“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.”
Headlines Newsletter, May 7, 2025
| Tariffs |
| Variety: Jon Voight Gives First Interview on Trump’s Bombshell Hollywood Tariff Proposal: We Can’t Let Hollywood ‘Go Down the Drain Like Detroit’ (EXCLUSIVE) “This shouldn’t be political. I don’t know the political identities of the people we’ve talked to. We’ve talked to a lot of people here. I don’t distinguish them on their party affiliation. And If we can come up with [a plan that can be executed], he’ll back us. He wants us to be the Hollywood of old,” Voight adds. “If we all come together, I believe we have a bright future.” |
| Distribution |
| The Hollywood Reporter: Bob Iger Says Disney’s Film Slate in Next 18 Months Is Its Best Since 2019Other films Iger singled out for having his attention and endorsement are Pixar’s Elio (June) and The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July), as well as Tron: Ares, Zootopia 2, and Avatar 3: Fire and Ash coming later in 2025.“That’s quite a lineup,” Iger said. But he wasn’t done yet.In 2026, Disney will put out a new Avengers film, its Mandalorian movie, another Toy Story and the live-action Moana. It’s “as strong as any slate that I’ve seen in a long time, since — well in 2019 I think was our best year — the strongest I’ve seen since then.” |
Headlines Newsletter, May 6, 2025
| Domestic Box Office |
| Variety: Can Summer Set a Post-COVID Box Office Record With Help From ‘Superman,’ Marvel and ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’? “We’ve gone from guarded cynicism to flat-out optimism,” O’Meara says. “We’re all feeling like it’ll be a good summer.” Summer movie season, which runs from May through August, kicks off the most profitable stretch for the movie business. Historically, the four-month period has accounted for $4 billion, or around 40% of the annual box office, as studios deliver new installments in their biggest properties. But in the post-pandemic era, domestic revenues have reached those heights only once, during the boom times of 2023’s “Barbenheimer.” This year, though, industry analysts believe the summer frame has the potential to be the strongest since the great COVID reset. |
| Release Schedule |
| Variety: ‘Practical Magic 2,’ Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, Sets Fall 2026 Release Date “Practical Magic 2,” a follow-up to the 1998 fantasy comedy, will cast a theatrical spell next fall. The witchy sequel, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, is set to debut on Sept. 18, 2026. Bullock and Kidman are reprising their roles as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, who descend from a long line of witches. In the original movie, they find themselves fighting off a curse that kills the men they fall in love with. It’s unclear where the second film will pick up. |
Headlines Newsletter, April 28, 2025
| Release Schedule |
| Deadline: Sony’s Screen Gems Sets Fall Theatrical Release For ‘Sisu’ Sequel Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems is releasing a sequel to Jalmari Helander’s gritty World War II action movie Sisu, with the Finnish filmmaker returning to write and direct. A November 21 theatrical release this year has been set.Why doesn’t Lionsgate, which acquired U.S. on the film out of 2022’s TIFF Midnight Madness, handle the sequel? Essentially Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions’ Stage 6 Films sold domestic and kept the rest of the world (except Finland) on the first movie which made $14M global, $7.2M of that stateside. Stage 6 opted to keep global on part two. |
| Deadline: James L. Brooks’ ‘Ella McCay’ Heads To December Disney has moved James L. Brooks’ dramedy Ella McCay from Sept. 19 to Dec. 12.That puts the Woody Harrelson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Emma Mackey, Ayo Edebiri, Rebecca Hall and Albert Brooks movie in a better position during awards season. If you go too soon sometimes, you could get forgotten. Not to mention, September and October is very crowded with two-to-four wide entries dated each week, many targeting similar adult audiences.Ella McCay follow an idealistic young politician (Mackey) who juggles familial issues and a challenging work life while preparing to take over the job of her mentor, the state’s longtime incumbent governor. |
“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.”
For the First Time Ever, The Cinema Foundation presents Sneak Peek Showcase
The Program Will Feature Previews from Major Studios for their Upcoming 2025 Slate, Along with Never-Before-Seen Clips and Behind-the-Scenes Pieces from Highly Anticipated Films
Launches Exclusively in Theatres Across North America on April 22 & 24
All Proceeds from Tickets, Priced at $3, Will Benefit Variety–The Children’s Charity, Will Rogers Foundation, Canadian Picture Pioneers and The Cinema Foundation
LOS ANGELES – April 16, 2025 – Next week The Cinema Foundation, the non-profit arm of Cinema United, will host for the first time ever a nearly 70-minute program entitled Sneak Peek Showcase at thousands of screens across North America. The evening program will offer movie lovers an exciting preview of big-screen studio movies, including some favorites from the industry-insider event, CinemaCon 2025, held earlier this month by Cinema United.
On Tuesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 24, Hollywood’s biggest studios will highlight their upcoming summer and fall 2025 slates, with a fun look at this year’s trailers, some never-before-seen footage and behind-the-scenes clips, as part of a curated experience designed exclusively for moviegoing audiences. The showcase will feature a wide variety of films that are rated PG, PG-13 and R.
Proceeds from Sneak Peek Showcase will go to charities, including Variety – The Children’s Charity, Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation and The Cinema Foundation. Participating cinemas across Canada will also be exhibiting the Sneak Peek Showcase, and a portion of those proceeds will go to the Canadian Picture Pioneers, a charitable organization that provides various financial assistance and educational programs for those in need within the Canadian film industry.
The nearly 70-minute program will debut on April 22 with an encore performance on April 24, with both performances taking place at 6 p.m. local time. Tickets are on sale now for $3.00 at participating theatres’ website or app, as well as atthemovies.co and on Fandango.
Sneak Peek Showcase is part of The Cinema Foundation’s year-round @The Movies campaign and is presented by Fandango with additional support from The Coca-Cola Company. As part of the programming, the Sneak Peek Showcase will also include the big screen debut of the Grand Prize-winning spot from the 2025 Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program. The Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program is an opportunity for up-and-coming filmmakers from partnered schools to create content for the big screen.
“Sneak Peek Showcase helps bring a little taste of the famed industry-insider event CinemaCon to movie lovers with a fun look at the upcoming theatrical slate,” says Bryan Braunlich, Executive Director of The Cinema Foundation. “For the first time, cinemagoers will get a glimpse of the most anticipated movies coming soon to their neighborhood theatres all in one program. We are proud to have proceeds benefit industry charitable organizations, and we are grateful for the support of our sponsors, Fandango and The Coca-Cola Company.”
The Cinema Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2022 by Cinema United (formerly National Association of Theatre Owners), dedicated to promoting and expanding the movie theatre industry and to advancing the moviegoing experience. Sneak Peek Showcase is part of the Foundation’s quarterly “@The Movies” events that began with National Popcorn Day on Jan. 19, where thousands of theatres nationwide offered discounts like unlimited popcorn refills. Other upcoming events include Date Night @ The Movies on Aug. 15, 2025, and Family Day @ The Movies on Nov. 9, 2025.
ABOUT THE CINEMA FOUNDATION
The Cinema Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit dedicated to strengthening the cinema industry and engaging moviegoing audiences around the country. The Foundation promotes and enhances the exhibition industry through programming, events and activities, while spearheading the development of vital industry data, research and consumer insights, education and community involvement to advance the moviegoing experience. For additional info, please visit thecinemafoundation.org.
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.
Sneak Peek Showcase Update
Update
We are in the final stages of working with our studio partners and applying the finishing touches to our inaugural Sneak Peek Showcase. As this is an industry first, our top priority for year one was to demonstrate a successful “proof of concept” on which we can build. The Cinema Foundation, our partners, and the studios have learned a lot about the process and how to make this even bigger and better in year two and beyond.
Being new, there was a lot of heavy lifting from our studio partners necessary to support this program. If you would like to see these types of events continue, we encourage everyone to jump on board and really lean-in to make this win-win program successful.
The Program
This year’s approximate 65-minute program features a selection of trailers from major studios for their upcoming 2025 slate, as well as a couple of never-before-seen clips and behind-the-scenes pieces from highly anticipated films.
To help guests remember everything they saw during the presentation, there will be a QR code on screen at the end that will take the guest to the @themovies website and show a list of the movie titles that they watched that day.
Please note: While it does not feature any “red band” trailers, the Showcase features content from films rated PG, PG-13, and R, and is NOT appropriate for all audiences. The content package is NR – not rated, so it is expected that every exhibitor will establish their own guidelines and procedures with the content in mind.
If you feel you need more guidance on the content, please reach out to Bryan Braunlich at bryan@thecinemafoundation.org
When
Tuesday, April 22, 6:00 pm local time
Thursday, April 24, 6:00 pm local time
Extra Promotions
Some cinemas are using this opportunity to get guests extra excited about the upcoming slate and increase attendance with concession offers and promotions. Get creative and look for ways to “plus up” your Sneak Peek Showcase with loyalty program offers and/or enhance the experience by inviting a local host or influencer.
Bookings & Keys
For information on bookings and keys, please contact:
In the US:
Larry McCourt | lmccourt@emickmedia.com
Hannah Perry| hperry@emickmedia.com
In Canada:
Chris Emery | chrisjemery@me.com
Paul Gardner | pgardnerla@gmail.com
Foundation Marketing Efforts
- Press release went out on Friday, April 4.
- An updated press release will be sent on Wednesday, April 16.
- Additionally, there will be daily social media drops which will also include some fun talent interviews.
- All this content will be available in The Hangar once posted. We encourage everyone to go nuts promoting the program on your channels.
In-Theatre Marketing Questions
For information on in-theatre marketing, please contact:
Laura Beth Boley | lbboley@paperairmedia.com
FAQ
For a more detailed FAQ document, please CLICK HERE.
Resources
Ticket On Sale, Countdown, and FAQ assets, as well as a PDF with suggested social copy to help promote the screenings across your channels are available in The Hangar HERE.
If you need an asset not already in The Hangar, please reach out to thecinemafoundation@filmfrog.com.
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:
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.
Sneak Peek Showcase To Deliver A Unique Big-Screen Experience for Film Fans With Exclusive Content, Trailers and Special Features
Tickets $3 with all proceeds benefiting Variety–The Children’s Charity, Will Rogers Foundation and The Cinema Foundation
LAS VEGAS – Friday, April 4, 2025 – On the heels of CinemaCon, hosted by Cinema United, thousands of screens across the country will debut a new 70-minute program entitled Sneak Peek Showcase on April 22 and 24, bringing an exciting preview of big-screen studio content to movie lovers, with a fun look at trailers, never-seen-before footage, and behind-the-scenes content from this year’s most anticipated movies exclusively in cinemas nationwide. Hollywood’s biggest studios will highlight their upcoming summer and fall 2025 slates, with some unveiling special surprises – ranging from exclusive scenes to brand-new trailers – created just for moviegoing audiences.
Participating studios will include:
Sony Pictures Entertainment Lionsgate Warner Bros. PicturesUniversal Pictures/Focus FeaturesAmazon MGM StudiosParamount Pictures The Walt Disney Studios
Thousands of screens will participate in the event, with the proceeds going to charities, including Variety – The Children’s Charity, Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation and The Cinema Foundation. The 70-minute program will debut on April 22 with an encore performance on April 24. Both performances take place at 6 pm local time. Tickets are on sale now for $3.00 at your favorite theatre’s website or app, as well as atthemovies.co and on Fandango.
Sneak Peek Showcase is part of The Cinema Foundation’s year-round @The Movies campaign and is presented by Fandango with additional support from The Coca-Cola Company. As part of the programming, the Sneak Peek Showcase will also include the big screen debut of the Grand Prize-winning spot from the 2025 Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program. The Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program is an opportunity for up-and-coming filmmakers from partnered schools to create content for the big screen.
“Sneak Peek Showcase is an exciting new way to bring moviegoers an exclusive preview of this year’s amazing films coming soon to a theatre near you,” says Bryan Braunlich, Executive Director of The Cinema Foundation. “For the first time, we’re curating a theatrical experience for film fans featuring exclusive content usually reserved for industry insiders. It’s a fresh approach to movie marketing – dynamic, engaging and only in theatres – and we’re proud that proceeds will benefit industry charitable organizations. We are especially grateful to our presenting sponsor Fandango and our supporting partner Coca-Cola for helping make this innovative program a reality.”
The Cinema Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2022 by Cinema United, dedicated to promoting and expanding the movie theatre industry and to advancing the moviegoing experience. Sneak Peek Showcase is part of the Foundation’s quarterly “@The Movies” events that began with National Popcorn Day on Jan. 19, where thousands of theatres nationwide offered discounts like unlimited popcorn refills. Other upcoming events include Date Night @ The Movies on Aug. 15, 2025, and Family Day @ The Movies on Nov. 9, 2025.
