Cinema United’s yearly CinemaCon concluded this past week at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, with the biggest studios and theater chains rolling out announcements for 2025 and 2026. In place of a more in-depth breakdown of the week-long event, here are five of the biggest impressions.
“Beyond The Spider-Verse,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”
Sony Pictures kicked off the event with a doubleheader for Marvel Comics fans, as both the animated “Spider-Verse” franchise and the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe are due for new entries. “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” releasing June 4, 2027, is the sequel to 2023’s smash hit “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld are set to reprise their leading roles, and a sneak peek promised a “bigger and bolder” return to form.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is the next installment in the live-action MCU’s “Spider-Man” series, with Tom Holland returning for a sequel to 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Not much is known about this next step in the series, but Holland refers to it as a “fresh start” for the character.
“John Wick: Chapter 5,” “Ballerina”
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Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves’ “John Wick” is set to develop into a full-fledged action megafranchise, with “John Wick: Chapter 5” officially in production and Ana de Armas’ spinoff “Ballerina” due June 6.
“Wick” is also set for new mediums, as an animated prequel film was announced and previewed alongside “Ultraman: Rising” director Shannon Tindle. The “John Wick” series has been a hallmark of the action genre for over a decade now, but this next step for Reeves and company indicates there are more stories to tell.
“Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski returns to the big screen with “F1,” Warner Bros’ blockbuster releasing on June 25. Kosinski is no stranger to the high-octane mechanical filmmaking of this caliber. Movie stars Brad Pitt and Damson Idris trained with F1 drivers to film the sports drama.
“F1” is a close collaboration with the racing league of the same name, with all ten teams set to appear in the movie. Kosinski and Pitt even filmed scenes on the very same tracks used for the breakneck motorsport that “F1” promises to get up close and personal with.
While the executive decision to split Broadway hit “Wicked” into two films is admittedly baffling, all signs are positive for Universal Studios’ “Wicked: For Good,” releasing November 21. The follow-up to 2024’s monocultural musical hit, “Wicked: For Good,” is set to ground itself in its “The Wizard of Oz” roots more firmly. Fans of the musical can look forward to pieces like “No Good Deed” and “For Good,” and a full returning cast means that the hotly anticipated sequel will spare no expense in comparison to its predecessor.
One of the last pieces announced this year was Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Stephen King’s classic “The Running Man,” the dystopian action-horror commentary on American media culture. Glen Powell of “Twisters” and “Top Gun” plays the lead, a man fittingly on the run from a team of assassins as part of a twisted game show hosted by Colman Domingo’s character.
While it won’t be the first adaptation of the novel — see the ’80s much-maligned Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle — Wright’s turn into action is an intriguing premise. King’s original story is ripe for commentary with a 21st-century remake, and Wright’s cinematic flair is all but guaranteed to make for a good flick.
The films listed here are some of the most exciting ones revealed so far, but they’re only a fraction of what CinemaCon had to offer this year. 2025 and 2026 are set to be big years for the film industry, and moviegoers will find no scarcity for a while.
