TriStar Pictures underwent several changes and is now a part of Sony Pictures Entertainment, operating mainly as a label for genre and mid-budget films.
TriStar Pictures, originally founded in 1982 as a joint venture between Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, became a significant player in the film industry throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The company produced and distributed a wide array of successful films, including “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” “Philadelphia,” and “As Good as It Gets.”
In 1987, TriStar’s ownership changed when The Coca-Cola Company, which owned Columbia Pictures at the time, bought out HBO and CBS, making TriStar a part of the Columbia Pictures Entertainment group. In 1989, Sony Corporation acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment, and TriStar Pictures became part of the Sony Pictures Entertainment umbrella.
Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, TriStar continued to release films, but its role within Sony Pictures evolved. Sony consolidated its film businesses under the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, where TriStar served alongside Columbia Pictures as a film production and distribution entity.
In recent years, TriStar Pictures has been repositioned within Sony as a label for genre and mid-budget films. It is not as prominently featured as it once was, with Sony’s Columbia Pictures taking the lead on many of the studio’s major releases. However, TriStar still operates and releases films, albeit on a smaller scale than during its peak. The label focuses on a diverse range of films, including dramas, comedies, and genre fare, aiming to produce content that resonates with specific audiences and capitalizes on niche markets.