As I walk the halls of CinemaCon, there’s an undeniable tension in the air – a palpable sense of unease that even the aroma of extra-buttered popcorn can’t quite mask. This year, the atmosphere is noticeably different from past years.
Brent Lang, who is in charge of film and media coverage at EbMaster, offers insights from Las Vegas on this year’s movie theater owners and studio executives meeting. On the latest episode of their podcast “Strictly Business,” he discusses how the conference mirrors the challenges faced by an industry that has seen a considerable drop since its pre-pandemic peak, as reported by Lang himself.
Lang offers his thoughts on current trending subjects, such as the future roles of Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy within Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group. Moreover, to provide a break from the seriousness, Pat Saperstein, deputy editor for films at EbMaster, briefly discusses her latest write-up about the 21 most impressive movie theaters globally.
Typically, this event is filled with jubilance as studio executives share their enthusiasm for cinema and emphasize the importance of movie theaters. However, this year, there seems to be more apprehension than usual. Some of this unease stems from the fact that 2025 was expected to bring a significant recovery for the film industry. Instead, the first quarter has been disappointingly slow.” – Lang explains.
Listen to the full podcast:
As a movie enthusiast, I couldn’t help but notice that the reaction from cinema managers was surprisingly low-key, despite the fact that none other than Leonardo DiCaprio graced their screens.
Previously, theater owners expressed profound excitement, but this year, their reactions have been more subdued, akin to polite applause. The atmosphere has significantly shifted, giving off a tense, anxious, and uneasy vibe regarding the future of this industry, as explained by Lang.
A significant trend emerging in the industry is the strong promotion of films scheduled for release years in advance. This is partly due to the disruption in the production pipeline from the 2023 writer’s strike and actor strikes. It also reflects the careful planning involved in coordinating and timing major releases, known as tentpoles, and their related content. Cinema exhibitors have expressed excitement about Sony Pictures’ unusual agreement with filmmaker Sam Mendes to produce four separate biopics of The Beatles members – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. At the Sony CinemaCon presentation on March 31, Mendes unveiled the actors chosen to portray the Fab Four: Harris Dickinson (John Lennon), Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney), Joseph Quinn (George Harrison) and Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr).
Previously, movie studios generally unveiled their films according to the annual calendar schedule. However, they now have fewer productions and are planning releases as far ahead as 2028, states Lang. Sony has discussed their upcoming Beatles film, which will be released simultaneously in four parts, much to the delight of theater owners. They are thrilled about this innovative idea as it encourages people to leave their homes. This simultaneous release strategy is unique and theater owners fully support it.
This week, there’s been plenty of chatter in the movie industry about possible changes happening at Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group. The pressure on current co-chiefs De Luca and Abdy is mounting as Warner Bros. Discovery looks for potential replacements, according to Lang’s assessment. He believes their chances of turning things around are slim given the situation.
‘Strictly Business’ is EbMaster’s weekly podcast where industry leaders discuss the business aspects of media and entertainment. Subscribe to our free newsletter by clicking here for updates. New episodes go live every Wednesday and can be found on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Play, SoundCloud, among others.
Up above, actors Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, Barry Keoghan, and Harris Dickinson were revealed on March 31 during Sony Pictures’ CinemaCon presentation as the main characters in director Sam Mendes’ forthcoming series of four Beatles biographies.
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2025-04-03 18:22