SONY'S BILLION-DOLLAR YEAR STUDIO ON THRESHOLD OF TICKET-TAKE RECORD.

Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer

Sony Pictures Entertainment is poised to hit the $1 billion mark for the year in domestic box office grosses, faster than any studio in history - a full two months ahead of the previous record - on the strength of blockbusters like ``Spider-Man'' and ``Men in Black II.''

What a difference a year makes.

In 2001, the studio did not release a single film that crossed the $100 million mark and finished the year in an embarrassing fifth place among the seven major studios.

``Sony has hit it pitch-perfect this year,'' observed Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Exhibitor Relations. ``If you wanted to design the perfect box office year for a studio, this year for Sony would be the model you would use.''

As of Sunday, the studio's total stood at an astonishing $965 million for 2002. It will cross the $1 billion mark for the second time in its history and in the process, break its own record for reaching that level faster than any other studio. In 1997, Sony's box office grosses topped $1 billion during Labor Day weekend, the summer it released its first ``Men in Black'' film as well as the hits ``My Best Friend's Wedding'' and ``Air Force One.''

The phenomenal success of ``Spider-Man,'' which entered the rarefied $400 million box office territory last weekend, has propelled Sony and its Columbia Pictures to the top of the year's box office heap. ``Spider-Man'' has set a list of industry records including the biggest opening weekend ($114.8 million) in history and represents 40 percent of Sony's total box office take.

``Men in Black II'' set a Fourth of July weekend record by grossing $87.2 million during its first five days of release, according to final box office figures released Monday.

But the studio has had plenty of other solid successes including five films that opened at the No. 1 spot at the box office. In addition to ``Spider-Man'' and ``Men in Black II,'' the Adam Sandler comedy ``Mr. Deeds'' opened on top last month only to be relegated to No. 2 by the Will Smith-Tommy Lee Jones action picture. The combined grosses of the two films last weekend marked the biggest top-two total a single studio has ever had.

``It's part of a pretty hot year,'' said Jeff Blake, president of worldwide marketing and distribution for Sony. ``I think it's been a great slate of films that has all come together.''

The studio started the year off in impressive fashion with a No. 1 debut and strong grosses for the military drama ``Black Hawk Down.'' In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States, there was some doubt that a violent war film would connect with audiences. But the film, which earned an Academy Award nomination for best picture, went on to gross more than $100 million at the U.S. box office.

In March Sony had another surprise hit on its hands when it released the thriller ``Panic Room'' starring Jodie Foster. The movie opened in first place and played strong through the spring earning more than $95 million at the box office.

``With 'Spider-Man,' everyone knew they'd have a good year, but sometimes on paper, it can look like studio is going to have a big year and there are unfulfilled expectations,'' Dergarabedian said. ``It's obvious that Sony is living up to all that advance word on their films.''

Even more daunting for rival studios: Sony has more seemingly sure-fire winners on tap: ``Stuart Little 2'' out next weekend, the Vin Deisel action-vehicle ``XXX'' out in August, and coming in November is Eddie Murphy starring in the feature film version of the television classic ``I Spy.''

``Everything is there,'' Dergarabedian said. ``They've got the films and the marketing expertise and just have everything going for them. It's an unqualified success.''

Blake is quick to point out that the studio is not resting on its laurels. It has high hopes to continue its momentum next year with the sequel to the studios' hit ``Charlie's Angels,'' another Will Smith film called ``Bad Boys'' and the teaming of Sandler and Jack Nicholson in ``Anger Management,'' the latter being made by Revolution Films to be distributed by Sony.

There is also early talks for another installment to the ``Men in Black'' franchise given that film's record-setting July 4 weekend grosses.

``We hope to keep our franchises going both with our titles and our stars,'' Blake said. ``What makes the movie business fun is you never know what's going to happen.''

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(color) ``Men in Black II,'' part of Sony Pictures Entertainment's mighty movie arsenal in 2002.