George and Josh Bate
Beginning April 13, 2026, the fourteenth CinemaCon will kick off at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada and start a weeklong celebration of the moviegoing experience. For those curious about what this year’s CinemaCon will entail, or for those who are unfamiliar with CinemaCon, this article serves as a comprehensive overview of CinemaCon and a CinemaCon 2026 Preview.
What is CinemaCon?
CinemaCon is a convention organized by Cinema United, the largest exhibition trade organization in the world. CinemaCon has served as the preeminent celebration of the motion picture theater industry since 2011, with attendees from more than 80 countries making the journey to Las Vegas to honor the theatrical experience and what it has to offer.
CinemaCon features extensive presentations from the top studios (e.g., Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, etc.) that detail their slate of upcoming films (including previously unannounced films) and debut exclusive never-before-seen footage. Participating in these studio presentations are some of the industry’s biggest stars, producers, and directors. For instance, the cast of The Beatles was unveiled at last year’s CinemaCon, while The Weeknd treated the audience to a live performance and a motorcycle stunt show precluded Tom Cruise speaking about the latest Mission: Impossible movie.
The studio presentations unfold much like the big presentations at conventions like D23, Star Wars Celebration, and San Diego Comic Con. Producers, directors, and actors make their way on stage to talk about an upcoming movie and (usually) present footage from that movie. Last year, for example, featured first looks at Zach Cregger’s Weapons, Tron: Ares, and Predator: Badlands. The year before showcased 35 minutes of Inside Out 2 and 15 minutes of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes months before either film’s public release.
The convention also features exclusive early screenings of upcoming films (past screenings have included the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake, Top Gun: Maverick, and The Fall Guy), various conference presentations highlighting important topics and novel ideas in the world of moviegoing, and a trade show in which various vendors associated with all facets of the movie theater industry exchange products and share ideas.
Preview of CinemaCon 2026
As is tradition with CinemaCon, the convention will be held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year’s convention will run for four days – from Monday April 13 to Thursday April 16.
April 13
CinemaCon Film Showcase
Numerous new events are taking place at CinemaCon this year, one of which is the CinemaCon Film Showcase. Starting at 1:30pm local time, the showcase will feature three distribution companies – Angel, Row K, and StudioCanal – showcase their upcoming film slates.
Angel’s portion of the presentation will likely showcase Young Washington, Zero A.D., and Animal Farm, amongst other projects. Hitting theaters on July 3 this year, Young Washington tells the story of a young George Washington in the years before his presidency and stars Ben Kingsley and Andy Serkis in supporting roles. Zero A.D. stars Deva Cassel as Mary and Jamie Ward as Joseph in an epic biblical drama about protecting their child Jesus from the murderous King Herod, played by Jim Caviezel. Finally, Animal Farm is director Andy Serkis’ animated adaptation of George Orwell’s iconic novel and features the voice acting talents of Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, Steve Buscemi, Laverne Cox, Woody Harrelson, Iman Vellani, and more.
Row K, meanwhile, will likely present footage from three of their upcoming movies. Marking Maude Apatow’s feature directorial debut, Poetic License is a new comedy starring Andrew Barth Feldman, Cooper Hoffman, and Leslie Man that received rave reception out of Toronto International Film Festival last year. Row K will also distribute another TIFF acquisition – Charlie Harper, a romance starring Emilia Jones and Nick Robinson. Finally, Lily James and Pierce Brosnan star in Row K’s remake of the 1993 Sylvester Stallone movie Cliffhanger, which is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.
It is a little more difficult to predict what StudioCanal’s portion of the presentation will entail, given that the company and their subsidiaries have their hands in a lot of different films. That being said, a first look at Eli Roth’s new horror movie Ice Cream Man is a safe bet.
Sony Pictures Presentation
At 6:30pm local time on the first day of CinemaCon 2026, Sony Pictures will host an exclusive presentation highlighting its upcoming releases. Sony has a stacked slate of films to showcase, but none are bigger than Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The fourth Spidey film starring Tom Holland hits theaters on July 31 and will undoubtedly play a huge role in Sony’s presentation. Expect an exclusive trailer and some of the talent to be present on stage.
That’s not the only Spider-Man movie Sony will showcase though. Hitting theaters on June 18, 2027 is Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. Last year’s CinemaCon featured an early look at the film, meaning this year’s is almost certainly going to follow suit.
Other animated projects Sony may touch on in their presentation include a sequel to Wish Dragon (hitting theaters in summer 2027), the third Agent Cherry Reed film (hitting theaters October 8, 2027), and Buds (hitting theaters in December 2027). Given the worldwide popularity of KPop Demon Hunters, Sony may also want to talk about the planned sequel to the film, which is slated for a 2029 release date.
The family fun continues with the untitled sequel to Jumanji: The Next Level, which recently wrapped production. With a release date of December 11, 2026, the film will very likely be showcased during the presentation.
Horror will certainly make its presence known during Sony’s presentation as the major studio has a host of horror movies to preview. Zach Cregger follows up his work on the Oscar nominated Weapons with an adaptation of Resident Evil, which hits theaters on September 18. The next installment of the Insidious franchise – Insidious: The Bleeding World – debuts a few weeks prior, only August 21. First looks at both of these movies are quite likely.
Resident Evil isn’t the only video game adaptation Sony will be eager to show off. The Legend of Zelda, from director Wes Ball, hits theaters on May 7, 2027 and, although it is still currently in production, an early look at the film could definitely be part of the presentation. Later next year, Sony will also release a film adaptation of the hit video game Helldivers, which, while in pre-production, may be mentioned in the presentation.
After last year’s bombshell casting announcement on stage at CinemaCon, Sony will undoubtedly want to discuss The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event. The films are currently in production, which means a first trailer could be presented. However, given the April 2028 release dates for the films, new images and maybe a few on-stage teases are safer bets.
Regarding more dramatic fare, Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning, a sequel to David Fincher’s The Social Network, is a certain fixture of Sony’s presentation. The film sees Jeremy Strong replace Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg and features Academy Award winner Mikey Madison as Frances Haugen. It will hit theaters on October 9. I Swear, the acclaimed film about a man struggling with Tourette’s Syndrome, hits U.S. theaters just weeks after CinemaCon from Sony Pictures Classics. The critical reception to the film means Sony may want to highlight it during its presentation.
April 14
NEON Presentation
After 9am’s annual State-of-the-Industry program, CinemaCon will host NEON’s special presentation of their upcoming movies. In recent years, NEON has established itself as one of the must-see distributors and production companies, overseeing hit films like Longlegs, Anora, and Parasite.
As NEON continues to become a major voice in the horror space, the distributor will very likely preview their upcoming horror movie Hokum. Hitting theaters on May 1, Hokum comes from Oddity director Damian McCarthy and stars Adam Scott as an author who travels to a remote part of Ireland, unaware that his rented accommodation may be haunted. The film will first make its world premiere at SXSW 2026.
NEON’s relationship with filmmaker Osgood Perkins continues this year with the release of The Young People. The director of Longlegs, The Monkey, and Keeper follows up his trio of NEON horror movies with this new film starring Lola Tung, Nico Parker, Tatiana Maslany, and Nicole Kidman. Australian horror movie Leviticus, which received rave reception out of 2026 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, is also a likely inclusion in NEON’s presentation. The film follows two star-crossed teenagers, whose budding attraction to one another is followed by a religious conversion ritual gone horribly wrong.
Also along the lines of horror/thriller is Nicolas Winding Refn’s new movie Her Private Kill, starring Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, and Havana Rose Liu. Director Chloe Okuno’s new gothic horror movie Brides is another possible feature of NEON’s presentation, as is Chloe Domont’s A Place in Hell and the acclaimed existential thriller It Ends.
Beyond the horror genre, Boots Riley’s latest film I Love Boosters is bound to make an impression at CinemaCon. The film stars Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, and Will Poulter and follows a group of shoplifters who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. It will first premiere at SXSW 2026. Fjord, a new drama film starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, is another probable fixture of NEON’s showcase. The film follows a Romanian-Norwegian couple who face scrutiny when they move to the wife’s remote hometown.
Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation
Just weeks after news that Warner Bros. will be acquired by Paramount, the CinemaCon presentations for both studios are sure to be interesting. The acquisition is bound to be mentioned by both parties, although we suspect that the presentations will remain separate.
Regarding films Warner Bros. is likely to showcase during their presentation (which begins at 4:30pm local time), Mortal Kombat II seems like a no-brainer. The sequel to the 2021 film hits theaters on May 8, 2026 and will introduce Karl Urban as Johnny Cage. We’d guess Warner Bros. will show off a few sequences from the movie to the CinemaCon crowd.
Multiple DC projects are also bound to play a role in Warner Bros.’ presentation. Special looks at Supergirl, which hits theaters on June 26, and Clayface, which hits theaters on October 23, will likely be presented to the audience. With Man of Tomorrow and The Batman: Part II nearing production, we wouldn’t be surprised if these movies get a mention as well.
Warner Bros. will also want to highlight another major franchise in its arsenal – the MonsterVerse. With Godzilla x Kong: Supernova hitting theaters on March 26, 2027, it’s possible that we catch an early glimpse of the movie.
Arguably the biggest player for Warner Bros. during the presentation will be Dune: Part Three, which adapts the novel Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert. Timothée Chalamet has discussed that he has seen a trailer for the film and, by April 14, we anticipate the lucky attendees of CinemaCon will also have seen a trailer. The movie hits theaters on December 18, 2026.
WB may also wish to preview another highly anticipated sequel in Practical Magic 2. Hitting theaters on September 11, 2026, the film will serve as a sequel to the 1998 classic and reunite stars Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Dianne Wiest. The studio is also destined to showcase Evil Dead Burn, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Evil Dead Rise, which hits theaters on July 24, 2026. The same can be said for M. Night Shyamalan’s new supernatural romance thriller Remain starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor.
Two sci-fi films are also worth looking out for during WB’s presentation. J.J. Abrams’ first movie since the divisive Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is titled The Great Beyond and hits theaters on November 13, 2026. The plot is under wraps, but Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega, Emma Mackey, and Samuel L. Jackson are confirmed to star. Flowervale Street, meanwhile, unites Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor in a film written and directed by It Follows filmmaker David Robert Mitchell. The film will follow a family who begin to notice unusual occurrences in their quiet neighborhood.
There’s no doubt that Warner Bros. will want to spotlight one of their awards players at CinemaCon. Alejandro G. Iñárritu directs and co-writes Digger, a comedy of catastrophic proportions starring Tom Cruise. The film hits theaters on October 2, 2026. A few weeks after Digger, families can enjoy the animated adaptation of The Cat in the Hat starring Bill Hader. The Barry creator and actor was present at CinemaCon last year to preview the first look at the film and a new look at the Dr. Seuss adaptation feels like a certainty.
Finally, although no footage will be shown given their pre-production status, the sequel to A Minecraft Movie, The Conjuring: First Communion, and The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum may all be discussed during the presentation ahead of their 2027 release dates. The film was originally slated for October 23, 2026 before being delayed to February 5, 2027.
April 15
Major Studio Screening
It’s always fun to speculate what the big early screening of CinemaCon will be. For the last two years, Universal Pictures have provided advanced looks at their films The Fall Guy and How to Train Your Dragon. If Universal is the studio behind this year’s screening, this means we’re likely getting either Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day or Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. If Universal is not the studio behind this year’s screening, it becomes harder to predict. Possibilities include Warner Bros.’ Mortal Kombat II, Amazon MGM Studios’ Masters of the Universe, and Disney’s The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Universal Pictures and Focus Features
The first of two major studio presentations on the penultimate day of CinemaCon 2026 will see Universal Pictures and Focus Features preview their upcoming slate at 4pm. Lionsgate is absent from CinemaCon this year, but their Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, may still make an appearance at the convention as Universal is overseeing international distribution for the film.
The heavy-hitters don’t stop there for Universal. The higher-ups will be salivated at the chance to show extended footage of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey to the crowd ahead of its July 17, 2026 release date. The same can be said for Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg’s return to the sci-fi genre that hits theaters on June 12 and stars Josh O’Connell and Emily Blunt.
Animated films will also play a role in Universal’s presentation. The studio has Minions & Monsters debuting on July 1, 2026, Forgotten Island arriving on September 25, 2026, and Cocomelon: The Movie hitting theaters on February 26, 2027. Expect special looks from all of these movies. The biggest upcoming animated film in Universal’s back pocket, however, is Shrek 5. Although the film doesn’t hit theaters until June 30, 2027, we would be shocked if a special preview isn’t presented to the CinemaCon crowd.
On the other spectrum of intensity is a range of horror movies Universal has on the horizon. Mike Flanagan’s reimagining of The Exorcist starring Scarlett Johansson hits theaters on March 12, 2027 and may be discussed at CinemaCon. Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster’s latest collaboration Other Mommy will likely be previewed ahead of the film’s October 9th release date. And, just in time for the holidays, is a sequel to Violent Night, once again starring David Harbour as an ass-kicking Santa Claus.
Focker-in-Law, the fourth installment in the franchise that began with Meet the Parents, debuts just in time for Thanksgiving on November 25, 2026. Ariana Grande joins Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro in this new installment, which will likely be previewed at CinemaCon. While production is a while off, the executives at Universal may not be able to help themselves from talking about the fourth installment in the Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz-led The Mummy franchise, even if their CinemaCon presentation comes just days before Lee Cronin’s The Mummy hits theaters.
Several films on the verge of production may also make an appearance during the presentation. Joseph Kosinski follows up the acclaimed Top Gun: Maverick and F1 with a remake of Miami Vice starring Austin Butler and Michael B. Jordan. The live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon 2 is also beginning production, and the final installment in the Fast and Furious franchise – aptly titled Fast Forever – may also get a mention ahead of its March 2028 release.
As mentioned, Focus Features will also display some of their upcoming movies during this presentation. Perhaps none of their forthcoming releases are as notable as Robert Eggers’ Werwulf, his greatly anticipated follow-up to Nosferatu that hits theaters on Christmas Day this year. Before that, Curry Barker’s feature directorial debut Obsession, which has already made an impression on the festival circuit, is bound to come up ahead of its May 15, 2026 release date.
A few weeks after that arrives Pressure, a war film from director Anthony Maras that stars Brendan Fraser as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Andrew Scott as Captain James Stagg. Renowned artist Hayley Kiyoko will adapt her 2023 book Girls Like Girls into a new movie that hits theaters on June 19, 2026. Expect that to crop up during the presentation. Then there’s Finding Emily, a British romantic comedy about a lovesick musician starring Angourie Rice, Spike Fearn, and Minnie Driver. This comes to theaters on May 22, 2026. And last but not least is another adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, this time directed by Georgia Oakley and starring Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Amazon MGM Studios Presentation
2026 marks the second consecutive year in which Amazon MGM Studios has had a presentation at CinemaCon. The studio has an even more robust slate to show off during its presentation, which starts at 8:30pm local time. After a trailer was shown at last year’s CinemaCon, The Sheep Detectives, a wholesome mystery starring Hugh Jackman, is likely to reappear. The film hits theaters on May 8, 2026.
The same can be said for Is God Is, Aleshea Harris’ directorial debut based on the play of the same name. The film, which hits theaters on May 15, follows twin sisters who are ordered by their bedridden mother to kill their abusive father. Verity, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s hit novel starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett, will almost certainly be previewed at CinemaCon after the first trailer made its debut at the convention last year. The film arrives October 2, 2026 in theaters.
Two biopics – I Play Rocky and Madden – arrive from Amazon MGM in November 2026 and the studio will be eager to show off the new films, the latter of which stars Nicolas Cage and Christian Bale. David Leitch follows up The Fall Guy with How to Rob a Bank, a new action comedy heist film starring Nicholas Hoult and Pete Davidson. The film hits theaters on September 4, 2026.
Michael B. Jordan’s next directorial effort is a remake of The Thomas Crown Affair starring himself, Adria Arjona, Kenneth Branagh, Lily Gladstone, Aubrey Plaza, and Danai Gurira. Jordan is a hot property in the industry right now following the success of Sinners and Amazon MGM Studios will be proud that they’re the home for his next movie.
Some other (as of now) undated films that the studio will likely show off at CinemaCon include Artificial (Luca Guadagnino’s biopic about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman starring Andrew Garfield), The Love Hypothesis (the Reylo fanfic come to life starring Lily Reinhart and Tom Bateman), and Judgment Day (a new comedy starring Will Ferrell and Zac Efron). But the big player for Amazon MGM Studios at CinemaCon is destined to be Masters of the Universe. Hitting theaters on June 5, 2026, the He-Man movie is arguably the studio’s biggest venture in recent years and the studio will want to show off their confidence in the movie at the convention.
April 16
Paramount Pictures Presentation
Paramount recently just got a whole lot bigger following its acquisition of Warner Bros., a fact the major studio may not want to flaunt at CinemaCon during their 9:45am presentation. Scary Movie 6, the long-awaited follow-up in the beloved parody franchise, will likely make the crowd chuckle when it’s previewed during Paramount’s presentation. The film, which arrives on June 12, brings brothers Marlon, Shawn, and Keenen Ivory Wayans back to the franchise and once again stars Anna Faris as Cindy Campbell and Regina Hall as Brenda Meeks.
Jackass 5 will similarly get the audience howling with laughter. The Jackass franchise certainly isn’t for everyone, but it has had an enduring and dedicated base of fans for decades now. The film hits theaters on June 26. Although not a comedy, Street Fighter may also get people laughing if early footage from the film suggests anything. The feature film adaptation of the Capcom came bolsters an unusual ensemble cast that includes Noah Centineo, 50 Cent, Eric Andre, Cody Rhodes, Andrew Schulz, Jason Momoa, and Roman Reigns. The movie hits theaters on October 16, 2026.
Before that, Passenger, a new horror movie from director André Øvredal hits theaters on May 29. Anyone who has seen the teaser trailer will know that it seems Paramount may have a hidden gem up their sleeves with this movie. An eighth Paranormal Activity movie is currently in production and A Quiet Place Part III is in pre-production.
Both of these movies may be discussed during the presentation. There’s also a sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem that Paramount will want to preview, while a live-action TMNT movie may be discussed as well. Sonic the Hedgehog, one of Paramount’s most reliable franchises, returns for a fourth installment March 19 and, while currently in pre-production, is bound to be mentioned at CinemaCon. For younger audiences, The Angry Birds Movie 3 and Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie are also on the horizon.
Other Paramount movies worth noting include David Ayer’s Heart of the Beast starring Brad Pitt, Damien Chazelle’s upcoming untitled movie, and Johnny Depp’s return to big studio films with Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol.
Walt Disney Studios Presentation
Beginning at 2:30pm local time, Walt Disney Studios will close out CinemaCon once again with a grand presentation of its forthcoming films. Disney has a big summer ahead of them, beginning with The Devil Wears Prada 2. The sequel to the beloved film starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci arrives on May 1, 2026.
Star Wars also makes its triumphant return to the big screen after a seven year absence. The Mandalorian and Grogu brings Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and his adorable green companion from Disney+ to theaters worldwide when it hits theaters on May 22. CinemaCon will likely feature a new look at the movie. Although unlikely, another Star Wars movie may crop up during CinemaCon 2026. Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling recently wrapped production and, ahead of its May 28, 2027 release date, Disney may want to show some footage off if they’re particularly confident in the movie.
The strong summer for Disney continues with the release of Toy Story 5 on June 19. The upcoming Pixar movie will undoubtedly be showcased at the event. The live-action remake of Moana will likely make a display ahead of its release on July 10, 2026. Dwayne Johnson will reprise his role as Maui in the movie. Arguably 2026’s most anticipated movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which, after several brief teasers attached to Avatar: Fire and Ash, will make a splash at CinemaCon this year. We suspect Disney will show off a full trailer for the anticipated MCU event movie.
Smaller-scale fare is also up Disney’s sleeve. Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars, based on the 2012 novel by Peter Heller, arrives on August 28, 2026. The film, starring Jacob Elordi and Margaret Qualley, is set in the aftermath of a catastrophic flu that nearly wipes out humanity. Scott’s film also stars Josh Brolin, who also plays a role in the survival thriller Whalefall (in theaters on October 16). Martin McDonagh follows The Banshees of Inisherin with Wild Horse Nine, which reunites the Irish filmmaker with Sam Rockwell.
Several notable animated movies may also leave an impression at CinemaCon. Disney has The Simpsons Movie 2 arriving on September 3, 2027 and, before that, Walt Disney Animation’s Hexed and Pixar’s Gatto hitting theaters on November 25, 2026 and March 5, 2027 respectively.
Finally, Disney may use CinemaCon as an opportunity to clear the air about the future of the Avatar franchise. The latest installment in James Cameron’s sci-fi epic grossed nearly $1.5 billion but came quite a bit short of its predecessors, leaving many to speculate as to whether we’ll ever see Pandora again. We suspect Disney will want to return to this world as, despite the dip in box office performance of his latest effort, no one draws a crowd like James Cameron.
Wrap-Up
CinemaCon 2026 wraps up with the “Big Screen Achievement Awards,” which honor particular filmmakers and actors who have contributed significantly to the moviegoing experience. After that, the convention is over and everyone is left with a multitude of exciting movies to anticipate and a burning desire to return to a movie theater. In a day and age in which streaming grows more prominent and major studios are gobbling one another up, CinemaCon is a stark reminder of just how impactful the theatrical experience can be.
