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| Author | Mia Blakeney |
CinemaCon 2026 took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from Monday 13 to Thursday 16 April. The annual event is the world’s largest cinema convention and gathering of the motion picture theatre industry. This year’s event was particularly exciting, not only with studio presentations and first-look screenings, but also with emphasis on building trust, strengthening theatrical windows, and reaffirming cinema as the first and most important step in a film’s lifecycle.
Further Support for the Theatrical Release
One of the key themes of this year’s CinemaCon was continued support for the theatrical release, with concrete commitments from studios put in place.
Whilst addressing the Paramount and Warner Bros. merger, Paramount CEO David Ellison pledged a minimum output of 30 films per year under the combined banner, alongside a 45-day theatrical exclusivity window, a promise that drew strong approval from exhibitors eager for clarity and consistency.
Universal Pictures reaffirmed its commitment to an exclusive 45-day theatrical window for core slate titles, reinforcing a strategy it has increasingly standardized across its releases.
One of the most talked-about moments of the week came with Steven Spielberg’s first-ever appearance at CinemaCon. Greeted with a standing ovation, Spielberg used the moment to directly champion the theatrical release. Referencing Universal’s window commitment, he challenged the room to think even bigger. “Universal has committed to 45 days,” he said. “Do I hear 60 days? Do I hear 120 days?” The exchange encapsulated the renewed confidence that longer windows are not just viable, but necessary.
Amazon MGM Studios surprised the CinemaCon audience by announcing their commitment to releasing 15 theatrical films per year, a dramatic increase that places the studio closer to traditional legacy studios than a streaming-first disruptor. They also announced an extension to the theatrical window for Project Hail Mary, pushing back its streaming debut to allow the film to maximize its late-run box office performance.
Warner Bros. announces New Label
During their presentation, Warner Bros. announced a new label under the studio, called Clockwork, as well as its inaugural film Ti Amo!, Oscar-winning director Sean Baker’s follow-up to his Best Picture film Anora (2024). The film is scheduled for release in 2027.
Original Stories Succeeding on the Big Screen
Alongside franchise-driven blockbusters such as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Toy Story 5, Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday, CinemaCon 2026 placed renewed emphasis on the importance of original storytelling in cinema.
Several studio presentations highlighted non-franchise titles as evidence that theatrical success is not limited to existing stories, particularly when films are properly marketed and given space to build through word of mouth. Examples include big titles such as Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and dark comedy Digger, starring Tom Cruise and directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu (The Revenant, Birdman).
Disney Announces Infinity Vision
Walt Disney Studios announced the launch of a new premium movie-going experience known as Infinity Vision. Launching in September 2026, in time for the Avengers: Endgame rerelease, Infinity Vision is positioned as a certification and exhibition framework aimed at ensuring the highest quality picture, sound, and auditorium standards for Disney’s largest releases. It aims to help audiences find the biggest, brightest, and most immersive cinemas closest to them, emphasising the consumer demand for premium format screenings in cinema.
Big Name Stars and Exclusive First Looks
As always, exclusive footage and first-look trailers were a central draw for exhibitors, offering early glimpses of films designed to drive attendance over the next several years. Many big Hollywood names appeared on stage to celebrate and promote their upcoming films.
Sony Pictures
Sony Pictures gave a first look at both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, as well as the first trailer for the new Jumanji film: Jumanji: Open World.
Director Zach Cregger (Weapons) showed audiences a clip of his new Resident Evil reboot. Sony also revealed that their Legend of Zelda film has wrapped production, and announced a film adaptation of the popular video game Bloodborne, proving audiences continued strong appetite for video game film adaptations.
Warner Bros
Tom Cruise and director Alejandro González Iñárritu appeared on stage to give audiences an exclusive first look at their film Digger. The studio also debuted extended looks at Dune: Part Three, Clayface and Supergirl, with director Craig Gillespie joined on stage by stars Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa.
New Line
New Line showcased the first trailer for the next chapter of the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Burn, followed by a clip from the upcoming sequel Mortal Kombat II. The studio also debuted a new trailer for the animated film The Cat in the Hat.
Amazon MGM
Amazon debuted first look footage of sci-fi spoof Spaceballs, and an exclusive clip from the upcoming Masters of the Universe. Director David Leitch (The Fall Guy) and star Pete Davidson treated audiences to a teaser of their new film How to Rob a Bank. New trailers were also showcased for The Sheep Detectives, Verity and The Thomas Crown Affair.
Universal Pictures
Disclosure Day director Steven Spielberg and star Colman Domingo revealed new footage from the film, and director Christopher Nolan introduced a thrilling new clip from his upcoming film The Odyssey. New trailers were also debuted for Focker-In-Law (introduced by Ben Stiller and Robert De Nero), rom-com One Night Only, and the new adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Rapper Snoop Dogg gave a live performance, after which he announced that a biopic of his life was in the works for 2027.
Walt Disney Studios
Marvel and Disney brought out directors Joe and Anthony Russo and stars Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans to debut the first full-length trailer for Avengers: Doomsday. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen took the stage to debut first-look footage at Pixar’s upcoming Toy Story 5, and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia introduced an exclusive look at the upcoming live-action Moana. New footage and trailers were also shown for The Dog Stars, The Mandalorian and Grogu, Hexed, and the next chapter of Ice Age.
Paramount Pictures
Paramount brought out several stars of upcoming Street Fighter to introduce the film’s new trailer. Johnny Knoxville presented a first look at the trailer for the new Jackass movie, revealing that the official title for the film would be Jackass: Best and Last. Previews and new trailers were also shown for Scary Movie, Angry Birds 3, and upcoming fantasy adaptation Children of Blood and Bone.
CinemaCon 2026 marked a notable shift in tone for the industry. Rather than debating whether theatrical exclusivity still matters, studios and exhibitors focused on how to strengthen it — through longer windows, premium experiences, consistent output, and renewed collaboration. While challenges remain, the conference suggested a growing consensus: the future of film still begins on the big screen.