phil@cinemaunited.org, Author at Cinema United

October 23, 2025

Cinema United Hires Theo George As Director of Marketing

WASHINGTON, D.C. AND LOS ANGELES – October 23, 2025 – Cinema United, the world’s largest exhibition trade association, announced today that it has tapped Theo George as Director of Marketing. This is a new position that will serve multiple marketing and communications functions for the organization, including social media, brand marketing, campaign and project management and creative leadership. Based in Los Angeles, George will be an integral member of the broader Cinema United team as it expands its impact among consumers and industry partners, advocating on behalf of theatrical exhibition as cultural and financial hubs for communities of all sizes across the country and around the world. George will report to Andrew Stewart, Cinema United’s Chief Communications Officer.

“From our first meeting with Theo, we were instantly impressed with his overall marketing experience in both exhibition and advocacy. His creative acumen and strategic insight, not to mention his passion and love of the movies, were obvious and we are thrilled to see him apply those skills to advance this amazing industry forward,” Stewart said.

George commented, saying: “I’ve spent a good portion of my career getting audiences excited about going to the movies because I believe deeply in the power of the shared theatrical experience. Cinema United’s mission to unite and promote the industry couldn’t be more urgent or inspiring. I’m thrilled to champion the theatre owners who create those magical moments for millions of moviegoers and ensure that the irreplaceable experience of going to the movies remains a cultural cornerstone.”

In this new role, George will be in charge of developing and executing a comprehensive social media strategy for Cinema United, as well as CinemaCon, the world’s premier annual showcase of theatrical exhibition hosted by Cinema United. He will also oversee the strategic growth of general consumer interactions for Cinema United and CinemaCon through creative year-round marketing activations and targeted brand and media partnerships.

Prior to joining Cinema United, George most recently served as Cinema Marketing Manager for BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), where he drove audience engagement and exceeded revenue targets through innovative, data-driven campaigns. He previously served as Marketing Director for the Maryland Film Festival and worked as a Digital Strategist for the National Center for Transgender Equality, where he led groundbreaking advocacy campaigns. Theo holds a Master’s in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor’s in Africana Studies from UMBC.

ABOUT CINEMA UNITED

Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 33,000 movie screens in all 50 U.S. states and Canada, with an additional more than 30,000 screens in 80 countries internationally. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world. For additional information, please visit cinemaunited.org.

October 14, 2025

Cinema United Extends Contract of CEO and President

Multi-year agreement keeps Michael O’Leary at Cinema United through 2030

WASHINGTON, D.C. AND LOS ANGELES – October 14, 2025 – Cinema United, the world’s largest exhibition trade association, announced today that it has extended the contract of CEO and President Michael O’Leary for an additional five years. O’Leary, who joined the organization in 2023, will continue to lead Cinema United under an agreement that was approved unanimously by the Cinema United Executive Board at their meeting in Los Angeles last week.

“Michael has proven to be a tireless and passionate advocate for the exhibition industry,” said Mike Bowers, Cinema United Board Chair and CEO of Harkins Theatres. “Leveraging his broad experience in the motion picture industry as well as on Capitol Hill, Michael’s focus on unity, strategy and continuous improvement has earned the confidence and respect of members of all sizes, as well as our studio partners. The next five years present unique and exciting opportunities for our industry. We are thrilled to have the long-term stability and steady hand of Michael and the talented Cinema United team representing us during this time.”

Since joining the organization in May 2023, O’Leary has focused on promoting and amplifying the positive economic and cultural impact of movie theatres in cities and towns around the world. Cinema United recently released its report highlighting that the domestic industry alone spent over $1.5 billion on theatre re-investment in just the past twelve months. Exhibition’s commitment to creating the Next Great Era of Cinema will be on display next spring at their annual global convention CinemaCon where “Innovation and Experiences” will be the primary theme. Also this year, O’Leary, who believes that the strength of theatrical exhibition is its people, oversaw the successful adoption of the Cinema United brand in support of his effort to unify and strengthen an industry that spans the globe and comprises businesses from single-screen theatres to the world’s largest international theatre circuits.

“Representing the great people who own and operate theatres across the United States and around the world has been one of the great honors of my professional career, and I am energized by the opportunities that lie ahead for this iconic industry,” said O’Leary. “I want to thank Chairman Mike Bowers, outgoing Chair Bob Bagby and the entire Cinema United Executive Board for this opportunity. I also want to thank my dedicated colleagues at Cinema United. Our success is a direct result of their hard work and creativity, and I am excited to continue our work supporting and advocating on behalf of this industry.”

ABOUT CINEMA UNITED

Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 33,000 movie screens in all 50 U.S. states and Canada, with an additional more than 30,000 screens in 81 countries internationally. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world. For additional information, please visit cinemaunited.org.

October 8, 2025

Harkins Theatres President and CEO Mike Bowers Elected Chair of Cinema United Executive Board

Cinemark’s Wanda Gierhart Fearing, Colleen Barstow of Main Street Theatres, and Georgia Theatre Company’s Bo Chambliss Round Out Leadership Team

Recent Changes to Cinema United By-Laws Result in Most Votes Ever Cast in Executive Board Election

BEVERLY HILLS – October 8, 2025 – The Cinema United Executive Board of Directors has elected Harkins Theatres President & CEO Mike Bowers as the new Chair of its Executive Board. Bowers assumes the position from the previous Board Chair, Bob Bagby, CEO of B&B Theatres, who finishes his two-year term this week. Bagby will remain on the Executive Board representing B&B Theatres. Bowers has been in the exhibition industry for nearly 40 years and has been President and CEO of the Arizona-based Harkins Theatres since 2006.

Joining Bowers among the Executive Board leadership will be Cinemark’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Content Officer, Wanda Gierhart Fearing, who will serve as Vice-Chair. Additionally, Colleen Barstow of Nebraska-based Main Street Theatres will become Treasurer, and Bo Chambliss of Georgia Theatre Company will continue as Board Secretary.

[Left to Right: Mike Bowers, Wanda Gierhart Fearing, Colleen Barstow, Bo Chambliss]

“I am extremely excited to work with Mike and the leadership team to continue to support and promote this great industry. Mike brings years of experience building a successful circuit, and he will work tirelessly to support all of exhibition. The entire leadership team will bring energy and insight as we continue to drive toward the next great era in cinema,” says Cinema United President & CEO Michael O’Leary. “I also want to acknowledge and thank Bob for successfully leading Cinema United these past two years. He will remain on the Board and continue to be a leader for years to come.”

“Delivering an amazing cinematic experience has been my life’s work,” says incoming Chair Mike Bowers. “It’s a true honor to serve the passionate people who bring the magic of moviegoing to communities across America and around the globe.”

Also elected to the Board were representatives from circuits of all sizes from across the United States. Those elected to join or re-join the Cinema United Executive Board of Directors are: (independent seats) Becky Dupuis of Montana’s Polson Theatres, Inc., Paul Gunsky of CineLux Theatres in California (incumbent), Lauren McChesney of Pennsylvania’s Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre; (mid-sized circuit seats) Bo Chambliss of Georgia Theatre Company (incumbent), Paul Glantz of Michigan-based Emagine Entertainment, Inc. (incumbent); and (regional leaders seat) Todd Vradenburg of NATO of California/Nevada.

“Congratulations to the new members elected to the Board and those leaders who were re-elected,” O’Leary added. “We have much to do, and I look forward to working with the entire Board in the months ahead. Also, special recognition and appreciation goes out to departing Board members Chris Johnson, Joe Masher and Randy Hester, all of whom played vital roles during their time on the Executive Board and will continue to be essential voices in our community.”

The 2025 election marked the first time that all dues-paying members of Cinema United were eligible to vote for its Executive Board of Directors. As a result, more votes were cast in this election that at any time during the organization’s 77-year history. The Executive Board of Directors is the governing body of Cinema United, comprised of 20 leaders in the domestic exhibition industry. The four volunteer officers of the association are elected from and by the members of the Executive Board.

Cinema United’s structure is designed to encourage member participation in the activities, benefits and deliberations of the association. An Advisory Board, comprised of more than 100 representatives of the domestic and international exhibition community, deliberates on exhibition issues, and makes policy recommendations to the Executive Board of Directors.

ABOUT CINEMA UNITED
Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 33,000 movie screens in all 50 U.S. states and Canada, with an additional more than 30,000 screens in 81 countries internationally. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world. For additional information, please visit cinemaunited.org.

October 6, 2025

Cinema United Members Gather in Los Angeles for Annual Fall Summit

Day 1

Today, over 350 Cinema United members came together at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles for the annual Fall Summit.

The day began with Committee meetings, which included the first gathering of the Future Leaders of Cinema Committee (FLIC). Led by Cinema United’s Chief of Staff Amanda Martin, FLIC is a two-year program focused on leadership development, education, and industry engagement.

Independent theatre owners gathered for an Independent Theatre Owners Coalition (ITOC) seminar developed by ITOC leaders Lauren McChesney, Becky Dupuis, and Cinema United’s Director of Government Relations and Independent Theatre Owner Engagement Todd Halstead. The seminar included a panel on building experiences and revenue beyond the box office with Brandt Gully of The Springs Cinema & Taphouse, Cal Donnelly from Rokt, and Craig Chapin from Golden Link Inc. as well as one on using events to build audiences year-round with The Belcourt’s Stephanie Silverman, Seattle International Film Festival’s Beth Barrett, and Becky Dupuis from Polson Theatres. Film Frog’s Danielle Hawthorne Jones moderated both panels.

In the evening, attendees enjoyed a screening of Song Sung Blue from Focus Features at AMC’s Century City location with CJ 4D Plex/Screen X graciously sponsoring. CJ 4D Plex’s Duncan MacDonald spoke about the exciting growth at his company as they establish more relationships with the creative community and add more screens across the country. AMC’s CEO Adam Aron spoke about how important Focus’ contributions to the theatrical landscape are. Focus’ President of Distribution Lisa Bunnell introduced the film, which she said was originally slated as a 2026 entry, but was moved to a coveted Christmas release date after great test screenings.

Day 2

The morning began with Cinema United’s General Membership Meeting and Advisory Board meeting, during which the association provided a membership update, honored members who recently passed away, discussed recent accomplishments, and shared future goals. The meetings were followed by a Q&A session with Cinema United President/CEO Michael O’Leary.

In the afternoon, the Young Members Community X Film Row seminar featured an inspiring and candid discussion with Nikkole Denson-Randolph, AMC’s SVP & Chief Content Officer. Nikkole talked about her career journey and provided advice to people who are early in their careers in exhibition.

Attendees were treated to an evening on the Paramount lot for a reception sponsored by Dolby Laboratories and a screening of Edgar Wright’s The Running Man.

Day 3

Wednesday was full of education seminars at the Fall Summit.

Investing in Ourselves: Designing Cinema Experiences That Deliver

Moderated by Cinema United President & CEO Michael O’Leary, the panel provided valuable insights from Harkins Theatres’ Mike Bowers, Real D’s Elizabeth Frank, Dolby Laboratories’ Jed Harmsen, and Chris Armer from GastingerWalker&.

There is a lot of investment happening every day at cinemas both big and small as the exhibition industry continues to invest with confidence in its future.

CU Close-Ups

Celebration Cinema by Studio C’s Cindy Sowerwine and Penn Cinema’s Penn Ketchum delivered two strong presentations to their fellow Cinema United members. Cindy’s focused on how to track the real-world impact of marketing on various channels, and Penn’s presentation walked through the entire experience of adding a bar to his location in Lititz, Pa.

Building A Community, Not Just a Fanbase: A Conversation with Lisa Milner Goldberg, VP, Public Relations, Angel City Football Club

Lisa shared insights on how she has helped Angel City Football Club stand out in the crowded sports market in Los Angeles.

Beyond Popcorn: Building a Branded Experience

The Coca-Cola Company’s Josh Nations moderated a panel with Cineplex’s Sara Moore, Cinergy Entertainment’s Traci Hanlon, and Meta’s Joana Delgado focused on how in an era of limitless content and digital noise, a strong brand is no longer a luxury. The panelists offered clear takeaways to attendees on how to build their own brand.

Activating Fandom: Strategic Tools for Theatrical Engagement

With the help of a diverse panel–ComicCon’s David Glanzer, Marcus Corporations’ Greg Marcus, Fathom’s Shannah Miller, and NRG’s Fergus Navaratnam-Blair–moderator Matthew Liebmann from Vista Group dived into the various ways that all the panelists connect with niche groups to bring them out to theatres. From impactful social posts to developing strong repertory screenings, cinemas are getting better every day at creating enticing programming for specific audiences.

The day closed with a lively focus-group discussion featuring Gen Z moviegoers organized by NRG.

Day 4

With the support of The Walt Disney Company, A24, Directors Guild of America, Vista Group, and Mobile Moviegoing, Thursday gave Fall Summit attendees another chance to see two upcoming films from the diverse fall/holiday slate: Searchlight’s Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and A24’s Eternity.

Movie theatres succeed when there is something for everyone, and that is definitely the case for the rest of 2025 & beyond.

September 19, 2025

Cinema United Members: Register Now for the 2025 Fall Summit!

On behalf of Cinema United, we are thrilled to announce to members that the online registration and RSVP link for the upcoming Fall Summit is now live.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

NOTE: You’ll be asked to RSVP to meetings, food events, and seminar programming when you register. You can go back and change your responses at any time.

Thanks in advance for also taking the time to review the following:

Cinema United Governance Meetings: Monday, October 6 and Tuesday, October 7. Only those meetings that are open to all members are included on the registration link. You should have or will shortly be receiving invitations to any private committee meetings you’re involved with.

Studio Events: This year’s studio events are spread over three days (Monday evening, Tuesday evening, and most of Thursday) as they were last year. Please make note for your travel plans. CLICK HERE for the schedule.

Place: The Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles

Additional Important Information:

• Please be aware that starting in 2025 a nominal registration fee of $199 will be in effect to help cover some of the costs to run the Fall Summit. Once again, there will be caps put on the $199 attendee registrations (depending on your circuit size), with additional fees for registrations over the caps. These details are included in the official registration link provided above. Thanks for your understanding in this regard.

• The annual Will Rogers “Pioneer of the Year” Dinner will be held at The Beverly Hilton during the week of The Fall Summit. The date is Wednesday, October 8 and will honor Kate Hudson. Please note, the “Pioneer of the Year” Dinner requires its own purchased ticket of admittance. Details can be found via https://wrpioneers.org/events/2025-pioneer-of-the-year-dinner/. For all Will Rogers does for the exhibition community, we encourage all attendees to support Will Rogers by attending.

September 18, 2025

Cinema United Attends Entertainment Food & Beverage Association’s 2025 Concession and Hospitality Expo

[Left to right: Marcus Theatres’ Rob Novak, Cinema United’s Michael O’Leary, Santikos’ Rob Lehman]

Cinema United’s President & CEO Michael O’Leary and CinemaCon’s Director of Operations Matt Shapiro attended the Entertainment Food & Beverage Association’s 2025 Concession and Hospitality Expo from September 16-18 at the Westin San Antonio North in San Antonio, Texas.

O’Leary delivered a speech at the event focused on the importance of food and beverage innovation to the future of cinemas. He touted Cinema United’s recent Cinema Investment Report, which features examples of cinema owners big and small changing the food & beverage experience at the their theatres.

“Your innovative efforts, from redesigned lobbies and curated dine-in offerings to seasonal menus or seasonal cocktails, help transform a night out into a special occasion and continue to make going to the movies one of the most important entertainment value propositions,” said O’Leary.

September 16, 2025

Headlines Newsletter, September 16, 2025

Innovation

Variety: Theaters Have Re-Invested $1.5 Billion in Past Year to Keep Audiences Engaged With Premium Large Formats, Loyalty Rewards and Better Dining Experiences

Speaking with Variety, Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of Washington, D.C.-based Cinema United (fomerly NATO), said, “You’re seeing this evolution of theaters becoming these big inclusive places where family and movie fans can go and spend hours on end.”

As theaters continue to expand their offerings to audiences — including attractions like novelty popcorn buckets — O’Leary says he feels good about this year, and with movies like “Lilo and Stitch” and “Minecraft” dominating the box office, he feels he needs to make sure that there are places that are exciting and experiential for people.

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Deadline: Cinema Owners Spent $1.5B On Upgrades Over Past Year

“Exhibition is a Main Street industry,” said, Cinema United CEO Michael O’Leary. “Theatre owners aren’t just re-investing in their facilities; they are investing in cities and towns of all sizes across the United States and Canada. The beneficiaries of this commitment will, of course, be movie fans of all ages but also local businesses and the talented contractors and craftspeople who help bring these renovations to life.”

Investments range from costlier new building of entertainment centers that combine multi-screen theaters with activities from axe throwing to bowling to arcades; reopening and revamping closed cinemas; new digital projectors, movie screens, sound systems and seats in auditoriums. New full-service lobby bars are increasingly popular. So is adding kitchens. Some 10% of the North American box office is made up of dine-in sales, the report said.

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September 16, 2025

Cinema Owners In North America Have Invested $1.5 Billion In Their Theatres Throughout The Past Year

New Cinema Investment Report from Cinema United Highlights Exhibition’s Commitment to Reinvesting in the Consumer Experience

Eight Largest Circuits Surpass $900 Million Mark in Twelve Months

WASHINGTON, D.C. and LOS ANGELES, CA – September 16, 2025 – A new report issued today by Cinema United highlights that the North American exhibition industry re-invested more than $1.5 billion in their theatres in the past year, demonstrating a clear financial commitment to creating the premium entertainment experiences that fans of movies on the big screen crave. This industry total includes re-investment of $920 million from the eight largest circuits in the United States and Canada. A year ago, those same eight circuits alone pledged their commitment to invest more than $2.2 billion to modernize and upgrade theatres of all sizes over a three-year period.

From Cinema United, the trade association representing nearly 64,000 screens worldwide, the Cinema Investment Report highlights the overall depth and breadth of these investments across the industry and the impact they have on communities of all sizes. From upgrading projectors, sound equipment and screens (there are nearly 6,000 premium large-format screens worldwide) to adding dynamic food & beverage options (dine-in cinemas represent 10% of the North American box office), cinemas today sit at the forefront of the experiential economy, driving local business and providing positive financial growth for a myriad of industry partners, including construction, architecture, marketing and advertising, retail and dining. More than 100,000 jobs around the world are directly related to the innovation and investments highlighted in this report.

“Exhibition is a Main Street industry,” says Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “Theatre owners aren’t just re-investing in their facilities; they are investing in cities and towns of all sizes across the United States and Canada. The beneficiaries of this commitment will, of course, be movie fans of all ages but also local businesses and the talented contractors and craftspeople who help bring these renovations to life.”

In addition to showcasing the capital investments being made in theatres, the report also highlights the local vendors who led construction and renovation efforts that movies fans everywhere will enjoy.

“Movie theatres provide an unmatched entertainment experience for people around the world, but they are also important cornerstones in their communities. The re-investment and innovation underway at theatres of all sizes will bolster local economies by driving revenue and creating jobs,” says Bob Bagby, CEO of B&B Theatres and Chair of Cinema United. “Every day, movie theatres create jobs, partner with local vendors and attract movie fans who also support surrounding businesses.”

Cinema United members featured in this report include AMC, B&B Theatres, Cinemark, Cineplex, Cinépolis, Golden Ticket Cinemas, Harkins, Marcus, Ojai Playhouse, Penn Cinema, Phoenix Theatres (headquartered in Detroit), Regal and Santikos.

Partners mentioned also include Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce (Clarksville, Tenn.), GastingerWalker (architecture firm in Kansas City, Mo.), Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce (Joplin, Mo.), Kinectiv (advertising/marketing firm in Lancaster, Pa.), KEPH Construction (Dadeville, Ala.), Kupiec Architects (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Prosser Wilbert (construction company in Kansas City, Mo.) and Speedwell Construction (Manheim, Pa.).

ABOUT CINEMA UNITED

Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 33,000 movie screens in all 50 U.S. states and Canada, with an additional more than 30,000 screens in 81 countries internationally. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world. For additional information, please visit cinemaunited.org.

September 11, 2025

Headlines Newsletter, September 11, 2025

Distribution

Deadline: Paramount Exploring Bid For Warner Bros. Discovery

The just merged Paramount Skydance is exploring a bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, heralding potentially more change in an entertainment landscape that’s seeing rapid shifts.

Larry Ellison, chairman and co-founder of Oracle, is one of the richest people in the world and the patriarch of the Ellison family, which led the $8.4 billion deal that landed his son David Ellison’s Skydance Media with control of Paramount Global. That transaction closed August.

There’s been speculation since that the big, new and deep-pocketed player in Hollywood would turn its sights on Warner next, but the focus had been on Warner Bros. Studios, which is in the process of separating from the company’s global cable networks and linear television. The Par deal currently being explored, however, seems to be for the entire company.

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August 29, 2025

Headlines Newsletter, August 29, 2025

Box Office

Variety: Could Gen Alpha Save Movie Theaters? New Survey Shows Why ‘Minecraft’ and ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Had Huge Success With Kids

Kids and preteens may reinvigorate the theatrical movie business, at least according to a new study by entertainment researchers NRG.

The report found that Gen Alpha, which consists of children born from roughly 2013 to 2025, is more interested in seeing movies in the big screen than older consumers. Roughly 59% of members of that generation said they enjoy watching movies in theaters more than at home, compared to 48% of Gen Z (people born between 1997 and 2012), 45% of Millennials (people born between 1981 and 1996) and Gen X (people born between 1965 and 1980). The study’s authors suggest that the ubiquity of smartphones and streaming services has made younger consumers more interested in a night out at the multiplex.

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