LAS VEGAS — Annually, members of the theater proprietor commerce group Cinema United host a conference at which main studios current footage to get them enthusiastic about their upcoming slates.
CinemaCon is a celebration of the enjoyment of moviegoing, which signifies that every studio presentation usually includes unique sneak previews, glitzy movie star appearances and bulletins to get followers excited. It generates loads of hype for brand new releases, and apart from Disney’s presentation, individuals aren’t allowed to share their very own pictures and movies.
Listed here are 11 of essentially the most shocking and thrilling issues we noticed behind the scenes at CinemaCon.
The Beatles are coming … finally
Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, Barry Keoghan and Harris Dickinson are launched at CinemaCon as the celebs of 4 upcoming biopics concerning the Beatles. (Ethan Miller/Getty Pictures)
I assumed that the pyrotechnics and martial arts that Sony placed on show forward of displaying three scenes from Karate Kid: Legends may need been essentially the most thrilling second of the primary night time of CinemaCon, however then the Beatles arrived on stage.
That’s, Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, Harris Dickinson and Barry Keoghan — who will probably be taking part in Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr, respectively. The casting had been rumored for months, however Sony lastly confirmed it. The studio additionally confirmed that every of the Beatles will probably be getting their very own film and that each one of these motion pictures will probably be coming in April 2028.
Director Sam Mendes known as it “the primary binge-able theatrical expertise.” On stage, the actors quoted the notorious lyric from “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Membership Band,” saying, “You are such a stunning viewers, we would wish to take you house with us.” They then bowed in the identical manner the Beatles would have.
The Weeknd gave a very shocking (and very loud) efficiency
The Weeknd acting at CinemaCon. (Greg Doherty/Getty Pictures for Lionsgate)
One of many greatest recording artists on the planet additionally co-wrote and starred in a film Hurry Up Tomorrow, a fictionalized narrative of his personal life, which opens in theaters on Could 16. He is likely to be billed as Abel Tesfaye for the movie, however at CinemaCon, he took the stage because the Weeknd, performing his new music “Cry For You” and his biggest-ever hit “Blinding Lights” to shut out Lionsgate’s presentation.
The viewers wasn’t certain what to do at first, sitting quietly because the Weeknd’s extremely loud and flashy (there was an epilepsy warning beforehand) set rang so loud by way of the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, however he inspired individuals to get on their toes.
“I can’t consider I’m Mark Hamill proper now,” the Weeknd stated to the actor, who was seated within the viewers after presenting a clip of his forthcoming movie The Long Walk a couple of minutes earlier. “The drive is with you, brother.”
The ‘Summer season of Superman’ begins early — and somewhat awkwardly
From left: Peter Safran, James Gunn, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult and David Corenswet at CinemaCon. (Stewart Cook dinner/Warner Bros. by way of Getty Pictures)
CinemaCon attendees have been abuzz about what footage of 2025’s Superman reboot we’d get to see, and because it turned out, it wasn’t too unique. Director James Gunn posted the identical footage on-line shortly after the Warner Bros. presentation.
He declared 2025 the “Summer season of Superman” and defined how he’d been making an attempt to crack the story of the superhero for years. He realized that Superman’s goodness wanted to be on show.
Stars Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet, aka Lois Lane and Superman, additionally spoke on stage, however they have been each somewhat stiff. Possibly that’s an indication of their innocence — or that they are not fairly ready for the overwhelming sense of anticipation that this film has impressed. Thankfully, Nicholas Hoult, who performs Lex Luthor, dialed up the appeal to cowl for the awkward moments.
The film hits theaters on July 11.
New Line Cinema president and chief inventive officer Richard Brener onstage for “The Huge Image” presentation at CinemaCon. (Stewart Cook dinner/Warner Bros. by way of Getty Pictures)
Warner Bros. introduced about 10 minutes from the most recent Ultimate Vacation spot film, which was exceedingly gory. The movie franchise, which is concerning the inevitability of demise, is infamous for creating concern about on a regular basis objects. This time, it’s merchandising machines and nostril rings.
It’ll be a deal with for horror followers, however for the press corps in attendance, it was violent sufficient to trigger at the least one individual to depart the theater. New Line Cinema president Richard Brener obtained loads of laughs for his deadpan remark: “See you on the Oscars.” You possibly can see the movie in theaters beginning Could 16.
Common’s post-Depraved presentation pulls out all of the stops
Jon M. Chu, Marc Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande promote the upcoming movie Depraved: For Good at CinemaCon. (Gabe Ginsberg/WireImage)
It’s true, CinemaCon audiences obtained to see the first-ever footage of Wicked: For Good. It seems loads like the primary one — enjoyable, emotional and, for my part, higher lit. It is out Nov. 21.
From what I’ve heard, the Depraved of all of it was much less spectacular this 12 months than it was final 12 months, however one factor was clear: Common had a beneficiant finances for his or her presentation. A dwell orchestra was on stage your entire time, taking part in favourite items from Jurassic Park, Psycho, Despicable Me, E.T. and Depraved, amongst others.
The celebrities who introduced movies additionally appeared to have extra charisma (and a funnier script) than most. Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and director Gareth Edwards riffed earlier than presenting a brand new, scarier trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth, which premieres July 2. Johansson stated that she’d been angling to be within the franchise for the final 15 years, and Edwards joked that she solely hadn’t heard again till now as a result of “she’s too costly.”
Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt launched the Depraved: For Good footage. “We have already got our tissues packed,” Grande joked, referencing the emotional press tour from the earlier movie.
Blumhouse and Focus Options play the fan sport
Dancers promote the upcoming movie M3gan 2.0 on the Common presentation. (Gabe Ginsberg/WireImage)
Although new franchise installments are usually the most secure guess on the field workplace, Common didn’t neglect their status movies at its presentation. Focus Options chairman Peter Kujawski praised the vaping Catholic cardinals of Conclave and the filmmakers whose work “builds uniquely sturdy viewers bonds.” We additionally obtained a primary have a look at Wes Anderson’s fashionable The Phoenician Scheme (Could 30), a quick clip of Emma Stone getting her head shaved in Yorgos Lanthimos’s mysterious Bugonia (Nov. 7), and a clip of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (Sept. 12). Sadly, we don’t know a lot about Ethan Coen’s Honey Don’t!, Ronan Day-Lewis’ Anemone or Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, although they’re allegedly coming quickly.
Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum took issues in a extra chaotic path, displaying up in a Freddy Fazbear costume to announce the sequel to Five Nights at Freddy’s. About 30 individuals dressed because the murderous robotic M3gan took the stage to bop, somersault and crawl round to Britney Spears’s “Oops I Did It Once more” earlier than the trailer of M3gan 2.0 (in theaters June 27) was proven.
On a much less flashy however nonetheless fascinating be aware, Jim Orr, Common’s president of theatrical distribution, touted the “Gentleminions” trend from 2022 by which individuals confirmed as much as see Minions: The Rise of Gru sporting fits and generally wreaking havoc. It’s probably that some theater house owners weren’t thrilled, but it surely actually offered tickets.
Amazon MGM makes its extremely authentic CinemaCon debut
Ryan Gosling and Christopher Miller selling Challenge Hail Mary. (Ethan Miller/Getty Pictures)
The studio’s first time on the conference got here late at night time (effectively, 8:15 p.m.) after attendees have been invited to a celebration at a nightclub, but it surely was so value it. They launched new and highly-anticipated movies that have been largely a part of brand-new franchises, using celebrities to offer a primary have a look at footage.
Ryan Gosling was on his silliest conduct to speak concerning the sci-fi epic Project Hail Mary (March 20, 2026), Ayo Edibiri and Andrew Garfield turned up the appeal for the educational drama After the Hunt (Oct. 10), Chris Pratt embraces his goofiness for the unconventional thriller Mercy (Jan. 23, 2026), Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry drummed up pleasure for the darkish journey flick Crime 101 (2026) and Vivica A. Fox, Malorie Johnson and Kara Younger launched the “Greek tragedy, Afropunk, spaghetti western” Is God Is (no date but.) It was a humiliation of riches for cinephiles excited to see the streaming big investing within the theatrical expertise — however solely After the Hunt will for certain be launched in 2025.
He wasn’t a the conference in individual, however everybody was speaking about Nicholas Galitzine’s beefed-up look in Masters of the Universe (June 5, 2026), which we noticed behind-the-scenes footage of.
Lots of the Amazon MGM presenters participated in an onstage selfie on the finish of the night time.
Vivica A. Fox takes a selfie with the individuals of the Amazon MGM Studios presentation. (Valerie Macon/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Three Baggage Full confuses audiences
Possibly it was the actual fact it adopted a critical of apparently prestigious movie displays, an abrupt video message from star Hugh Jackman, the tagline — ”a sheep detective film” — however the press part was significantly confused about whether or not or not we have been seeing footage of an actual film or an prolonged bit with Three Bags Full.
It didn’t assist after we noticed a recorded video message from co-star Emma Thompson by which she needed to repeatedly preserve pausing as a result of a lady was dragging a suitcase throughout rocky terrain behind her.
Regardless, the thriller thriller seems to be actual sufficient to be slated for launch on Feb 20, 2026.
Tom Cruise will get the largest applause of the conference
Tom Cruise at CinemaCon. (Greg Doherty/Getty Pictures for Paramount Photos)
Earlier than presenting stunt-heavy footage for Mission Inconceivable: The Ultimate Reckoning, star Tom Cruise took the stage to raucous applause — much more than what adopted a number of minutes of on-stage bike stunts initially of Paramount’s presentation. The film is in theaters Could 23.
Viewers members yelled “thanks” to Cruise on stage earlier than he opened his speech with a moment of silence for his buddy and former co-star Val Kilmer.
Earlier that day, CinemaCon’s Star of the Year Glen Powell joked that his mentor Cruise gave him recommendation about doing his personal stunts, which was why his physique was “thrashed and smashed” whereas filming The Running Man. That is hitting theaters Nov. 7.
Along with incomes essentially the most enthusiastic cheers, Paramount’s presentation additionally will get an honorable point out for bringing out the individual within the coolest outfit (Colman Domingo for The Operating Man) and the trailer with the largest laughs (The Naked Gun, out Aug. 1 — particularly that O.J. Simpson joke).
Ship Me From Nowhere is lastly going someplace
Jeremy Robust and Jeremy Allen White promote the upcoming movie Ship Me From Nowhere on the Walt Disney Studios presentation. (Ethan Miller/Getty Pictures)
Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Robust mumbled by way of a presentation of the primary trailer for Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere, which isn’t an insult! Each extremely acclaimed actors have been clearly emotionally linked to the footage, which follows Springsteen’s reckoning with fame and household forward of recording his album, Nebraska.
Robust, who performs Springsteen’s supervisor Jon Landau within the film, stated, “I see Jon because the Lewis to Bruce’s Clark” — a characteristically idealistic quip from an actor recognized from being very critical about his artwork.
We nonetheless don’t have a launch date, but it surely’ll almost certainly be round awards season.
Disney had loads of Marvel motion pictures to speak about throughout its presentation, however few updates. What transfixed followers essentially the most was an unique have a look at The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which featured Julia Garner as Silver Surfer and revealed that Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm is pregnant. It was the one time I heard individuals actually gasp within the theater! It will be in your theater beginning July 25.
