Columbia Pictures turned 100 years old in 2024 and as the year comes to a close, Sony Pictures released a tribute video celebrating the movie studios’ 100 years of making movies.
“For our 100th birthday, we celebrate you. The last century wouldn’t have been possible without the heart and soul of everyone who works at Sony Pictures – get an inside look at what makes Columbia Pictures the studio it is today.”
The video features several filmmakers, actors, and others who work at the studio talking about the legacy of the studio, why they love Columbia movies, and they share some of their favorite movies and moments.
Columbia Pictures was founded in 1918 by Harry Cohn, Jack Cohn, and Joe Brandt as Cohn-Brandt-Cohn (CBC) Film Sales Corporation. Initially, the company focused on low-budget productions and short films, earning the moniker “Corned Beef and Cabbage” in Hollywood.
In 1924, the company was rebranded as Columbia Pictures Corporation, a move designed to elevate its image and appeal to a broader audience. Under Harry Cohn’s leadership, Columbia transitioned into a prominent studio during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
The company’s breakthrough came in 1934 with It Happened One Night, directed by Frank Capra, which became the first film to win all five major Academy Awards. Capra’s collaboration with Columbia helped solidify the studio’s reputation for producing quality films despite its relatively modest resources compared to major studios like MGM and Paramount.
Throughout the mid-20th century, Columbia Pictures continued to grow, producing iconic films such as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and From Here to Eternity (1953).
The studio also expanded into television production in the 1950s, diversifying its portfolio. In the 1980s, Columbia underwent significant changes, including its acquisition by Coca-Cola in 1982, followed by a sale to Sony Corporation in 1989.
Under Sony’s ownership, Columbia became a key player in the blockbuster era, releasing films like Ghostbusters (1984), Men in Black (1997), and Spider-Man (2002). Today, Columbia Pictures remains one of the leading film production and distribution companies in the world, known for its iconic torch lady logo and its contributions to cinematic history.
