Sony at CinemaCon: Spider-Man, Open World Jumanji, and the push for affordable cinema
Sony used CinemaCon to pull back the curtain on a slate packed with familiar franchises and bold new adaptations. The studio previewed fresh footage from Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, the concluding chapter in the Miles Morales saga, offering a glimpse of the film’s climactic moments. In another crowd-pleaser, Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black teased the subtitle for their next Jumanji installment as Open World, signaling a shift in the series’ playground-style adventures.
On the gaming-to-film front, Sony rolled out material from Zach Cregger’s live-action Resident Evil project, signaling continued investment in the franchise. The studio also announced an ambitious Bloodborne project described as both animated and R-rated, with content shepherded by streamer-creator JackSepticEye, signaling a blend of horror aesthetics and bold storytelling.
Beyond the hype about specific titles, Sony’s chief, Tom Rothman, used the stage to press a three-point plan aimed at reviving cinema attendance. While he noted that the industry is doing okay overall, he pointed out that admissions remain down from pre-pandemic levels and emphasized the need for stellar, varied films that reach a broad audience.
First, Rothman urged exhibitors to extend theatrical windows, even if that means not every film can be available on every platform at the same time. In the wake of the industry’s streaming-era behavior, where some titles bow simultaneously in theaters and on home services, he argued for longer exclusive runs to support cinema viability.
Second, he called for trimming the barrage of ads and cutting down the lengthy pre-show rituals that some theaters run, arguing that a leaner, less intrusive experience could help bring audiences back.
Third, and perhaps hardest of all, he underscored affordability. Going to the movies should be more reachable for more people, he said, framing price as a critical barrier to attendance.
Deadline summarized Rothman’s remarks as a measured call to action, noting that the response from the CinemaCon crowd was mixed but included some applause as he wrapped up with a nod to the tough road ahead. The takeaway: Sony intends to stay vocal about industry standards while continuing to roll out a mix of blockbuster franchises and inventive genre projects.
For readers keeping an eye on upcoming releases, you can expect a steady stream of titles in theaters this month and new streaming options to explore as studios balance spectacle with accessibility.