CinemaCon 2025 is upon us once again, bringing significant changes to the film industry. Notably, the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) has rebranded to Cinema United, a move that reflects the increasing importance of international markets in box office profits. This rebranding underscores a commitment to global collaboration within the cinematic community.
The event commenced with International Day, featuring a breakfast session filled with insightful statistics. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the distribution between domestic and international box office totals was 36% domestic and 64% international. Last year, this shifted slightly to 34% domestic and 66% international, highlighting the growing significance of international markets in the film industry.
During the awards presentations, Walt Disney Studios was recognized for achieving the highest global box office in 2024, thanks to successes like Inside Out II, Deadpool vs. Wolverine, and Moana II. The Global Achievement in Exhibition Award was presented to Tim Richards, CBE, Founder and CEO of Vue, while the CinemaCon Award of Excellence in Cinema was awarded to Joe Chang, CEO and President of Ambassador Theaters, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
The evening events began with a cocktail reception sponsored by Barco and Sony Pictures, leading into Sony's studio presentation. Sony Pictures CEO Tom Rothman introduced director Danny Boyle to discuss 28 Years Later and its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Rothman also announced Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, scheduled for release on June 4, 2027, and revealed the title of the new Spider-Man film, Brand New Day, set for release on July 31, 2026. Additionally, he confirmed upcoming projects including Jumanji 3 and a live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda.
Director Darren Aronofsky took the stage to discuss and present a trailer for Caught Stealing, starring Austin Butler. While this project diverges from Aronofsky's typical work, the preview intrigued the CinemaCon audience. A clip from the latest I Know What You Did Last Summer film was also shown, featuring returning stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The presentation concluded with director Sir Sam Mendes announcing an ambitious project: four biographical films about The Beatles, each focusing on a different band member. The cast includes Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, and Harris Dickinson as John Lennon. All four films are slated for theatrical release in April 2028.
With these exciting developments, day one of CinemaCon 2025 set an optimistic tone for the future of cinema. Attendees eagerly anticipate further announcements from other studios in the coming days.
Tags: cinemacon, cinemacon 2025, sony pictures
