Logo descriptions by
Eric S. and Logophile
Logo captures by
Eric S., Logophile, V of Doom and naxo-olé
Editions by
TheMisterFree
Background[]
Sony Pictures Releasing is the successor of the Triumph Releasing Corporation and is the film distribution unit of Sony Corporation. The company distributes films from Sony's Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems and TriStar Pictures labels, among others.
1st Logo (1996-1999 in the U.S.; 1996-2003 internationally)[]
Nickname: "The Red Line"
Logo: On a black background, we see the text "SONY PICTURES RELEASING", with "SONY PICTURES" above and "RELEASING" below all in Garamond font. A red line separates the text.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Seen only before the trailer for The Last Supper, which can be seen on the 1996 VHS releases of Heavy Metal, The City of Lost Children, and Shanghai Triad.
2nd Logo (2005-)[]
Nickname: "The Shining Bars"
Logo: It's exactly the same as the Sony Pictures Home Entertainment logo, except "RELEASING" replaces "HOME ENTERTAINMENT."
Variants:
- Sometimes, the byline "Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing [country] a SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT company" appears below, depending on the country and its native language.
- Another variant of this logo says "RELEASING INTERNATIONAL".
- On the trailer of Spanish film Veronica, the logo is red tinted.
- On its teaser trailer, the logo is sped up.
- A still version exists at the end of Sony-owned films when shown as in-flight movies.
FX/SFX: Same as the SPHE logo.
Music/Sounds: Same as the SPHE logo.
Music/Sounds Variant: On The Squid and the Whale, the logo is silent.
Availability: Very rare in the U.S., but common outside it. Currently seen on theatrical trailers of export films by Sony, and at the start of international theatrical releases. Can be seen on The Squid and The Whale, and on most prints (DVDs and Blu-rays) of Paprika after the Sony Pictures Classics logo (on streaming prints, only the latter is shown before the Madhouse logo, while the UK Blu-ray only features this logo in the "RELEASING INTERNATIONAL" variant). This logo also makes an appearance on the IMAX 3D version of Resident Evil: Afterlife (may be on the 3D Blu-ray release as well). Starting with the international releases of Heaven is for Real, this logo has been phased out in favor of the current Sony/Columbia or TriStar logo combo.
Editor's Note: Same as the SPHE logo.
3rd Logo (March 31, 2006)[]
Logo: Just an in-credit logo. On a black background, these words are shown in white:
RELEASED BY
SONY PICTURES RELEASING
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Seen at the end of Basic Instinct 2.