Sony Pictures Entertainment Pursues All-Time Industry Box Office Record For Worldwide Sales as Columbia Tristar Film Distributors International Generates More Than One Billion Dollars Overseas

Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI), a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), has generated more than $1 billion in ticket sales overseas in 2002 crossing over the rare billion dollar milestone for only the third time in the studio's history, it was announced today by Jeff Blake, President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution for Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. To date, SPE has generated approximately $2.4 billion in worldwide ticket sales, and the studio is aggressively moving towards the industry's #1 yardstick of performance -- the worldwide box office record of $2.68 billion set by 20th Century Fox in 1998 when that studio was propelled by the international success of Titanic.

With nearly four months remaining in the calendar year, SPE's $2.4 billion is the industry's fifth largest worldwide gross of all-time, and it is the studio's best performance ever, topping the 2.34 billion earned globally by SPE in 1997.

The overseas box office record for CTFDI was previously set in 2000 when the studio generated $1.077 billion dollars in foreign ticket sales releasing titles such as Stuart Little, Erin Brockovich, Charlie's Angels and Hollow Man. The studio also crossed the billion dollar milestone in 1997 releasing such international hits as Men in Black, Jerry Maguire and My Best Friend's Wedding.

This year, Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International has scored with the resounding success of Spider-Man, which has generated $400 million overseas ($800 million worldwide); Men in Black II, which has accumulated approximately $225 million in the territories where the film has opened ($420 million worldwide); and Panic Room, which has deposited nearly $100 million towards the billion dollar equator. Other titles that have performed solidly include Stuart Little 2, and Revolution Studios' XXX, the latter of which just began its worldwide run of #1 openings.

"While we have all been staggered by the record-breaking performance of our films in this country, audiences overseas have embraced these titles with incredible enthusiasm," Blake said. "This has been a colossal year for Sony Pictures Entertainment throughout the world and we couldn't be more proud of all our CTFDI partners who have done an outstanding job nurturing these films and making them such a tremendous global success."

For their work launching the 2002 slate in the global arena, Blake credited the international marketing and distribution teams lead by Mark Zucker, Senior Executive Vice President of CTFDI, and Nigel Clark, Senior Executive Vice President, International Marketing for CTFDI.

"What is most remarkable is that we still have a stunning slate to launch this fall and there are significant territories that have not yet played films like XXX, Men in Black II, Stuart Little 2 and Mr. Deeds," Zucker said. "We still have nearly four months left in 2002 and we have the force of momentum as we build into the release of films like I Spy, and Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights."

"We could not have achieved these enormous results without great films satisfying audiences around the world," Clark said. "The magnitude of this success is truly rewarding for all of us and it is a testament to the phenomenal work of our marketing team in Los Angeles and the strength of our international offices."

Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a division of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/.

   Contact:
   Steve Elzer
   Senior Vice President, Media Relations
   Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
   (310) 244-7142
   steve_elzer@spe.sony.com

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SOURCE: Columbia Pictures

CONTACT: Steve Elzer, Senior Vice President, Media Relations of Columbia
TriStar Motion Picture Group, +1-310-244-7142, or steve_elzer@spe.sony.com

Web Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/