Member News Category: Headlines

Box Office

Associated Press: ‘Moana 2′ sails to a record $221 million opening as Hollywood celebrates a moviegoing feast

Michael O’Leary, president and chief executive of the National Association of Theatre Owners, said the weekend showed what’s possible when “all the pieces of the puzzle come together” in compelling big-budget movies with marketing muscle.

“We’re very optimistic that this weekend is the start of what we believe is a full-on charge into the future,” he said.

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Marketing

Deadline: Creating Big Waves: How Disney’s Marketing Brought The Masses Back For ‘Moana 2’; Sequel’s Promo Campaign Worth $100M+

When it came to opening a sequel to a classic animated movie, Disney didn’t rest on their laurels in selling Moana 2.

Already, the original 2016 2x Oscar nominated movie has a built-in faithful; the pic being one of the most viewed Disney movies on Disney+. Expanding the brand to a worldwide audience, the Burbank, CA lot executed a multi-prong, bespoke D-Day global marketing campaign, one whose stunts arguably rivaled that of Universal’s blitzkrieg for Wicked. While that Broadway musical adaptation had LEGOs, Mattel dolls and pricey consumer fashion attire, Moana 2 roared with a drone show over the Thames river, projection mapping on the cliffs of Capri, Italy, an immersive 3D LED Tunnel 360° “Gallery” in Florence, Italy; a big digital splash around Korean’s Shinsegae department store, as well as beach-themed takeovers.

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Box Office

Variety: Box Office: ‘Wicked’ Opens to Record-Setting $114 Million, ‘Gladiator II’ Starts Strong With $55.5 Million

“Once again, it’s clear that when healthy competition meets premium experiences, the marketplace thrives, and consumers win,” says Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners, the exhibition industry’s trade organization. “This is a tremendous catalyst for a strong box office going into December and the new year.”

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SUBSCRIPTION: Bloomberg: ‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II’ Open to $170 Million in Cinemas

Bob Bagby, the chief executive officer of the B&B Theatres chain and chairman of the National Association of Theatre Owners, said in an interview that a young family friend pledged to see Wicked in cinemas at least twice more. “Our lobbies were full of guests in pink and green and of course a few dressed like gladiators, and this is just the beginning of a fantastic holiday season,” Bagby said. 

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Release Calendar

Deadline: Paramount Dates & Shifts Slew For 2025: Glen Powell’s ‘Running Man’, ‘Smurfs’, ‘Naked Gun’, ‘Vicious’ & More

Paramount is making some big shifts on the 2025 release calendar, the biggest title date being Edgar Wright’s reboot of The Running Man starring Glen Powell. The pic is going the Friday before Thanksgiving next year, Nov. 21.

Running Man will race against Wicked: Part Two on that date as well as Angel Studios’ David and a Warner Bros. event movie.

In regards to this year, their awards season contender, September 5 is now opening Nov. 29 limited before getting a Dec. 13 expansion. Previously, the Venice and Telluride world premiere pic was set to go on Nov. 27. The Tim Fehlbaum directed movie starring Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch follows what happens the ABC Sports TV control booth has to contend with a live act of terrorism during the Munich Olympics.

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NATO

This Week on the Boxoffice Podcast: NATO COO Lou DiGioia on Cinemas’ Investment in the Future

[Boxoffice:] Let’s talk about the big news that came in: Theater owners announcing that they’re going to be investing more than $2.2 billion back into the cinematic experience. Can you give us a little bit of context on this? What does that $2.2 billion figure mean, exactly?

[Lou DiGioia:] Let’s put that $2.2 billion into context. That’s eight of our top members, so it’s not the entire industry. What’s important to note is that the reason we put out this release was to raise awareness about the investments that are being made throughout the entire exhibition industry. We had the data point for the top eight, so that’s why we used that in the release. But understand, it is not just eight chains that are investing in themselves. It’s all of them, and we’re really excited about that. It’s a trend that we heard when we would talk to our members; what we kept hearing people saying was, “We’re investing, and we’re investing in lots of different ways. Certainly, great sight and sound is very important. But there are lots of investments beyond that, in seating, in the facilities, in HVAC, in carpeting, in concessions. All of these things help make a better experience for moviegoers, no matter where they go. That’s what we want. That’s what our members want. They want to make this experience as amazing as it can be for all of their audiences. I’m glad that people are responding to this release, because this is great news for the industry.

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Chicago Tribune: Column: The nation’s movie theaters are getting a $2 billion makeover. Now it’s up to the movies to make it pay off.

Chris Johnson serves as regional representative and executive board member of NATO as well as the CEO of Downers Grove-based Classic Cinemas and its 141 screens in 16 Illinois and Wisconsin locations. I asked him why, coming off that 13% drop after the summer of Barbenheimer, NATO is pushing the familiar, optimistic tale of moviegoing’s resilient future.

He acknowledged the challenges ahead. He remembers 2020 and the eerie, unwanted main attraction titled the pandemic all too clearly. His banker didn’t want to lend Johnson money to help keep Classic Cinemas afloat: “I was told, ‘Yeah, I think your industry’s done.’”

But it wasn’t. Classic Cinemas stayed afloat and has sailed through harsh economic weather better than most theater chains.

Every year, he tells me, the company spends at least $5 million on reinvestment. “Every single year. We’re committed to it. And when we’re hit with all sorts of cost increases, from supply and labor expenses, we try not to pass it on to the guest.”

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Exhibition

Press Release: Theatre Owners To Invest More Than $2.2 Billion In The Cinematic Experience

“There is no question that movie fans of all ages love heading to the local theatre to see great movies on the big screen. But the competition for consumers’ hard-earned dollars is fiercer than ever,” said NATO President & CEO Michael O’Leary. “Going to the theatre is an unparalleled entertainment experience, and exhibitors are dedicated to making every visit to their theatres memorable.  This investment reflects that commitment in a tangible way that every moviegoer will see and enjoy.”

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Deadline: Top Cinema Chains Will Spend $2.2 Billion Over Three Years To Upgrade Theaters As Box Office Accelerates

A group of exhibitors in the U.S. and Canada will invest more than $2.2 billion over the next three years to upgrade and modernize their theaters amid renewed optimism at the box office after a battering by Covid and Hollywood strikes, said industry trade group NATO.

The chains, representing over 1,600 locations across all 50 states and Canada, include AMC Entertainment, Regal Cinemas, Cinemark USA, Cineplex, Marcus, B&B Theatres, Harkins Theatres and Santikos Entertainment. Together they handle 21,000 screens and 67% of the North American box office.

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Distribution

Variety: Amazon Joins Motion Picture Association, as Entertainment and Tech Converge

Amazon will become the newest member of the Motion Picture Association next month, adding its tech industry clout to the Hollywood lobbying group.

Amazon is both a streamer and a traditional studio, operating Prime Video and MGM Studios, which it bought for $8.5 billion in 2021. Its decision to join the MPA is a symbol of the convergence of entertainment and Big Tech, which were separated by a sharp divide not that long ago.

“Amazon’s mission is to entertain customers around the world with compelling film and television,” said Mike Hopkins, the head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. “In order to do that, we must support storytellers, while also helping to sustain a robust entertainment industry that works for both studios and our creative partners. We are proud to join the MPA and its member studios in their collective efforts to protect creators, content, and consumers worldwide.”

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Distribution

Axios: Scoop: Edgar Bronfman Jr. raises $5.5B to bid for Paramount

Edgar Bronfman has raised a total of $5.5 billion for a bid for Paramount Global’s parent, National Amusements Inc. (NAI), a source familiar with the process tells Axios.

The big picture: Bronfman submitted an initial $4.3 billion bid Monday night to meet a deadline that would put his offer in for consideration. He plans to submit a higher bid in the coming days.

State of play: The bid could scuttle an $8 billion agreement struck last month between Paramount and Skydance Media.

• It would also draw out an already long and complicated sale process for Paramount. NAI, which controls 77% of Paramount’s voting power, began talking with Skydance about a deal last December.

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Distribution

Deadline: Back In Business: Skydance And Shari Redstone Reach Terms On New Merger Proposal For Paramount

In a stunning reversal, David Ellison’s Skydance Media and Paramount Global controlling shareholder Shari Redstone have returned to the M&A altar.

The companies have reached terms on a revised merger agreement for Redstone’s National Amusements Inc. just three weeks after Redstone abruptly pulled out of a planned combination, multiple people familiar with the talks told Deadline. NAI controls almost 80% of voting shares in Paramount.

A special committee of Paramount’s board of directors, which was formed to evaluate strategic options for the troubled media company, is currently reviewing the updated deal terms, according to sources. The Wall Street Journal earlier Tuesday reported on the revived discussions.

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Domestic Box Office

The Hollywood Reporter: Marvel’s ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Tracking for Record $160M-$165M Debut

Three weeks out, Deadpool & Wolverine’s claws are looking plenty sharp.

The Marvel Studios movie — the third outing in the celebrated superhero franchise that’s the brainchild of star Ryan Reynolds — is tracking to open to at least $160 million to $165 million domestically over the July 26-28 weekend, with plenty of upside. That would be the best start of the year to date, as well as the biggest launch ever for an R-rated title. It would also be a needed boost for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the superhero genre in general.

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Los Angeles Times: How the power of the Minions and Gen Z propelled the ‘Despicable Me’ franchise

“All these big family titles will help,” said [Francisco] Schlotterbeck, whose chain [Maya Cinemas] has five locations in California and one in Las Vegas. “It’s pretty important to have these kind of very well-known franchises.”

Theaters are preparing for all kinds of Minions fans to flood the gates this weekend. Dine-in theater chain Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas USA plans to raffle off themed baby carriers that hold a popcorn bucket to tie in with supervillain Gru’s new role as a dad, said Luis Olloqui, company chief executive.

“Having the previous ‘Minions’ movie was really good, in terms of performance,” he said. “We saw that excitement among the people going to the movie dressing up and making it more of an event. This time, we are expecting kind of the same.”

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Release Schedule

Variety: ‘Wicked’ Moves Up Release Date, Will No Longer Open Against ‘Moana 2’

“Wicked,” Universal’s film adaptation of the hit Broadway show, is landing in theaters on Nov. 22 — five days ahead of schedule.

It was originally supposed to open on Nov. 27, the same day as Disney’s “Moana 2.” On its new release date, “Wicked” is smartly avoiding a box office battle royale against another movie musical that appeals to a similarly female demographic. Now, “Wicked” will get a jump on the Thanksgiving holiday, but it won’t be completely devoid of competition. The film is set to debut on the same day as Paramount and Ridley Scott’s historical epic “Gladiator II,” though there’s presumably much less overlap in the audience and thus, a threat of cannibalization.

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The Hollywood Reporter: Snoop Dogg-Produced ‘1992,’ Starring Tyrese Gibson, Lands Summer Release

Lionsgate is going back to the early 1990s this summer, with help from Tyrese Gibson and Snoop Dogg.

The company announced Monday that it will release director Ariel Vromen’s crime thriller 1992 in theaters Aug. 30. Snoop Dogg has boarded the feature as executive producer through his Death Row Pictures production company, with Gibson (known for the Fast & Furious franchise) starring alongside Scott Eastwood and the late Ray Liotta in one of his final movie roles.

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