Sony Chief Urges Theaters to End Endless Pre-Show Ads

Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman told CinemaCon attendees that theaters should shorten the roughly 30 minutes of trailers and ads before films, arguing long pre-shows drive late arrivals and waste ad opportunities; he called for longer theatrical windows, cheaper options for price-sensitive moviegoers, and fewer quick-to-stream releases, while stressing the value of original storytelling; Rothman predicted a 2026 box office rebound but conceded attendance remains below pre-pandemic levels.