It has been just one day at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, and there’s already a palpable sense of relief in the air.
Attendance at this year’s show is up about 5% from last year, according to Cinema United, the trade group that organizes the four-day convocation of thousands of movie theater owners, studio executives and industry folks at Caesars Palace.
Groups of people wearing orange-colored lanyards are everywhere throughout the hotel and casino, with many filling the Colosseum on Monday afternoon for a presentation from specialty film companies Angel Studios, Sony Pictures Classics and StudioCanal.
“The energy in every room reflected a sector that believes deeply in its own future,” said Stephanie Silverman, owner of the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville who serves on Cinema United’s strategic planning committee. “For independents, that sense of collective purpose is powerful — we’re not just holding on, we’re building toward something real and lasting.”
Amid such upbeat sentiment, CinemaCon allows theater owners and their business partners to see what’s coming from each studio and get a snapshot of the year ahead.
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On Monday, Provo, Utah-based Angel Studios showed footage from their upcoming film “Young Washington,” about the early life of the first U.S. president, as well as a trailer from an animated retelling of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”
“Theatrical isn’t fragile,” Shelley Schulz, vice president of domestic theatrical sales and exhibitor strategy at Angel Studios, said during the presentation. “It’s not fading. It’s evolving.”
European indie film studio StudioCanal also unveiled some of its upcoming films, including scenes from a new animated “Shaun the Sheep” movie that got laughs from the audience, before bringing out director Danny Boyle to applause and cheers to speak about his new film “Ink,” about the beginnings of the British tabloid “The Sun.”
Later this week, Warner Bros., Universal, Amazon MGM, Paramount and Disney will unveil footage from their upcoming releases and likely bring their major stars on-stage to build excitement about this year’s slate.
As I reported Monday, a string of recent hits like Amazon MGM Studios’ “Project Hail Mary” and Universal Pictures, Nintendo and Illumination’s “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” have pushed year-to-date domestic box office revenue about 23% higher than the same time last year.
The upswing signals that the exhibition business is embarking on its long-awaited recovery from the devastating downturn that occurred in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Studio executives and theater operators chalk up the improved prospects in part to a better and more plentiful crop of bankable movies that are bringing people back to the multiplex.
Exhibitors feel better about the lineup this year — it’s full of major franchises like “Star Wars” and Marvel superheroes as well as well-known animated titles such as “Toy Story 5” and “Minions & Monsters.” Also coming are anticipated films from acclaimed directors Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg.
“We’re getting into that cadence we needed in terms of having good movies, different types of movies being released every weekend,” Cinépolis USA Chief Executive Luis Olloqui told me ahead of CinemaCon. “This year in general, we’re feeling more confident, more optimistic.”
It’s quite the turnaround from the anxiety I heard last year leading into CinemaCon, when theater owners grappled with the box office downturn and the general shakiness of the industry.
Not to say that this year is all roses.
As I wrote, there are still major question marks facing the industry, including how Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery will affect the business. Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison has said the combined company will release 30 films a year, but exhibitors fear that cost cuts from the deal could impede that goal, which many believe is unrealistic.
And Hollywood is still going through a painful retrenchment.
Just last week, Sony Pictures Entertainment said it would cut hundreds of jobs across its film, TV and corporate divisions. Then came the news about upcoming layoffs at Disney, which could number as many as 1,000.
It hasn’t been much better in the exhibition space, either. In February, Dallas-based Look Dine-In Cinemas abruptly closed three Southern California locations; then, in March, the iPic chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it planned to pursue a sale of its assets.
A better box office this year wouldn’t solve all of these problems, but it would inject more hope into an industry that has been in turmoil since the pandemic.
That amount “represents one of the highest golden parachute estimates ever observed,” investor advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services wrote in a recent report. The firm said support for the proposal “is not warranted.”
Warner shareholders will vote April 23 on the proposed takeover.
What I’m watching
For years, one of the shows on my weekly must-watch list is “Ghosts,” the delightful comedy about a couple who moves into a historic mansion haunted by its previous inhabitants. After a long week, the antics of Viking ghost Thorfinn always make me laugh.
The movie, 65, was originally released in 2023 and gives film fans the ideal way to begin their extended bank holiday weekend. According to its synopsis, the story follows a lone pilot named Mills, who after a catastrophic crash, lands on an unknown planet.
He quickly discovers he’s actually stranded on Earth… 65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa must make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures in an epic fight to survive.
Those wanting to watch the film will be able to watch it tonight (April 2) from 9pm on Film4. Fans will need to make sure they tune in if they don’t want to miss it as at the time of writing, the title is not currently streaming anywhere. Viewers could alternatively tune in to Film4+1 where the film will begin an hour later at 10pm.
Adam Driver, known for playing Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequel trilogy leads the cast as Mills, while he is also joined by Ariana Greenblatt as Koa. Former Disney actress Greenblatt has since appeared in Barbie, Borderlands and Now You See Me Now You Don’t.
The film was written and directed by writing partners Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. The pair are most famously known for being the ones who penned the original horror film A Quiet Place before handing off creative control of the franchise to John Krasinski. They also made Heretic together, with fans calling both of their spooky offerings as ‘one of the best horror movies ever’.
Meanwhile, 65 failed to repeat the commercial success of their previous projects. It only made $60 million against a $45 million budget at the worldwide box office. And despite its less than favourable 35% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, many fans say it is well worth checking out.
Although one critic looking back on the film did share an updated verdict for why it is worth watching years after its release.
the film delivers a tense sci-fi survival story where action drives a narrative of isolation and connection. Fans of creature features and suspense will appreciate its concise format, focused on impact and pacing, echoing the tradition of dinosaur movies that have long held a unique place in the world of blockbuster cinema.
Many fans go so far as to disagree completely with the negative critical reviews. Its brief 93 minute runtime is also hailed as a positive and preferred option than slogging through a marathon release.
One fan went so far say it is the “best dinosaur movie ever made” with many making comparisons to how it has superior action to the Jurassic World movies. Another viewer added: “This film deserves 10 STARS!!! Instant Classic!!!”
Someone else claimed: “This movie checked off all the boxes. Space travel, dinosaurs, suspense, emotional connection, and Adam Driver! It doesn’t waste any time grabbing your attention, and the compelling story line is a great ride all the way through.”
However there are some who disagree, although they largely feel disappointed in the ending. Others argue that 65 did not get a fair chance at the cinema because it ended up against some big franchise sequels like John Wick 4, Shazam 2, Scream VI and Creed III.
One fan gave the ultimate approval when they commented: “Think Jurassic Park but much better and believe me when I say a lot better. This is that rare science fiction action movie that people have tried to make but didn’t get it right. Here, they finally not only got it right but they excelled!! Plus, real life marine Adam Driver is top notch in a really exciting movie.”
This year marks a veritable museum-palooza as Los Angeles debuts four new major arts complexes, with three in the wings likely to open in advance of the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Immerse yourself in a psychedelic explosion at Meow Wolf, plan an afternoon liaison with Van Gogh at LACMA’s new David Geffen Galleries, inhale the scent of nature inside Refik Anadol’s AI arts museum, Dataland, or simply geek out over George Lucas’ jaw-dropping collection of “Star Wars” memorabilia.
Whatever your arts craving may be, this astoundingly rich new lineup of new local museums has you covered.
LACMA’s David Geffen Galleries
The new David Geffen Galleries, opening in 2026, are composed entirely of Brutalist concrete.
(Christopher Knight / Los Angeles Times)
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s David Geffen Galleries are set to debut this April to members, before opening for general admission at the beginning of May. The $720-million Geffen Galleries will display 2,500-3,000 objects from LACMA’s collection.
The building, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, is described by supporters as a “concrete sculpture” and will host 90 exhibition galleries across 110,000 square feet. The Wilshire Boulevard museum’s inaugural exhibition will organize artwork by the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea instead of by medium or period.
“The idea is for you to make your own path — not to speak at you, but to let you wander like you would through a park or a place,” LACMA Director and Chief Executive Michael Govan said in an interview with The Times. “That change in attitude, and how the building is built, is really exciting.”
Some of the most-anticipated works on display include Georges de La Tour’s “The Magdalen With the Smoking Flame” (1640), Henri Matisse’s “La Gerbe” (1953) and Vincent Van Gogh’s “Tarascon Stagecoach” (1888).
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
The gardens at the Lucas Museum, designed by Studio-MLA, on Monday, May 19, 2025.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
After more than 10 years of anticipation, George Lucas and Mellody Hobson’s museum will open in Exposition Park this September. With over 10,000 square feet of galleries, the museum will feature a wide array of artwork and pop culture ephemera, including Lucas’ personal trove of “Star Wars” film franchise treasures, “Peanuts” comic strips, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” illustrations, a Richard Sargent painting and covers of the Saturday Evening Post.
Lucas donated his collection to curate the Lucas Archives, which, in addition to “Star Wars,” will encompass props and production art from Lucasfilm projects, such as the “Indiana Jones” franchise.
One of the museum’s defining features is its massive green-roof garden designed by Mia Lehrer and her landscape architecture firm Studio-MLA.
“This brings everything together,” Lehrer said in an interview with The Times. “Design, ecology, storytelling, infrastructure, community. It’s the fullest expression of what landscape can be.”
Meow Wolf
A work-in-progress piece set to be featured in Meow Wolf L.A. as seen during a walk through at the group’s warehouse in Santa Fe on Oct. 15, 2025.
(Gabriela Campos/For The Times)
Meow Wolf’s L.A. location will reimagine a ’90s movie theater with its takeover of the Cinemark at West L.A.’s Howard Hughes entertainment complex outside Culver City. Meow Wolf’s sixth permanent exhibition comes on the heels of the immersive art creator’s 52,000-square-foot psychedelic art installation in Las Vegas, which was disguised as a dystopian grocery store called Omega Mart and promptly went viral on TikTok.
Complete with sci-fi elements, a meditative space and a 30-foot-tall mushroom tower, Meow Wolf’s new location will open at the end of 2026. Although organizers have kept much of the exhibition under wraps, visitors can expect to be transfixed by a thoroughly Los Angeles tale.
“It’s cool that we’re creating a story about a pilgrimage, because L.A. is that for so many artists, especially people involved in storytelling,” Shakti Howeth, Meow Wolf‘s creative director, told The Times. “It’s one of those places that’s built on layers and layers of dreams, and we’re really exploring that here. Not only dreams but broken dreams — the compost that can happen when you digest broken dreams.”
Refik Anadol’s Dataland
Refik Anadol’s Infinity Room is meant to be a multisensory experience.
(Dataland)
Opening this spring at the Frank Gehry-designed Grand L.A., Dataland dubs itself the world’s first museum of AI arts. Turkish American artist Refik Anadol designed his own AI model, named the Large Nature Model, which only sources material with permission from original creators, making it what Anadol calls “ethical” AI. Partners include the Smithsonian and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
“I’m calling this new art form not AR, not VR, not XR — so we are still finding a name for it. The best name so far, and people love it, is generative reality,” Anadol told The Times.
Dataland will feature five galleries, including the Infinity Room, which Anadol first created in 2014 as a student at UCLA. In another exhibit, he trained an AI model on half a million scents and built a machine to push those scents into the gallery to create a totally immersive viewing experience.
Opening Later
The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California
Slated to complete construction in downtown Glendale in late 2026, the 51,000-square-foot Armenian American Museum has been in the works for more than a decade. With a $67-million budget, the museum will include permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as an auditorium, learning center, archives collection and a demonstration kitchen.
The museum is an initiative of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee Western US, and planning began as the group prepared to mark the the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015. The museum is adorned with the 36 letters of the Armenian alphabet and a glass hazarashen skylight, inspired by traditional roofs in homes across the Armenian Highlands.
“The Armenian American Museum was once an idea, then a vision, and today is rising before our eyes,” museum Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian said in a statement. “This progress is the result of an extraordinary collective effort by Armenians and non-Armenians here in California, across the United States and around the world.”
The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center
The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center in Los Angeles is a major expansion of the California Science Center.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
A solid opening date has not yet been announced, but the $400-million Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the California Science Center in Exposition Park is busily preparing for liftoff. Construction on the building began in 2022. The shiny new building will be home to the Korean Air Aviation Gallery, Kent Kresa Space Gallery and the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, which will host the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Endeavour will be displayed in launch position, making it the tallest authentic spacecraft displayed vertically in the world, with a height of 20 stories. One of three surviving space shuttles, Endeavour made 25 successful missions into space.
The center is also expected to have 20 planes and jets, including a Boeing 747, a mock flight deck and a pair of introductory films produced by J.J. Abrams’ company Bad Robot, one of which will end with a simulated launch.
“It is an amazing experience, and we want to really build it up,” Jeffrey N. Rudolph, president and chief executive of the California Science Center, told The Times. “It’s not just about the hardware but about the people and the educational aspects.”
The Broad Expansion
Exterior rendering of the future Broad expansion from Hope Street.
Opening in 2028, the Broad expansion will contain 70% more gallery space, two outdoor courtyards, a live programming space and views of the museum’s art storage vault. First announced in 2024, the $100-million addition is slated for completion before the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Located in downtown L.A., the expansion was deemed necessary after the museum significantly exceeded visitor projections. The new building will invert the existing Broad museum’s architectural design, with a smooth, gray structure attached to the original construction.
“The idea is that it adds new facets to the visitor’s journey through the expanded Broad,” said Joanne Heyler, founding director and president of the Broad, in an interview with The Times. “In a way, the existing building is always sort of talking to you. And there will be a similar thing happening with the expansion, but just a slightly different conversation, like you’re listening to its sibling.”
