There’s a lot to discuss: from the standout trailers at CinemaCon—like Avengers: Doomsday making a huge impact, to a Tom Holland hologram, a Mandalorian film that resembles a Zoom call, David Ellison’s genuine effort, and some unexpected commentary on Clavicular. So set aside distractions and get ready for the highlights and lowlights from the exhibitor conference in Vegas…
LOST: DC Studios‘ Presentation
Was there any buzz at CinemaCon regarding The Batman Part Two? Not a thing. Any thrilling updates about the Superman sequel? Just a video message from stars David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult expressing their eagerness to share more “someday.” A teaser for Clayface sparked some mild curiosity. Influencers reported a positive reaction to a new clip from Supergirl, featuring Kara on a space-bus with aliens that get ambushed by pirates, channeling a Guardians of the Galaxy atmosphere. While nothing was disappointing, expectations were high given last year’s excitement stemming from Superman and a successful second season of Peacemaker.
WON: Marvel‘s Presentation
Unlike DC’s presentation, Marvel delivered a bounty of its top characters, including those previously perceived as closed chapters. They showcased the first legitimate trailer for Avengers: Firehose of Spandex Down Your Gullet, a must-see film from the same studio behind Captain America: Brave New World and the creative minds behind Netflix’s The Electric State and Amazon’s Citadel. The social media response was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees indicating they had never witnessed such enthusiasm at CinemaCon before.
MIXED: Star Wars
It was peculiar that Disney presented the first 20 minutes of its latest Star Wars film in seven years, yet The Mandalorian and Grogu seemed to fade into the background after the Avengers trailer. The final trailer was notably rich in nostalgia thanks to John Williams’ themes, although director Jon Favreau highlighted the use of practical sets as opposed to the Disney+ series. Critics noted some scenes still employed the contentious Volume wall, recalling images reminiscent of a Zoom meeting.
WON: Epic Prestige Trailers
Attendees were wowed by the initial seven minutes of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three (“like Saving Private Ryan but with lasers”), along with Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey footage and Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning, showcasing Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg. Despite a curious lack of stars during the Spider-Man presentation, Holland’s appearance as a hologram and Zendaya’s absence generated intrigue.
WON: Tom Cruise and Others
Tom Cruise made headlines with his role in Alejandro Iñárritu’s dark comedy Digger. His transformation into a character that embraced age left many attendees astonished. Steven Spielberg garnered a standing ovation during his first appearance at CinemaCon, where he previewed footage for Disclosure Day, addressing box office uncertainty. Jason Momoa brought infectious energy to multiple presentations. Johnny Depp received a surprisingly warm reception amidst his controversial past, showcasing footage from Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol.
Overall, CinemaCon proved to be one of the most newsworthy and dynamic events in recent memory, signaling a positive outlook for the industry. As always, remember: just say no to ad crack.
