Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
Cynthia Erivo will return as Elphaba in "Wicked: For Good."
  • CinemaCon, the annual movie-theater convention held in Las Vegas, had its 2025 edition during the first week in April.
  • The convention featured never-before-seen footage of upcoming movies.
  • Get ready for Glen Powell in "The Running Man," Brad Pitt in "F1," and a return to Oz with "Wicked: For Good."

Every spring, Hollywood treks to Las Vegas for CinemaCon, a week-long convention that showcases upcoming movie releases.

The convention, run by Cinema United, the world's largest movie theater trade organization, is four days of studio executives and theater owners coming together to speak on how to better the industry. This year, one major topic of discussion was expanding the theatrical window on all movies before they can show up on video on demand or streaming.

But the biggest draw the studios' flashy presentations. This year, Disney, Universal, Lionsgate, Sony, Paramount, Warner Bros, and Amazon MGM Studios highlighted what they have coming out in 2025 and beyond by screening trailers and footage.

Some of the titles showcased in Vegas already have had trailers out online. But for many others, CinemaCon marked the first time footage was shown of an upcoming release. Below is a rundown of the most exciting new footage we saw at CinemaCon.

If you want to see highlights from this year's CinemaCon at your local theater, look out for "Sneak Peek Showcase," a 70-minute recap that will play in theaters on April 22 and 24.

"The Phoenician Scheme" (May 2)
Wes Anderson Michael Loccisano Getty
Wes Anderson.

Wes Anderson's latest release looks to be another ambitious tale filled with outlandish performances by acting greats and meticulous production design, costuming, and music.

In "The Phoenician Scheme," Benicio del Toro plays the lead, Zsa-zsa Korda, the richest man in Europe. After surviving his sixth plane crash, Korda begins to take steps to hand over his estate to his daughter, played by Mia Threapleton.

Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, and Benedict Cumberbatch also star.

"F1" (June 27)
Brad Pitt driving on an F1 race track as Sonny Hayes in
Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes in "F1."

CinemaCon attendees screened the first ten minutes of what's sure to be one of Sony's biggest hits of the year.

The movie opens showcasing Sonny Hayes' (Brad Pitt) skills behind the wheel at the 24 Hours at Daytona. After speeding until dawn to secure the win as the anchor of his racing team, Hayes is propositioned by an old racing friend (Javier Bardem) to join his team and mentor his No. 2 driver.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Joseph Kosinski (the duo behind "Top Gun: Maverick"), this has all the makings of a big summer box-office hit.

"M3GAN 2.0" (June 27)
Megan in a sweater
M3GAN 2.0.

After wowing audiences with her killing prowess (and her dance moves), M3GAN is back. Now in AI form following the events of the first movie, she's the one thing that can stop a new military robot named Amelia that is causing havoc. It all leads to M3GAN getting a complete physical makeover to save the day.

"The Naked Gun" (August 1)
Liam Neeson with his leg up
Liam Neeson in "The Naked Gun."

If you miss a good raunchy comedy, this one's for you.

After Leslie Nielsen's slapstick antics made detective Frank Drebin a comedy icon thanks to the "Police Squad!" and "Naked Gun" franchises, Liam Neeson has taken the reins to bring Drebin's silly antics to a new generation.

The movie's first trailer shows Neeson doing everything from playing a schoolgirl to doing some unusual things to show his love for his dog. Paramount could have a sleeper hit on its hands.

"Weapons" (August 8)
Zach Cregger smiling
Zach Cregger.

Following the success of "Barbarian," director Zach Cregger delivers what looks to be another horrifying tale you can't look away from.

In "Weapons," a group of children go missing in the middle of the night, leading to a lot of frustration, finger-pointing, and some really, really terrifying events as a close-knit community in Florida spirals into madness.

Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, and Benedict Wong star.

"Caught Stealing" (August 29)
Darren Aronofsky holding a microphone
Darren Aronofsky presenting at CinemaCon.

This year marked the first time Darren Aronofsky graced the CinemaCon stage, and he said the occasion was because it was finally time for him to do something "fun."

For the guy known for making dark movies like "Requiem for a Dream," "Black Swan," and "The Whale," his latest seems to be a major pivot.

Based on the Charlie Huston book of the same name, "Caught Stealing" stars Austin Butler as Hank, a former baseball player who is inexplicably chased around 1990s New York City by gangsters. It certainly looks like Aronofsky's most slick and mainstream work to date.

Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Bad Bunny also star.

"The Long Walk" (September 12)
David Jonsson and Mark Hamill standing next to each other
David Jonsson and Mark Hamill star in "The Long Walk."

Based on Stephen King's novel and directed by Francis Lawrence ("The Hunger Games"), this thriller set in a dystopian future showcases a group of young people who take part in a walking contest. If you ever stop, you are killed on the spot. The contest goes on until there's only one person left walking.

The movie stars David Jonsson ("Alien: Romulus"), Cooper Hoffman ("Licorice Pizza"), and Mark Hamill as the villainous major who oversees the contest.

"Zootopia 2" (November 26)
judy nick zootopia
Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return in "Zootopia 2."

Nine years after Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde made "Zootopia" a box office sensation, the pair of detectives are in a relationship slump and are going to partner therapy. Hilarity ensues as they try to work out their problems.

Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman return to voice the lead characters. New characters include Quinta Brunson as their therapist and Ke Huy Quan as a mysterious snake.

"Wicked: For Good" (November 21)
Cynthia Erivo at the Wicked Witch and Ariana Grande as Glenda the Good
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return in "Wicked: For Good."

In the trailer teasing the film's thrilling conclusion, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now an enemy of the state, strengthens her powers by studying the Grimmerie, while Glinda (Ariana Grande) is taken under the wing of the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).

Before footage was shown onstage, director Jon M. Chu teased that "For Good" will "take us past" when Dorothy Gale shows up on the yellow brick road.

"The Running Man" (November 7)
Glen Powell, Edgar Wright, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin standing on stage with microphones
Glen Powell, director Edgar Wright, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin presenting "The Running Man" footage at CinemaCon.

Just weeks after wrapping production on "The Running Man," director Edgar Wright and stars Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin presented footage from the movie to the CinemaCon crowd.

Another work based on a Stephen King novel, many know the title from the beloved 1987 release starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Expect a very different adaptation this time around.

Showcasing more gore, comedy, and inventive camera work from Wright, this telling of the story — in which Powell stars as Ben Richards, who is racing to save his life by surviving "The Running Man" game show — feels very different from the one Arnold was in.

Avatar: Fire and Ash (December 19)
village in Avatar Fire and Ash
"Avatar: Fire and Ash."

James Cameron takes us from water to fire. Where the previous release in the acclaimed "Avatar" franchise, "The Way of Water," showed how Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his family made friends with the ocean-friendly Metkayina clan, it looks like in "Fire and Ash" they will not get the same reception.

In the footage shown, the Ash tribe are menacing warriors who shoot arrows with fire. Nothing seems peaceful in this chapter of the franchise, and the terrain is rocky and full of volcanoes. And then there's Quaritch (Stephen Lang) still hot on Jake's tail.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (December 19)
SpongeBob standing on a boat
"The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants."

Released on the same day as the new "Avatar" is something for the kids.

SpongeBob returns to the big screen, and he's a big boy now. Well, a little taller. And being "bigger" makes SpongeBob want to set out on a voyage at sea. The trouble is, he crosses paths with the most evil pirate to sail the seas, the Flying Dutchman (voiced by Mark Hamill). Expect lots of laughs.

"The Housemaid" (December 25)
Amanda Seyfried, Paul Feig, Sydney Sweeney standing next to each other
Amanda Seyfried, Paul Feig, and Sydney Sweeney.

Directed by Paul Feig ("Bridesmaids," "A Simple Favor") and based on Freida McFadden's best-selling novel, "The Housemaid" has assembled an impressive cast to bring this popular psychological thriller about a housemaid who lives with a wealthy family to the big screen.

Sydney Sweeney plays the housemaid Millie, Amanda Seyfried stars as Nina, and Brandon Sklenar plays Andrew. Now let the games begin.

"Project Hail Mary" (March 2026)
Ryan Gosling talking into a microphone
Ryan Gosling presenting footage of "Project Hail Mary."

Amazon MGM Studios proved audiences will have more to look forward to than James Bond in the coming years by wowing CinemaCon with footage from this sci-fi movie.

Based on the novel by Andy Weir ("The Martian"), Ryan Gosling plays a teacher who finds himself recruited to go into space and save the world. Along the way he finds an alien to help him out.

Marking the first directing effort by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller since 2014's "22 Jump Street," the trailer got one of the loudest reactions at this year's CinemaCon thanks to its clever premise and Gosling's light-hearted touch as a regular guy doing extraordinary things.

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