Which U.S. company bought Columbia Pictures in 1982?

The Coca-Cola Company bought Columbia Pictures in 1982.

Coca-Cola acquired the film studio as part of a diversification strategy that extended well beyond beverages. Columbia Pictures had been founded in 1924 and was an established Hollywood studio by the time Coca-Cola purchased it.

The ownership period included major films and a high-profile entertainment business, but Coca-Cola eventually separated itself from the studio. Sony Corporation acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment in 1989, bringing the company under Japanese corporate ownership.

This episode is often overlooked because Coca-Cola is primarily associated with drinks. It is also distinct from the company’s later media interests, including its ownership of other entertainment assets during the 1980s.