CinemaCon 2026 Wraps With Paramount Surprises, Disney Spectacle, and Major Franchise Reveals

That’s a wrap on CinemaCon 2026.

The final day at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas brought a whirlwind of announcements, footage, and star power, with Paramount Pictures and The Walt Disney Studios delivering two of the week’s biggest presentations to close out the convention.

Paramount Pictures kicked things off with a presentation that immediately addressed one of the industry’s biggest talking points. The studio stated that it plans to release up to 30 films per year in theaters once its merger with Warner Bros. is finalized. While that goal remains ambitious, it signals a strong commitment to theatrical exhibition moving forward.

The presentation opened with filmmaker Peter Berg introducing early footage from a Call of Duty project, setting the tone for a slate filled with recognizable brands and bold ideas. Paramount also confirmed that a sequel to Top Gun: Maverick is in development, with Tom Cruise once again being mentioned as part of the conversation.

The cast of Street Fighter, including Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, took the stage to debut new footage, followed by an unexpected pairing of Billie Eilish and James Cameron, who discussed cutting-edge 3D technology tied to her upcoming project Hit Me Hard and Soft.

Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and Anna Faris brought plenty of energy to the stage while introducing Scary Movie 6, which drew big laughs from the audience. Paramount also previewed Mr. Irrelevant: The John Tuggle Story, introduced by Phil Simms, offering a more emotional tone with a story that is expected to resonate with audiences.

Additional footage included Heart of the Beast, starring Brad Pitt, and a surprise appearance from Johnny Depp, who discussed his role as Ebenezer Scrooge in a new adaptation of the classic story. The presentation closed with a high-energy reveal of Children of Blood and Bone, featuring a live stage introduction alongside African drummers and dancers.

Following a lunch break sponsored by D-BOX and Fathom Entertainment, attendees returned for a look at upcoming Fathom releases, including Wildwood and Jimmy, starring K.J. Apa as Jimmy Stewart. A “fireside chat” with Jon Favreau also touched on The Mandalorian, filmmaking, and the growing role of AI in the industry.

The Walt Disney Studios presentation then brought the convention to a blockbuster finish. Attendees were greeted with themed The Mandalorian popcorn boxes before being treated to a packed slate of previews and first looks.

Disney opened with more footage from The Devil Wears Prada 2 before Jon Favreau returned to the stage to present the first 15 minutes of The Mandalorian and Grogu, which drew a strong reaction from the crowd.

The studio continued with previews of Toy Story 5, Moana, Whalefall, The Dog Stars, and Ice Age: Boiling Point, with appearances from Dwayne Johnson, Ray Romano, Denis Leary, and Queen Latifah helping bring the presentation to life.

The biggest moment of the night came when the Russo Brothers and Robert Downey Jr. took the stage to discuss Avengers: Doomsday. After debuting the trailer, they surprised the audience by bringing out Chris Evans, prompting one of the loudest reactions of the entire convention before replaying the footage.

As tradition dictates, CinemaCon 2026 concluded with the Big Screen Achievement Awards, followed by a closing celebration sponsored by Coca-Cola.

Big Screen Achievement Award 2026 Winners:

James Cameron – Cinema United Spirit of the Industry
Queen Latifah – Cultural Impact in Film
LaKeith Stanfield – Star of the Year
Zoey Deutch – Vanguard Award
Adam Scott – Award of Excellence in Acting
Noah Centineo – Star of Tomorrow
Catherine Laga’aia – Rising Star of 2026