CinemaCon 2026: First Looks, Surprise Screenings, and the Power Moves Set to Define Hollywood’s Next Year

If you pay attention to the movie industry—or you just like hearing about Hollywood’s sometimes bizarre rituals—CinemaCon is one of those events you can’t really ignore. Once a year, a swarm of studio execs, directors, and major stars descend on Caesars Palace in Las Vegas (yep, actual Vegas) to convince theater owners that their upcoming movies are worth projecting on the biggest screens in the country. There’s always mysterious new footage, odd live moments, and, occasionally, genuinely wild surprises—like those times they premiered Ghostbusters: Afterlife way early, or surprised everyone with Top Gun: Maverick for the first time. Basically, if you want to get a glimpse at what Hollywood thinks will rescue theaters from a sea of streaming, this is where it happens.

It’s Not Just Another Trade Show

This year’s CinemaCon comes with even more drama than usual. The backdrop? The just-finished Warner Bros. and Paramount merger, which means both studios are desperate to look strong. So expect a bit of posturing, and a whole lot of rumor mongering about who’s got the 'bigger' movie slate for the next couple of years. Here’s what I (and basically everyone else in the business) am watching out for, based on what’s bubbling up before those big doors open:

• Resident Evil Trailer (Sony): Sony pretty much always kicks things off, and this year, expectations are through the roof for Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil reboot. Supposedly dropping on September 18th, and some say this thing gives off 'Fury Road of horror' vibes (which is honestly a bold claim to make for a zombie franchise). Cregger’s last film, Weapons, ended up as one of 2025’s bigger hits, so people are actually curious about this one. Rumor is they’ll show the first trailer here, maybe even put it online for everyone else right after—so keep compulsively refreshing if that’s your thing.
• Digger (Paramount/Warner Bros.): If you’ve wondered why Tom Cruise has suddenly developed a thing for shovels on Instagram, here’s your answer: he’s hyping for Alejandro González Iñárritu’s big fall movie Digger. CinemaCon probably gets the first full trailer, so we finally get to see what Cruise looks like as 'Guy With a Shovel.' (If you had that on your blockbuster bingo card, congrats.)
• The Odyssey Footage (Universal): Christopher Nolan always makes a whole show of presenting to theater owners, and the pattern suggests he’ll turn up with a new trailer for The Odyssey. This thing’s packed with stars—Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya (rumored to appear in Vegas too). At this point it’s practically a red carpet event just for the exhibitors.
• Avengers: Doomsday (?): Now this is the big question mark—does Disney finally drop footage from the new Avengers movie? Some think it’ll stay secret until The Mandalorian and Grogu launches on Disney+ next month. If you’re betting, safest is: CinemaCon gets to see it, the rest of us are waiting a few more weeks.
• James Bond Casting (Wild Card): Here’s where rumor turns into pure wishful thinking. Amazon/MGM has a slot, and the rumor mill is churning on who the next James Bond will be (every British actor under 45 apparently in the running for the job). Since director Denis Villeneuve is supposedly around promoting Dune: Part Three—and he’s rumored for Bond—some are connecting the dots that maybe the new 007 could be revealed here. But honestly, the next movie is still years away, so my bet: nothing but more speculation.

A Few Things to Watch (and a Whiff of Chaos)

Just to add a little extra flavor, this year everyone is wondering if Paramount and Warner Bros. will outdo each other, if Christopher Nolan’s latest epic will break brains, and if someone—anyone—will finally reveal the new Bond. Or maybe we all end up talking about Tom Cruise and his shovel for days. As someone who has watched this industry get weird in Vegas before, I’d say: expect the unexpected, but be ready for the usual overpromises, too.

'The event sees all the major studios descend on Caesars Palace in Vegas, where, in the Colosseum, they show new footage to theater owners, teasing the year ahead.'

In short: If you like seeing what movies the studios think will blow up the box office—or just want to eavesdrop on Hollywood’s yearly pep rally—CinemaCon is always worth following. Even if you’re not there for the free popcorn.