At CinemaCon 2025, Universal Pictures and Focus Features delivered a robust presentation that highlighted their current dominance in the global box office and their ambitious upcoming slate. Universal, now the top-grossing studio of 2023 with $4.9 billion worldwide, celebrated its massive hits like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Oppenheimer, emphasizing the enduring value of theatrical releases.
Scarlet Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Gareth Edwards came onstage to present Jurassic World: Rebirth. Scarlet said she had many “pinch me moments” while filming.
Gabby’s Dollhouse is a new film based off the popular webseries of the same name will star Gloria Estefan and Kristen Wiig.
- Craig Robinson and Awkwafina came out for The Bad Guys 2.
- Dean DeBlois, Gerard Butler and Nico Parker came back onstage a second time for How to Train Your Dragon. The film was screened in its entirety exclusively for CinemaCon attendees. Dean DeBlois announced a live-action sequel will come out in theaters on June 11 2027.
- And the highly anticipated sequel Nobody 2
Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers came onstage to present Him. From Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw productions, Marlon Wayans describes the film as a sports movie with a twist. Withers says you have not seen Marlon like this before. After seeing the trailer, if Infinity Pool and Any Given Sunday had a baby, this would be its spawn!
Other films from Focus Features include:
- The Phoenician Scheme
- Bugonia
- Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
- Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet
- Ethan Coen’s Honey Don’t!
- Ronan Day-Lewis’ directorial debut with Anemone
Jason Blum, producer and owner of Blumhouse productions came onstage dressed as Freddy Fazbear from the Five Nights at Freddy’s film. The movie was the highest-grossing film for Blumhouse. The sequel will premiere only in theaters in December.
Other titles mentioned were:
- Drop
- Black Phone 2
- Megan 2.0
- Soulm8te
Summer of 2026 Stephen Spielberg and Christopher Nolan has upcoming projects for Universal which includes Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Finally the show ends with the highly anticipated part 2 of the cinematic spectacle film Wicked. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, dressed in all black came on stage to present the film. Cynthia says she can’t wait to get back on the road again and Ariana says she will get her tissues packed. As we see a snippet of a clip from the film, the song “For Good” plays. Because I knew you…I have been changed for good,” the pair sings together. “I’m off to see the wizard,” was the part that gutted me. We see tears. We see Oz. We see the betrayal. We see flashbacks to their friendship. This will be an emotional film!
Overall, Universal and Focus delivered a confident and diverse lineup that underscored their leadership in both blockbuster entertainment and specialty cinema heading into 2025.
