Movies

Sequels, Beatles and embattled studios: What we saw at CinemaCon 2025

BBG News

LAS VEGAS — There’s a lot of uncertainty in the movie business.

As a cinephile, I’ve noticed that the movie theater landscape has been undergoing some significant shifts in the post-pandemic era. It seems like our usual movie-watching routines have taken a new turn, and studios are rethinking their strategies accordingly.

There’s a palpable sense of uncertainty within the ranks of studio leadership at Warner Bros., Paramount Global, and Skydance as they navigate this changing terrain. Add to that the recent major reshuffling at Amazon MGM Studios, and it’s clear that the industry is experiencing some turbulence.

But fear not, fellow film enthusiasts! These upheavals could very well lead to exciting new chapters for our beloved cinematic universe. After all, change often breeds innovation. Let’s stay tuned and see what unfolds on the silver screen in the days ahead!

At the CinemaCon trade show in Las Vegas this week, major film studios expressed optimism about their movie lineups for 2025 and beyond, filling the air with a sense of certainty.

To the theater managers at Caesars Palace Colosseum, studio representatives expressed their dedication towards cinema screenings, emphasizing the allure of the large screen and their conviction that the excellence and variety in their films will attract audiences to the movie theaters.

Each studio showcased their top-tier talent and creators to reinforce their claims. For Sony, they unveiled the quartet of actors portraying The Beatles in their four-part movie series set for release in 2028. Lionsgate invited The Weeknd on stage for a performance as part of his film promotion, “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” Leonardo DiCaprio made an appearance at Warner Bros., while Walt Disney Co. distributed 3D glasses to preview their upcoming Pixar films “Elio” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Universal provided a live orchestra for the event.

In this rendition, let’s break it down:

In the original context: Sequels and reboots were dominant, along with action and horror films. Producer Jason Blum appeared on stage wearing a bear costume to publicize the sequel of “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”

The spotlight was on sequels and reboots, as well as action and scary movies. At an event, producer Jason Blum donned a bear suit to announce the upcoming sequel for “Five Nights at Freddy’s.

At the trade fair, an assortment of merchants displayed their newest offerings such as innovative popcorn add-ons, comfortable movie theater chairs, various carpets for sampling, and a clever device promising to mix the ideal cocktail within just four seconds.

In simple terms, the area surrounding the trade show resembled a lengthy cinema foyer, filled with various bright advertisements for upcoming movies. This unique spot is where you’ll find Stitch, Tom Cruise, and Toothless the dragon engaged in a cardboard cutout battle.

Here are some highlights from the week.

Hollywood Inc.

In the past, I’d eagerly stroll into the theater, my eyes scanning the marquee for my next cinematic adventure. However, times have changed, and the traditional method of movie selection is fading. Theaters are innovating to compensate for this shift in viewing habits.

Amazon MGM Studios bets on theaters

At CinemaCon, Amazon MGM Studios’ representatives emphasized multiple times their commitment to prioritizing theatrical distribution as a key aspect of their overall business strategy.

By 2027, our studio plans to unveil 15 large-scale, impactful films worldwide in theaters every year, as revealed by Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, during a recent presentation. In fact, he mentioned that we have 14 movies scheduled for release in 2026 alone. Additionally, we are expanding our international distribution network.

Hopkins expressed that he’s deeply enthusiastic about the movies they are producing and has a lasting dedication towards them.

Amazon MGM’s presentation commenced with a sneak peek at a 2026 movie based on the Andy Weir sci-fi novel “Project Hail Mary.” In this film, Ryan Gosling plays a science teacher transformed into an astronaut who forges an alliance with an alien to save Earth.

Fresh faces at CinemaCon didn’t live up to their grand claims, while STX Entertainment found favor with mid-budget movies among theater owners. However, the company’s aspirations for cinematic success ultimately fizzled out.

Over the past two years, Kevin Wilson, who oversees theatrical distribution for Amazon MGM, has been attending CinemaCon. During his time on stage, he reiterated that Amazon MGM is dedicated to the traditional method of movie distribution, stating, “We’ve been making this promise to you.” Some audience members were hopeful while others may have had doubts, perhaps whispering, “We’ve heard this before.” Our goal tonight is to demonstrate that our commitment to this approach is genuine.

As a devoted fan, I couldn’t help but feel my excitement soar as the studio unveiled a star-studded lineup during the event – Ben Affleck, Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, and Vivica A. Fox all graced our screens. To top it off, Amazon MGM Studios concluded the night with an exhilarating extended sneak peek of “The Accountant 2,” featuring none other than Ben Affleck in the lead role.

At the conclusion of the presentation, everyone present – the actors and directors – came together on stage for a group picture, which was captured using a selfie stick wielded by Fox.

Demand for a better experience

Movie theaters frequently urge film studios to take greater steps in aiding cinemas, but certain studio executives argue that theaters could enhance their own situation by focusing on improving the overall cinema-going experience.

Following an exhilarating opening featuring daring bike stunts and wheelies throughout the auditorium, Paramount distribution chief Chris Aronson asked theater owners to enhance the cinema-going experience for audiences.

I myself have observed some remarkable strategies being implemented at various cinemas, such as limiting previews, offering daily specials, extending matinee prices, and employing grassroots promotional tactics. Notably, I’ve noticed that “Discount Tuesdays” are a common feature in many of these theaters.

He suggested, “Maybe we could have Special Discount Days on Wednesdays, but only if our business isn’t already fully booked that day. If we are at capacity, then let’s skip it,” he added humorously, drawing laughter from the audience.

During his public speech, Paramount co-CEO Brian Robbins mentioned the upcoming merger with Skydance, expressing great pride about the achievements of Paramount Pictures amidst any turmoil happening within their parent company.

The event concluded with Tom Cruise making an appearance, requesting a brief moment of silence to pay tribute to his “Top Gun” colleague, Val Kilmer, who passed away recently.

On stage, Cruise expressed his deep admiration for the man’s work, his high regard for him as a person, and his immense gratitude and pride when he signed up for ‘Top Gun’ and later returned for ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ He also conveyed his wishes for Val’s future endeavors.

Afterward, he premiered a teaser for the movie “Mission: Impossible – The Last Mission,” which received rousing cheers.

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Later on, he showed us a sneak peek of the film “Mission: Impossible – The Ultimate Conclusion,” drawing thunderous applause.

Angel Studios spreads its wings

On an early Wednesday morning, the distributor Angel Studios displayed a varied selection of upcoming films for 2025 and the years following, highlighting their commitment to diversity.

Based in Provo, Utah, the company, self-identified as a “values-oriented distributor,” showcased a collection of their forthcoming films, concluding with the phrase “let light prevail.” Although this firm is recognized for producing faith-centric content, executives emphasize that its audience reach extends beyond religious themes.

Chief Distribution Officer, Jared Geesey, stated in a full auditorium that these tales aren’t exclusive to Middle America; rather, their appeal transcends borders. People across the globe yearn for narratives that resonate with the human spirit and present genuine heroes who motivate us,” he added.

For this purpose, the distributor will debut their initial animated movie this month titled “The King of Kings.” This movie presents a story narrated by Charles Dickens to his son about Jesus Christ.

Angel Studios plans to unveil three upcoming productions: “The Last Rodeo,” a story of a father who re-enters the arena to cover his son’s medical expenses, “Sketch,” where a child’s drawings magically spring to life, and “Truth & Treason,” which follows a man battling the Nazis through written words.

2026’s lineup at the distributor features a film on the life of young George Washington, a screen rendition of the magical “Fablehaven” series, and a movie portraying the camaraderie between authors J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

Angel Studios employs an unconventional approach for crowdfunding films by requiring approval from its community members, known as the Angel Guild, before releasing any movie. The perks for membership include complimentary cinema tickets and other benefits. Since October 2023, the number of members has skyrocketed to over 1 million, up significantly from 31,600 at the start. Currently, Angel Studios is planning to go public by merging with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC).

Brandon Purdie, executive vice president and head of theatrical distribution, stated on stage that when you, as exhibitors, create room for these tales to be told, people, or the audience, will come to see them.

A plea for production incentives

With an increasing number of nations offering attractive government incentives for film productions abroad, the Head of the Motion Picture Association, Charles H. Rivkin, urged the United States to become a “more appealing production location” in response.

On Tuesday, Rivkin stated that the film studio association, together with their guild and union allies, plans to advocate more vigorously for change at a national level in the current year.

In his address, he emphasized that we’ll persistently advocate for policies that prolong incentives for studio investments, boosting the film industry. Additionally, we aim to develop innovative strategies specifically tailored to foster movie production and generate employment opportunities within our labor force.

Additionally, Rivkin highlighted the efforts made by numerous states in enhancing their unique tax benefits for various industries, specifically mentioning the unprecedented 51 productions set to benefit from California’s film and television tax scheme.

Is it possible for Washington D.C. and Hollywood to collaborate? Although President Trump has shown disdain towards liberal-leaning Hollywood, he recently appointed three actors – Sylvester Stallone, Jon Voight, and Mel Gibson – as representatives of the entertainment industry.

A call for a minimum theatrical window

Movie industry advocate Michael O’Leary suggested that film production companies should delay releasing movies on home video and streaming platforms for a longer period, asserting this move would contribute to a more durable film industry.

On Tuesday, O’Leary suggested that there needs to be a mandatory waiting period of at least 45 days after a movie’s premiere in cinemas before it can be viewed at home.

According to O’Leary, it’s crucial to establish a definite, unified foundation that underlines our dedication to cinematic uniqueness and sets transparent guidelines for cinephiles. There should be a minimum standard in place.

Making this decision is another step back from pandemic-era practices where certain film studios shortened the timeframe significantly before releasing movies on streaming services. Prior to the pandemic, the standard theatrical release window was around 80 to 90 days.

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2025-04-04 18:01

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