Major US Theater Chains Endorse Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger

David Ellison secured the endorsement of the three largest movie theater chains in the United States for his $111 billion merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. AMC Entertainment, Regal, and Cinemark, which collectively control 60% of the U.S. market, backed the deal after Ellison pledged to release at least 30 movies annually in theaters.

As part of the agreement, Ellison committed to maintaining a 45-day window before movies become available digitally and a 90-day window before they hit streaming platforms for at least three years. These guarantees address long-standing industry concerns over the shrinking time between cinema premieres and home viewing.

The theater chains are now calling for an expedited resolution to an antitrust lawsuit filed by 12 state attorneys general, led by California. The states argue the merger would grant the combined entity excessive market power, allowing it to pressure theaters for a larger share of ticket sales. While the trade organization Cinema United has softened its initial opposition to encourage negotiations, it continues to express concerns regarding industry consolidation.