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After a year-long hiatus, Sony Pictures makes a noteworthy return to CinemaCon, inaugurating the 2025 edition of the prestigious annual trade event for cinema operators. At the forefront of the presentation, film chairman Tom Rothman ardently defended the vitality of the big screen, pushing back against claims of its decline. Rothman also put forth significant commitments aimed at addressing two critical challenges facing theater exhibitors: ticket pricing and release window management.
“I have one word for all of you. It’s a magic word. It’s a secret mantra you might utter during your morning meditation: Tuesday,” Rothman proclaimed. “Why is Tuesday different from any other day? It’s because Tuesday is where the grosses are higher, and that’s due to lower ticket prices. But imagine if Monday were also like Tuesday? Or Wednesday?”
Rothman’s remarks hinted at a collaborative approach, emphasizing that “cost and windows can work for us or against us” and assuring attendees that “Sony will work with you on both.” His message underlined the potential for a prosperous future if theaters and studios prioritize long-term strategies.
Alongside Rothman, other executives such as Adam Bergerman, President of Sony Pictures Releasing, emphasized the pressing need to extend the exclusive theatrical window, which has drastically shortened post-pandemic, sometimes down to just 17 days. Bergerman referenced a survey conducted by Cinema United, revealing that a significant portion of North American moviegoers—about one-third—believe they can access movies on premium on-demand services within a month of their theatrical release.
“Such thinking undermines opening weekends across the board,” Bergerman noted, pointing out the importance of altering this perception for the future of cinema attendance.
One strategic approach to combat this issue involves producing films that engage audiences for extended periods, generating interest and encouraging viewers to see them in theaters rather than waiting for their streaming or premium video-on-demand (PVOD) releases. To illustrate this, Sony plans to release four biopics directed by Sam Mendes about The Beatles in April 2028. The sequence will begin with a film focused on Paul McCartney, starring Paul Mescal, followed by installments featuring George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon, with actors Joseph Quinn, Barry Keoghan, and Harris Dickinson portraying those iconic musicians.
This strategy mirrors recent efforts in specialty cinema, such as Fathom’s rollout of the Christian streaming series “The Chosen,” which is being presented in theaters over three consecutive weekends for its fifth season. However, Sony’s initiative marks an unprecedented move for a major Hollywood studio, with the potential to dominate the box office throughout that month, setting up a challenge for other studios as they strategize how to release their own spring titles in 2028.
While Sony’s flagship franchise, “Spider-Man,” will be absent from the 2025 lineup, it still played a crucial role in the event. Tom Holland and director Destin Daniel Cretton announced that the forthcoming Peter Parker MCU film, scheduled for 2026, is titled “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Furthermore, the much-anticipated animated feature “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” has been rescheduled for release in June 2027 following delays.
In terms of sequels, this year’s highlight is “28 Years Later,” the third installment in the revered post-apocalyptic horror franchise originally created by director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland. Moreover, Sony is making waves by reviving two cult classics from the 1990s: “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Anaconda.”
On the original content front, Sony is poised to introduce a unique narrative with “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” marking Margot Robbie’s inaugural feature film following her extraordinary success with “Barbie.” Directed by Kogonada, the fantasy romance features Robbie and Colin Farrell as a couple navigating a magical voyage through their shared memories, complemented by a score from esteemed composer Joe Hisashi, renowned for his collaborations with Hayao Miyazaki.
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www.thewrap.com