Paramount Making Deals To Theaters For 30 Films A Year Post WBD Acquisition; Cinema United Still Anti-Merger

Paramount has reportedly given Regal a written commitment to release 30 films a year for three years, with a 45-day exclusive theatrical window and a 90-day gap before streaming, as part of its efforts to counter an antitrust lawsuit brought by 12 state attorneys general over its planned merger with Warner Bros Discovery. AMC declined to confirm whether it has received a similar commitment, though its chief executive Adam Aron has publicly backed the merger, as has Regal's boss Eduardo Acuna. The move appears designed to split exhibitors' opposition and bolster Paramount's public case ahead of a trial scheduled for March 2027.

Despite these overtures, the wider exhibition body Cinema United remains opposed to the merger, fearing reduced output, box office decline and job losses, and has been seeking further talks with Paramount chief executive David Ellison. Paramount currently has 16 films slated for 2027 and seven for 2028, against Warner Bros' 19 and 15 respectively; a merged studio would have offered 35 titles in 2027. Critics point to the 2019 Disney-Fox merger as a cautionary precedent, noting combined wide releases fell 46% and box office takings dropped 44% between 2016 and 2025, and argue market pressures could ultimately undercut any written promises regardless of Ellison's stated commitments.