Letter from the CEO
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION…
I am writing this from the airport in Omaha awaiting my flight back to DC after a fun night with the Barstows at their ACX Cinema 12+ in Elkhorn, NE. It was terrific to catch-up with Colleen, Bill and Andrea and tour their wonderful family entertainment center. Everything is state of the art at the Cinema 12+. They have 12 auditoriums, one of which houses the largest commercial screen in Nebraska (incredible), two bars, games for kids, multiple places for people to meet and relax, a great outdoor deck (for the warmer months), a terrific reception space and an amazing restaurant, Backlot Pizza and Kitchen. The food and wine at Backlot was memorable as was the chance to talk with the Barstows about their passion for this industry. Thank you, Colleen and Bill, for the invite. Everything about the ACX Cinema 12+ challenges the conventional ideas that many still hold about what going to the theatre means. It is a stunning example of exhibition responding, in a big way, to todays movie-going public. We must do a better job of highlighting the great movie showhouses that dot this nation and show Hollywood and the world what going to the movies really looks like.
Since my flight is now delayed, I am catching up this morning on the fallout from the Oscar nominations. But before turning to that, let’s go back to the start of this year’s award season and Margot Robbie’s salute to movie lovers and to the magic of the theatre. In accepting the newly created award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement at the Golden Globes, Robbie lent her unwavering support to magic of theatrical exhibition, saying, “I would like to dedicate this to every single person on the planet who dressed up and went to the greatest place on earth, the movie theaters.” What an amazing way to start the new year! And a tip of the hat to the Golden Globes for creating an award that recognizes the people all over the world who love movies.
Speaking of people who love movies, Barbie fans everywhere are angry that Greta Gerwig was not nominated for best director. Being at the helm of a movie that had the cultural and financial impact of Barbie made this omission a surprise. A New York Times article suggested that the nominating body may, in the end, just see Barbie as a movie about a toy. Regardless of how one felt about the movie, no one can honestly say it was just about a toy. And with all due respect to Toy Story, if making a movie about a toy that grosses nearly $1.5 billion is so easy, why hasn’t anyone done it before? To be fair, this was a stacked year and there were lots of worthy candidates in all categories, but Gerwig’s omission has taken center stage. Frankly, America (and the world) loves drama, and this is certainly that! But the debate and the emotion around Gerwig’s omission is yet another reminder of just how much people love movies and how they often drive our cultural conversations.
Looking at the nominations overall, they reflect the variety of movies that were available in 2023. Blockbusters like Barbie and Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, as well as smaller fare like The Holdovers, American Fiction, and even foreign films like Anatomy of a Fall, which I loved. It’s a clear reminder that if movie fans have compelling films to choose from, they will respond. Award season is great for exhibition, not just because people come out and take a look at the nominated films, but because they remind the world all the magical possibilities that exist at the cinema. For that reason alone, award season in Hollywood is worth celebrating.
Assuming I make it home, I am seeing The Holdovers tomorrow, and Zone of Interest the following day. I am looking forward to not being on a plane and spending a few magical hours in the greatest place on earth.
- Michael
Cinema United UPDATES & EVENTS
February SOTI – Register Now
Please join us for our first SOTI of the year on February 15 at 2:00 EST/ 11:00 am PST! The link to register for the SOTI can be found here.
Small Business Tax Tips
In case you missed our webinar on best tax practices for small businesses with author Barbara Weltman, that can be found here.
Company Logos Collection
Cinema United needs your help! We want to feature Cinema United member logos at CinemaCon, which means we’ll need a HIGH RESOLUTION .EPS or .AI file of the logo from you. We are asking all of our members to provide your company logo via dropbox, using this link.
Before uploading, please ensure your file is named with the following format: company name_HQ city_HQ state abbreviation. For example, if I uploaded a logo for Cinema United, which is headquartered in Washington, DC, I would name the file Cinema United_Washington_DC.
If you have questions or concerns about this, please contact Erin Von Hoetzendorff at evh@natoca.com.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Cinema United joins effort to Block NLRB’s Joint Employer Rule Cinema United joined a coalition letter to Congress in support of bipartisan resolutions in the House and Senate to block the National Labor Relations Board’s flawed Joint Employer rule in Congress. The letter was spearheaded by the Coalition to Save Local Businesses, consisting of 200 state and national organizations representing businesses that would be affected by the rule, scheduled to go into effect on February 26. In January, the House passed its resolution by a strong bipartisan vote of 206-177. The Senate is expected to vote in the coming weeks.
DOL Issues Independent Contractor Rule
The DOL issued a final rule on Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The new rule implements a multifactor analysis to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. To learn more about the rule, which takes effect March 11, read the DOL’s FAQs.
House Approves Bipartisan Tax Bill
The House has decisively passed a bipartisan tax bill with a 357 to 70 vote, well beyond the required two-thirds majority. This legislation reinstates numerous business tax credits, notably those for research and development and interest expensing. The bill now advances to the Senate. For more details, click here
CinemaCon 2024 COUNTDOWN
Independent Cinema’s Spotlight Shines at Caesars Palace
The Independent Theatre Owners Coalition (ITOC) annual meeting returns to CinemaCon in Caesars Palace on Monday, April 8, from 11:30am to 2:45pm PDT. Join us for this important gathering where operators of small business cinemas, non-profits, and art houses engage in meaningful discussions, network, share experiences, and contribute to the future of the independent movie theatre industry. We respectfully request that companies attending the ITOC meeting restrict their representatives to individuals who are actively engaged in management and operations.
Special Note for 2024: For the first time ever, independent cinema owners and operators with more than 75 screens are invited to register for the ITOC meeting. This expansion aims to encompass a wider range of voices within the independent cinema community, enhancing our discussions and collaborative efforts.
Cinema United in the News
Hollywood Reporter
Art House Movies Are Having Their TikTok Moment The wrestling drama The Iron Claw has quietly grossed $31.5 million domestically at the box office since its Christmas launch, a veritable fortune for an independent film in the post-pandemic age and one of the best showings ever for distributor A24. And it isn’t the only specialty movie doing impressive business these days thanks to a powerful new ally: younger adults. For years, art house movies relied on the “elderverse,” as one indie executive puts it — i.e., moviegoers over age 35 or 40. But that relationship collapsed during the COVID-19 crisis and has yet to be fully restored. At the same time, the 18-to-34 crowd started snubbing once surefire genres like superhero fare and began venturing beyond their comfort zone. Adds Neon distribution chief Elissa Federoff: “Also, people are realizing that streaming is leveling off. There’s less good content to watch at home.”
Deadline
‘American Fiction’, ‘Poor Things’ & ‘Zone Of Interest’ To Reap Oscar Halo Effect At Box Office; Best Pics At $2.7B WW, Down From 2023
“On behalf of movie theatre owners across the United States and around the world, we celebrate the ten films nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards,” says Cinema United President & CEO Michael O’Leary today in a statement. “The diversity on display is a testament to what a great year 2023 was for people who love to watch movies on the big screen. Combined, the Best Picture nominees have brought in an incredible $2.7 billion in box office globally. This is an exciting moment for all the moviegoers around the world who are experiencing these films the way they were meant to be seen at their local theatres.”
The Cinema Foundation
National Popcorn Day
Thank you for participating in National Popcorn Day 2024! The success of this campaign once again shows the importance and reach of movie theaters’ promotional efforts in earned and social media and the value of partnerships across the industry that the Cinema Foundation can leverage on your behalf. Some highlights of National Popcorn Day media include:
USA TODAY:
TODAY.COM:
CALIFORNIA LIVE /NBC CALIFORNIA (TV)
National Popcorn Day with Cinema Foundation’s Bryan Braunlich
GOOD DAY NEW YORK (TV)
National Popcorn Day with Fandango’s Erik Davis
Be on the lookout for more industry promotions coming soon!
2024 Pledges
Consider fulfilling your 2024 pledge today – click here to donate. Your continued support enables us to strengthen the cinema industry & engage moviegoing audiences.
New Member Spotlight
We are very excited to welcome our newest members of Cinema United!
Cineplexx Kinobetriebe Gmbh, Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Nord Mazedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
Cinema Centre & Holly Theatre, Beatrice, NE
Ford-Wyoming Drive In, LLC, Dearborn, MI
The Peacock Theatre, Monticello, IN
Rooftop Cinema Club, Marina Del Rey, CA
Epix Cinemas, Bahrain
Town Hall Theater, Lowville, NY
Yerington Movie House, Yerington, NV
Xscape Theatres, New Albany, IN
Box Office
January 1-January 31, 2024: $512,549,378
January 1-January 31, 2023: $594,778,626
-13.8%
