David Ellison hits CinemaCon, reiterating pledge to make more movies with Paramount-Warner Bros.

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David Ellison, the CEO of Paramount Skydance, spoke at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Thursday and promised theater owners that the newly combined Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery will release at least 30 movies each year.

I was really struck by what Ellison said on stage. He wanted to personally assure all of us that Paramount is making a huge push with movies. He announced they’ve almost doubled their planned releases for this year – they’re aiming for 15 films, compared to just eight last year. It felt like a real commitment from him.

Starting this Thursday, movies will play in theaters for 45 days before becoming available on streaming services, which will happen after a total of 90 days. This timeframe, known as ‘windowing,’ has been a point of disagreement for theater owners. Some studios shortened it during the pandemic, and theater operators worry this has encouraged people to wait and watch movies at home, reducing ticket sales.

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AMC CEO Adam Aron expects David Ellison to deliver on his commitment to produce 30 movies annually from the newly merged Paramount and Warner Bros. studios.

For the past two decades, I’ve focused on championing and protecting the art of film,” explained Ellison, dressed in a jacket, shirt, and jeans. “At Paramount, we’re committed to bringing even more compelling stories to the cinema – stories that entertain, provoke thought, and resonate with a wide range of viewers.”

Paramount’s potential purchase of Warner Bros. is facing backlash, with over 1,000 actors and industry professionals signing a letter of opposition. They argue the deal would limit competition and give even more power to the few major companies that already control the entertainment industry.

Some movie theater owners are wondering if the newly merged company can really deliver on its promise of releasing 30 movies each year, especially considering the expected budget cuts following the merger.

Ellison acknowledged people might have doubts, but assured everyone directly that they could rely on the company’s full dedication. He promised they would prove it with their actions.

The speech followed a spectacular video created by Jon M. Chu, the director of “Wicked: For Good.” Filmed at Paramount Studios, the video featured prominent directors and actors – including Issa Rae, Will Smith, Chris Pratt, James Cameron, and Timothée Chalamet – who are all collaborating with the company.

The video closed with “Top Gun” actor Tom Cruise perched atop the Paramount water tower.

Ellison noted that the Paramount studio lot is bustling with activity again, and expressed their team’s excitement about it.

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2026-04-16 23:31