Paramount offers 30-film, 45-day theatre guarantees to AMC, Regal amid Warner Bros bid

MUMBAI: Paramount has offered theatre operators contractual commitments to maintain a substantial theatrical slate if its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery goes through, as the company seeks to address concerns over the deal’s potential impact on cinema operators and film output.

According to Deadline, Paramount has made a written commitment to at least one of the two largest US theatre chains, Regal, to release 30 films annually for three years. The proposed arrangement includes a 45-day exclusive theatrical window followed by a 90-day period before the films become available on streaming platforms.

Paramount is also understood to be willing to offer similar commitments to other theatre chains, with financial penalties if it fails to meet the agreed release schedule. AMC has reportedly been involved in discussions, although the company has declined to comment on whether it has received a written commitment.

The proposed agreements are part of Paramount’s broader effort to reassure exhibitors that a merger with Warner Bros Discovery would not result in a sharp reduction in theatrical releases.

Regal CEO Eduardo Acuna has backed Paramount CEO David Ellison’s commitment to maintaining theatrical output, saying the proposed measures would provide tangible commitments that could benefit the industry and be measured.

Cinema United, however, continues to oppose the merger. The organisation, which represents theatre operators across the US, has raised concerns about the potential impact of the transaction on long-term box office revenues, film production and employment.

The commitments could also support Paramount’s efforts to defend its proposed acquisition against an antitrust lawsuit brought by 12 US state attorneys general.

The trial is scheduled for March 2027. Paramount is seeking to demonstrate that the combined company would continue to produce and distribute a substantial number of films to theatres, potentially addressing concerns that the merger could reduce theatrical output.

Paramount currently has 16 films scheduled for 2027 and seven for 2028, while Warner Bros has 19 scheduled for 2027 and 15 for 2028. A combined studio would therefore have 35 films scheduled for 2027 based on current listings.

Theatre operators remain wary of promises to maintain production levels, citing the experience of Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox.

In 2016, Disney and 20th Century Fox together released 26 titles that opened in more than 2,000 locations. By 2025, their combined output had fallen to 14 wide releases, a 46 per cent decline. Combined box office also dropped from $4.29 billion in 2016 to $2.4 billion in 2025, according to Deadline.

Cinema United has argued that the Paramount-Warner Bros combination could similarly result in fewer films being produced and distributed, potentially affecting cinemas, jobs and local economies.

Paramount’s proposed theatre agreements are intended to turn Ellison’s public pledge to maintain a strong theatrical business into measurable commitments.

However, the sustainability of a 30-film annual slate will ultimately depend on the commercial performance of the films and the economics of theatrical distribution. Even with contractual guarantees, the industry’s concerns remain centred on whether the combined studio would have a long-term incentive to maintain that level of output.

For Paramount, the theatre commitments could strengthen its case against the antitrust challenge, but Cinema United’s continued opposition highlights the wider industry resistance to the proposed Warner Bros deal.