CinemaCon 2022 took place between 25 – 28 April 2022 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
CinemaCon, the annual convention organized by the National Association of Theatre Owners, is back after a cancelled 2020 edition and a muted 2021 affair.
Only eight months ago, the movie theater industry congregated at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The previous edition took place at a time when the cinema industry was in constant flux, with fewer overseas delegates, pre-recorded studio presentations, and a low turnout on the trade show floor.
The industry has made great strides since CinemaCon 2021, after a string of box office successes – Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Batman, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and a far more stabilized movie release calendar, which have given cinema owners the foundation to pursue a serious recovery. The worst looks to be behind movie owners around the world, with theatrically exclusive films returning to big screen and recent box office figures suggesting that viewers are returning to the medium.
Here’s a look at the biggest studio announcements from the largest annual gathering of the motion picture industry:
Sony Pictures:
Sony opened the studio presentations at CinemaCon 2022 with a victory lap. Tom Rothman, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, who energized the studio’s 2021 showcase to exhibitors by expressing a strong commitment to theatrical exclusivity.
Sony Pictures Entertainment has earned a whopping $3.3 billion in global box office since their last appearance in CinemaCon, only eight months back.
The studio’s 2022 presentation began with an extended look at the upcoming comedy-action caper Bullet Train (July 29) and continued its presentation further with the new looks of Where the Crawdads Sing (July 15) and The Woman King (September 16), original titles the studio believes will help balance the tentpole-heavy release schedule of the coming months.
Warner Bros.:
Warner Bros. started the presentation at CinemaCon 2022 by unveiling an early first look at footage from The Flash.
The major announcement of the evening was confirmation from studio chairman Toby Emmerich that director Matt Reeves and star Robert Pattinson would be coming back for another installment of The Batman.
Fans also caught the first glimpse of Margot Robbie in the starring role for Barbie, now scheduled for a July 21, 2023 release.
Director Baz Luhrman gave an enthusiastic introduction to footage from his upcoming Elvis, scheduled for a June 24 release, the film will confront the challenge of re-engaging older moviegoers.
Other non-franchise Warner Bros. titles featured in the presentation include the Timothy Chalamet musical Wonka (Christmas 2023), Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry, Darling starring Florence Pugh (September 23), and the Stephen King adaptation Salem’s Lot (September 9).
Warner Bros.’ focus on original titles didn’t overshadow the other DC Comics properties on its schedule. Their CinemaCon presentation included advance looks at Shazam! Fury of the Gods (December 16), Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom (March 17, 2023), DC League of Super-Pets (July 29), and Black Adam (October 21).
Disney:
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige opened the ceremony introducing a 20-minute clip of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Marvel titles have been a financial lifeline for the industry since cinemas reopened with titles like Black Widow, Shan-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, The Eternals, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The CinemaCon 2022 audience also enjoyed a 30-minute look at Lightyear, the first Pixar title to hit theaters since Onward.
Disney turned the rest of the presentation over to its 20th Century Studios division, where audiences got a first look at footage of David O. Russell’s Amsterdam (November 4). The title promises to be a star-studded big screen experience driven by leads Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington.
Six minutes of The Bob’s Burgers Movie (May 27) also screened for the audience, emerging as a promising counter-programming option set to open alongside Top Gun: Maverick over Memorial Day weekend.
Producer Jon Landau came on stage to share Disney’s biggest announcement of the morning. Avatar 2, now titled Avatar: The Way of Water, will stick to its December 16 release date.
Universal Studios:
Universal Studios’ presentation represented with footage from Jordan Peele’s Nope (July 22), David Gordon Green’s Halloween Ends (October 14), and the Blumhouse evil robot thriller M3gan (January 13, 2023).
Highlights from the showcase also included enthusiastic responses from exhibitors for comedies Easter Sunday (August 5), Minions: The Rise of Gru (July 1), and Bros (September 30). Universal’s presentation closed with legacy cast members of Jurassic World: Dominion introducing a trailer for the film ahead of its June 10 release.
Focus Features:
Focus Features president Lisa Bunnell introduced footage from several upcoming titles. Focus will bring a diverse slate to theaters in 2022 that includes movies like Downton Abbey: A New Era (May 18) and Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (July 15), genre plays like action-comedy flick Violent Night (December 2), and dramas like James Gray’s Armageddon Time.
Neon:
Neon showcased footage from a trio of its own titles to complement the week’s tentpole-driven presentations. David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future (June 3) is sure to make audiences squirm as the legendary director returns to his roots in body horror.
Lionsgate:
Lionsgate showcased upcoming comedy About My Father. The Studio also revealed never before seen footage of a slate that balances original films like coming-of-age comedy Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and horror flick The Devil’s Light with established action franchises like John Wick Chapter 4 and The Expendables 4.
The studio is also building spin-off series based on successful films. The drama White Bird will act as a sort of spiritual prequel to Lionsgate’s 2017 hit Wonder, while Ballerina will give star Anna de Armas her own series in the John Wick universe.
The CinemaCon 2022 audience caught their first glimpse of the video game adaptation Borderlands and a new Dirty Dancing movie heralding the return of original star Jeniffer Grey.
The big news from the Lionsgate showcase came in the final moments of the presentation with the announcement of a new Hunger Games prequel dated for November 17, 2023. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes could provide a return to major global grosses for Lionsgate, which has played a larger role with mid-range titles since the Hunger Games series concluded in 2015.
Paramount Pictures:
Paramount Pictures kept most of the focus of its CinemaCon 2022 presentation on Top Gun: Maverick, which got its first public screening at the Las Vegas gathering Thursday.
The studio still had a few other big announcements to make. Among them were two title announcements for Paramount’s biggest franchises: Mission: Impossible and A Quiet Place. The seventh M:I film will be titled Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One while the upcoming “Quiet Place” spinoff from director Michael Sarnoski will be called A Quiet Place: Day One. Both films are set for release in 2023.
Source: Boxoffice Pro
Saudi box office did a total of US$238 million in 2021, a 95% increase compared to the previous year.
Saudi Arabia in 2021 continued its exponential growth as a theatrical box office market with revenue totaling US$238 million for the year, a 95% increase compared with 2020 when the total intake had been $122 million, according to figures provided by Comscore.
Four years after the removal of the kingdom’s 35-year-old ban on movie theatres, Saudi Arabia has now achieved the status as the West Asian region’s top theatrical market in terms of gross box office, surpassing the UAE, which achieved a box office of US$130m for the year 2021.
Saudi cinemas witnessed the release of 340 new films in 2021, up from 222 films in 2020. The top-grossing 2021 title was Egyptian comedy Waafet Reggaala (A Stand Worthy of Men), which did US$15 million, making it the country’s top grosser ever since moviegoing was reinstated in January 2018.
Spider-Man: No Way Home was the top-grossing Hollywood title in Saudi Arabia in 2021, earning US$11.2 million and continuing to do well in 2022, ranking the No. 2 spot on the chart. It was followed by Cruella, which grossed US$9.1 million, and Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man, which made US$8.3 million in Saudi cinemas.
Egyptian comedy, Mesh Ana (Not Me), featuring local megastar Tamer Hosny, weighed in at No. 5 on the 2021 Saudi box office chart with US$8.2 million, while another release from Egypt Mama Hamel (Mom Is Pregnant), about a 60+ woman who is somehow expecting a child, came in at No. 10, pulling US$5.9 million.
Saudi Arabia’s surge in box office grosses is clearly driven by the increase in multiplexes across the nation. The number of multi-screen movie theaters in Saudi Arabia grew from 33 locations at the start of 2021 to 53 locations by December 2021, an increase of 20 new locations, according to Comscore.
According to figures revealed in December during the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah by Bahaa Abdulmajeed -an official from the Saudi Investment Ministry, Saudi Arabia now has 430 screens and counting, and has an ambitious target of reaching 2,600 screens by 2030. Several analysts, including PwC, see Saudi as becoming a billion-dollar movie market in the next few years.
Currently, Saudi-owned Muvi Cinemas operates the highest number of local cinemas, with 21 locations (including its drive-in cinema) across the Kingdom. They are followed by VOX Cinemas with 15 locations. U.S. theater chain AMC Cinemas with 10 locations, Lebanon’s Empire Cinemas with 5 locations and Mexican-owned Cinépolis Cinemas which now operates 2 multiplexes in Saudi.
Top 10 Box Office Hits in Saudi Arabia in 2021
Source: Variety
2021 witnessed the return of movies to the big screen with the release of the most anticipated movies that were delayed by the pandemic.
Hollywood had an active year with a variety of films released, such as sci-fi flicks, Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, musicals, character dramas, thrillers, and animations. The audience were quick to re-embrace cinema as their favourite cultural activity.
As we are nearing the end of 2021, let us look back at some of the highlights from the year 2021 that helped bring movies back to the big screen.
UAE:
KSA:
Egypt:
Oman:
Kuwait:
Bahrain:
Qatar:
Lebanon:
(based on Box Office)
10 blockbuster ads (in no particular order) that lit up the big screen in 2021, as featured in Campaign Middle East :
Brand: Cartier
Title: Expo 2020 Women’s Pavilion
Agency: MediaCom MENA
Brand: Yas Island Abu Dhabi
Title: Stayin’ On Yas
Agency: Starcom
Brand: stc
Title: Our Culture is Our Future
Agency: Universal Media KSA
Brand: Etisalat
Title: #TogetherMeans
Agency: Initiative Abu Dhabi
Brand: Hermès
Title: The Legend of Hermès Della Cavalleria
Agency: Havas Media ME
Brand: NEOM
Title: Made to Change
Agency: Starcom
Brand: Mercedes
Title: The New Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
Agency: OMD
Brand: TRA Bahrain
Title: Digital Theft
Brand: Gulf Bank
Title: AlDanah
Agency: Wavemaker MENA
Brand: Porsche
Title: Macan – Your Sidekick,Everywhere
Agency: BPG Kuwait
There are a dizzying amount of exciting new movies coming to theaters in 2022. These are the top 10 movies you should be looking forward to in the coming year:
For more on the movies coming out in 2022, be sure to check out our sizzle reel, which launches towards the end of January 2022
Souces : Vox Cinemas, IMDB, Box Office Mojo
In this edition of ‘What’s Buzzin Behind the Screen’, we bring you the latest industry news – everything you need to know about what’s happening behind the scenes in Hollywood. From the latest trailer releases, to box office collections and movie announcements, here’s the October 2021 update:
Stay tuned for the latest industry news in our November 2021 edition.
Source: Screen Rant, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Rotten Tomatoes and Cinema Blend
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Marvel’s first epic to star an Asian hero and Disney’s first theatrical-only release since 2019, had a lot of factors against it, but it didn’t just overcome them, it practically somersaulted over.
According to tracking website Box Office Mojo, Shang-Chi earned $8.8 million from Thursday night (September 2) previews which began at 7pm across North America, the second highest preview result of the pandemic era behind Black Widow‘s $13.2 million, but rang up an estimated US$75.5 million at U.S. theaters between Friday September 3, and Sunday September 5 (labor weekend). As of September 19, the blockbuster has garnered US$160.9 million and US$112 million at the domestic and international box office (respectively), which equates to over US$272.9 million at worldwide box office (1.8 times the production budget of US$150 million), and is the second biggest opening of 2021.
Bob Chapek, Disney’s CEO, described the film as an “interesting experiment”, for the movie was the first franchise by studio to exclusively release in theatre, without the simultaneous release on Disney+, since the outbreak of the pandemic. But Simu Liu, the lead actor in Shang Chi, wrote on twitter – “We are not an experiment… We are the surprise.”
Media and industry pundits too labeled Shang-Chi as a ‘gamble’ for the studio’s choice of committing to a theatre only release, citing various reasons: the pandemic affected box office ticket sales, the fact that Labor Day weekend is typically slow for theaters, and the protagonist is a newcomer (with tweethearts of social media even referring to Liu as ‘Shang-Who’). However, based on movie reviews and box office figures: Shang-Chi broke the high-risk perception by major studios of releasing exclusively in theatres and not having a simultaneous streaming release, proved that the pandemic won’t stop people showing up for Marvel, and that even on a traditionally slow weekend, audiences were willing to return to the big screen for highly anticipated blockbusters.
After Black Widow, Jungle Cruise and Cruella concurrently released on Disney+, the studio announced last week that the rest of its 2021 slate — including Marvel’s Eternals and Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story — will each screen exclusively in theaters. The news is promising for cinema exhibitors, for Disney films are routinely among the highest-grossing of the year.
Next up for Marvel are Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Eternals and Spider-Man: No Way Home, releasing October 21, November 4 and December 16, 2021.
Contact us for cinema advertising alongside these upcoming blockbusters.
Sources: npr, The Numbers, Variety, Vulture, L.A Times and Cinemablend
The 10th installment of CinemaCon, the largest annual gathering of the motion picture industry, took place between 23 – 26 August 2021 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
CinemaCon is a global event that attracts delegates from more than 80 countries across the cinema industry, including studios, distributors, exhibitors and content creators.
Whilst the scale of the event was nowhere close to previous editions, mainly due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions, the show did go on, with studios setting the stage for their upcoming movies and giving the industry hope, confidence and a clear message that cinema is here to stay.
Here’s a roundup of studio announcements at CinemaCon 2021:
This year’s event enumerated blockbusters such as F9, Godzilla vs. Kong, A Quiet Place Part II and Cruella as the major drivers behind the extraordinary resurgence of the cinema industry, due to their encouraging box office figures. However, the highlight of the show included the preview of upcoming tentpoles by major studios, while it was announced that most of the preview films will be exclusive theatre releases.
This edition of CinemaCon also featured some discussions on the industry’s challenges coming out of the pandemic. Patty Jenkins, director of ‘Wonder Woman 1984’, emphasized that day-and-date” release is a “heartbreaking experience”. “I’m not a fan of day-and-date, and I hope to avoid it forever,” stated the filmmaker, expressing her strong preference of maintaining an exclusive theatrical window for all her upcoming films. “I don’t understand why we’re talking about throwing (the big-screen experience) away for 700 different streaming services that there’s no room for in the marketplace. It’s crazy to me,” said Jenkins. “One studio should plant a flag and make a huge move just for the theatrical experience, and the filmmakers will go there as a result”
The Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures also slammed day-and-date releases, pointing to the success of Free Guy at box office, and stated that such ‘terrific’ movies are not meant to be watched at home.
The next edition of CinemaCon is scheduled to be held between 25 – 28 April 2022.
Sources: CinemaCon and Box Office Pro
With the Middle Eastern summer in full swing and school holidays in place, a family movie night is the perfect way to kickback and relax with loved ones!
As travel restrictions are still in place for most countries and with the heat of summer dampening outdoor plans, a family movie night seems the perfect way to relax and bond with family over a tub of popcorn.
Here are our top picks to help you decide what to watch on a family movie night:
The Lion King
A wise man once said, “old is gold” and we couldn’t agree more! Watching the original The Lion King has a charm of its own, the emotions, the thrill and not to mention the excitement! A perfect treat for you and your family.
The Harry Potter Series
Avada Kedavra all your boredom away with the Harry Potter series! Nothing beats magic, wands, and sports played on flying broomsticks! A series for youngsters and adults alike, Harry Potter and his battalion seems like the perfect go-to for a family movie night.
Frozen 1 and 2
A Disney original is always a good idea for family movie night. Be it Elsa’s magical powers or witnessing Anna’s love bring together her family – a movie with a happy ending is a movie for all!
The Pursuit of Happyness
Released in the early 2000’s, The Pursuit of Happyness is about a struggling salesman who takes custody of his son as he’s determined to begin a life-changing professional career.
Minions Series
Starring adorable little minions in lead roles, the Minions series is one to rev up the creative minds of your little ones at home. Filled with mischief, laughter and adventure, it is the perfect pastime these summer holidays. The latest installment, Minions: The Rise of Gru is set to hit the BIG Screen
The Princess Diaries
Breaking barriers of how each princess’ purpose is to have her prince, The Princess Diaries lead by example through their plot. Teaching girls about women empowerment and how even princesses make the silliest of mistakes, this widely loved movie is a must watch for all!
Avengers Marathon
Marvel fanatics, assemble! Everybody loves a good superhero movie with action, adventure, emotions and just the right kind of storyline. Filled with twists and turns, this adventurous, action-packed series will keep you hooked!
Back to the Future
With the latest sci-fi movies in today’s day and age, it’s always nice to kick back with an original that way ahead of its time. Back to the Future is about a 17-year-old high school student who is accidentally sent thirty years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, an eccentric scientist.
Up
Get ready for some waterworks and for your heart to be filled with joy. Up is one of Disney’s most popular award-winning animation that is based on 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen, who travels to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.
The Chronicles of Narnia
Based on a seven-book series, The Chronicles of Narnia has four movie installments, all revolving around a magical land with magical beings who must fight to protect what is theirs.
A plethora of blockbusters are also set to release on the BIG Screen over the rest of summer and the start of fall: Free Guy (August), Paw Patrol (August), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September), Venom: Let There Be Carnage (Septmeber), Dune (September), Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (September), Addams Family 2 (September) No Time to Die (October), Clifford the Big Red Dog (October) and more.
Book your tickets and head to the cinema for an immersive experience with your family and friends!
Sources: IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes
Check out the cinema ads booked through Motivate Val Morgan in July 2021
With school summer holidays in effect, Eid al-Adha just around the corner and an exciting line-up of highly anticipated blockbusters set to release over the coming months, cinema is the ideal destination for all this summer and the right time for advertisers to display their brand on the BIG screen.
Here’s a list of cinema ads screening over July 2021:
Hampton by Hilton
Ad Duration: 35 sec.
Campaign Duration: 24th June 2021 to 18th August 2021
Country: UAE
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas: The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Nation Towers Galleria, Mercato Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Nakheel Mall, and Reel Cinemas: The Dubai Mall
BMW X3
Ad Duration: 30 sec.
Campaign Duration: Follow the movie – Black Widow
Country: UAE
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas: Mall of the Emirates, Nakheel Mall, YAS Mall and Riyadh Park Mall
Atlantis
Ad Duration: 30 sec.
Campaign Duration: Follow the movie– Black Widow
Country: UAE
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas: Mall of the Emirates and Reel Cinemas: The Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina Mall and The Pointe
OSN
Country: UAE & Saudi Arabia
Ad Duration: 30 sec.
Campaign Duration UAE: Follow the movie – Black Widow
Campaign Duration Saudi Arabia: 8th July 2021 to 28th July 2021
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas: Mall of the Emirates, Riyadh Front Mall and Red Sea Mall, and Reel Cinemas: The Dubai Mall
*Please Note: The final frame of the ad in Saudi Arabia was in Arabic
MBC Group
Country: UAE & Saudi Arabia
Ad Duration: 55 sec.
Campaign Duration UAE: 11th July 2021 to 17th July 2021
Cinema Locations: Multiple VOX, Cine Royal, Reel and Oscar cinema locations.
Herfy
Ad Duration: 30 sec.
Campaign Duration: 22nd July 2021 to 4th August 2021
Country: Saudi Arabia
Cinema Locations: Multiple VOX, AMC and Muvi cinema locations.
McDonalds
Ad Duration: 30 sec.
Campaign Duration: 1st July 2021 to 1st December 2021
Country: Kuwait
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas: The Avenues
Boubyan Bank
Ad Duration: 60 sec.
Campaign Duration: 24th June 2021 to 4th August 2021
Country: Kuwait
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas: The Avenues
Kuwait Finance House
Ad Duration: 30 sec.
Campaign Duration: 1st July 2021 to 21st July 2021
Country: Kuwait
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas: The Avenues
Kuwait Fund
Ad Duration: 30 sec.
Campaign Duration: 8th July onwards
Country: Kuwait
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas: The Avenues
Bank Dhofar
Ad Duration: 51 sec.
Campaign Duration: 10th June 2021 to 24th November 2021
Country: Oman
Cinema Locations: Multiple VOX cinema locations
National Water Company (NWC)
Ad Duration: 20 sec.
Campaign Duration: 1st July 2021 to 21st July 2021
Country: Saudi Arabia
Cinema Locations: Multiple AMC, VOX, and Muvi cinema locations
Redtag
Ad Duration: 15 sec.
Campaign Duration: 1st July 2021 to 14th July 2021
Country: Saudi Arabia
Cinema Locations: Multiple AMC, VOX and Muvi Cinemas locations
Here’s a list of highly anticipated blockbusters releasing over Q3 and Q4 2021:
The Suicide Squad
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Free Guy
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
No Time to Die
Eternals
Top Gun: Maverick
Whether it’s a launch of a new product, an integrated campaign or a storytelling ad worthy of the BIG screen, cinema offers advertisers an environment that brings campaigns to life.
Don’t miss out on advertising your brand alongside the blockbusters ahead. Contact us for more information on booking cinema ads on the screens across our cinema circuit in the Middle East.
