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Category: Member News
Headlines Newsletter, June 27, 2025
| Distribution |
| The Hollywood Reporter: Sony to Release Select Amazon MGM Movies Overseas, Beginning With Luca Guadagnino’s ‘After the Hunt’Amazon MGM Studios has tapped Sony to release a handful of its upcoming high-profile movies at the international box office as it goes about building its own foreign operation.Under the pact, Sony will handle overseas duties for After the Hunt, Mercy, Crime 101 and Project Hail Mary, according to a statement released by the two studios.Following those releases, Amazon MGM will directly distribute theatrical titles in territories overseas where it launches its own offices, with Sony supporting the studio in other international markets. This doesn’t include the next James Bond movie, which will be handled overseas by Universal. |
| Variety: Artists Equity Inks Overall Theatrical Film Agreement With Sony PicturesArtists Equity, the independent studio founded by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Gerry Cardinale, has signed an overall theatrical feature film agreement with Sony Pictures. Under the three-year agreement, Sony will distribute the theatrical films globally, which will be developed and produced by Artists Equity. Sony will finance the films and handle all ancillaries, with Artists Equity having the option to co-finance individual projects.“Artists Equity, in the short span of its existence, has proven remarkably adept at developing and producing high quality commercial films,” said Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group chairman and CEO Tom Rothman. “This is not a surprise to me as I have known the two creative ‘Pros from Dover’ for many years and always admired their smarts, talent and moxie. Now that Ben and Matt and their team have set their sights firmly on the high bar of the theatrical market, Sony is lucky as hell to be partnering with them. We look forward to making a bunch of hit films together.”Artists Equity CEO Affleck added, “It’s an enormously meaningful landmark for Artists Equity to be making films for theatrical release with Sony Pictures and in particular with Tom Rothman, with whom Matt and I go back more than twenty years. Tom has both a deep and abiding love for movies and an understanding of and appreciation for how they are made. I can’t think of a better partner than Sony, which is fully in on the theatrical experience, as Artists Equity seeks to make films expressly meant to be seen in the cinema, with an audience. It’s an honor to make films for the magical dark room where we come together with strangers to project our innermost secrets onto a screen, surrendering to a story together, agreeing to share the same flickering dream. I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring movies to a global audience, with the entire expert Sony team.” |
| Creative Community |
| The New York Times: The Century’s Best Movies Though the advent of streaming services has affected the way movies are made and watched over the last quarter-century, only one film from a streamer made the list: Netflix’s “Roma,” at No. 46. I think that’s a testament to just how profound the big-screen experience still feels. Our greatest cinematic memories, like the time my jaw dropped while watching “Fury Road,” are forged in the dark with a packed audience along for the ride. |
Headlines Newsletter, June 25, 2025
| Distribution |
| The Hollywood Reporter: Sony to Release Select Amazon MGM Movies Overseas, Beginning With Luca Guadagnino’s ‘After the Hunt’Amazon MGM Studios has tapped Sony to release a handful of its upcoming high-profile movies at the international box office as it goes about building its own foreign operation.Under the pact, Sony will handle overseas duties for After the Hunt, Mercy, Crime 101 and Project Hail Mary, according to a statement released by the two studios.Following those releases, Amazon MGM will directly distribute theatrical titles in territories overseas where it launches its own offices, with Sony supporting the studio in other international markets. This doesn’t include the next James Bond movie, which will be handled overseas by Universal. |
| Variety: Artists Equity Inks Overall Theatrical Film Agreement With Sony PicturesArtists Equity, the independent studio founded by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Gerry Cardinale, has signed an overall theatrical feature film agreement with Sony Pictures. Under the three-year agreement, Sony will distribute the theatrical films globally, which will be developed and produced by Artists Equity. Sony will finance the films and handle all ancillaries, with Artists Equity having the option to co-finance individual projects.“Artists Equity, in the short span of its existence, has proven remarkably adept at developing and producing high quality commercial films,” said Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group chairman and CEO Tom Rothman. “This is not a surprise to me as I have known the two creative ‘Pros from Dover’ for many years and always admired their smarts, talent and moxie. Now that Ben and Matt and their team have set their sights firmly on the high bar of the theatrical market, Sony is lucky as hell to be partnering with them. We look forward to making a bunch of hit films together.”Artists Equity CEO Affleck added, “It’s an enormously meaningful landmark for Artists Equity to be making films for theatrical release with Sony Pictures and in particular with Tom Rothman, with whom Matt and I go back more than twenty years. Tom has both a deep and abiding love for movies and an understanding of and appreciation for how they are made. I can’t think of a better partner than Sony, which is fully in on the theatrical experience, as Artists Equity seeks to make films expressly meant to be seen in the cinema, with an audience. It’s an honor to make films for the magical dark room where we come together with strangers to project our innermost secrets onto a screen, surrendering to a story together, agreeing to share the same flickering dream. I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring movies to a global audience, with the entire expert Sony team.” |
| Creative Community |
| The New York Times: The Century’s Best Movies Though the advent of streaming services has affected the way movies are made and watched over the last quarter-century, only one film from a streamer made the list: Netflix’s “Roma,” at No. 46. I think that’s a testament to just how profound the big-screen experience still feels. Our greatest cinematic memories, like the time my jaw dropped while watching “Fury Road,” are forged in the dark with a packed audience along for the ride. |
Cinema United President & CEO Michael O’Leary Moderates Panel at ShowCanada
ShowCanada 2025 took place in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia from May 27-29. The annual conference brings together all sectors of the film industry from Canada and the U.S.A.
Cinema United’s President & CEO Michael O’Leary moderated the annual State of the Industry panel featuring three industry heavyweights: Chris Aronson, President of Domestic Distribution for Paramount Pictures; Ellis Jacob, CEO of Cineplex; and Jim Orr, President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution for Universal Pictures. The interesting and entertaining discussion focused on opportunities and challenges as the cinema industry looks to the future.
Congratulations to Carrie Wolfe, Event Producer of ShowCanada, and Nuria Bronfman, Executive Director, Movie Theatre Association of Canada, on another excellent show!
ShowCanada 2026 heads to Banff in 2026.
Cinema United Visits Penn Cinema in Lititz, PA
[Left to Right: Cinema United’s Phil Contrino and Penn Cinema’s Penn Ketchum]
Penn Cinema in Lititz, Pennsylvania recently undertook a massive $2 million re-design of its lobby–which now includes a full-service bar, beer wall, and a lounge with room for 50 people–just in time for 2025’s record-breaking Memorial Day weekend and a busy summer at the box office.
Penn Ketchum, Managing Partner of Penn Cinema, operates 34 screens at three locations: two in Pennsylvania and one in Delaware. Before the new lobby opened, he worked with Kinectiv, a local advertising/marketing firm, to roll out new branding that is easily adaptable both to promotions inside the theatre and on social media.
“The feedback from guests has been over-the-top positive,” says Ketchum of the addition to the theatre. “In the long run, we expect this will help overall attendance at our cinema.”
The new bar has added two full-time employees and six part-time employees to the Penn Cinema team. It boasts creative cocktails such as the Barbenheimer or I’ll Never Let You Go (a nod to Titanic). A new kitchen that will boast a range of options from pizzas to gourmet hot dogs to compliment the expanded beverage choices is slated to open in June.
Cinema United Summer Messaging
Overarching themes:
- Theatrical exhibition is a “Main Street” industry, with theatres located in cities and towns of all sizes across this great country. Going to the local theatre remains the premium entertainment option for movie fans of all ages.
- Local theatres sit at the forefront of the “experiential economy,” which helps drive the American economic engine and ensures that we remain the world’s leader in filmed entertainment.
- Although critical to the American motion picture industry, exhibition is not a “Hollywood” industry, and it boasts companies that are headquartered across the United States in small towns, rural communities, and major cities – not simply in California or New York.
Key industry stats:
- Moviegoing is deeply ingrained in American life: 76% of 12 to 74-year-old Americans attended at least one movie in a theatre this past year, which translates to approximately 200 million United States citizens heading to local theatres.
- The local theatre bolsters local economies across America: For every dollar spent at an American movie theatre, an additional $1.50 is spent in that area’s local economy.
- Local employment boost: On average, three people are employed per screen in the U.S.
- A new generation of moviegoers: According to a 2025 report by the National Research Group, 37% of Gen Z moviegoers go to the movies more than six times per year, which is up from 29% in February 2023.
- Family-friendly movies are essential to the strength of exhibition: So far this year, nine PG-rated movies were released at 2,000+ movie theatre locations – up from just sixduring the same periodlast year. The success of these films helps create a culture of moviegoing with younger generations.
- Loyalty programs are key drivers for our success: At movie theatres in the United States and Canada, loyalty programs have a combined total of over 120 million members–and growing. Loyalty programs boost all aspects of theatrical exhibition–from ticket sales and concessions to merchandising and word-of-mouth promotions.
- The release slate is rebounding in a major way in 2025: Year-to-date, 44 movies have been released at 2,000+ locations, up from 40 this time last year.
Optimism for 2025 & Beyond:
- The surge of moviegoing in Q2 (+84% year/year), led by box office giants, Lilo & Stitch, A Minecraft Movie, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Sinners, speaks directly to the importance of having a diverse slate of content, made up of both original films and those based on existing IP.
- The aforementioned measurements of success, however, are not possible without the important investments and upgrades made by theatre owners to modernize, improve upon and enhance the future of moviegoing:
- Reference Cinema United’s recent report “The Next Great Era of Cinema” for highlights on some of these investments and innovations.
- We are bullish on theatrical prospects for the rest of 2025 & beyond. The industry is on pace for at least 15 more wide releases at 2,000+ locations compared to 2024, with such major releases as Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2, among others. When combining exhibitor innovation with a robust release slate, our industry thrives.
Headlines Newsletter, May 27, 2025
| Box Office |
| CNN: ‘Stitchpossible’ kicks off summer with record box office for Memorial Day weekendMichael O’Leary, the president and CEO of Cinema United, said he’s less concerned about the catchy title created when two major movies open on the same day and more excited about how moviegoers respond.“They know that there’s something special going on in the movie theater, and they want to be a part of it,” O’Leary said.He added that watching a film in theaters is “a shared experience that you can’t replicate anywhere else.” |
| Variety: Tom Cruise Rejoices Over ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ Box Office Record Amid Speculation the Franchise Is Over: Thank You Paramount for ‘Years of Unwavering Support’Tom Cruise is basking in the glow of a record-breaking franchise start for “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” at the box office, and he reacted to the film’s opening haul in a heartfelt letter posted on his social media pages. The combined openings of Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” ($341 million) and Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible” ($200 million) powered the box office to a four-day Memorial Day weekend record.“This weekend was one for the history books!” Cruise wrote in his note. “Congratulations and thank you to every filmmaker, every artist, every crew member and every single person who works at the studios.To every theater and every employee who helps bring these stories to audiences, thank you.” |
| Variety: 5 Reasons Why ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Shattered Memorial Day Box Office RecordsPower of PG moviesHollywood loves the adage that moviegoing begets moviegoing — and that seems to be especially true when there’s a smattering of options for youngsters. So far, studios have released nine PG-rated movies nationwide since January — up from the six that debuted during the same period in 2024. When families (an especially important, popcorn-purchasing demographic) have gone to see “A Minecraft Movie” or “Dog Man,” they’ve been treated to trailers for “Lilo & Stitch” and other upcoming kid-friendly films. It’s the best form of advertising for anyone who owns and operates a movie theater. |
Cinema United Attends Phoenix Theatres’ Governor’s Square Mall Opening
[Left to Right: Phoenix Theatres’ Jordan Hohman, Cinema United’s Phil Contrino, and Phoenix Theatres’ Cory Jacobson]
Detroit-based Phoenix Theatres opened their ninth location and first theatre in beautiful Clarksville, Tennessee at the Governor’s Square Mall on May 22nd—just in time for a historic Memorial Day weekend at the box office. Phoenix Theatres now operates 79 screens in five states: Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. At this new location, Dolby provided all the cinema servers, sound processors, loudspeakers, and new digital amplifiers in every auditorium. Dolby ATMOS is installed in five of the 10 screens at Governor’s Square, and an impressive 25% of Phoenix’s screens are in ATMOS-equipped auditoriums.
The team at Phoenix—led by owner Cory Jacobson—turned the opening into a true communal event for local residents: the Montgomery Central High School marching band performed the Mission: Impossible theme; Anthony Cafaro, Co-President and Owner of The Cafaro Company, spoke about the importance of having a movie theatre at the mall; Mike Rainey, Chairman of the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce, touted valuable how the cinema is to the community; and movie fans of all ages were treated to a buffet dinner from mall neighbor Dave & Busters and four free screenings to pick from (Lilo & Stitch, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Top Gun: Maverick, and the original Star Trek film.)
“It’s safe to say that this is the largest turnout we’ve had for a ribbon cutting,” said Rainey to applause from the more than 200 people gathered. “As you walk through the theatre tonight, you are going to realize the investment that Phoenix Theatres has put into Clarksville. It goes a long way toward helping us enhance the quality of life for our community.”
“Movie theatres in the past were synonymous with big jazzy entrances, adding an element of showmanship to moviegoing,” said Cory Jacobson when discussing how he landed on the design for this location. “Our new theatre at Governor’s Square Mall needed to develop a character all its own and now features a new glass entranceway that enhances the size of the new lobby.”
“We wanted to do something truly spectacular and enhance the cinema experience to a new level,” added Jordan Hohman, Vice President of Project Development for Phoenix Theatres.
Derek Almada will serve as General Manager of the Governor’s Square Mall location. He was promoted from Phoenix’s Dubuque, Iowa location after working with the company for a year and a half. In a heartfelt speech at the opening, Almada thanked his girlfriend for moving to Tennessee with him, and he promised the best possible moviegoing experience to the excited customers in attendance.
Cinema United Staff Visits THE LOT’s Liberty Station Theatre
[Left to right: Cinema United’s Harry Medved with THE LOT’s Courtney Timlen]
Cinema United staff recently visited the California-based luxury cinema chain THE LOT at its Liberty Station theatre-restaurant complex in San Diego, as they were getting ready for the summer season with brisk presales for Lilo & Stitch, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, among other titles.
“We do particularly well here with family-friendly films,” THE LOT Liberty Station General Manager Courtney Timlen told Cinema United’s Harry Medved. “It can turn into a full-day outing where families can escape to the movies for a shared cinematic adventure in our auditoriums and then savor their time together at our outdoor restaurant, ZENTRL Kitchen + Bar.” Timlen, a proud graduate of San Diego State University, has been with the theatre chain for more than seven years.
The Liberty Station arts district and marketplace were built on the grounds of the former San Diego Naval Training Center and THE LOT rehabilitated the center’s 1940s era Luce Auditorium, which showcased the latest Hollywood features, along with training movies, for the new recruits. The Luce’s original oak stage, where Bob Hope and Jack Benny once provided the live wartime entertainment, is on view in the lobby along with a beautiful photo-mural of the original 2,200-seat theatre.
Today THE LOT Liberty Station takes advantage of balmy San Diego weather by inviting their moviegoers outdoors for a wide variety of innovative dishes & beverages at their open-air ZENTRL Kitchen + Bar, an expansive 5,00-square-foot lounge, bar and coffee island with a giant video wall and sliding glass walls looking out onto the plaza. The menu pulls together Mexican and Asian-inspired cuisine, with breakfast specialties like Croissant Chilando and Matcha Pancakes, and lunch and dinner bowls filled with Chicken Teriyaki and Citrus Lime Salmon. The same offerings are available via seat-side service within their six state-of-the-art auditoriums.
The luxury cinema chain boasts 30 screens at 4 locations throughout the Golden State (San Ramon, Newport Beach, La Jolla, and San Diego’s Liberty Station). Additionally, every year THE LOT hosts 600 public events and 400 private events. “It’s important to make every part of the moviegoing experience memorable,” says Daniel Fastlicht, Food and Beverage Manager for THE LOT. “We want our customers to feel like they’ve experienced something unique and exciting.”
Headlines Newsletter, May 7, 2025
| Tariffs |
| Variety: Jon Voight Gives First Interview on Trump’s Bombshell Hollywood Tariff Proposal: We Can’t Let Hollywood ‘Go Down the Drain Like Detroit’ (EXCLUSIVE) “This shouldn’t be political. I don’t know the political identities of the people we’ve talked to. We’ve talked to a lot of people here. I don’t distinguish them on their party affiliation. And If we can come up with [a plan that can be executed], he’ll back us. He wants us to be the Hollywood of old,” Voight adds. “If we all come together, I believe we have a bright future.” |
| Distribution |
| The Hollywood Reporter: Bob Iger Says Disney’s Film Slate in Next 18 Months Is Its Best Since 2019Other films Iger singled out for having his attention and endorsement are Pixar’s Elio (June) and The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July), as well as Tron: Ares, Zootopia 2, and Avatar 3: Fire and Ash coming later in 2025.“That’s quite a lineup,” Iger said. But he wasn’t done yet.In 2026, Disney will put out a new Avengers film, its Mandalorian movie, another Toy Story and the live-action Moana. It’s “as strong as any slate that I’ve seen in a long time, since — well in 2019 I think was our best year — the strongest I’ve seen since then.” |
