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April 22, 2025

“Sinners” Director Ryan Coogler Touts Importance of Cinema In Letter To Fans

Following on the massive opening weekend for Sinners, director Ryan Coogler penned an open letter to fans thanking them for helping make the movie a success.

“I had the gift of the opportunity of making a film inspired by my family and my ancestry but it was always a film that we wanted to make for audiences, in theaters,” Coogler writes. “We always had our minds on you, the audience, and felt a deep responsibility to entertain you, and move you in the way only cinema can. I believe in cinema. I believe in the theatrical experience. I believe it is a necessary pillar of society. It’s why me and so many of my colleagues have dedicated our lives to the craft. We don’t get to do what we do if you don’t show up.”

Listen: CinemaCon 2025’s Industry Insights from the Creative Community Luncheon

Left to Right: Michael O’Leary, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Glen Powell, Edgar Wright, and Bob Bagby (Photo Credit: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for CinemaCon)

Paramount Pictures brought together the incredible team behind November’s The Running Man (writer/director/producer Edgar Wright and stars Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin) to CinemaCon 2025’s Industry Insights from the Creative Community luncheon. Jaqueline Coley, the editor of Rotten Tomatoes, moderated a fun discussion that you can listen to below:

April 7, 2025

CinemaCon 2025 Recap: Highlighting a United Industry

CinemaCon 2025 was a massive success!

This year’s convention highlighted an industry that is united and looking toward a bright future. Every single day, exhibitors around the world strive to find creative ways to elevate the moviegoing experience. Some of the exhibitors included in this report have been around for more than 100 years, while others are much newer, yet they are all united by a common goal: ensuring, through continued innovation, that the communal experience of watching a movie on the big screen is here to stay.

From exclusive presentations featuring footage from exciting new films (a total of eight distributors presented in 2025), to must-see premiere feature screenings (Universal’s live-action How to Train Your Dragon won over attendees), to the biggest stars, producers and directors, the convention boosted excitement for the rest of 2025 & beyond.

CinemaCon’s schedule is broad, diverse, educational and fun, and features the largest cinema trade show in the world. It appeals to and attracts all facets of the international motion picture theatre industry—exhibition, distribution, marketing, publicity and advertising, internet and social media and of course, the theatre equipment and concessions manufacturers and dealers who showcase the latest technological advances and innovative concession offerings at the trade show. Our trade show is run in association with our partners at ICTA and NAC.

The exhibition industry is one of storytelling – Cinema United members bring a wide range of stories to the big screen for the moviegoing public to enjoy. At CinemaCon 2025, Cinema United debuted the latest season of its Behind the Screens: The Faces of Exhibition series, which you can watch below.

April 4, 2025

CinemaCon Daily News Recaps

APRIL 3

CinemaCon

Las Vegas Now: CinemaCon Returns to Las Vegas; Head of ‘Cinema United’ Shares What’s To Come

Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United – who hosts the event- speaks with Las Vegas Now about the importance of this gathering and what’s to come in the world of cinema. Formally known as NATO, Cinema United has rebranded and is excited for this next chapter.

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Deadline: Paramount’s Brian Robbins Touts Slate Amid “All The Noise Going On At Our Parent Company” – CinemaCon

Paramount co-CEO and head of Paramount Pictures, Brian Robbins, acknowledged to a big CinemaCon crowd that it may be an odd time for the company right now, but Par’s slate remains terrific.

“In all seriousness, I’m excited to be back at CinemaCon, and incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished at Paramount Pictures in the midst of all the noise going on at our parent company. We have a terrific slate that our team has put together, and I can’t wait to share that with you,” he told theater owners at the annual Las Vegas showcase.

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Screen Daily: Disney brings ‘Avatar’, ‘Fantastic Four’, ‘Elio’, ‘Tron: Ares’ footage to CinemaCon Disney executives delivered a tidy CinemaCon session in Las Vegas packed with sequels, reboots and spin-offs like Avatar: Fire & Ash, The Fantastic Four: First Steps,and Tron: Ares and noted – unsurprisingly – that the studio and its labels has ranked number one in Hollywood for eight out of the past nine years and keeps films exclusively in cinemas longer than any of its rivals.

Judging from the steady stream of whoops and applause from the crowd of exhibitors at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace on Thursday, the formula works, and Disney’s appetite for revisiting familiar territory well into 2028 and beyond suits them well. A common theme of studio presentations, panels and conversations with the industry this week has been the need to supply variety, in bulk and frequently. Disney is doing that, even if the source material is familiar.

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APRIL 2

Deadline: Amazon MGM’s Mike Hopkins Cozies Up To Theater Owners, Promises “When Amazon Commits To Something, We Tend To Do It Big — CinemaCon

Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, made his debut at his first CinemaCon tonight, breaking the ice with de rigueur anecdote of how he fell in love with cinema – going to see Stars Wars as a kid with his brother, both in jammies, “even though I was a bit too old to wear pajamas in public.”

Applause for that in the auditorium of Caesars Palace Las Vegas, and even more for his promise to deliver 15 feature films a year to theaters by 2027, and for years to come. The studio will begin with 12-14 films starting next year, Courtenay Valenti, head of Film, Streaming and Theatrical, said recently.

“We are committed to doing this for the long terms and when Amazon commits to something, we tend to do it big.” The company is putting together a distribution team to roll out films globally.

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Screen Daily: ‘Wicked: For Good’ stars, filmmakers close high-energy Universal CinemaCon session

Director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt brought a bewitching first-look ahead of the November 21 follow-up to last year’s $747m global hit that featured Dorothy (not in full view), and prompted Platt to assure that the film mines deeper and more profound themes. Chu noted impishly that this was the third successive year that a Wicked film has served as the studio’s presentation finale.

A rousing medley of Universal theme tunes performed by a 43-piece orchestra kicked off the two-hour session in which studio brass touted the year’s tentpoles and a giant 2026 slate. They also trumpeted the studio’s credentials as a box office behemoth and champion of theatrical distribution – music to the ears of the exhibitor attendees at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace.

Donna Langley, chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios, noted that audiences were evolving. “There’s no question we continue to face an uphill climb,” she said, “but it’s one we will climb together. There is a lot to be excited about and a lot to be proud of… and our upcoming slate is definitely no exception.”

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Variety: ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Dazzles CinemaCon as First Reactions Praise ‘Visually Stunning’ and ‘Fantastic’ Live-Action Remake: ‘A Gorgeous Reimagining’

Universal and DreamWorks Pictures’ live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” remake has been unveiled to members of the press and theater owners at CinemaCon, and the first reactions are calling it “one of the best live-action” remakes thus far. CinemaCon attendees were advised they were seeing an unfinished version of the movie, but what they did see earned an enthusiastic applause when the credits rolled. The scene where Hiccup rides the dragon Toothless for the first time also generated mid-screening applause.

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Deadline: Angel Studios Dates New WWII Film ‘Truth & Treason’, TIFF-Premiering ‘Sketch’ & ‘Zero A.D.’ From ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Director, Tees Up First Trailers – CinemaCon

“At CinemaCon 2025, we unveiled the most ambitious and cinematic slate in Angel Studios’ history. There are no greater partners than the dedicated exhibitors who bring these stories to life on the big screen. We are all in on theatrical — bullish on the big screen, unwavering in our commitment to the theatrical window, and firm believers in the power of the shared moviegoing experience,” said Brandon Purdie, EVP and Head of Theatrical Distribution.

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APRIL 1

CinemaCon State of the Industry: Cinema United President and CEO Michael O’Leary Calls Upon Exhibition and Distribution To Come Together To Transform Industry

We need a system that recognizes our common goals and does not pit one sector against another in a short-sighted quest for immediate financial return at the cost of long-term success.

Now is the time for us to take what we know, and what we have learned and craft a model that will thrive for generations.

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Deadline: Cinema United CEO Wants 45-Day “Baseline” Window & “Only In Theaters” Marketing – CinemaCon

O’Leary said a 45-day window should be the baseline, “a clear, consistent starting point” because “for most movies, the ultimate box office success and consumer demand cannot be effectively determined short of a 45-day window.”

A compelling movie, he said, will do just as well, possibly better, on PVOD at 45 days as it would at 20.”

“A clear, consistent period of exclusivity, supported by meaningful nationwide marketing from both distribution and exhibition, is essential for all theatrically released films to be successful. It is the bedrock upon which our collective prosperity is built.”

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The Wrap: Cinema United CEO Argues for Longer Theatrical Windows in CinemaCon Speech: ‘There Must Be a Baseline’

Outside of windowing, O’Leary also called on new approaches to marketing films, reemphasizing the phrase “only in theaters” and not promoting home platform availability during the theatrical run. He pointed to a recent NRG survey showing a a 38% decline in the number of movies that reached a audience awareness level over 50% by opening weekend as a sign that marketing needs to change.

“We live in a time of pervasive and relentless communication, and there is no excuse not to attain this target if exhibition and distribution work together. If fewer than half of movie-goers are aware of a new movie, can we sincerely say we are working to build a robust theatrical business?” he said.

For the exhibitors’ part, O’Leary called on attendees to continue their work to refurbish their theaters and to make them into places that people want to come back to. Cinema United released a report last week outlining the efforts that theaters from the biggest chains to independent theaters are doing to improve the quality of their theaters.

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The Wrap: Lionsgate Lays Out Its Box Office Comeback Plan at CinemaCon With Help From The Weeknd

Lionsgate had a flop-filled year in 2024, and it would like to leave it in the rear-view mirror. Fortunately, the turnaround is already underway after a modestly successful winter, and now the studio is looking at a brighter 2025, which it laid out in full to movie theater owners at CinemaCon on Tuesday.

The presentation was filled with a flurry of announcements of production greenlights and first-look deals, as well as onstage interviews by Lionsgate’s film chairman Adam Fogelson with stars and directors of the studio’s upcoming attractions.

It was all capped off with Jenna Ortega, co-star of The Weeknd’s upcoming music concept film “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” introducing the cinema-loving pop star to an auditorium of thrilled exhibitors to perform a pair of songs, including his 2020 smash hit “Blinding Lights.”

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The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Superman’ Stars Unveil Krypto-Heavy New Footage and Recall “Witnessing the Magic of Cinema”

[Nicholas] Hoult added about a memorable moment from watching Corenswet during production: “I felt like I was witnessing the magic of cinema in first-person in real time.”

Said [David] Corenswet, “It’s a great honor to play a role that exists so clearly in the public consciousness.”

[Rachel] Brosnahan praised the film’s universality: “I feel like these stories endure because there’s something in it for everyone.” She said of playing characters reviously portrayed by legendary performers, “We get to stand on the shoulders of giants … and then find our ways into their heads.”

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MARCH 31

CinemaCon

Deadline: Michael O’Leary’s Had It With Short Theatrical Windows — They Must Be “Meaningful” For Movies To Succeed

“We are reaching the point … where we’re starting to say, ‘Hey, we need some clarity. We need some stability in terms of what the windows are.’” — Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United “From the exhibition perspective, we believe that you have to have a meaningful window in order for movies to be successful. We have concerns about some of the shorter windows not allowing enough time for a movie to kind of take hold and build an audience,” — O’Leary

The bouncing around confuses consumers. “We would like to see the window stabilize. We think there’s confusion among the moviegoing public as to how long movies are going to be in theaters. It kind of varies from film to film, and that’s just not a way to reach audiences — if they don’t know from one weekend to the next what’s available. How long is it going to be available? Where can I see it?” — O’Leary

“We think that theatrical exclusivity is core to the success of this entire industry, not just exhibition, but in order to see the studios getting the chance to recoup their investment.” — O’Leary

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The Wrap: Cinema United CEO Michael O’Leary Talks CinemaCon, Amazon and No Longer Being Confused With NATO

The Wrap: You made infrastructure investment a core aspect of your first year as head of Cinema United. Are there any developments on that front that we might see at CinemaCon?

Michael O’Leary: We’ve already started to see different circuits make those investments, whether it’s putting in new types of seating or upgrading projectors. And this is not just in the big circuits. It’s all the way from the world’s largest down to the one screen Mom-and-Pop theater in a rural community.

Because of that, you’re going to continue to hear a regular cadence of those things coming out, and we intend to go back and try and chart the progress and report that out so that people can see it. One of the things that we’re doing is releasing a report that snapshots all the great reinvestment that’s going on in communities across the country and around the world. We’re going to do more and more of that as we go forward, because the work that’s being done in these theaters is really something special and something that we don’t think gets the attention that it deserves.

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Adweek: Behind the Screens Campaign Returns to CinemaCon With New Episodes

“Every time that I meet with a theater owner—whether it’s small theater or a big theater—I always came away from it feeling energized. We wanted to to figure out a way to highlight that.” — Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United

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Deadline: Sony Motion Picture Boss Tom Rothman At CinemaCon: “Cost And Windows Can Work For Us Or Against Us”

Leave it to Tom Rothman to tee up CinemaCon, ever the philosopher, with the ultimate sermon that waves the flag for moviegoing.

Acknowledging the elephant in the room at this year’s confab — windows — Rothman told the Caesars Palace full of exhibs, “Cost and windows can work for us or against us. Theatrical needs to be smart about them both. I will let you know that Sony will work with you on both.” That got great applause.

He also encouraged exhibition to lower prices, but not in an arrogant fashion, pointing out how Tuesdays — the discount day of the week for exhibitors — is robust. Rothman encouraged: What if Monday, Wednesday, etc. were all Tuesday?

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The Hollywood Reporter: James L. Brooks Set to Receive CinemaCon Award Ahead of Release of New Film ’Ella McCay’

James L. Brooks is heading to Las Vegas.

The veteran creative, who has maxed out his multihyphenate talents during a career that spans six decades, will be adding another honor to his long list of accolades when CinemaCon presents him with a Cinema Vérité trophy for his big-screen accomplishments.

The special honor will be presented during the Walt Disney Studios presentation inside the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 3. It comes ahead of the release of his newest film, Ella McCay, set for release from 20th Century Studios on Sept. 19. Written and directed by Brooks, the comedy follows the complicated politics that arise when a young woman’s stressful career clashes with a chaotic family life.

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April 2, 2025

Listen: Ticket To Ride Podcast Live from CinemaCon 2025

(From left to right: Paul Dergarabedian, Mike Polydoros, Colleen Barstow, Michael O’Leary, and Thaddeus Bouchard)

The Ticket to Ride podcast—hosted by Paul Dergarabedian, Senior Media Analyst, Comscore; Mike Polydoros, CEO at PaperAirplane Media; and Thaddeus Bouchard, President, ScreenDollars—recorded a special live episode during Cinema United’s Independent Theatre Owners Coalition (ITOC) event on Monday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

The hosts were joined by Cinema United’s President & CEO Michael O’Leary, and ITOC Chair Colleen Barstow of ACX Cinemas as they discussed what’s shaping the world of cinema and the future of the moviegoing experience. From breaking down recent box office trends to personal stories of running indie theaters, the conversation delivers genuine insights. Listen below:

April 2, 2025

Listen: CinemaCon 2025’s Industry Think Tank Panel

(From left to right: Michael O’Leary, Matthew Belloni, Peter Levinsohn, Eduardo Acuna, Tom Quinn, and Joseph Kosinski)

Matthew Belloni recorded the latest episode of The Town with Matthew Belloni, his popular podcast about the entertainment industry, live at CinemaCon on Tuesday. An esteemed list of panelists joined Belloni for a candid discussion on everything from theatrical windows to the current state of the box office: Eduardo Acuna, CEO, Regal Cineworld Group; Joseph Kosinski, Director of F1 and Top Gun: Maverick; Peter Levinsohn, Chairman, Global Distribution, NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios; and Tom Quinn, Founder & CEO, NEON. Cinema United’s President and CEO Michael O’Leary introduced the panel. You can listen to the podcast below:

April 1, 2025

CinemaCon 2025: Globally Speaking: Different Perspectives, One Common Goal

This candid discussion delves into the various challenges and opportunities common to both worlds of exhibition and distribution, tackling issues from overseas productions and the importance of maintaining an international lens, the differences between domestic and overseas release patterns and what we can learn from each other, and the need for a refresh, particularly with the media, in how we tell our story.

Moderator: Michael O’Leary, President & CEO, Cinema United

Panel Members:
Jeff Goldstein, President, Global Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures
Alejandro Ramírez Magaña, CEO, Cinépolis
Tim Richards, Founder & CEO, Vue
Mark Viane, President, International Distribution, Paramount Pictures

March 27, 2025

Cinema United Highlights Innovation in Exhibition With “The Next Great Era of Cinema” Special Report

Summary Features More Than 20 Exhibitors of All Sizes from Communities Worldwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. & LOS ANGELES (March 27, 2025) – In the lead-up to CinemaCon, Cinema United is releasing today a special report titled, “The Next Great Era of Cinema.”The report highlights exhibitors who arereinvesting in their communities, bringing technological innovation to consumers, and making sure the fun and excitement of going to the theatre doesn’t end when the movie does.

“Everyone in our industry is united by a common goal: ensuring, through continued innovation, that the experience of watching a movie on a large screen with amazing sound in a communal setting is here to stay,” said Michael O’Leary, President & CEO of Cinema United. “Consumers today are more discerning than ever, and the entire theatrical exhibition community continues to reinvest in itself by providing the best entertainment experiences possible for movie fans around the world.”

The report, which is broken down into three separate areas, Reinvesting in Our Communities, Technological Innovation and More than a Movie, focuses on the exhibition industry’s place as a quintessential Main Street industry. In it, the report highlights how movie theatres are the cornerstones of small towns, rural communities, and major cities worldwide.

Those cinemas and theatre chains featured in the report (listed here alphabetically) represent a diverse range of Cinema United members, from major chains to independent arthouses: ACX Cinemas; Alamo Drafthouse; AMC Theatres; B&B Theatres; Belcourt Theatre (Nashville, TN); Cinépolis; Cinergy; CMX; Emagine; Event Cinemas; Harkins Theatres; The Lot; Marcus Theatres; The Music Box (Chicago, IL); PVR INOX; Regal; Santikos; Silver Moon Drive-In (Lakeland, FL); Southampton Playhouse (Southampton, NY); Spotlight Theatres (Warsaw, NY); The State Theatre (Washington, IA).

Added O’Leary: “Despite the existential challenges facing our industry over the past five years, our critics failed to understand the strength and fight of the men and women who operate cinemas. Cinemas did not perish as some suggested they would; and now, despite these challenges, the industry is in a position of strength, poised for the next great era of cinema.”

Cinema United, formerly the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), recently rebranded itself with a new name and identity that points to the unique and unmatched communal experience of seeing a movie in the cinema, as well as the industry’s commitment to innovation and the future of theatrical exhibition.

Click HERE to download the full report.

March 20, 2025

CinemaCon Announces Its 2025 Big Screen Achievement Awards Honorees

Star-Studded Event Caps Week-Long Celebration of Theatrical Exhibition on Thursday, April 3

LAS VEGAS, NV (March 20, 2025) – Today, CinemaCon^®, the world’s largest theatrical convention held by Cinema United, announced honorees for the 2025 Big Screen Achievement Awards, taking place on April 3 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. This year’s honorees, Channing Tatum (Distinguished Decade of Achievement in Film), Ana de Armas (Action Star of the Year), Lindsay Lohan (Vanguard Award), Cheech & Chong (Career Achievement in Comedy), David Jonsson (Next Generation Award), Madeleine McGraw (Rising Star of 2025), and Ben Wang (Star of Tomorrow), join previously announced honoree, Glen Powell (Star of the Year).

Designed to recognize the remarkable achievements of the extraordinary talent behind the movies, the Big Screen Awards afford an opportunity for the global theatrical exhibition industry to show their gratitude to the performers and filmmakers who bring the magic of movies to their screens.

“The Big Screen Achievement Awards are exhibition’s way of saying thank you to the talented and creative people that make magic on movie screens all across the globe. They are essential to the wonder that is the moviegoing experience,” noted Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon. “This year’s honorees have entertained audiences the world over and we are excited to celebrate their accomplishments at this year’s Big Screen Achievement Awards.’”

The Big Screen Achievement Awards, hosted by CinemaCon’s official presenting sponsor The Coca-Cola Company, take place at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and represent the finale to the world’s premier showcase of theatrical exhibition, CinemaCon. Returning to host the awards this year will be Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier.

Channing Tatum stars opposite Kirsten Dunst and Peter Dinklage in Derek Cianfrance’s upcoming film Roofman, opening exclusively in theatres on October 3 via Paramount Pictures. With a career spanning acting, producing and directing, Tatum is known for his iconic roles in such films as Magic Mike, The Lost City, 21 Jump Street, The Vow, and Deadpool & Wolverine, consistently demonstrating his range in both comedy and drama. He co-directed and produced Dog, and earned critical acclaim for his performances in Foxcatcher and The Hateful Eight. As a producer, Tatum has made a significant impact through his company, Free Association, which has produced hit films including Blink Twice, Fatherhood and the Magic Mike franchise.

Ana de Armas stars as Eve Macarro in Lionsgate’s Ballerina, coming to theatres on June 6. Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellum, Ballerina follows Eve as she begins her training in the assassin traditions of Ruska Roma. With a career spanning over a decade in both Spanish and Hollywood films de Armas gained recognition for her performances in Blade Runner 2049, Knives Out, and No Time to Die. She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in Blonde, for which she earned an Oscar, SAG, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations. Additional credits include Ghosted, The Gray Man, Sergio, Hands of Stone, and War Dogs.

Lindsay Lohan will return to the big screen this summer in Walt Disney Studios’ Freakier Friday, opening in theatres nationwide on August 8. Freakier Friday will see Lohan, who also serves as an executive producer on the film, and Jamie Lee Curtis reprise their iconic roles of the much beloved 2003 film Freaky Friday. The highly anticipated comedy picks up many years later as Anna (Lohan) and Tess (Curtis) navigate life with new family dynamics, proving that lightning can strike twice. Lohan first captured audiences’ hearts with her breakout roles in The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday. She continued to solidify her place in Hollywood with iconic performances in movies such as Mean Girls, A Prairie Home Companion, Bobby, and Georgia Rule showcasing her versatile talent and making a lasting impact on the entertainment industry.

Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong are set to return to the big screen with their upcoming release Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie, hitting theatres nationwide on April 25, with special limited engagements on April 20th. The film will explore their friendship, fame, rebellion and redemption through a unique mix of real-life moments and creative storytelling. A defining force in comedy, the critically acclaimed duo struck comedy gold and made a fluid transition from live shows and records to films starring in eight features together. Their first, Up In Smoke, was the highest grossing comedy of 1978. With over five decades in the industry, their unique blend of comedy continues to resonate in both film and pop culture today.

David Jonsson can be seen on screen soon in the highly anticipated adaptation of Stephen King’s first-written novel, and the visionary direction of filmmaker Francis Lawrence, Lionsgate’s The Long Walk, a gripping dystopian thriller that challenges audiences to confront a haunting question: how far can you go? BAFTA award winner Jonsson most recently starred in and earned rave reviews for his performance in Ridley Scott’s Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Alvarez. He recently starred in Rye Lane, and his upcoming projects include Wasteman, Colman Domingo’s Scandalous and an untitled film by Frank Ocean. His television credits include the BBC/HBO series Industry, and his theater work includes acclaimed performances in And Breathe, Mary Stuart and Don Juan in Soho.

Madeleine McGraw will reprise her role as Gwen in Universal Pictures’ Black Phone 2, set to release in theatres nationwide on October 17. Following the massive success of Blumhouse’s 2022 horror phenomenon The Black Phone, McGraw returns alongside Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Jeremy Davies and Miguel Mora for the sequel of this sinister new franchise. McGraw’s acting career began at the age of 4, quickly catching the industry’s attention with her film debut in American Sniper starring as Bradley Cooper’s daughter. She has since appeared in and voiced roles in such major films as Cars 3, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Pacific Rim: Uprising and Toy Story 4.

Ben Wang stars in Sony Pictures’ Karate Kid: Legends, which unites the iconic martial arts masters of one of the most beloved film franchises of all time to tell a completely new story full of action and heart, releasing in theatres on May 30. When kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) relocates to New York City with his mother to attend a prestigious new school, he finds solace in a new friendship with a classmate and her father. But his newfound peace is short-lived after he attracts unwanted attention from a formidable local karate champion. Driven by a desire to defend himself, Li embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown. Known for his starring roles in the Disney+ series American Born Chinese and 2024’s Mean Girls Wang recently wrapped production on Lionsgate’s The Long Walk and the coming-of-age indie film Brian. He can next be seen starring in the comedy feature I’ll Take The Hamm. His previous credits include Chang Can Dunk, Sex Appeal, Search Party and The Last O.G.

Approved press images for award honorees can be downloaded here.

March 18, 2025

AP: Movie theater trade group unveils new name, Cinema United, and renewed mission to promote moviegoing

From the Associated Press:

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.”

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