Full Breakdown
Cinema United Opposes Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger and Advocates for Longer Theatrical Windows
4/15/2026, 12:30:04 PM
Strong Opposition to the Merger
During his annual state of the union address at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Michael O’Leary, the president-CEO of Cinema United, expressed firm opposition to the proposed merger between Paramount-Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery. O’Leary argued that this consolidation would concentrate too much power among a few distributors, negatively impacting movie theaters, consumers, and the broader entertainment ecosystem. He stated, “We believe this transaction will be harmful to exhibition, consumers and the entire entertainment eco-system,” emphasizing the potential for reduced film production and limited access to diverse content.
The Call for Extended Theatrical Windows
O’Leary reiterated his advocacy for a minimum 45-day exclusive theatrical window, a stance he has maintained despite facing criticism from studios. He highlighted that in 2025, the average theatrical window for the top 100 films was only 37 days, a slight increase from the previous year. He noted that if these films had benefited from a 45-day window, the overall average would have extended to 49 days. O’Leary pointed to Disney's successful model, which featured a 62-day average theatrical window, as evidence of the importance of exclusive release periods for theaters.
Industry Perspectives
O’Leary's remarks were supported by a letter signed by over 1,000 industry figures, including prominent filmmakers like J.J. Abrams and Denis Villeneuve, who expressed “unequivocal opposition” to the merger. Tom Rothman, chairman of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, also weighed in, stating that the perception of films being readily available at home is detrimental to the adult audience for theaters. O’Leary welcomed NBCUniversal's recent announcement that all Universal Pictures films will adopt a 45-day theatrical window starting January 1.
Broader Implications
The ongoing debate surrounding the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger and theatrical release windows is critical for the movie theater industry, which has struggled to recover from the pandemic. O’Leary's strong stance reflects broader concerns about the future of theatrical exhibition and the need to preserve traditional cinematic experiences. He indicated that Cinema United would continue to advocate for these issues at both national and international levels.
Official Statements & Responses
O’Leary emphasized the need for longer theatrical windows, stating, “Broad adoption of a window of at least 45 days, and ideally more in the Disney 60 plus day range, will energize audiences, the industry and the box office.” Meanwhile, Charles Rivkin, chair of the Motion Picture Association, acknowledged the importance of protecting the voluntary movie ratings system but refrained from commenting directly on the merger.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What they’re saying “We believe this transaction will be harmful to exhibition, consumers and the entire entertainment eco-system.” — Michael O'Leary, President-CEO, Cinema United
- “Look no further than our friends at Disney. Last year, for the 12th time in the past 15 years, they led the industry in total box office. In 2025, they were the only studio to have a movie gross over $1 billion. Disney’s average theatrical window last year – 62 days.” — Michael O'Leary, President-CEO, Cinema United
- “too many people now think they can see any film at home, and it is killing the adult audience for movie theatres.” — Tom Rothman, Chairman, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group
The future of the merger and the industry's response to these challenges will unfold as Cinema United continues its advocacy efforts.
