Sony Pictures Entertainment makes, markets, and distributes feature films in both U.S. and international markets. Sony's Motion Picture Group, which includes the production houses Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Classics, makes around 30 feature films annually and brings in 9.7%[4] of the company's total revenue. Major recent releases include Spiderman, The Da Vinci Code, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and Capote.

However, due to the nature of movie production, even successful blockbusters generally break even in theaters, with the majority of profits coming from subsequent home-entertainment sales. Significant resources are spent on advertising feature releases before and after their entry into theatres. The company, however, continues to benefit from the film's popularity and DVD sales, long after it has left theatres. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment generates a high operating margin of 20%, compared to a loss for the motion pictures segment.

Sony also controls a strong portfolio of television programming, including Seinfeld, Jeopardy, and Days of Our Lives. International television operations have experienced fast growth as foreign language markets are opened.

In 1995 Michael is approached by executives at Sony with an offer he can't refuse. Sony offers to pay Michael $95 million ($160 million in today's dollars) to merge ATV Music with their catalogue company and form a new 50/50 joint-owned publishing powerhouse. This was a great deal because not only did Michael instantly earn back nearly twice his initial investment, he now owned 50% of a much larger music publishing company that would likely grow even bigger in the future. And by the way, Michael still controlled 100% of his own songs through his separate company Mijac Music.

Between 1995 and 2005, Sony/ATV Music Publishing would grow to own over 200,000 songs. Between 2005 and 2013, the company would grow to own over two million songs including dozens of valuable catalogues and individual songs by artists like Eminem, Lady Gaga, Akon, Shakira, Beck, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan. In 2012, Sony/ATV earned an estimated $1.25 billion per year from licensing and royalties and had a net income of $500 million. Today, the total value of Sony/ATV is estimated at $2-4 billion! Even if you use the low end of that estimate, Jackson's 50% stake is worth a whopping $1 billion! Not a bad return on a $47.5 million investment.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) - Sony has a 45% stake in the movie production company MGM. Recent key releases include Casino Royale, Rocky Balboa, and Clerks II. MGM faces the same challenges as Sony's own Motion Pictures Group in movie production.

Sony's financial services, which are offered only in Japan, include Sony Life offering life insurance, Sony Assurance offering home, automotive, and medical insurance, and Sony Bank, an internet-based bank. This division is usually very profitable.