CinemaCon 2026 Takeaways: David Ellison Quashed a Rebellion, Tom Rothman Ticked Off Theater Owners and Steven Spielberg Issued an Urgent Warning

Home Film News Apr 21, 2026 1:52pm PT CinemaCon 2026 Takeaways: David Ellison Quashed a Rebellion, Tom Rothman Ticked Off Theater Owners and Steven Spielberg Issued an Urgent Warning By Brent Lang Plus Icon Brent Lang Executive Editor BrentALang Latest Neon Adapting Sam Evenson’s Viral Horror Short ‘Mora’ Into Feature Film (EXCLUSIVE) 47 minutes ago ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ Broadway Revival Coming in 2027 From Tony-Winning ‘Fun Home’ Director Sam Gold (EXCLUSIVE) 8 hours ago Sean Baker Scores Massive Payday for ‘Anora’ Follow-Up at Warner Bros. Label Clockwork: Inside the Deal for ‘Ti Amo!’ (EXCLUSIVE) 21 hours ago See All Nate Jensen Courtesy of Paramount After six brutal years of struggling to stay afloat, movie theater owners and operators arrived in Las Vegas for CinemaCon finally liking their odds of survival. It helped that the box office, which has been stuck in a rut since COVID, was up more than 23%, thanks to recent blockbusters like “Project Hail Mary” and “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” Despite the high spirits, the annual exhibition industry conference also exposed anxieties that many in Hollywood are feeling. David Ellison, the Silicon Valley scion who would like to be a mogul right now, please, dominated conversations, with cinema executives openly worrying that his deal to merge Warner Bros. and Paramount would give him too much power. There were also fierce debates about everything from the glut of preshow commercials to an overreliance on franchise fare. Here are five takeaways from a CinemaCon that didn’t lack drama. Related Stories Karlovy Vary, the World's Second Oldest Film Festival, Prepares to Celebrate 80 Years Since First Festival, and Its 60th Edition