Paramount‑Warner Bros merger aims 30 films a year
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- Paramount‑Warner Bros merger is expected to close before Q4 2026, with CEO David Ellison promising a combined output of 30 films per year while keeping the studios separate.
- Domestic box office reached $2.26 billion for the Jan 1‑Apr 12 period, up 23 % year‑over‑year and the first time since 2019, per Comscore.
- Michael O’Leary of Cinema United said verbal assurances from Ellison are insufficient, recalling Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav’s unfulfilled promise of 20 films a year.
- Combined studio debt totals $79 billion, and executives argue theatrical releases—not streaming—are essential to service that debt.
- NRG outlines three output scenarios: 25 films a year could boost moviegoing; 20 films would maintain current performance; 15 films would risk lowering total box office.
- Paramount+ (and HBO Max) have about 172 million subscribers, trailing Netflix (325 M), Amazon Prime Video (200 M) and Disney+ (195 M).
Why it matters: The merger’s 30‑film slate is crucial for Paramount‑Warner Bros to generate the box‑office revenue needed to service $79 billion of debt, while exhibitors like Cinema United demand concrete release schedules to protect theater profitability. If the studios cannot meet the ambitious output, theaters risk reduced programming and lower attendance, while the studios risk defaulting on debt obligations.
