< PreviousAs we close out the first quarter of 2025, we are immensely enthusiastic, not only for ourselves at Amazon MGM Studios, but for our entire industry. Recent years showed our resilience and adaptability. Now, all signs point to a resurgence, with box office revenue growing and moviegoers, particularly young ones, eager to embrace the in- theater experience. There are robust film slates industry-wide, and Amazon MGM Studios is certainly no exception. Before we dig into what we have coming soon, let’s consider our last year. Challengers , from visionary director Luca Guadagnino and starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist, dazzled and entertained audiences around the world, garnering critical acclaim and accolades along the way. Next, the J.J. Abrams- produced documentary The Blue Angels took audiences’ breath away, bringing viewers into the cockpits of the legendary aviators. We also had Zoë Kravitz’ directorial debut in the wild psychological thriller Blink Twice, starring Naomi Ackie and Channing Tatum. Shortly thereafter, Nickel Boys debuted to universal acclaim. Based on Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, from Academy Award®-nominated writer- director RaMell Ross, the film was nominated for two Academy Awards®, including Best Picture. This marks the fourth consecutive year MGM has had a Best Picture nominee, following American Fiction, Women Talking, and Licorice Pizza. My Old Ass, the comedy-drama from Sundance breakout Megan Park, starring Aubrey Plaza and ascendant star Maisy Stella, earned two Film Independent Spirit Award nominations, as did The Fire Inside , the sports drama written by Academy Award® winner Barry Jenkins and directed by Academy Award® nominee Rachel Morrison. And who could forget the epic adventure-comedy Red One. With a stacked cast including Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, J.K. Simmons, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, and Lucy Liu, the film thrilled theatergoers nationwide before becoming Amazon MGM Studios’ biggest film debut ever on Prime Video. For all our success together in 2024, we expect the next year to bring us to even greater heights. On April 25th, we have the wide release of The Accountant 2 , a sequel to the 2016 hit, featuring the return of director Gavin O’Connor and writer Bill Dubuque. Returning stars include Academy Award® winners Ben Affleck and J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, and Cynthia Addai-Robinson, joined by newcomers Daniella Pineda and Allison Robertson. The film follows math savant Christian Wolff (Affleck) and his estranged, lethal brother Brax (Bernthal) as they use dubious methods to solve the murder of a Treasury agent. As they get closer to the truth, they draw the attention of some of the most ruthless killers alive — all intent on stopping them. In the fall, releasing exclusively on October 10th and expanding on the 17th, we have After The Hunt, the latest film from Academy Award®-nominated director Luca Guadagnino. Starring Academy Award® winner Julia Roberts, Academy Award® nominees Andrew Garfield and Chloë Sevigny, Ayo Edebiri, and Michael Stuhlbarg, the psychological drama follows a professor (Roberts) who finds herself at a crossroads KEVIN WILSON Head of Theatrical Distribution Amazon MGM Studios (Continued on the next page)when a student (Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of her colleagues (Garfield), as a dark secret from her past threatens to surface. Continuing this exciting year are more titles likely to hit theaters in the latter half of 2025. These include drama Is God Is, starring Academy Award® nominee Sterling K. Brown, Vivica A. Fox, Janelle Monáe, Kara Young, and Mallori Johnson, directed by Pulitzer Prize finalist Aleshea Harris and adapted from her acclaimed play; and crime comedy 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank , Frankie Shaw’s directorial debut, adapted from the popular graphic novel. Rounding out 2025, with a wide release on Christmas, is Sarah’s Oil, inspired by the true story of a driven young Black woman in 1910 Oklahoma who uncovers oil under her land. With the help of a charming wildcatter, she fights to protect it from a group of corrupt oil magnates. The drama from writer-director Cyrus Nowrasteh stars Zachary Levi, Naya Desir-Johnson, Sonequa Martin-Green, and Vincent D’Onofrio. We will carry that momentum into 2026, with three highly anticipated projects in the first quarter. January 23rd will bring Mercy, a gripping sci-fi action film from acclaimed director Timur Bekmambetov, starring Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Annabelle Wallis, Kali Reis, Chris Sullivan, and Kylie Rogers. On February 20th, we have animated action-comedy Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie, from BAFTA nominee Kyle Balda, adapted by the acclaimed Craig Mazin from Leonie Swann’s international bestseller. With a star-studded cast including Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Chris O’Dowd, Hong Chau, and Emma Thompson, the film follows a herd of intelligent sheep who set out to solve the murder of their loving shepherd. March 20th will bring Project Hail Mary , a filmed-for-IMAX action-adventure from producer Amy Pascal based on Andy Weir’s #1 bestseller, directed by Academy Award® winners Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, written by Academy Award® nominee Drew Goddard, and starring Academy Award® nominees Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller. The film sees a school-teacher-turned-astronaut (Gosling) on a space mission to save Earth. Slightly further down the road is Masters Of The Universe, from Academy Award® nominees Travis Knight and Chris Butler, starring Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Academy Award® winner Jared Leto, BAFTA winner Idris Elba, Morena Baccarin, James Purefoy, and Alison Brie. And beyond that, we have many more titles coming in 2026, of which you will get an exclusive sneak peek here at CinemaCon. Working with our valued exhibition partners, we are thrilled to bring these not-to-be- missed cinematic experiences to audiences everywhere! ( Amazon MGM Studios Continued)For more information, visit our professional site at professional.dolby.comThe Angel Guild has spoken, and the film industry is taking notice. This year, Angel Studios unveils its most ambitious slate yet, headlined by Zero A.D., a high-stakes thriller from critically acclaimed Sound of Freedom director Alejandro Monteverde, and The King of Kings , an animated epic featuring a star-studded cast. As Angel Studios continues to defy expectations, one thing is clear—the future of film belongs to the audience. Cinema is more than entertainment—it’s a shared experience, a place where stories come to life and audiences find inspiration. At Angel Studios, we are dedicated to bringing impactful, uplifting, and diverse films to theaters, proving that mid-tier and independent movies can be a game-changer for exhibitors and audiences alike. 2024 was a milestone year for Angel Studios, with a total box office of over $72 million 1 . This success is thanks to the incredible collaboration between filmmakers, exhibitors, and, most importantly, the Angel Guild—our community of fans who play a direct role in selecting and supporting our films. By working together, we have demonstrated that value-based, and community-backed stories can not only compete but thrive at the box office. Cabrini became one of the year’s biggest critical successes, earning the highest combined film score of 2024 on Rotten Tomatoes at 188 2 , beating Dune’s score of 187 and further proving the power of the Angel Guild. Guild members championed Cabrini first, ensuring it had the support it needed to reach audiences worldwide. Angel Studios has carved out a unique place in the industry, proving that compelling storytelling with purpose can bring audiences to theaters in droves. Sound of Freedom was just the beginning. Theatrical success isn’t limited to tentpole franchises—there’s an untapped audience craving authenticity, and our lineup delivers just that. Theaters have an opportunity to turn good weekends into great weekends by programming films that appeal to diverse and often underserved audiences. When exhibitors take a chance on Angel Studios releases, they aren’t just filling a slot on the schedule; they are engaging a deeply committed audience that actively champions and promotes the films they love. We trust our exhibition partners to provide showtimes that allow these audiences to come—and come again—to the big screen. The momentum continues in 2025 with a slate of films designed to inspire and entertain. This Easter, Angel Studios’ first animated biblical epic The King of Kings will bring the greatest story ever told to the big screen in a sweeping, cinematic retelling of the life of Jesus. The star-studded voice cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thermon, Mark Hamill, Pierce Brosnan, Roman Griffin Davis, featuring Forest Whitaker, with Ben Kingsley, and Oscar Isaac. This Memorial Day, Jon Avnet’s The Last Rodeo will captivate audiences with its heartfelt drama about resilience, redemption, and the enduring spirit of the American West. Neal McDonough plays a retired rodeo legend who risks it all to save his grandson. Facing his own painful past and the fears of his family, he enters a high-stakes bull-riding competition as the oldest contestant ever. Along the way, he reconciles old wounds with his estranged daughter and proves that true courage is found in the fight for family. Later in the year, Truth & Treason delivers a gripping historical thriller. In Nazi Germany, sixteen-year-old Helmuth Hübener wages a silent war against Hitler’s regime— BRANDON PURDIE EVP, Head of Global Theatrical Distribution and Brand Development, Angel Studios (Continued on back pages of The Studio Lot )CinemaCon Would Like to Thank For Their Outstanding Support and Assistance in The ColosseumVarietyAuction atCinemaCon Lunaisaveryactiveandpositive 6-year-oldkid.Herbrotherand sisterlovetoridetheirbikes,but Lunahasneverbeenabletojoin becauseherparentscouldn’tfind astore-boughttrikethatfitsher needs.Shestruggleswith Left-SidedHemiparesiswhichisa weaknessorreducedmovement ontheleftsideofthebody.With thehelpofaVarietySoCal mobilitygrant,Lunahasreceived thesupportsheneedstothrive. She’snowreadytoembraceher independenceandjoininthefun! MeetLuna TEXT25VARIETYTO76278 ORREGISTERAT 25VARIETY.GIVESMART.COM Visitvarietysocal.org/project/auction formoreinformation. Bid,Win& HelpKidsNext >