond…James Bond”.

Daniel Craig is back as James Bond in the 23rd installment of the Bond franchise, which is the longest-running film franchise ever. Skyfall delves into M’s secret past where Bond’s loyalty to her is tested. He is challenged to trace the threat and dispose of it at whatever cost [29].

This film was not only the highest-grossing film in the UK but it also marked Judi Dench’s final performance as M!

Zero Dark Thirty [20]

zero-dark-thirty1

Action/Drama/History

Worldwide Gross:$108,614,949

Budget: $40 Million

U.S. Release Date: Dec 19

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Written & Produced: Mark Boal

Featuring: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgarton, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, Edgar Ramirez, & Jennifer Enle

The masterminds behind The Hurt Locker (2008), Kathryn and Mark Boal, came together once more to produce this motion picture. They collaborated with Sony Pictures who made this the last feature to be released for the 2012 calendar year [18].

After a decade of searching for the “most wanted man,” Zero Dark Thirty details the story of the chase for Osama Bin Laden that began after the horrific events of 9/11.

Upcoming Spring-Summer 2013:

After Earth [19]

Science-Fiction/Thriller

Budget: $130 Million

U.S. Release Date: June 7

AFTER EARTH TRAILER 2013

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

Produced by Caleeb Pinkett, Will Smith, James Lassiter, & M. Night Shymalan

Featuring: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Isabelle Fuhrman, Kristofer Hivju, Gabriel Caste

The last of the human race is forced to leave Earth and instead travel through space. After 100 years of travel, they arrive to a place called Nova Prime and they must build a modern civilization of their own [19].

This Is The End [25]

Comedy

Budget: n/a

U.S. Release Date: June 14

THIS IS THE END TRAILER 2013

Directed by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg

Produced by Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, & James Weaver

Featuring: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogan, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride

Friendships are tested when six friends are stuck in a Los Angeles home after catastrophic events take place [25].

Recent News:

As was said before, Skyfall became the highest grossing Bond film ever before. It beat its previous record of $3.5 billion (2009) and earned over $4 billion [28]. This has led to Sony Picture Entertainment becoming the highest grossing movie studio for the year. In accordance with Skyfall, Sony’s other releases – The Amazing Spider-Man, Men in Black 3, and Zero Dark Thirty helped reach that highest grossing title. For 2012, Sony Pictures released a total of 9 blockbuster films. The release of films is at a low point currently but they will pick up for the end of spring into summer with Will Smith’s After Earth.

Rumors spread that Sony was having financial issues and needed to sell the film division. Thankfully, these rumors have been squashed and the CEO of Sony Corporation, Kazuo Hirai, stated that Sony would not be selling. Instead, Hirai states that Sony is nearing its comeback [20].

For only the 6^th time in Oscar history, Zero Dark Thirty’s hunt for Osama Bin Laden and Skyfall, the latest movie in the Bond franchise, were tied in the Sound Editing category [10].

Works Cited:

[1]: Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.Columbia_TriStar_Motion_Picture_Group.9a3fb312ea9f08a6.html

[2]: Sony Pictures http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html

[3]: Company overview of Columbia Pictures http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8033824

[4]: Senior Management Team http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/management.html

[5]: Company overview of TriStar http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=7913345

[6]: Looper IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1276104/

[7]: Columbia Pictures Films http://www.imdb.com/company/co0071509/

[8]: James Bond Press Release http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/press_releases/2012/08_12/082912_anniversary.html

[9]: Sony Pictures History http://www.sonypicturesmuseum.com/studio/history

[10]: Zero Dark Thirty article http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/inaccuracies-push-zero-dark-thirty-out-of-the-picture-at-the-oscars-8508910.html

[11]: About Sony Pictures http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/aboutsonypictures.html

[12]: Judi Dench – Skyfall http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/judi-dench-skyfall-007-bond_n_2102516.html

[13]: Skyfall Financials http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bond23.htm

[14]: LA Times – Skyfall http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-quick-20121206,0,7595314.story

[15]: Skyfall IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/

[16]: Zero Dark Thirty IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790885/

[17]: Zero Dark Thirty financials http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=binladen.htm

[18]: Skyfall article http://www.deadline.com/2012/11/skyfalls-669-2m-global-helps-sony-pictures-post-best-ever-4b-worldwide/

[19]: After Earth official site http://www.afterearth.com/site/

[20]: Sony Chief – Film Studio Not for Sale http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-chief-kaz-hirai-film-384605

[21]:$1 million – Zero Dark Thirty http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/electronic-arts-sony-medal-of-honor-warfighter-donation-soldiers-370401

[22]: Columbia Lady History http://www.sonypicturesmuseum.com/studio/history/columbia

[23]: Skyfall IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/

[24]: Skyfall Official Site http://www.skyfall-movie.com/site/

[25]: This Is The End IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245492/

Columbia/TriStar Pictures

Posted on December 7, 2012 by David Jocson

by [David Jocson]

— Courtesy of Flavorwire.com

— Courtesy of Google Images

Columbia/TriStar Pictures

10202 W Washington Blvd [1]

Culver City, CA 90232

Telephone: 310-224-4000

Website: www.sonypictures.com

Executives

Michael Lynton: Co-Chairman & CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment [2]

Amy Pascal: Co-Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment | Chairman, Sony Pictures

Entertainment Motion Picture Group

Doug Belgrad: President, Columbia Pictures [3]

Holdings

Sony Pictures Entertainment [4]:

Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group:

Columbia Pictures

TriStar Pictures

Locations

Headquarters: Culver City, CA [1]

Columbia Pictures Production Asia [5]: Hong Kong

Columbia Pictures Producciones Espanolas: Madrid, Spain

Columbia Pictures Producciones Mexico: Mexico City

Additional operations in: Japan, Brazil and the UK

Competition

Warner Bros. Pictures [1]

The Walt Disney Studios

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Company Description

Columbia and TriStar Pictures operate as divisions under the Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) [5]. Columbia Pictures produces Sony Pictures’ commercial feature films [1]. TriStar Pictures distributes and markets SPE’s films, delivering entertainment to over 150 countries [6] [7].

Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group has released many notable franchises such as the James Bond and The Amazing Spider-Man franchises [8]. Its movies make up the bulk of the Sony Pictures’ library that includes over 3,500 films, 12 of which are Best Picture Academy Award winners [5].

The “Columbia Lady” precedes every feature film by Columbia Pictures [9]. It is the studio’s iconic trademark, having appeared in its motion pictures since the very beginning of the company.

History

Columbia Pictures began in 1918 when Jack Cohn, Joe Brandt and Harry Cohn began making short films [10]. CBC Films, as it was named after its founders back then, produced its first feature film, More to Be Pitied Than Scorned, in 1922 with great success. Two years later, the founders changed the name of CBC Films to Columbia Pictures Corporation.

The company rose to fame after signing legendary director Frank Capra to direct its feature films in 1927 [10]. Capra won Columbia Pictures its first Best Picture Academy Award for his film, It Happened One Night, in 1934. He also directed the studio’s first complete “talkie” motion picture.

In 1982, The Coca-Cola Company purchased Columbia Pictures [10]. (reuters)

In 1983, Columbia together with CBS and HBO, formed TriStar Pictures [10]. It was the newest production studio in decades. It quickly emerged as a major contender in the industry by releasing major blockbusters such as Rambo: First Blood Part II.

Sony Corporation purchased Columbia Pictures from Coca-Cola in 1989 [10]. The new owner placed Columbia under its new division, Sony Pictures Entertainment. Sony also moved the Columbia Pictures studio from Burbank to Culver City, CA. The studio operated on the former MGM lot where classics such as Citizen Kane and Gone With The Wind were produced.

In 2000, Sony created Sony Pictures Digital [10]. Sony Pictures Digital comprised of Sony Pictures Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation. Imageworks developed CGI and VFX for Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group and the animation division. The animation division produced Sony Pictures’ animated feature films.

Today, the Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group releases Sony Pictures’ biggest films such as The Amazing Spider-Man, 21 Jump Street and Men In Black 3 [8].

Fall-Winter 2012

Looper [11]

Action | Sci-fi | Crime

Budget [12]: $30 million

Worldwide Gross: $165 million

U.S. Release Date [11]: Sep. 28

— Courtesy of IMDb.com

Directed by Rian Johnson

Featuring:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Joe

Bruce Willis as Old Joe

Emily Blunt as Sara

Looper tells the story of Joe, an assassin for the mob, who is sent back in time to kill himself in order to “tie a loose end [11].”

Hotel Transylvania [13]

Family | Animation | Comedy

Budget [14]: $85 million

Worldwide Gross: $296 million

U.S. Release Date [13]: Sep. 28

— Courtesy of IMDb.com

Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky

Featuring:

Adam Sandler as Dracula

Andy Samberg as Jonathan

Selena Gomez as Mavin

Kevin James as Frankenstein

Hotel Transylvania is about Count Dracula overprotecting his teenage daughter from falling in love with a human boy who stumbles upon Dracula’s “monster resort [13].”

The film is Genndy Tartakovsky’s first feature motion picture. Tartakovsy is a three-time Emmy Award winner known for creating famous cartoons such as Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory [15].

Hotel Transylvania became the best opening movie of all-time for September. It also became Sony Pictures’ most successful animated feature at the box office [16].

Skyfall [17]

Action | Crime | Adventure

Budget [18]: $200 million

Worldwide Gross: $872 million

U.S. Release Date [17]: Nov. 9

— Courtesy of IMDb.com

Directed by Sam Mendes

Featuring:

Daniel Craig as James Bond

Javier Bardem as Silva

Judi Dench as M

Skyfall is the 23rd installment of the Bond franchise. It is about a former agent of M who comes back to seek vengeance upon her while terrorizing MI6 and battling agent 007 [17].

In early December, Skyfall became the highest grossing film ever in the UK [19].

The movie also marked Judi Dench’s final role as M [20].

Zero Dark Thirty [21]

Action | Drama | History

Budget [22]: n/a

Worldwide Gross: n/a

U.S. Release Date [21]: Dec. 19

— Courtesy of IMDb.com

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Featuring:

Chris Pratt as Justin, a member of Navy SEAL Team 6

Jason Clarke as Dan

Jessica Chastain as Maya

Zero Dark Thirty recounts the hunt for Osama bin Laden that began after 9/11 and culminated in his death by SEAL Team 6 in May 2011, after a decade of searching for the “world’s most wanted man [21].”

Zero Dark Thirty was the last feature film Sony Pictures Entertainment was going to release before the end of 2012 [23].

Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal, the minds behind The Hurt Locker, collaborated again to produce the widely-anticipated movie [23].

News

Sony Pictures Entertainment became the highest grossing movie studio of the year, having earned $1.7 billion in the U.S. alone [24]. Internationally, it earned over $4 billion, beating its previous record of $3.5 billion in 2009 [23]. The new record was achieved in large part to Skyfall, the highest grossing Bond film ever. The film received a cumulative $669.2 million during its opening weekend alone. However, other blockbusters helped too. The Amazing Spider-Man earned $754 million, Men In Black 3 earned $624 million, Hotel Transylvania earned $283 million and 21 Jump Street earned $201 million. Sony Pictures Entertainment released a total of 9 No. 1 movies at the domestic box office in 2012.

Kazuo Hirai, CEO of Sony Corporation, told The Hollywood Reporter that Sony was not going to sell Sony Pictures Entertainment amidst rumors that Sony was going to sell the film division due to financial losses [25]. The Hollywood Reporter quoted him saying, “There is no reason to sell these industry-dealing businesses and no consideration is being given to the idea.” Hirai made it clear that Sony Pictures Entertainment was not going to be sold anytime soon.

Sony Pictures Entertainment joined video game company Electronic Arts to raise $1 million in donations for American troops [26]. EA planned to release its new game, Medal of Honor Warfighter, on Dec. 17th after its rival, Activision, released its game Call of Duty: Black Ops II. The release date was also planned to coincide with Columbia Picture’s Zero Dark Thirty that premieres on Dec. 19th. EA prepared exclusive maps that featured locations from the feature film available for purchase. The company said it would take a portion of the proceeds to donate a minimum of $1 million to nonprofit veterans organizations.

On October 5th, Columbia Pictures joined MGM Pictures, Passion Pictures and Red Box Films in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Bond franchise by releasing Everything Or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007 [27]. The documentary chronicles the lives of the franchise’s author Ian Fleming and producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli.

October 5th also became Global James Bond Day [28]. The worldwide event included an online and live auction charity event in London, a franchise exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and an evening of Bond music hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles.

Works Cited

[1]: http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.Columbia_TriStar_Motion_Picture_Group.9a3fb312ea9f08a6.html

[2]: http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/management.html

[3]: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8033824

[4]: http://www.cjr.org/resources/?c=sony

[5]: http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html

[6]: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=7913345

[7]: http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/aboutsonypictures.html

[8]: http://www.imdb.com/company/co0071509/

[9]: http://www.sonypicturesmuseum.com/studio/history/columbia

[10]: http://www.sonypicturesmuseum.com/studio/history