Day 3 of Cinemacon is upon us and this busy day begins with the presentation from Angel Studios.

This distributor is single-handedly transforming the industry by redefining how stories are told through how they are released and selected by the Angel Guild. 

Jered Geesey, Chief Distribution Officer of Angel Studios, discusses that Angel studios has consecutively ranked in the top 10 distributors for the past 2 years. They are here to discuss what’s working and what they plan on doing to continue making this model work—the significance of Angel Studios and how their selection of films works. 

Their upcoming release, “The King of Kings,” will hit theaters on April 11. If you’d like to read more of my thoughts on this film, please check out my review! It features a fantastic voice cast, and the promotion allowing children to enter for free has significantly boosted ticket sales. 

“The Last Rodeo” will be released on May 23, 2025. A man must go to his last rodeo to earn money to pay for medical bills. Life can change in 8 seconds. This is a Jon Abnet film (releasing Memorial Day weekend). This trailer looks fantastic! 

“Sketch” stars Tony hale and D’Arcy Carden. This is a bold step into new genres for the studio. It will be released on August 6. A girl has a rather inventive and wild imagination that is manifested in her drawings. Pretty strong reviews from credible outlets. This looks rather inventive, audacious, and compelling. 

“Truth and Treason” this historical drama is set to release on October 17, 2025 

“Zero AD” is set to release on December 19, 2025. We were shown the trailer, and it most certainly looks like a historical epic destined for the biggest screen possible: this movie is by Alejandro Monteverde (the same director of Sound of Freedom).

Finally, Angel Studios gave us a glimpse into what’s to come in 2026. Out comes Tim Rollings, Director of Theatrical Operations. “Fablehaven” will be exclusively in theaters in 2026. “Young Washington” – A story of a founding father is set to release July 4th, 2026. “Fellowship” follows the story of the friendship between Tolkein and Lewis. This will also be coming in 2026

Universal Studios

Mike Knobloch is president of music and publishing at Universal. They brought the orchestra from Los Angeles to play throughout the presentation. This is a beautiful way to begin a showcase by highlighting the importance of a score in film, opening one (like the Universal Logo), and efficiently transporting anyone to that world. Themes from iconic films like Jurassic Park, Jaws, Despicable Me, HTTYD, Psycho, Shrek, Back to the Future, Conclave, Oppenheimer, ET, and Wicked were also played. This was such a beautiful rundown and reminder of how music (score) can give a film a unique feeling.

The first film showcased was “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” featuring stars Mahershala Ali and Scarlett Johansson, along with the film’s director, Gareth Edwards, who were all in attendance. I absolutely loved the dynamic among the three, and the trailer promises to deliver another exciting adventure. The movie is set to be released this summer on July 2nd.

Next up was DreamWorks Animation, where they briefly announced three upcoming films:

• 1. “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie,” set to release on September 26.
• 2. “The Bad Guys 2,” which will hit theaters on August 1.
• 3. “How to Train Your Dragon,” scheduled for release in theaters on June 13, 2025.

Gerard Butler, Nico Parker, and Dean DeBlois were in attendance. Earlier that day, they introduced a screening of the film and returned to discuss it further. They also announced that “How to Train Your Dragon 2” is in the works and is set to premiere on June 11, 2027. This announcement was exciting!

“HIM,” starring Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers, is a sports horror drama that follows a college football player who gets injured. In an attempt to recover, he will be trained by the character played by Marlon Wayans. Produced by Jordan Peele, the trailer is very creepy and haunting, capturing the distinct vibe associated with Peele’s work. The release date is September 19, 2025.

The sequel “Nobody 2” is next. It’s described as a family vacation action thriller. The trailer appears to be filled with action, but since I haven’t seen the first movie, I’m not entirely sure what to expect or look forward to. It will be released this summer on August 15th.

Focus Features

Peter Kujawski, Chairman of Focus Features, took the stage to briefly discuss three films set to release this year. The first film is Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme,” starring Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, and Bryan Cranston. It is scheduled for a limited release on May 30, 2025, followed by a wide release on June 6, 2025. The movie tells the story of a family and their family business. The trailer appears very much in line with Wes Anderson’s distinctive visual style; however, like many of his other films, it seems to be one I will admire more than enjoy.

The second movie is Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Bugonia,” set to hit theaters on November 7. It stars Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, and follows two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, believing she is an alien intent on destroying Planet Earth. I found the trailer underwhelming, as I usually don’t respond positively to his films that fall on the lukewarm side.

Lastly, and very fittingly, is “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” which is set to be released on September 12, 2025. The time has come to say goodbye to Downton Abbey. Focus Features is bringing the beloved Crawley household to theaters for the final installment of this wildly successful franchise, created by Julian Fellowes. As a fan of the series, this is a bittersweet moment for me because I’ve cherished these characters, and goodbyes are never easy. I’m looking forward to this finale.

Jason Blum walks out dressed as one of the mechanical bears from *Five Nights at Freddy’s*, ready to present Blumhouse’s projects. He announces that *Drop* will be released in two weeks.

• He takes a moment to acknowledge that releasing its predecessor, *Fight Nights at Freddy’s 2*, on the same day as the Peacock release may not have been the best decision. He assures everyone that *Fight Nights at Freddy’s 2* will be released exclusively in theaters this December, and the trailer suggests it could be a hit.

• Next, Madeleine McGraw, who played Gwen in the first film, comes out to discuss the upcoming sequel, *Black Phone 2*, which releases on October 17. She shares that, after watching the trailer, the film looks incredibly scary and features a lot of Freddy Krueger vibes. Madeleine then introduces her younger sister, Violet McGraw, who stars in the first *M3gan* film.

• *“M3gan 2.0”* is set to be released on June 27, 2025. This sequel follows Amelia, who poses a new threat, raising the question of whether M3gan should be brought back to combat her. However, the trailer did not impress me. While I enjoyed the first film, this sequel feels redundant and seems to exist solely because of the success of the original, rather than because it has an intriguing story to tell.

• Additionally, *Soulm8te* will be in theaters in January 2026. This collaboration between James Wan and Jason Blum is essentially *M3gan* for adults. Again, it feels like a film lacking a compelling narrative, but only time will tell how it turns out.

Jim Orr, the president of theatrical distribution, took the stage to provide a brief overview of what to expect in 2026. In April 2026, the sequel to “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” will be released. Then, in July 2026, the third “Minions” movie is set to come out. Fans can look forward to “Shrek 5” at Christmas 2026, featuring the return of the original cast along with Zendaya. Lastly, in the summer of 2026, a new film by Steven Spielberg will debut in June, followed by Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” in late July.

“Wicked For Good”

On November 21st, the sequel to the Academy Award-winning film will be released. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, along with John M. Chu and Marc Platt, are here to discuss how this sequel will impact their characters. During the promotion, Erivo humorously addressed those who criticized her for crying frequently while promoting the first film, pointing out that she wasn’t the only one emotionally moved. I know for sure that this sequel is going to have a profound effect on me; even the footage I’ve seen has made me emotional. I can’t wait!

Amazon/MGM studios

For the first time in CinemaCon history, Amazon Studios debuted with a presentation that began with the trailer for “Project Hail Mary.” Following the trailer, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Ryan Gosling took the stage. This film, based on a book series, stars Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller. From the footage shown, it appears to be a solid film that could be a potential awards contender and a triumphant entry in the sci-fi genre. The release date is set for March 20, 2026. During the presentation, Phil Lord praised Ryan’s performance, describing it as charming, heartbreaking, and dedicated.

Another Coleen Hoover book adaptation is in the works; “Verity” will be released May 15, 2026. It stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Harnett. It’s a gripping psychological thriller.

“Thomas Crown Affair” is directed, produced, and starring Michael B. Jordan. I believe it’s a remake of the original film. A video message was sent by Jordan himself, confirming that the costumes in the film will be designed by Academy Award winner Ruth Carter. The film is set to be released in theaters sometime in 2026.

“After the Hunt,” directed by Luca Guadagnino, is set to release in October 2025. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Julia Roberts, and Ayo Edebiri. All the cast members were in attendance except for Julia Roberts. The plot follows a professor who is accused of sexual assault and explores the ramifications of that accusation. The trailer looks compelling and is likely to spark controversy due to its subject matter.

“Mercy” is set to be released on January 23, 2026, starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. The trailer looks captivating, and this sci-fi thriller promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

In another upcoming film, “Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie,” Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson star in a unique storyline where several sheep attempt to solve a murder. Yes, you read that correctly—the sheep are the investigators. Both Hugh and Emma sent video messages explaining their interest in this project, describing it as heartfelt with a beautiful tone. This film is also expected to hit theaters in 2026.

A film that came completely out of left field is “Crime 101,” starring Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, and Monica Barbaro. In attendance were Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, and Bart Layton, the film’s director. We got a sneak peek of the film, and I was surprised by how invested I became in just a few minutes of footage. Hemsworth plays a criminal who commits robberies along the 101 freeway in Los Angeles. The film is set to release this year, though no specific month or date has been announced.

We were shown a behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Masters of the Universe,” directed by Travis Knight, which is scheduled to be released on June 5, 2026. Since the film is still in production, we were not given any actual footage.

The presentation concluded with the announcement of “The Accountant 2,” set to be released on April 25, 2025. The trailer is impressive, and even though I haven’t seen the first film, I plan to check it out before watching this sequel. 

As their debut presentation, Amazon/MGM had a strong showcase.