Press Release Archives | Cinema United

October 1, 2026

North American Theatre Owners Have Reinvested $2.7 Billion In Their Cinemas Over The Past Two Years

New Cinema Investment Yearly Update Highlights Exhibition’s Ongoing Commitment to Innovation and Investment in the Consumer Experience

Eight Largest Circuits Alone Have Totaled $1.8 Billion in Reinvestment Over Two Years

WASHINGTON, D.C. and LOS ANGELES, CA – October 1, 2026 – On the heels of a spectacular summer box office season, Cinema United issued today its updated Cinema Investment Report. It highlights the North American exhibition industry’s reinvestment into movie theatres, with $1.2 billion going towards upgrades and innovations this past year, pushing total reinvestment over the past two years to $2.7 billion. The announcement comes at the close of another successful Fall Summit in L.A., where theatre owners gathered together for four high-impact days of connection, insight, and industry momentum. United in its support of a bright future, exhibition demonstrates through these reinvestments a clear financial commitment to creating premium entertainment experiences that audiences everywhere crave.

The updated industry total includes the eight largest domestic circuits’ commitment to reinvest $840 million this past year, bringing their total reinvestment over the past two years to $1.8 billion. In September 2024, those same eight companies had pledged more than $2.2 billion to modernize and upgrade theatres of all sizes over a three-year period.

“From the world’s largest circuits to independent theatres on Main Streets across this great nation, theatre owners have shown how much they believe in the future of the big screen, and 2026’s strong box office proves that commitment is paying off,” says Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “When a theatre reinvests in itself, everyone wins—moviegoers get a better experience, studios get a stronger platform, local businesses benefit, and contractors get the work that comes with it. Cinema United members are reaffirming that there is nothing like seeing a movie on a big screen. Every investment in a movie theater is an investment in the community it serves, which is why moviegoing will remain essential for generations to come.”

From Cinema United, the trade association representing more than 63,000 screens worldwide, the new Cinema Investment Report comes at a time when audiences of all ages are enthusiastically embracing the big screen experience. In addition to showcasing the capital investments in theatres, the report also highlights the vendors who led several of the renovation efforts, creating jobs and driving local economies.

“The benefit to communities from movie theatres is unmatched by any other premier entertainment experience, and that is why they remain so valued in major cities and small towns worldwide,” says Mike Bowers, CEO of Harkins and Chair of Cinema United. “These investments continue our industry’s long history of ensuring that every moviegoing experience is a premium one.”

Cinema United members profiled in the report include AMC, Cinemark, Harkins, Emagine, Megaplex, CineLux, Classic Cinemas, EPIC Theatres, BAM Rose Cinemas, Hoyts, and Major Cineplex.

Partners mentioned include Okland Construction, Amcon, and D.L.B. Metal Inc.

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 29, 2026

Mitch Neuhauser To Step Down As Managing Director of CinemaCon Following 2028 Show

Following 19 Years Managing the World’s Premier Exhibition Showcase, Neuhauser to Retire on June 30, 2028

Matt Pollock to Assume Co-Managing Director Position to Ensure Seamless Transition

WASHINGTON, D.C. and LOS ANGELES, CA – September 29, 2026 – Cinema United, the world’s largest trade association representing global exhibition, announced today that Mitch Neuhauser will retire following CinemaCon® 2028. Neuhauser has overseen the growth and development of exhibition’s premier annual event, CinemaCon, since 2009. Under his leadership, the show continues to grow in popularity and evolve as the world’s greatest platform for exhibition and distribution to come together and celebrate the magic of movies on the big screen.

“It is impossible to overstate what Mitch means to Cinema United and the entire exhibition community. He is synonymous with CinemaCon, and it simply would not have become the spectacular event that it is without him,” said Cinema United President and CEO, Michael O’Leary. “Mitch loves this industry, the people in exhibition and the studios, and the experience of seeing a movie in a theatre. His vision and leadership will be missed, but I want to join everyone in the entertainment industry in congratulating him on an amazing career.”

“Working in this incredible industry for the past 45 years has been the dream of a lifetime, capped off by bringing CinemaCon to fruition in 2011,” Neuhauser said. “Our industry is unlike any other. We bring people together from all around the world, and that has inspired me across all these years. Knowing that Michael O’Leary and Cinema United are also recognizing the important contributions of Matt Pollock, who I’ve worked with for almost two decades, gives me great satisfaction. CinemaCon, Cinema United and the global theatrical industry will be in great hands when the baton is passed in 2028.”

Neuhauser began his career in 1981 with the Sunshine Group Worldwide, where he ultimately became Vice President following the company’s purchase in 1998 and oversaw ShowEast, Cinema Expo, CineAsia, and later ShoWest, beginning in 2001. Neuhauser joined Cinema United (formerly the National Association of Theatre Owners) in 2009 and spearheaded the transition from ShoWest to CinemaCon in 2011. Under his guidance, CinemaCon has become a global phenomenon drawing participants from around the world each year. Neuhauser served on the Board of Directors of the Will Rogers Motion Pictures Pioneers Foundation and received the Heart of Show Business Award from Variety of Southern California in 2018.

Cinema United also announced today that Matt Pollock will immediately assume the role of Co-Managing Director of CinemaCon and begin the transition of taking over the lead position in 2028.

“Matt is the perfect choice to assume this important role. He has all the qualities necessary to ensure that CinemaCon continues to grow and evolve into the future,” added O’Leary. “Making him Co-Managing Director today illustrates the confidence that I, along with the entire exhibition industry, have in Matt. I am also pleased he will work closely with Mitch through this important transition.”

Hosted by Cinema United, CinemaCon is the world’s premier showcase of theatrical exhibition, with the 2027 show taking place April 12-15 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

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 states, and more than 30,000 screens 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. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and X/Twitter.

September 29, 2026

Margot Robbie and Jason Blum Join Cinema United’s Filmmaker Leadership Council

Acclaimed Filmmakers Lend their Expertise and Passion in Support of Global Cinema

Formed to Advance and Champion the Theatrical Experience, Council is Led by Chair Jerry Bruckheimer and Vice Chair Emma Thomas

LOS ANGELES, CA – September 29, 2026 – Cinema United, the world’s largest exhibition trade association representing more than 63,000 movie screens worldwide, announced today that acclaimed filmmakers and Oscar® nominees Margot Robbie and Jason Blum have joined the Filmmaker Leadership Council, a strategic group of world-class producers and directors united in a single cause to champion the future of cinema worldwide. Robbie and Blum join council leaders Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas, and charter members Ryan Coogler, Brad Bird, Jason Reitman, and Celine Song.

“We are thrilled and honored to welcome two leaders like Margot and Jason to this influential group,” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “Margot is a global superstar and the voice of a generation who loves movies on the big screen. Jason is beloved by fans around the world for creating incredible—and scary—experiences in theatres. They are both well-known, fierce advocates of the theatrical experience. I want to thank them both for their commitment, and I look forward to working closely with them to advance this great industry together.”

“It’s an absolute honor to have Margot and Jason join the Filmmaker Leadership Council,” said Council Chair Jerry Bruckheimer. “Their combined impact on this industry is enormous, and I know they will help our efforts immensely.”

“For me, the magic of cinema starts with the cinema itself,” Robbie said. “Storytelling in this format can be incredibly powerful, and I truly believe movie theatres are essential to our art form. I couldn’t be more grateful and excited to be able to work with such a powerful group of creatives to continue to drive the theatrical experience forward.”

Blum added, “Movie theaters are where fans are made. Bold, creative voices are bringing young audiences back to the movies, and that’s exciting. Turning moviegoing into a habit takes all of us, and this Council gives us a way to do that together.”

The Filmmaker Leadership Council brings together some of the world’s most influential movie creators to work alongside Cinema United to provide vital feedback and recommendations on the most pressing issues facing theatrical exhibition today—including consolidation, sustainable windows, the promotion and marketing of the cinematic experience, and highlighting innovation and technology.

At CinemaCon 2026, Bruckheimer and Thomas spearheaded a popular keynote discussion with O’Leary, hosted by Matt Belloni, during which they addressed important industry topics and the future of the Council. Also at CinemaCon, Reitman, a fellow theatre owner as part of the Village Directors Circle and member of Cinema United, spoke during Cinema United’s Independent Theatre Owners Coalition (ITOC) event and spent time touring the trade show floor to meet with vendors and members alike. This week, Blum will speak to members of exhibition as part of a live conversation at Cinema United’s annual Fall Summit gathering in Los Angeles. It is part of the Council’s overall mission to strengthen relationships between the exhibition community and filmmakers, as well as to help rebuild the moviegoing audience through a series of private and public initiatives, such as CinemaCon and the Fall Summit.

Members of the Council meet quarterly to discuss key priorities and upcoming initiatives. Serving as Executive Director of the Filmmaker Leadership Council is Greg Foster, industry veteran and senior consultant for Cinema United.

Margot Robbie is a three-time Academy Award nominated actress and producer who has captivated global audiences with breakout performances alongside some of the most notable names in film. Robbie is currently in production on the Oceans Prequel for Warner Bros., which she is also producing under her LuckyChap banner. The film will be directed by Bradley Cooper, with an exciting ensemble to include: Cooper, Monica Barbaro, Wagner Moura, Josh Gad, Omar Sy, and George MacKay, among others. Earlier this year, Robbie starred in and produced Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, which grossed over $240 million worldwide. In 2023, Robbie starred in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie as the titular role for Mattel and Warner Bros, which she also produced under her LuckyChap banner. The film grossed over $1.4 billion worldwide and was nominated for 8 Academy Awards. In 2022, Robbie starred in Damien Chazelle’s 1920s Hollywood drama, Babylon. Robbie received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Jay Roach’s Bombshell, opposite Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron. Prior to that and most notably, Robbie starred as Tonya Harding in I, Tonya and received an Academy Award nomination for her performance. Robbie also served as a producer on the film with LuckyChap. Other noteworthy performances include Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Mary Queen of Scots, Birds of Prey, The Suicide Squad, Suicide Squad, and The Wolf of Wall Street. LuckyChap’s projects across film, television, and theatre include Barbie, Wuthering Heights, Saltburn, Promising Young Woman, I, Tonya, My Old Ass, Sterling Point, Sirens, Maid, and 1536.

Three-time Oscar® nominee Jason Blum is the founder and CEO of Blumhouse Atomic Monster, a film, television and gaming company regarded as the driving force in horror. Following the merger of Jason Blum’s Blumhouse with James Wan’s Atomic Monster in January 2024, the combined company is responsible for more than $10 Billion in worldwide box office and has represented approximately 50% of the horror market in the last ten years. Blumhouse Atomic Monster is home to the highest number of ongoing franchises of any studio, including Halloween, The Conjuring, The Purge, The Black Phone, Annabelle, Paranormal Activity, The Exorcist, Insidious, The Nun, M3GAN, and Five Nights at Freddy’s, along with iconic films from cinematic visionaries including Jordan Peele’s Get Out, Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash and Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman. The company recently crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office for 2026, the second year in a row, on the strength of just four films, among them, Curry Barker’s Obsession and Kane Parsons’ Backrooms, the highest-grossing releases in the history of Focus Features and A24, respectively. The company will close out the year with the highly anticipated Other Mommy, starring Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain and directed by Rob Savage, in theaters October 9, 2026, from Universal.

ABOUT CINEMA UNITED

September 29, 2026

Cinema United Announces Important Leadership Promotions To Strengthen Advocacy, Industry Partnerships and Global Impact

Amanda Martin becomes SVP, External Affairs, and Erin Von Hoetzendorff is promoted to VP, Membership and Global Affairs

New roles reflect Cinema United’s growing commitment to serve exhibition worldwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. and LOS ANGELES — September 29, 2026 — Cinema United, the world’s largest trade association representing global exhibition, announced today two important leadership promotions. Amanda Martin will assume the newly created role of Senior Vice President, External Affairs, and Erin Von Hoetzendorff will be promoted to Vice President, Membership and Global Affairs. Both appointments reflect Cinema United’s continued investment in building an organization equipped to serve the full breadth of the exhibition industry, both domestically and abroad.

“As exhibition continues to evolve, Cinema United is evolving with it,” said Michael O’Leary, President & CEO of Cinema United. “These two well-deserved promotions will allow us to strengthen our partnerships across the entertainment ecosystem, deepen our advocacy on behalf of all theatre owners, and expand our engagement with international theatre owners, ensuring that every constituency we serve has a strong voice within our organization. Amanda and Erin are critical to our success, and in these new roles, they will have even greater impact on the direction and future of Cinema United.”

Amanda Martin, Senior Vice President, External Affairs

Amanda Martin, who served previously as the Chief of Staff since joining Cinema United in 2023, will become SVP, External Affairs. She will continue to serve as a senior member of Cinema United’s leadership team, leading the organization’s advocacy efforts and strategic partnerships across the filmed entertainment industry. In this role, Martin will grow and strengthen Cinema United’s relationships with allied organizations, coalitions and stakeholders central to the exhibition business and oversee the organization’s state government affairs function. Martin will also lead and shape all educational programming for Cinema United’s signature industry events, including CinemaCon and the Fall Summit. She will, along with CEO Michael O’Leary, continue to serve as a federal advocate before Congress and relevant federal agencies.

Erin Von Hoetzendorff, Vice President, Membership and Global Affairs

Erin Von Hoetzendorff, who first joined the organization in 2018, is being promoted to the position of VP, Membership and Global Affairs. In this capacity, Von Hoetzendorff will continue the excellent work she has done as the head of Membership Services and will also lead Cinema United’s expanded engagement with international theatre owners, building on the organization’s existing membership function to deliver substantive representation and support for exhibitors around the world. This role reflects Cinema United’s recognition that global exhibition is critical to the success of our industry, and that Cinema United is committed to helping elevate their voice as a key part of our advocacy on behalf of all theatre owners.

“Together, these roles will help Cinema United serve exhibition more completely and effectively than ever before,” O’Leary added. “One strengthens our connections across the industry itself and elevates our advocacy on behalf of our members; the other strengthens our connection to theatre owners around the world. Both are essential to how we grow and represent our members going forward.”

The new positions are effective immediately and represent Cinema United’s ongoing commitment to building an organization with the capability and reach to meet the needs of exhibition today and in the years ahead.

About Cinema United

September 22, 2026

Cinema United Releases Statement On Paramount Settlement

Statement from Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United:

“For nearly a year, and throughout multiple efforts to acquire the iconic Warner Bros. Studios, Cinema United has remained steadfast in its primary objective to safeguard theatres of all sizes across this great nation and around the world from the harms of legacy studio consolidation.

The agreement announced yesterday accomplishes many of exhibition’s objectives. The consent decree includes language on increased film production for five years, meaningful theatrical exclusivity and wide distribution, prohibitions on cost increases, and continued access to the catalogs of Paramount and Warner Bros. While no settlement can eliminate all risk from a merger of this size, these conditions will enable our industry to adapt and succeed in a rapidly changing media environment.

The State Attorneys General’s lawsuit and, now the consent decree, strongly validates that movie theatres are the beating heart of Main Street America and the entire U.S. film industry. Cinema United appreciates the efforts of both the State Attorneys General and Paramount to resolve the merger lawsuit. Our focus now shifts back to our bright future. For well over 100 years, global exhibition has worked closely with both Paramount and Warner Bros. to deliver amazing big screen experiences to fans around the world. We look forward to strengthening these historic partnerships to ensure that going to the movies remains the premier entertainment option for generations to come.”

August 18, 2026

Cinema United Leadership Issues Joint Letter to State AGs and Paramount

Dear Attorney General Bonta and Mr. Ellison,

We are writing to you in our capacity as the leadership of Cinema United, the world’s largest trade organization representing the global theatrical exhibition business. We write to encourage you both to meet in the immediate future and discuss all possible avenues for resolving the state of California’s pending challenge to Paramount’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Theatrical exhibition is a Main Street industry. A night at the cinema not only benefits the movie studios and theatre owners, but it also benefits nearby restaurants, coffee shops, bars and shopping frequented by moviegoers. From family-owned independent theatres to vibrant mid-size circuits to the world’s largest theatre chains, Cinema United members are cultural and economic drivers in communities across this great nation. Our members have been partnering with Paramount and Warner Bros. for over a century to provide movie fans of all ages with the unparalleled experience of a movie on the big screen. We look forward to strengthening and growing that proud tradition for generations to come. Movie theatres are also undeniably a part of the fabric of this nation. In just the twelve states represented in the litigation we have 196 members doing business. The majority of those are independent or family-owned theatres: 130 operate fewer than ten screens; 90, with less than five screens; and 30 of those members operate single-screen theatres.

Our industry is familiar with the impact of legacy studio consolidation on moviegoers and exhibition, and those facts are well documented. As a result, all relevant parties understand the enduring value of the theatrical experience not only to our culture, but to the overall economy and the financial success of films themselves. At the same time, we have remained open to tangible and enforceable guardrails that can offer our industry some measure of certainty in the face of an evolving and otherwise challenging future. That is why we have engaged, in good faith, with both the coalition of State Attorneys General and Paramount.

As you both know, we believe any resolution of the current situation must ensure four core elements, which are essential to the long-term strength of the entertainment industry:

A long-term commitment to maintain or expand wide-release theatrical movie production that is supported by a meaningful period of theatrical exclusivity, fully marketed, and promoted in theatres of all sizes.

Provisions ensuring that the merger will not cause an increase in rental terms, so that theatre owners, and in turn, moviegoers, do not bear the brunt of the cost of this transaction, particularly independent theatres across the United States.

Enforceable safeguards to ensure broad access to films for moviegoers and theatres of all sizes that is not conditioned on requirements that impede theatre owners from making business decisions that are responsive to their communities’ preferences and the broader marketplace realities that many theatre owners face today.

And finally, continued access, under reasonable conditions and precedents, to the valuable and vast film catalogues of both Paramount and Warner Bros.

Today, our industry has the wind at its back. Studio partners are creating and distributing extraordinary films. Audiences across generations are responding with enthusiasm. Theatre owners are continuing to reinvest in their cinemas and build remarkable experiences for moviegoers. Movies are once again at the center of our shared culture. But none of that can be taken for granted. Global exhibition believes in a bold future for this industry, but reaching our full potential requires working together.

For many in our industry, the current environment is marked by disruption and uncertainty. That is why we believe that it is incumbent upon both of you to meet in good faith to discuss a resolution that would provide robust protections and serve the entire industry. In fact, it is the next logical step. Our goal remains a resolution that puts this industry on a positive path to continued success, not just in the near-term, but for generations to come. As has been the case since the outset, we stand ready to assist in any way we can. However, we urge you both to take the steps necessary to explore a meaningful resolution of the current situation as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Michael O’Leary
President & CEO, Cinema United
Washington, DC

Mike Bowers (Chair of the Board)
President & CEO, Harkins Theatres
Scottsdale, AZ

Wanda Gierhart (Vice Chair)
EVP & Chief Marketing and Content Officer, Cinemark USA, Inc.
Plano, TX

Rob Lehman (Treasurer)
President & COO, Santikos Entertainment
San Antonio, TX

Bo Chambliss (Secretary)
President, Georgia Theatre Company
Saint Simons Island, GA

Eduardo Acuna
CEO, Regal Entertainment Group
Knoxville, TN

Robert Bagby
President & CEO, B&B Theatres
Liberty, MO

Becky Dupuis
CEO/Owner, Polson Theatres, Inc.
Polson, MT

Eddy Duquenne
CEO, Kinepolis Group
Ghent, Belgium

Sean Gamble
President & CEO, Cinemark USA, Inc.
Plano, TX

Paul Gunsky
President & CEO, CineLux Theatres
San Jose, CA

John Henrich
General Counsel, Regal Entertainment Group
Knoxville, TN

Ellis Jacob
President & CEO, Cineplex Entertainment LP
Toronto, ON, Canada

Greg Marcus
Chairman, President & CEO, Marcus Theatres
Milwaukee, WI

Lauren McChesney
Co-Owner, Shankweiler’s Drive-In
Orefield, PA

Todd Vradenburg
President & CEO, Cinema Association of CA/NV
Los Angeles, CA

Phil Zacheretti
Founder, President & CEO, Phoenix Theatres Entertainment
Knoxville, TN

August 2, 2026

Cinema United Celebrates Record-Breaking Domestic Box Office Weekend

Official statement from Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United:

“Moviegoers across generations made this weekend one for the record books. Our industry is at its best when there is something for everyone to see on the big screen, and this year we are seeing what happens when the innovation and creativity on display in amazing movie theatres across the country and around the world is combined with a great slate of films.”

From Variety: A powerful one-two punch from “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey” has fueled the biggest collective weekend in box office history, with roughly $430 million across all movies in the marketplace.

Prior to this, the top three weekends were led by “Avengers: Endgame” ($402 million collectively), 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War” ($314 million collectively) and 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ($313 million collectively). It’s a particularly exciting benchmark for the recently married Tom Holland and Zendaya, who star in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey.”

April 14, 2026

TikTok and Cinema United Release New Report Focused On Platform’s Positive Impact on Moviegoing

Built By Fandom Report Finds that Sustained TikTok Engagement Consistently Predicts Stronger Box Office Holds Across Genres, Release Sizes, and Audience Types

LAS VEGAS (April 14, 2026) – TikTok and Cinema United today released Built By Fandom: How TikTok Audiences Are Powering Modern Theatrical Success, a new report examining how engagement on TikTok correlates with theatrical performance. Developed with box office data from Comscore, the report finds that TikTok activity is not just a measure of cultural buzz; it is a leading indicator of box office staying power.

“This report reinforces what we know to be true: that moviegoing is a cultural experience that resonates deeply with audiences,” says Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “The data shows that when films connect with communities on TikTok, people come to theatres. That is good for our members, good for Main Streets around the world, and good for the movie industry.”

Across four films representing a deliberate cross-section of the modern theatrical landscape—The Housemaid, Sinners, Wicked: For Good, and Zootopia 2—the report identifies a consistent pattern: as TikTok engagement grew week-over-week, so did box office receipts. The findings hold across a thriller based on a best-selling book; a singular genre-bending film that weaves together culture, music, family, and the supernatural; the epic conclusion of a global cinematic cultural sensation; and a record-breaking animated feature sequel, strengthening the case that the dynamic is not genre-specific and the marketplace succeeds when there is something for everyone.

“This report underscores that fandom on TikTok isn’t just a cultural force; it’s a business driver. When audiences discover a film on the platform, they don’t just watch it—they participate, create, share, and show up in person,” says Dennis Papirowski, Global Head of Entertainment and News at TikTok. “Our global FilmTok community has a unique ability to mobilize that passion into real, measurable momentum, and we’re proud to partner with exhibitors and studios to keep translating that energy into audiences in seats.”

The results are striking. Sinners posted the best second-weekend hold of any wide release in 2025, dropping just 5%, following a 459% surge in TikTok posts during its first week and an additional 7% increase the next week. The Housemaid earned more in its second week than its first—a rare outcome—as TikTok activity rose 13%. Wicked: For Good peaked at nearly 60,000 TikTok posts per day, more than any other 2025 film measured. Zootopia 2 saw TikTok posts surge 163% in its second week, adding $58 million domestically as fan conversation continued to build long after opening weekend.

For exhibitors, the report offers something beyond marketing insight with actionable intelligence for programming decisions. By using TikTok momentum as an indicator, theatre operators gain an additional data point for hold decisions, identifying which films are building audiences beyond opening weekend.

The report also highlights TikTok’s role earlier in the funnel. According to surveys conducted by TikTok, nearly 50% of users say they have discovered a new movie on the platform. Of those, 42% looked up showtimes and 36% purchased a ticket, demonstrating TikTok’s ability to convert online engagement into real-world moviegoing.

Download the full report here.

About TikTok

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok’s global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and its offices include New York, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

About 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. For additional information, please visit cinemaunited.org. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and X/Twitter.

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. The Coca-Cola Company and Barco are the official co-presenting sponsors of CinemaCon® 2026. For more information, visit cinemacon.com. Follow CinemaCon on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.

April 14, 2026

Cinema United President and CEO Michael O’Leary Delivers State of the Industry At CinemaCon 2026

Address Focused on Key Themes of Unity, Industry Highlights, Innovation and Investment in Exhibition, Consolidation, and Theatrical Exclusivity

LAS VEGAS (APRIL 14, 2026) – Today, Cinema United President and CEO Michael O’Leary took to the Dolby Colosseum stage to deliver his annual State of the Industry address at CinemaCon 2026. O’Leary touted the current strength of the exhibition industry, including themes of unity and growing audience trends, while not shying away from issues concerning consolidation and theatrical exclusivity.

“Theatre owners work every day to make their cinemas special, from reinvesting in technology and infrastructure to special events,” said O’Leary, citing several examples of Cinema United members connecting with their communities. “And not surprisingly, audiences are responding.”

Highlighting theatrical exhibition as a Main Street industry, O’Leary emphasized the importance of moviegoing and its cultural and economic impact on communities throughout history. He reinforced the need for unity by spotlighting the newly announced Cinema United Filmmaker Leadership Council, saying that “this collaboration could not have come at a more crucial time, and I want to thank these world-class filmmakers and artists for their leadership and commitment to exhibition.”

Addressing consolidation, O’Leary reiterated Cinema United’s strong stance, stating: “Further concentrating marketplace power in the hands of a smaller group of distributors that dictate the terms, windows, scheduling, screen-placement of movies, and access to historic film catalogs will have a real and lasting impact on Main Street and millions of movie fans around the world.”

On theatrical exclusivity, O’Leary touted a change in attitude among distributors: “After six-plus years of theories and experiments devoted to proving that theatrical’s days have passed, there is a growing recognition of something we have always known—theatrical exhibition is the foundation upon which the entire entertainment industry rests, and that will never change.”

O’Leary pointed out that in 2025, the average theatrical window for the top 100 films was 37 days, representing a three-day increase over the previous year. He added that if those releases last year benefited from a minimum 45-day window, the overall average would have been a full two weeks longer at 49 days, emphasizing the critical nature of exclusive windows for theaters.

O’Leary concluded his speech by looking to the future: “If we work together, if we stay disciplined and focused on the future, I know that someone, fifty years from now, will stand on a stage like this, in an auditorium full of theatre operators to celebrate the wonder of our industry and chart a path for yet another century of movies on the big screen.”

About Cinema United

About CinemaCon

April 10, 2026

CinemaCon® Announces Its 2026 Big Screen Achievement Awards Honorees

LAS VEGAS (April 9, 2026) – CinemaCon^®, the world’s largest convention for the global cinema industry and the official convention of Cinema United, revealed today the honorees for the 2026 Big Screen Achievement Awards, taking place on April 16 at The Dolby Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. This year’s honorees are James Cameron (Cinema United Spirit of the Industry), Queen Latifah (Cultural Impact in Film), LaKeith Stanfield (Star of the Year), Adam Scott (Award of Excellence in Acting), Noah Centineo (Star of Tomorrow), and Catherine Laga’aia (Rising Star of 2026).

Designed to recognize the remarkable achievements of the extraordinary talent behind the movies made for the theatrical experience, the Big Screen Achievement 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.

“Our industry is at its best when those in it come together to celebrate the power of seeing a movie on the big screen,” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “This includes the incredibly talented people both in front of and behind the camera, whose work is at the heart of what makes the moviegoing experience so powerful and enduring. The films from this year’s honorees will undoubtedly capture the imaginations of audiences around the world, and we are proud to honor their achievements.”

The Big Screen Achievement Awards, hosted by CinemaCon’s official co-presenting sponsor The Coca-Cola Company, takes place at The Dolby Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and represent the finale to the world’s premier showcase of theatrical exhibition, CinemaCon. Hosting the awards this year will be Entertainment Tonight’s Nischelle Turner.

James Cameron’s upcoming film, Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), opens in theaters on May 8, 2026 via Paramount Pictures. Captured during her sold-out world tour, the film brings an innovative new concert experience to the big screen from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation. Presented in immersive 3D, the film is directed by Cameron and Billie Eilish.

Queen Latifah returns next year as the voice of Ellie in Ice Age: Boiling Point, due in theaters on February 5, 2027. A dinosaur-and-lava-filled madcap adventure, Ice Age: Boiling Point takes Manny, Sid, Diego, Ellie, Scrat and the rest of the herd to visit never-before-seen corners of the treacherous Lost World. Latifah is a GRAMMY^® Award-winning musician, Oscar^®-nominated actress, producer and entrepreneur with a career spanning music, film, and television. Since making her big screen debut in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever, Latifah has delivered standout performances in such films as Set it Off, Living Out Loud, Chicago, Bringing Down the House, The Secret Life of Bees, Hairspray, Mad Money, The Last Holiday, Beauty Shop, Girls Trip and Miracles from Heaven — to name just a few. On the small screen, she received an Emmy Award nomination, Golden Globe win, and a SAG Award win for her role in Life Support. Other television credits include Living Single, Steel Magnolias and Bessie for which she received an Emmy Award nomination, Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award. Most recently she led the hit CBS series The Equalizer.

LaKeith Stanfield can be seen next month starring in NEON’s I Love Boosters, releasing in theaters on May 22, 2026. Written and directed by Boots Riley (Sorry To Bother You), Stanfield stars opposite Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore in a film about a crew of professional shoplifters who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. An Academy Award nominee whose work spans film, television and music, Stanfield is best known for his work in Judas and the Black Messiah, Get Out, Sorry to Bother You, Knives Out, Uncut Gems, The Harder They Fall, Selma, and Snowden. On television he is widely known for his role in the FX series Atlanta.

Adam Scott stars in Hokum, NEON’s supernatural horror film arriving in theaters May 1, 2026. When novelist Ohm Bauman (Scott) retreats to a remote inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, he is consumed by tales of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance force him to confront dark corners of his past. Widely known for his role in Step Brothers, Scott’s other film credits include Madame Web, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Black Mass, The Vicious Kind, Sleeping With Other People, Bachelorette, The Disaster Artist, Our Idiot Brother, Monster-In-Lay, Knocked Up, and The Aviator. Scott has earned Emmy, Golden Globe , Screen Actors Guild, Film Independent Spirit and Critics’ Choice Award nominations for his starring role in Apple TV’s Severance. Other notable small screen work includes Parks and Recreation, Big Little Lies, Party Down, and The Good Place.

Noah Centineo will star in Paramount Pictures’ Street Fighter, coming to theatres on October 16, 2026. Filmed for IMAX^®and set in 1993, Street Fighter is set to bring the battle from the arcade to the big screen with Hadoukens, roundhouses, and all your favorite characters. In addition to Street Fighter, Centineo is currently in production on John Rambo and will star in and produce the live-action Gundam. His additional film credits include Union County, Warfare, The Recruit and Black Adam. In 2023, Centineo founded Arkhum Productions alongside Enzo Marc producing such films as Our Hero, Balthazar and the upcoming Iconoclast, Meta, and Listen. Centineo rose to fame in the popular trilogy To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and the series The Fosters.

Catherine Laga’aia will make her big screen debut in Moana, Disney’s live-action reimagining of the beloved Oscar^®-nominated animated adventure opening exclusively in theaters on July 10, 2026. Moana (Laga’aia)answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people. Prior to landing the role of Moana in a worldwide search, Laga’aia appeared in the limited series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and will next be seen in the 2027 the feature film thriller Crashout.

Approved press images for award honorees can be downloaded here.

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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. The Coca-Cola Company and Barco are the official co-presenting sponsors of CinemaCon® 2026. For more information, visitcinemacon.com. Follow CinemaCon on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.

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