TriStar Pictures is a division of Sony Pictures and a sister company of Columbia Pictures. Founded in 1982 as Nova Pictures by a joint venture of Columbia, CBS and HBO, the company's name changed to Tri-Star Pictures (the name was modified in 1993 to remove the hyphen) due to the existence of Nova, a science series on PBS, and began distributing films in 1984 (their first release was Where The Boys Are '84, a pickup from ITC Entertainment). The idea was that the three partners would split both the ever-increasing costs of making movies, and distribution rights (Columbia in theaters, CBS on broadcast TV and HBO on cable TV). Over the next three years, Columbia would buy CBS and HBO's shares of the company (primarily due to home video making TV rights to movies look less attractive) and by 1987, Columbia had taken over the whole company. Throughout its first 15 years, TriStar served as an equal to Columbia by producing similar product, while also distributing the films of Carolco Pictures (an arrangement that lasted until 1994, when they switched to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who distributed most of the studio's final films) and other assorted companies.
Early on (with a few exceptions), TriStar's films were released by Home Video Distributors RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video, CBS/Fox Video (and/or sublabels Key Video and Playhouse Video), or Thorn-EMI/HBO/Cannon Video. By 1988, following Columbia's assumption of control over TriStar, home video distribution of films produced by the studio moved exclusively to RCA/Columbia. The Carolco films were released on the International Video Entertainment and Live Home Video labels (since absorbed into Lionsgate), often with TriStar's logo cut. Cliffhanger is the only Carolco film in which the rights were retained by the original distributor.
TriStar formed its television, TriStar Television, in 1986. Notable shows from the time include My Two Dads and Werewolf (1987), but folded into Columbia Pictures Television in 1988 after a restructuring of the television studios after Coca-Cola (then owners of Columbia and its subsidiaries) took a reduced role in their studios. It would return in 1991 after gathering the rights to produce several shows from New World Television. The second run brought fourth Mad About You and The Nanny before being folded into Columbia TriStar Television in 1999 (after both shows ended their run).
After the box office disappointment of Godzilla (1998), Sony decided to downscale TriStar and put more emphasis on its then-new B-movie division, Screen Gems. TriStar continued to exist as a division for titles acquired from different companies and the occasional Direct to Video product, but still managed to get a successful film every once in a while (such as District 9 and Looper).
In 2013, the TriStar brand began a resurgence. Tom Rothman, a former Twentieth Century Fox chairman, joined forces with other Sony executives to form TriStar Productions. This new division is intended to supplement the output of Columbia, Screen Gems, and other labels, producing up to four films a year. In addition to continuing with acquiring other companies' work, TriStar resumed distributing its own in-house productions, and returned to full production of TV series note under Sony Pictures Television. However, due to Tom Rothman becoming chairman of Sony Pictures' Motion Picture Group in 2015, Tristar's output has decreased, with just one film released by the label since 2017.
On May 28, 2015, TriStar Television was re-launched as a boutique production label for Sony Pictures Television. Until her death in March 2018, the revived studio was run by Suzanne Patmore-Gibbs after being in-name-only for 15 years. The first new series was Good Girls Revolt and was piloted for Prime Video on November 5, 2015.
Known for its Pegasus Mascot and their fanfare, the first version of which was composed by Academy Award winner Dave Grusin (recomposed when TriStar's second logo debuted in 1993).
- 3 Ninjas sequels (1993-94, 1998)
- 88 Minutes (2007)
- 8 Million Ways to Die (1986)
- About Last Night... (1986)
- Air America (1990)
- Alamo Bay (1985)
- All the Money in the World (2017)
- Amazing Grace and Chuck (1987)
- Angel Heart (1987)
- Another You (1991)
- Apt Pupil (1998)
- As Good as It Gets (1997)
- Avalon (1990)
- Baby Driver (2017)
- Baby Geniuses (1999)
- Band of the Hand (1986)
- Basic Instinct (1992; US distribution)
- Bat*21 (1988)
- The Bear (1988)
- A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
- Beverly Hills Ninja (1997)
- The Big Hit (1998)
- Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016)
- Bingo (1991)
- Birdy (1984)
- Blind Date (1987)
- Blind Fury (1989)
- The Blob (1988)
- The Book of Clarence (2024)
- Breakin (1984)
- The Breed (2001)
- The Brothers Solomon (2007)
- Bugsy (1991)
- The Call (2013)
- Candyman (1992; a Polygram production, currently owned by Universal)
- Chances Are (1989)
- Chaplin (1992)
- City of Joy (1992)
- Cliffhanger (1993)
- Colombiana (2011)
- Cops And Robbersons (1994)
- The Crimson Rivers (2000)
- Daddy Day Camp (2007)
- Dark Blue World (2001) - international distribution
- Desperate Measures (1998)
- Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
- District 9 (2009)
- Donnie Brasco (1997)
- The Doors (1991)
- Elysium (2013)
- Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986)
- The Evil That Men Do (1984)
- Extreme Prejudice (1987)
- Family Business (1989)
- The Fan (1996)
- Faster (2010) - international distribution
- The Fisher King (1991)
- Flashpoint (1984) (1984; American theatrical distribution)
- Forever Lulu (1987)
- For Keeps (1988)
- The Freshman (1990)
- Fright Night Part 2 (1988)
- Gaby A True Story (1987)
- Gardens Of Stone (1987)
- Glory (1989)
- Godzilla (1998)
- Godzilla 2000 (2000, American distributor)
- Guarding Tess (1994)
- Happiest Season (2020; distributed by Hulu; TriStar's first streaming original film)
- Head Office (1985)
- Heaven Help Us (1985)
- Hideaway (1995)
- High School High (1996)
- High Spirits (1988)
- The Hitcher (1986)
- Hook (1991)
- Hudson Hawk (1991)
- Husbands and Wives (1992)
- Hush (1998)
- I Know Who Killed Me (2007)
- I Love You to Death (1990)
- If Lucy Fell (1996)
- Iron Eagle (1986) and Iron Eagle II (1988)
- Ironweed (1987)
- It Could Happen to You (1994)
- Jacob's Ladder (1990)
- Jawbreaker (1999)
- Jerry Maguire (1996)
- Johnny Handsome (1989)
- Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
- Jumanji (1995)
- Jumping the Broom (2011)
- Jury Duty (1995)
- The Kiss (1988)
- L.A. Story (1991)
- Labyrinth (1986)
- The Last Dragon (1985)
- The Legend of Billie Jean (1985)
- Legends of the Fall (1994)
- Let's Get Harry (1986)
- Like Father Like Son (1987)
- Lock Up (1989)
- Look Who's Talking (1989) and its sequels (1990, 1993)
- Loose Cannons (1990)
- Lords of Dogtown (2005; co-production with Columbia Pictures)
- Loverboy (1989)
- Madeline (1998)
- Magic in the Water (1995)
- Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)
- Mary Reilly (1996)
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)
- The Mask of Zorro (1998)
- Matilda (1996)
- Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (2022, released on Netflix in the US)
- The Medallion (2003)
- The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)
- Mixed Nuts (1994)
- Moms' Night Out (2014)
- The Monster Squad (1987)
- Mountains Of The Moon (1990)
- Mr Jones (1993)
- Mrs. Winterbourne (1996)
- The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
- Music Box (1989)
- My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
- Nadine (1987)
- Narrow Margin (1990)
- The Natural (1984)
- Never Talk To Strangers (1995)
- New Best Friend (2002)
- Night of the Creeps (1986)
- No Mercy (1986)
- Nothing in Common (1986)
- Only You (1994)
- Passengers (2008)
- Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
- The Pest (1997)
- Philadelphia (1993)
- Places in the Heart (1984)
- Planet 51 (2009; first animated film by TriStar Pictures)
- Premonition (2007)
- Princess Caraboo (1994)
- The Principal (1987)
- Private Resort (1985)
- Q & A (1990)
- The Quick and the Dead (1995)
- Race The Sun (1996)
- RAD (1986; US distribution)
- Real Genius (1985)
- Red Heat (1988)
- Ricki and the Flash (2015)
- Rudy (1993)
- Runaway (1984)
- The Running Man (1987)
- Running With Scissors (2006)
- Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
- See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
- Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- The Seventh Sign (1988)
- Short Circuit (1986)
- Short Circuit 2 (1988)
- Side Out (1990)
- Silent Hill (2006)
- Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984, original theatrical release only)
- Sing (1989)
- Slaves Of New York (1989)
- Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
- Sniper (1993)
- So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)
- Sparkle (2012 remake)
- Starship Troopers (1997; co-production with Touchstone Pictures)
- Steel Magnolias (1989)
- Sunset (1988)
- Supergirl (1984; rights now owned by Warner Bros.)
- Suspect (1987)
- Sweet Dreams (1985)
- Sweet Hearts Dance (1988)
- Switching Channels (1988)
- T2 Trainspotting (2017)
- Thanksgiving (2023)
- Threesome (1994)
- Thunderheart (1992)
- Toy Soldiers (1991)
- Truth or Consequences, N.M. (1997)
- U Turn (1997)
- Universal Soldier (1992)
- Urban Legend (1998)
- Volunteers (1985)
- Wagons East! (1994)
- The Walk (2015)
- Wasabi (2001)
- Weekend At Bernies 2 (1993)
- Who's Harry Crumb? (1989) a co-production with NBC
- Wilder Napalm (1993)
- Wind (1992)
- The Woman King (2022)
- Distribution of many Carolco Pictures films:
- Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- Rambo III (1988)
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- Total Recall (1990)
- Distribution of some FilmDistrict titles:
- Evil Dead (2013)
- Looper (2012)
- Soul Surfer (2011) (not to be confused with the 2002 Sega arcade game of the same name)
- Forever Knight (1992-96)
- Get a Life (1991-92; inherited from New World Television in 1991)
- Mad About You (1992-99)
- Malcolm and Eddie (1996-2000)
- Mr. Show (1995; season one only)
- My Two Dads (1987-90)
- The Nanny (1993-99)
- Werewolf (1987) (1987-88)
- The Afterparty (2022-present)
- Good Girls Revolt (2015-16)
- On Becoming a God in Central Florida (2019)