Cinemacon 2022, Movie Releases Are Getting Back To Normal

April 25, 2022, Las Vegas, Nevada - Covid interrupted our lives for the last two years but things are finally getting a little bit back to normal.   Back in March 2020 schools were closed and then went to remote learning, restaurants started having take out only with contactless delivery or curbside pickup, and movie theaters shut down for over a month. Numerous events such as sports and concerts were canceled and after much deliberation, Cinemacon canceled their annual convention only a few weeks before it was scheduled to be held.  Last August NATO offered a smaller version with fewer attendees and no celebrities. Today Cinemacon 2022 opened and is pretty much back to normal.

As in years past, the morning and early afternoon focused on the global stage as International Day offered a variety of workshops and panels. Graphs and charts illustrated how the box office is bouncing back after a few shutdowns and restrictions imposed on theaters. There were discussions on digital piracy with a hilarious yet frustrating example of a current blockbuster movie showing in movie theaters in Russia, even though it was never released or distributed there and the phrase of the day was "longer theatrical windows".

After a few more panels and an opening reception, it was time for the first studio presentation and, once again this year, Sony Pictures started things off.  Before offering sneak peeks of upcoming projects, Sony executives reiterated their support for longer theatrical windows before sending the movies to streaming channels.  Of course, the audience, made up primarily of theater owners and managers, vigorously applauded the commitment to the initiative.

Then it was time for the fun to begin and first up was David Leitch (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw) discussing his highly anticipated release, Bullet Train starring Brad Pitt (Once Upon A Time In…Hollywood), Joey King (The Conjuring), Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2) and, making his big-screen debut, Bad Bunny (a.k.a Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio; Narcos: Mexico).  After screening the first twenty minutes of the film, Bad Bunny came on stage not only to discuss Bullet Train but to also talk about El Muerto and becoming the first Latino to become a leading live-action character in a Marvel Movie.

Next up was The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love and Basketball) who offered a sneak peek of her movie.  She also introduced Cinemacon's 2022 recipient of the Cinemacon Trailblazer Award, Viola Davis (The Help).  A final highlight brought writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie) on stage who showed a rough cut of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (#Pleasedonttelltom) and revealed the title and release date of the third film in the animated series, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse coming to theaters at Easter of 2024.

Finally, they showed clips of some movies that are currently in production, including biopics about Whitney Houston and George Foreman with the latter sending in a taped message to the audience.  Thus ended day 1 of Cinemacon 2022, and if today was any indication, the rest of the convention should be exciting and full of surprises.