Category: Reel Blog

Cinema United Members: Register Now for the 2025 Fall Summit!

On behalf of Cinema United, we are thrilled to announce to members that the online registration and RSVP link for the upcoming Fall Summit is now live.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

NOTE: You’ll be asked to RSVP to meetings, food events, and seminar programming when you register. You can go back and change your responses at any time.

Thanks in advance for also taking the time to review the following:

Cinema United Governance Meetings: Monday, October 6 and Tuesday, October 7. Only those meetings that are open to all members are included on the registration link. You should have or will shortly be receiving invitations to any private committee meetings you’re involved with.

Studio Events: This year’s studio events are spread over three days (Monday evening, Tuesday evening, and most of Thursday) as they were last year. Please make note for your travel plans. CLICK HERE for the schedule.

Place: The Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles

Additional Important Information:

• Please be aware that starting in 2025 a nominal registration fee of $199 will be in effect to help cover some of the costs to run the Fall Summit. Once again, there will be caps put on the $199 attendee registrations (depending on your circuit size), with additional fees for registrations over the caps. These details are included in the official registration link provided above. Thanks for your understanding in this regard.

• The annual Will Rogers “Pioneer of the Year” Dinner will be held at The Beverly Hilton during the week of The Fall Summit. The date is Wednesday, October 8 and will honor Kate Hudson. Please note, the “Pioneer of the Year” Dinner requires its own purchased ticket of admittance. Details can be found via https://wrpioneers.org/events/2025-pioneer-of-the-year-dinner/. For all Will Rogers does for the exhibition community, we encourage all attendees to support Will Rogers by attending.

Cinema Owners In North America Have Invested $1.5 Billion In Their Theatres Throughout The Past Year

New Cinema Investment Report from Cinema United Highlights Exhibition’s Commitment to Reinvesting in the Consumer Experience

Eight Largest Circuits Surpass $900 Million Mark in Twelve Months

WASHINGTON, D.C. and LOS ANGELES, CA – September 16, 2025 – A new report issued today by Cinema United highlights that the North American exhibition industry re-invested more than $1.5 billion in their theatres in the past year, demonstrating a clear financial commitment to creating the premium entertainment experiences that fans of movies on the big screen crave. This industry total includes re-investment of $920 million from the eight largest circuits in the United States and Canada. A year ago, those same eight circuits alone pledged their commitment to invest more than $2.2 billion to modernize and upgrade theatres of all sizes over a three-year period.  

From Cinema United, the trade association representing nearly 64,000 screens worldwide, the Cinema Investment Report highlights the overall depth and breadth of these investments across the industry and the impact they have on communities of all sizes. From upgrading projectors, sound equipment and screens (there are nearly 6,000 premium large-format screens worldwide) to adding dynamic food & beverage options (dine-in cinemas represent 10% of the North American box office), cinemas today sit at the forefront of the experiential economy, driving local business and providing positive financial growth for a myriad of industry partners, including construction, architecture, marketing and advertising, retail and dining. More than 100,000 jobs around the world are directly related to the innovation and investments highlighted in this report.

“Exhibition is a Main Street industry,” says Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “Theatre owners aren’t just re-investing in their facilities; they are investing in cities and towns of all sizes across the United States and Canada. The beneficiaries of this commitment will, of course, be movie fans of all ages but also local businesses and the talented contractors and craftspeople who help bring these renovations to life.”

In addition to showcasing the capital investments being made in theatres, the report also highlights the local vendors who led construction and renovation efforts that movies fans everywhere will enjoy.

“Movie theatres provide an unmatched entertainment experience for people around the world, but they are also important cornerstones in their communities. The re-investment and innovation underway at theatres of all sizes will bolster local economies by driving revenue and creating jobs,” says Bob Bagby, CEO of B&B Theatres and Chair of Cinema United. “Every day, movie theatres create jobs, partner with local vendors and attract movie fans who also support surrounding businesses.”

Cinema United members featured in this report include AMC, B&B Theatres, Cinemark, Cineplex, Cinépolis, Golden Ticket Cinemas, Harkins, Marcus, Ojai Playhouse, Penn Cinema, Phoenix Theatres (headquartered in Detroit), Regal and Santikos.

Partners mentioned also include Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce (Clarksville, Tenn.), GastingerWalker (architecture firm in Kansas City, Mo.), Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce (Joplin, Mo.), Kinectiv (advertising/marketing firm in Lancaster, Pa.), KEPH Construction (Dadeville, Ala.), Kupiec Architects (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Prosser Wilbert (construction company in Kansas City, Mo.) and Speedwell Construction (Manheim, Pa.).

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.

Cinema United Attends CinéShow 2025

[Left to Right: Cinema United’s Michael O’Leary, Steve Schoaps (Strothers Cinema), Jeff Benson (Cinergy), Randy Hester (Hometown Cinemas), Morris Schulman (Schulman Theatres), Brian Shander (Marcus Theatres), Joel Davis (Premier Cinemas)]

Cinema United’s President & CEO Michael O’Leary, Chief Operating Officer Lou DiGioia, and Director of Government Relations and Independent Theatre Owner Engagement Todd Halstead attended CinéShow 2025 at the Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel & Convention Center from August 25-27.

O’Leary spoke at the event and focused on successes at the Summer box office, the promising relate slate for the rest of 2025, benefits for exhibition in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, and two upcoming Cinema United events: The Fall Summit and CinemaCon.

Joel Davis (Premiere Cinemas, TOMA Board President) was named Statesman of the Year, while the Frank Liberto Award went to Larry Etter (Malco) and the Distinguished Service Award recipient was Tim Patton (Cinema Service).

Cinema United thanks Diane Feffer, Executive Director of CinéShow, and her team of dedicated volunteers who make the show happen.

Cinema United Attends ShowSouth

[Left to Right: Georgia Theatre Company’s Bo Chambliss, Cinema United’s Lou DiGioia, and ShowSouth’s Robin Miller-Price]

As another strong Summer movie season winds down, Cinema United COO Lou DiGioia attended the ShowSouth convention at Georgia’s beautiful Lake Lanier Islands Lodge.

DiGioa delivered a presentation to attendees focused on a wide range of topics including: rebranding the trade association, tax benefits for theatres in President Trump’s new tax bill, a new Future Leaders in Cinema program, and the next round of the organization’s Strategic Planning process.

Joel Davis from Premiere Cinemas was named Statesman of the Year at the event, Mack Clark from Clark Theatres was Variety’s Big Heart Recipient, Vistar was named Vendor of the Year, and Disney was named Studio of the Year.

“We are all a part of a wonderful industry and our main goal is to always improve the moviegoing experience,” says Robin Miller-Price, the show’s Executive Director.

Cinema United Member Shankweiler’s Drive-In Featured on GMA

GMA stopped in Pennsylvania to visit Shankweiler’s Drive-In—the world’s oldest operating drive-in movie theatre—as part of their 50 States in 50 Weeks series.

Each week, a GMA anchor or correspondent will visit a new state, following the order in which they joined the United States.

Along the way, GMA will spotlight the beauty of the people who make up America, inviting viewers to share the people in their neighborhood and state who make it the best place to live.

Shankweiler’s Drive-In was established in 1934. For over 90 years, it has delighted audiences with double features on its large outdoor screen. Located in the Lehigh Valley, Orefield, Pennsylvania, just off Route 309.

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 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 Releases Statement on Proposal to Support Hollywood and Exhibition

“We are encouraged by recent efforts to bolster the American filmed entertainment industry, including proposals to assist the people who operate theatres in towns of all sizes across the country to create the great movie houses of the next generation,” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “It is important to recognize that theatrical exhibition is not a Hollywood industry, but a Main Street industry, and proposals that support and promote the hard work being done by theatre owners will have a positive and meaningful impact in communities across this nation. We are committed to working with the administration, Congress and all interested parties who recognize and share the goal of ensuring that our local theatres retain both their economic and cultural significance, and we thank them for their leadership.”

“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.”

READ MORE HERE

Cinema United
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