CinemaCon, once hailed as a celebration of the big screen and cinematic experience, turned into a tense gathering in Las Vegas this year. The frustrations of the past five years, including a pandemic and two labor strikes, resurfaced old tensions between studios and exhibitors.
The movie theater industry’s grand return to glory days was expected to be boosted by superhero sagas, star-driven vehicles, and fantasy adventures. However, revenues are down 10% from 2024, with flops like “Snow White” and “Mickey 17.” Studios blame exhibitors for not innovating enough, while theater owners argue that studios’ insistence on releasing films on home entertainment within weeks of their theatrical debuts is hurting business.
AMC Theatres’ CEO Adam Aron pitched for a longer theatrical window, while exhibition executives argued that new distribution models are cannibalizing their business. Meanwhile, Disney’s distribution chief reminded the audience that his company leaves its movies in cinemas longer than competitors, highlighting the importance of the theatrical experience.
The industry is still grappling with the impact of the pandemic and labor strikes, which led to a decrease in wide releases. Amazon MGM’s first CinemaCon presentation brought some hope for exhibitors, as they promised 15 big cinematic films annually by 2027. However, it remains to be seen if audiences will show up for these movies.
This year’s CinemaCon was marked by a muted response to star power, with even Leonardo DiCaprio and Scarlett Johansson receiving less-than-thunderous applause. Despite the challenges, studios are optimistic about the box office rebound in 2026, when sequels and new films from top directors return to theaters.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/cinemacon-takeaways-theatrical-window-fights-diminished-star-power-1236360016