In hindsight, NATO was an unnecessarily confusing acronym for a trade organization representing movie theater owners. For 60 years, the National Association of Theatre Owners has promoted interests of movie theaters, from the biggest chains to the one screen mom and pop shops. They’ve also regularly gotten mail and phone calls intended for the other NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
But the theater owner’s organization is looking to the future, with a new name and a refocused mission. The group will now be known as Cinema United, president and CEO Michael O’Leary told The Associated Press Tuesday.
“It can be a little complicated having the same name as a multinational military alliance,” O’Leary said. “We felt that it was time to look at our name and do a rebrand.”
They wanted the new name to reflect the “passion and energy of the people that run theaters,” O’Leary said, and to put the focus back on the exhibitors and movie theaters. Cinema United represents more than 32,000 movie screens in the U.S. and more than 30,000 screens in 88 countries. Their job, O’Leary explained, is to promote and support theatrical exhibition. Moviegoing, the new tagline reads, is their mission.
“We’ve had a challenging four or five years. But with each passing day, we put those challenges in the rearview mirror a little bit more. Our focus right now is on the future,” O’Leary said. “I think that we stand on the precipice of the next great era of cinema.”
Deadline: Edgar Wright & ‘The Running Man’ Cast Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo To Headline CinemaCon Event
“The excitement for The Running Man among the exhibition community is extremely high, and the luncheon presents an opportunity to hear thoughts and insights about the film and our industry from this incredible group of talented individuals,” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners. “I want to thank the good folks at Paramount Pictures and, of course, The Running Man team, with a special shout-out to Glen on his much deserved award. Everyone’s generosity and collaboration is sure to make this luncheon a must-see event.”
POWELL ALSO TO BE HONORED AS CINEMACON’S STAR OF THE YEAR
The Director/Co-Writer and Cast of Paramount Pictures’ Highly Anticipated Film, The Running Man, Come Together for Annual Creative Community Luncheon Panel, Moderated by Jacqueline Coley
Luncheon to be Held in the Afternoon on Thursday, April 3, in Caesars Palace’s Octavius Ballroom
That Evening, the 2025 Big Screen Achievement Awards Will Cap Weeklong Celebration of Theatrical Exhibition
LAS VEGAS, NV (March 12, 2025) – Award-winning filmmaker Edgar Wright and the cast of his upcoming Paramount Pictures action-thriller The Running Man, Golden Globe® nominee Glen Powell, Academy Award® nominee Josh Brolin and two-timeAcademy Award® nominee Colman Domingo will headline CinemaCon’s annual Creative Community Luncheon to be held in the afternoon on Thursday, April 3, in Las Vegas. Later that evening, Powell will be honored as Star of the Year at the Big Screen Achievement Awards Celebration.
The annual luncheon, which is traditionally held on the final day of CinemaCon and will be moderated by Rotten Tomatoes Editor Jacqueline Coley, is an exciting and entertaining opportunity for the global exhibition industry to hear directly from the extraordinary and innovative creators and actors behind some of the biggest movies made for the big screen, the world’s premier entertainment option. Past participants at the annual CinemaCon luncheon have included Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Elizabeth Banks, Jerry Bruckheimer, Patty Jenkins and Jon M. Chu.
“The excitement for The Running Man among the exhibition community is extremely high, and the luncheon presents an opportunity to hear thoughts and insights about the film and our industry from this incredible group of talented individuals,” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners. “I want to thank the good folks at Paramount Pictures and, of course, The Running Man team, with a special shout-out to Glen on his much deserved award. Everyone’s generosity and collaboration is sure to make this luncheon a must-see event.”
Paramount Pictures’ action-thriller The Running Man opens exclusively in theatres, Dolby Cinema, and IMAX on November 7.
Glen Powell leads the cast of The Running Man after recently starring in, co-writing and producing the Netflix comedy Hit Man, which garnered him a Golden Globe® nomination for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy” and a Critics Choice Awards nomination for “Best Comedy.” He will next be seen in Hulu’s highly anticipated comedy series Chad Powers, that Powell co-created, co-produced and will star in. Powell’s recent releases include the box office hits Twisters, the romantic comedy Anyone But You and the Oscar®-nominated blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick. He also recently wrapped production on the A24 and Studio Canal film Huntington. His previous credits include Hidden Figures, Devotion, and Apollo 10 ½.
Academy Award® nominee Josh Brolin will next be seen starring in Edgar Wright’s The Running Man, and Rian Johnson’s next Knives Out installment, Wake Up Dead Man. Most recently he reprised his role as Gurney Halleck in Dune: Part 2 and as Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, and in 2024 released his memoir “From Under the Truck”. Brolin is best known for The Goonies, W., No Country for Old Men and his Academy Award® nominated performance in Milk.
Colman Domingo is an award-winning actor, producer, and playwright whose work spans film, television, and theater. He recently starred in and produced the Academy Award® nominated Sing Sing, earning Domingo nominations for the Academy Award®, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild, AACTA, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice, as well as the Gotham Award for Best Performance for his role as John Divine G. Whitfield. His other notable film roles include Rustin, If Beale Street Could Talk, Lincoln, The Butler, Selma, Candyman, and Zola. On television, Domingo won a Primetime Emmy for his role in “Euphoria” and will star in the upcoming Netflix series “The Four Seasons.” In addition to The Running Man, next, he will appear in Michael (2025) as Joe Jackson and an untitled Steven Spielberg film set for 2026.
Award winning filmmaker Edgar Wright is the director and co-writer behind cinematic trifecta Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End (aka The Cornetto Trilogy) starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. His box office and Academy Award® nominated/BAFTA winning hit Baby Driver, critic/fan favorite Scott Pilgrim vs The World, BAFTA Award nominated psychological thriller Last Night in Soho, and groundbreaking documentary The Sparks Brothers has cemented him as a true visionary behind the lens with the theatrical experience in mind.
CinemaCon® is the world’s premier showcase of theatrical exhibition, hosted by the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) and held from March 31-April 3 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The annual “Industry Insights from the Creative Community” luncheon is sponsored by Fathom Entertainment, Mobile Moviegoing and BeforeTheMovie.
The Big Screen Achievement Awards, hosted by official presenting sponsor The Coca-Cola Company, take place at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and are the finale to the world’s premiere showcase of theatrical exhibition, CinemaCon. Returning to host the awards this year will be Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier.
About CinemaCon
CinemaCon attracts upwards of six thousand motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry – from exhibition and distribution to the equipment and concession areas – all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. CinemaCon works with the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its trade show partners. The Coca-Cola Company – one of the industry’s most highly regarded and respected partners in the world of movies – is the official presenting sponsor of CinemaCon.
About NATO
The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 31,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 80 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world as well as hundreds of independent theatre owners. Additional information about CinemaCon can be found at www.cinemacon.com.
Photo (left to right): Bryan Braunlich, The Cinema Foundation; Traci Hanlon, Cinergy Entertainment; Valarie Rico, Santikos Entertainment; Andrew Thomas, Moonstruck Drive-In.
The Cinema Foundation’s own Executive Director Bryan Braunlich moderated a standing-room only kickoff session at South by Southwest on “How Theatres are Eventizing the Moviegoing Experience” with Cinergy Entertainment’s Traci Hanlon, Santikos Entertainment’s Valarie Rico and Moonstruck Drive-In’s Andrew Thomas at the Austin Convention Center on Friday, March 7. The lively SXSW panel discussed how movie theatres of all sizes bring people together, anchor communities, and make each moviegoing experience an event. The exhibition experts talked how community involvement, local partnerships, creative loyalty programs, elevated concessions, social engagement, and in-theatre activations all contribute to the magic of the big screen and keep moviegoers coming back for more.
The New York Times: French Cinema Leads the Way to a Revival of In-Person Moviegoing
Mr. Henrard noted that France’s “cultural exception” model supports the moviegoing habit, with an education curriculum that includes subsidized trips to the movies for millions of schoolchildren.
The government supports tiny movie houses in smaller cities, while some of the most isolated villages regularly receive visits from associations that set up temporary screenings in schools and city halls.
France requires first-run movies to screen exclusively in French theaters for four months before going to video, and the CNC oversees a complex system of taxes on tickets and fees from TV channels and video streaming services that filters back into movie production.
Variety: Oscars Hit 19.7 Million Viewers, Up 1% From Last Year
Nielsen’s finalized reporting of Sunday’s Oscars telecast has brought the total from 18.1 to 19.7 million viewers. Rather than a 7% decrease from last year’s show, this indicates a 1% increase.
Per ABC, the discrepancy came from a significant portion of younger viewers tuning in via mobile devices and personal computers, which were not represented in Nielsen’s fast national data. The new total is a five-year high for the Oscars in both total viewers and rating among adults age 18-49, which rose from 3.92 to 4.54, a 19% improvement on last year’s 3.82.
Variety: Celine Song’s ‘Materialists,’ Starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, Sets June Release Date“Materialists,” Celine Song‘s all-star follow up to her two-time Oscar-nominated directorial debut “Past Lives,” has been given a U.S. release date by A24. The film is set to launch in theaters nationwide on June 13, a slot that could spark rumours that the company is eyeing a world premiere in Cannes a month earlier.Written, directed and produced by Song, who reunites with “Past Lives” producer David Hinojosa of 2AM and Killer Films, “Materialists” stars Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. The rom-com follows a young, ambitious New York City matchmaker who finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.
“Over the years, Sean Baker has been an unwavering champion for the theatrical experience, and we congratulate him and his team, as well as our friends at NEON on their well-deserved Oscar wins tonight.” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of the Cinema United. “Sean’s passion for movies on the big screen resonates with moviegoers around the world. We cannot wait to see what he dreams up next, and when he does, everyone in theatrical exhibition will be standing at the ready to help movie fans see it as intended – on a big screen.”
Per Variety, Baker set a new Oscar record:
“Anora” director Sean Baker has become the first person to win four Oscars in the same year for the same film.
During Sunday’s ceremony, Baker and “Anora” won Oscars for original screenplay, film editing, directing and best picture. With the wins, Baker ties another famous filmmaker: Walt Disney. But while Disney won four Oscars in the same night in 1953, it was for four different films (“The Living Desert,” “The Alaskan Eskimo,” “Bear Country” and “Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom”). Disney was also nominated that year for “Ben and Me” and “Rugged Bear.”
Variety: ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ to World Premiere at CinemaCon
“How to Train Your Dragon” will screen for audiences for the first time at CinemaCon, the annual convention for movie theater owners.
The world premiere will take place on April 2 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, more than two months ahead of the film’s theatrical release on June 13.
CinemaCon will undoubtedly be a receptive audience (the trade show isn’t exactly Cannes, where provocative films run the risk of inspiring moviegoers to boo or walk out), but unveiling “How to Train Your Dragon” in this capacity signals Universal’s confidence in the movie’s commercial prospects. In previous years, CinemaCon attendees were first to see Paramount’s “Top Gun: Maverick” and Warner Bros. and DC’s “The Flash.”
GLOBAL EXHIBITION COMMUNITY WILL BE THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE THREE-TIME OSCAR® NOMINEE DEAN DeBLOIS’ STUNNING TRANSFORMATION OF HIS BELOVED ANIMATED CLASSIC INTO A BREATHTAKING LIVE-ACTION SPECTACLE MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AHEAD OF ITS THEATRICAL RELEASE
THE SPECIAL SCREENING WILL TAKE PLACE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, AT THE COLOSSEUM AT CAESARS PALACE DURING NATO’S ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF MOVIEGOING
UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND DREAMWORKS’ LIVE-ACTION HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGONOPENS IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE ON JUNE 13, 2025
LOS ANGELES – March 3, 2025 – Universal Pictures, in collaboration with the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), announced today that CinemaCon 2025 will host the worldwide debut of How to Train Your Dragon, the epic live-action reimagining of the beloved DreamWorks Animation film, written and directed by three-time Oscar® nominee and franchise creator Dean DeBlois. The global exhibition community will be the first to experience this new, action-packed summer event film on Wednesday, April 2, at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, more than two months before it opens in theaters on June 13.
“How to Train Your Dragon delivers the perfect blend of blockbuster action, breathtaking visuals and emotional storytelling that defines the ultimate theatrical experience,” said Jim Orr, President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution at Universal Pictures. “Dean DeBlois has created a stunning live-action reimagining of his film, which honors his beloved animated classic while soaring to spectacular new heights. We’re thrilled to share this film with our exhibition partners first, as they will be instrumental in bringing this extraordinary adventure to audiences worldwide this summer.”
“We are thrilled that Universal Pictures has chosen to showcase this summer blockbuster for the global exhibition community,” said CinemaCon Managing Director, Mitch Neuhauser. “This movie promises to be a hit with movie fans of all ages all around the world. Seeing it in your local theatre will be an amazing experience, and the global exhibition community is excited to help promote it in the days ahead.”
Hosted by the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), CinemaCon is the world’s premier showcase of theatrical exhibition and will take place March 31–April 3 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
About Universal Pictures’ Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon:
From three-time Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise.
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.
With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.
As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.
The film also stars Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), BAFTA nominee Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones).
How to Train Your Dragon is written, produced and directed by DeBlois. It is also produced by four-time Oscar® nominee Marc Platt (Wicked, La La Land) and Emmy winner Adam Siegel (Drive, 2 Guns).
Inspired by Cressida Cowell’s New York Times bestselling book series, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon franchise has captivated global audiences, earning four Academy Award® nominations and grossing more than $1.6 billion at the global box-office. Now, through cutting-edge visual effects, DeBlois transforms his beloved animated saga into a breathtaking live-action spectacle, bringing the epic adventures of Hiccup and Toothless to life with jaw-dropping realism as they discover the true meaning of friendship, courage and destiny.
About NATO
The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 34,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and a worldwide total of over 46,000 screens across 82 countries. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world as well as hundreds of independent theatre owners.
About CinemaCon
CinemaCon attracts upwards of six thousand motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry – from exhibition and distribution to the equipment and concession areas – all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. CinemaCon works with the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its trade show partners. The Coca-Cola Company – one of the industry’s most highly regarded and respected partners in the world of movies – is the official presenting sponsor of CinemaCon.
Deadline: Paramount Sees Skydance Merger Closing In First Half As Streaming & ‘Sonic’ Bright Spots In Mixed Q4
Paramount Global confirmed today that despite all the noise it still expects the merger with Skydance to close in the first of the year as the company reported mixed quarterly numbers with misses on the top and bottom lines.
Stock-based and other executive compensation was a one-time hit on earnings, Deadline hears. And revenue was softer that Wall Street forecasts. Numbers beat on key cash flow and other metrics.
Par swung to a net loss of $224 million for the fourth quarter – from a $514 million profit the year before — on revenue up 5% to $7.98 billion for the quarter.
The National Association of Theatre Owners is now Cinema United. Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 31,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 80 countries worldwide. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world.
