Member News Archives | Page 3 of 3

March 4, 2025

Headlines Newsletter, March 4, 2025

Academy Awards

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.

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Release Schedule

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.

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February 27, 2025

Headlines Newsletter, February 27, 2025

CinemaCon

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.”

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February 26, 2025

Headlines Newsletter, February 26, 2025

Distribution

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.

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January 31, 2025

Cinema United Attends the 2025 United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association Convention

From left to right: UDITOA Board Members, Jude Deleonardis (Delsea Drive-In), Donna Saunders (Saunders Theater Properties, LLC), John Vincent Jr. (Wellfleet Cinemas), Susan Kochevar (88 Drive-In Theatre), Ben Harroun (Harvest Moon Drive-In), and Cinema United Director of Membership and Global Affairs, Erin Von Hoetzendorff.

The National Association of Theatre Owners participated in the 2025 Annual UDITOA Convention held from January 27 to 30 in Kissimmee, Florida. The event gathered over 100 drive-in theater owners and operators, providing a platform for industry professionals to discuss trends, challenges, and innovations in the drive-in cinema sector.

Throughout the convention, attendees engaged in a variety of sessions and activities designed to enhance their operations and foster community. The schedule included discussions on topics such as family entertainment centers, alternative income streams, and the newly created DriveInsNearMe.com website. Technical workshops covered areas like DCP-O-Matic and playlist building, while marketing sessions focused on promoting independent and retro films.

The convention also featured networking opportunities, including a vendor trade show. Cinema United appreciates the opportunity to attend the UDITOA convention every year and reinforce the collaborative relationship between Cinema United and UDITOA, highlighting the importance of unity and shared knowledge in advancing the cinema exhibition industry.

January 11, 2025

Will Rogers offering emergency grants to those impacted by Los Angeles fires

We have all watched with great sadness the devastating impact of the ongoing wildfires on communities across Los Angeles. The global exhibition industry is intrinsically linked with the city of Los Angeles and our thoughts go out to everyone impacted by this tragedy. If you are an industry member that has been impacted by the wildfires, the Will Rogers Pioneer Assistance Fund is providing emergency grants to assist those who have been displaced or have lost their homes. Click here to learn more.

Additional resources for the Los Angeles fires can be found on the Will Rogers website, here.

To help support those impacted, Cinema United and the Cinema Foundation have made contributions to the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. If you would like to make similar contributions, please click here.

Michael O’Leary
President & CEO, National Association of Theatre Owners