Tom Cruise earns standing ovation as Warner Bros. dazzles CinemaCon crowd

Warner Bros. delivered a star-studded CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas on Tuesday, featuring major Hollywood names including Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Sandra Bullock and Jason Momoa as it promoted its upcoming film slate.

The nearly two-and-a-half-hour showcase included previews of J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi thriller The Great Beyond, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Digger starring Cruise, Practical Magic 2, Milly Alcock’s Supergirl, and the first seven minutes of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three.

Villeneuve described the latest Dune installment as a “thriller” that is “more intense and definitely more emotional,” while Chalamet teased a darker evolution of his character.

Cruise received a standing ovation from theater owners, marking a rare moment of celebration as he promotes his new satirical film Digger. Iñárritu called his performance “a high-wire act,” praising the actor’s commitment beyond his action-hero reputation.

Studio executives Pam Abdy and Mike DeLuca highlighted Warner Bros.’ recent box office success, stressing a mix of franchise films and original storytelling. DeLuca said, “Originality is not risky. Derivative sameness is.”

The presentation also emphasized the studio’s confidence in younger audiences, with executives pointing to growing enthusiasm among Generation Alpha and the “Letterboxd generation.”

Warner Bros. also announced Sean Baker’s upcoming film TI AMO! under its Clockwork label, along with a 2027 slate featuring brief appearances and teasers from stars including Margot Robbie, Keanu Reeves and others.

The event came amid industry debate over the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, with some filmmakers and theater groups expressing concern over consolidation, while others, including director James Cameron, voiced support.