How Movie Studio Spies Size Up the Competition

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In a more straightforward manner, Tom Cruise’s longest-running character on screen is Ethan Hunt, a clandestine spy who operates for a mysterious government agency. There are similarities between his role and the function of CinemaCon that might not be immediately apparent. For years, competing studios have utilized the Las Vegas gathering of theater owners to learn about their competition‘s upcoming projects. Studio executives and their staff members can attend each other’s presentations without restriction or inconvenience, discreetly entering and exiting with minimal disturbance.

According to a seasoned film studio executive who has been attending this event for years, it’s absolutely crucial. If car manufacturers were given the chance to view a rival’s upcoming models and prototypes ahead of time, they would certainly take advantage of it. The exec explains, ‘We are all trying to get ahead.’ He further elaborates, ‘It’s particularly useful when you’re looking to the future. Sometimes, something surprising can emerge from CinemaCon that wasn’t anticipated, which can guide your decisions about releasing films.’

Legends’ and the introduction of The Beatles, featuring Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, Barry Keoghan, and Harris Dickinson as the Fab Four. Yet, the presentation seemed slightly fragmented at moments.” Contrastingly, Sony’s film chief, Tom Rothman, was far from disjointed, generating applause upon bringing Sam Mendes on stage and announcing four separate movies based on each of The Beatles. They then unveiled that these films will be released in cinemas in April 2028.

This year, there was a greater need for detective work due to Sony’s comeback and Amazon MGM Studios making their debut on stage at the grand Colosseum Theater in Caesars Palace. The theater, seating over 4,100 people, played host to countless exhibitors worldwide during the presentations.

During the compilation of dossiers, studios often incorporate feedback from exhibitors, such as this example: “Quite decent! Tom Rothman seems to be aiming for a second career in comedy,” one cinema manager commented about Sony, who were the initial studio to showcase during CinemaCon held between March 31 and April 4.

Jurassic World Rebirth, Shrek 5 and Wicked: For Good.

Regarding Warners, the Brad Pitt-led movie titled “F1” from Apple Original Films was a standout during the WB session at CinemaCon. One memo stated that it was the highlight of the presentation and left people in awe. During the presentation, the audience got to see approximately 10 minutes of footage for the film, which is directed by Joseph Kosinski, who also helmed “Top Gun: Maverick”, and Jerry Bruckheimer, both of whom were present.

Warner Bros.’ other significant summer release, titled “Superman“, directed by James Gunn, has garnered much anticipation since it became the first project greenlit by Gunn and Peter Safran after they took over DC Studios. Some exhibitors have expressed uncertainty about “Superman” prior to CinemaCon, but many were eventually convinced, albeit with some lingering reservations. However, several exhibitors grew frustrated by the prolonged questioning of David Corenswet, who plays Superman, Rachel Brosnahan, who portrays Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult, cast as Lex Luther during the presentation. One exhibitor remarked, ” “Superman would have been more impactful without 25 minutes of dialogue.” Conversely, “New Line’s Final Destination: Bloodlines” was a pleasant surprise and elicited one of the strongest responses from the audience according to one studio’s wrap-up of Warner Bros.’ CinemaCon presentation.

2022 saw a fresh studio join the list of those worth keeping an eye on – Amazon MGM Studios, which made its debut at CinemaCon this year. The Amazon MGM production that has everyone talking after its unveiling is “Project Hail Mary,” a space odyssey adapted from Peter Weir’s best-selling novel, featuring Ryan Gosling and directed by the talented duo Christopher Miller and Phil Lord. Described as an impressive cinematic event, “Project Hail Mary” follows Gosling’s character embarking on a solo space mission to rescue the sun and dying stars. The film is slated for release on March 20, 2026, with audiences expressing their enthusiasm – one competitor even wrote, “they loved it.” Another competitor commented that while Amazon MGM’s first CinemaCon presentation was filled with star power, it felt somewhat disjointed. An exhibitor remarked, “It was pleasant, but they need to find a way to tie their films to the theater experience. They are trying, but there seems to be something missing, like their presentation.

Top dog in stunts at CinemaCon, Paramount, was given extra support this year with Cruise personally making an appearance. He was noticeably solemn as he paid tribute to his late co-star Val Kilmer from ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, before bestowing the highest CinemaCon honors on his director for ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’, Christopher McQuarrie. Nearly every competing studio had only praise for Cruise.

Rivals may be grumbling, but Universal and Disney got the highest marks from rivals.

Fire and Ash.” It was unexpected, but “The Roses” garnered the most laughter, cheers, and applause. The crowd was electrified by the various scenes of “Avatar: Fire and Ash” in 3D, marveling at its visual grandeur. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan from “Freaky Friday” were the crowd’s favorites. However, not every Disney title was universally appreciated. According to another studio, “Elio” might raise some eyebrows, while they are confident that both “Fantastic Four” and “Avatar” will meet our expectations.

Another executive from the competing dossiers at CinemaCon comments, “It’s quite unusual, isn’t it, to allow rivals inside? We’re not the ones who are being served here.

Originally, this tale was published in the April 16th edition of The Hollywood Reporter’s magazine. If you’d like to read more such stories, consider subscribing by clicking [here](link-to-subscribe).

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2025-04-20 17:27