The Town with Matthew Belloni The A-List Filmmakers Evangelizing Movie Theaters
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Apr 8, 2026 Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United and chief exhibition industry lobbyist, talks about a new filmmakers council featuring names like Jerry Bruckheimer and Ryan Coogler. He discusses the upbeat start to the 2026 box office. They cover how top creators can push for theatrical windows, theater improvements, and the role of streaming strategies in protecting moviegoing.
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A-List Filmmakers As Theatrical Ambassadors
- Cinema United created a filmmakers council to serve as global ambassadors for the theatrical experience.
- Michael O'Leary said members like Jerry Bruckheimer, Emma Thomas, Ryan Coogler will advocate publicly and privately to strengthen exhibition-filmmaker ties and build audiences.
Mobilize Filmmakers With Flexible Advocacy Tactics
- Use filmmakers' varied platforms to advocate in different ways from speeches to private phone calls.
- O'Leary expects members to do interviews, letters, social campaigns, panels, and theater appearances to influence studios and regulators.
Skepticism Toward Consolidation Promises
- Cinema United opposes the Paramount-Studios consolidation and views verbal promises about release slates skeptically.
- O'Leary stressed regulators need to understand how consolidation historically reduced production and harms exhibition viability.