The Town with Matthew Belloni Nolan, Spielberg, Ellison, Cruise(!), and the CinemaCon Studio Power Ranking
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Apr 18, 2026 
Amanda Dobbins, film critic and co‑host of The Big Picture, and Sean Fennessey, film journalist and co‑host of The Big Picture, recap their CinemaCon trip. They rank studio presentations. They debate standout footage, star power, surprise appearances like David Ellison, and which announcements landed or fell flat.
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CinemaCon As A Barometer For Theatrical Recovery
- CinemaCon felt like the most enthusiastic post-COVID industry signal, driven by a 20%+ year-to-date box office boost and hope around theatrical windows returning.
- Matt Belloni argued the convention's optimism stems from films like Project Hail Mary and Amazon's theatrical commitments restoring exhibitor confidence.
Closing With Dune Delivered The Weekend's Biggest Moment
- Warner Bros. closed with the Dune Part 3 footage and stacked star power, making it the single best movie moment of CinemaCon.
- Sean Fennessey praised Denis Villeneuve, Zendaya, and Timothée Chalamet's presence and the footage's impact.
Warner Messaging Felt Self-Congratulatory And Conflicted
- Warner Bros. mixed original claims with franchise-heavy slate, creating a messaging mismatch that felt self-congratulatory to owners.
- Matt Belloni noted repeated Oscar boasts and franchise reveals that didn't align with their originality pitch.