CinemaCon 2026: Key Highlights & Announcements So Far

CinemaCon 2026 is in full swing at Caesars Palace, bringing theater owners and Hollywood together for the annual showcase of upcoming slates. With panels from specialty distributors, Sony, Neon, and Warner Bros. already complete as of mid-day Wednesday, here’s every major reveal, exclusive footage description, and standout moment from the presentations that have wrapped.

Monday, April 13 – Specialty Film Showcase & Sony Pictures Entertainment

Specialty Showcase: Angel Studios, Sony Pictures Classics & StudioCanal Kick Things Off

The inaugural CinemaCon Film Showcase opened the week with three smaller distributors making a big impression on exhibitors. StudioCanal stole the spotlight with ambitious announcements including Paddington 4 now in active development, a new animated Paddington feature, a live-action Pippi Longstocking adaptation, and films based on the Mr. Men books. The studio also revealed a new horror label called Sixth Dimension and teased remakes of John Carpenter’s Escape from New York and Joe Dante’s The Howling.

Sony Pictures Classics rolled a nostalgic sizzle reel celebrating 166 Oscar nominations across classics like Call Me by Your Name, Whiplash, and The Wife. Angel Studios highlighted its growing slate of bold, audience-driven titles aimed at filling midweek theatrical slots.

Sony Pictures Entertainment: Spider-Man, Resident Evil & More Headline Opening Night

Sony CEO Tom Rothman opened with a fiery call to action, urging exhibitors to protect longer theatrical windows, shorten pre-show ads, and lower ticket prices — calling it the industry’s “Olympic moment.”

• Spider-Man: Brand New Day — The biggest moment of the night: a pre-recorded hologram of Tom Holland introduced an extended clip. Peter Parker crashes a party where Ned (now obsessed with unmasking Spider-Man) doesn’t recognize him and MJ has a new boyfriend. A high-octane montage followed, capped by Peter’s eye turning black. Holland called it “the most emotional entry yet.” Release: July 2026.
• Resident Evil — Director Zach Cregger (fresh off Weapons) took the stage and declared he’s played “a shitload” of the games. The first trailer dropped: Austin Abrams as a deliveryman sprinting through a nightmare city in a relentlessly tense, vibe-heavy sequence. Release: October 23, 2026.
• The Social Reckoning — Aaron Sorkin presented his companion piece to The Social Network. Mikey Madison plays whistleblower Frances Haugen taking on Mark Zuckerberg (Jeremy Strong). A short, sharp teaser ended on the original Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross score. Release: October 2026.
• Jumanji: Open World — Jack Black, Dwayne Johnson, and Kevin Hart appeared together to tease the final chapter in the franchise.

Tuesday, April 14 – Neon & Warner Bros. Pictures Deliver Star Power & Epic Footage

Neon: Punchy, Prestige-Driven Slate with Major Thrillers

Neon’s morning session was fast-paced and confident, spotlighting its 2026 awards and genre contenders.

• A Place in Hell — The headline moment. Director Chloé Dumont (Fair Play) delivered a trailer for her Christmas Day psychological thriller. Michelle Williams stars as a ruthless defense lawyer who delights in freeing accused men; Daisy Edgar-Jones joins as her maternity-leave replacement, sparking paranoia and escalating rivalry. Andrew Scott co-stars. The footage was described as twisty, dark, and electric — drawing comparisons to Fatal Attraction meets Single White Female. A witty recorded video message from Williams and Edgar-Jones introduced the clip.
• Additional teases included the Sundance Midnighter hit Leviticus (June release), SXSW premiere I Love Boosters, and first footage from the Cannes-bound Hope.

Warner Bros. Pictures: “The Big Picture” — Star-Studded & Packed with Blockbusters

Warner Bros. delivered one of the most electric presentations in years, with surprise appearances from Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Jason Momoa.

• Digger — Tom Cruise himself walked onstage to introduce footage of his new role as a pot-bellied, aging oil baron in this original thriller.
• Supergirl — Director Craig Gillespie and stars Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa (who arrived on a motorcycle) presented an extended action sequence that left the room buzzing about the film’s scale.
• Mortal Kombat II — New footage showed Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage forced into brutal one-on-one combat with Baraka.
• Evil Dead Burn — A chilling extended sequence featured an undead figure drinking candle wax before committing a savage murder. Fans called it the goriest and most inventive entry yet.
• Dune: Part Three — Denis Villeneuve’s epic received the first seven minutes of footage, with Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya front and center.
• The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum — A casting teaser revealed Andy Serkis directing and starring, plus Jamie Dornan’s debut as Strider/Aragorn.
• Practical Magic 2 — Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reunited as the Owens sisters in new footage from the long-awaited sequel.
• Additional highlights: First looks at Clayface, J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi The Great Beyond (Glen Powell & Jenna Ortega), a new Sean Baker project, and the Godzilla Minus Zero trailer drop.

As of 3:46 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 15, the Universal Pictures / Focus Features panel is moments away, followed by Amazon MGM Studios this evening. Paramount and Disney present tomorrow. Expect major updates on Avengers: Doomsday, live-action The Legend of Zelda, and more — stay tuned for full coverage.

Wednesday, April 15 – Universal Pictures & Focus Features

Universal Pictures and Focus Features delivered an energetic afternoon presentation, opening with a full screening of DreamWorks Animation’s new film Forgotten Island to set a fun, family-friendly tone for exhibitors. The panel celebrated recent theatrical wins and showcased an ambitious lineup of blockbusters and originals for 2026-2027.

• The Odyssey — Christopher Nolan’s epic live-action adaptation took center stage with stunning first footage that impressed attendees with its breathtaking visuals and grand scale.
• Disclosure Day — Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated project received a special introduction (including Spielberg accepting the MPA America250 Award) and compelling teaser footage emphasizing emotional depth.
• Minions & Monsters — New chaotic and hilarious footage from the Illumination title delivered big laughs and reinforced its strong family audience draw.
• Focker In-Law — The next installment in the Meet the Fockers franchise brought back familiar faces with fresh comedic moments that earned warm applause.
• Additional highlights included teases for Violent Night 2, Werwulf, updates on Five Nights at Freddy’s 3, and future entries in the Shrek and Jurassic World franchises.

Wednesday, April 15 – Amazon MGM Studios

Amazon MGM Studios closed the day with a late-evening presentation focused on its growing theatrical slate. The studio highlighted its recent successes and presented a diverse mix of action, comedy, sci-fi, and franchise revivals aimed at filling theater schedules.

• Masters of the Universe — Major footage and updates dominated the session, showcasing the film’s epic scope and fresh yet faithful approach to the classic franchise.
• The Thomas Crown Affair — The remake was prominently featured with exciting teases that generated strong interest.
• Beekeeper 2 — Sequel updates kept the action momentum high.
• The Sheep Detectives — Charming comedy footage stood out, with a confirmed theatrical release date of May 8, 2026.
• Further reveals included Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother (with Mahershala Ali appearing onstage), Highlander reboot teases, and a strong lineup of thrillers and dramas. Additional titles like Spaceballs: The New One and other genre projects rounded out the ambitious slate through 2027.

Wednesday’s panels underscored Hollywood’s continued commitment to the theatrical experience, blending tentpoles, sequels, and original stories to drive audiences back to cinemas. Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Studios present today, Thursday, April 16 — more major announcements expected.