AMC's Adam Aron backs David Ellison's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery

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As Hollywood has fractured over the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros.Discovery, AMC Entertainment Holdings Chief Executive Adam Aron is throwing his support behind David Ellison.The movie theater chief said he trusts that Ellison, Paramount’s CEO, will hold to his promise that the combined company will release 30 films a year — 15 each from Paramount and Warner Bros.Many industry executives and other theater operators have questioned whether that goal is realistic, particularly given the cost cuts that are expected to commence after the deal closes.

Exhibitors in particular fear that a decline in film releases will erase some of the progress made at the box office since the pandemic.“Adam Aron and AMC are big fans of David Ellison,” Aron said during an interview Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas, where he was attending the CinemaCon trade convention.“We respect his talent as a filmmaker and a movie executive, and we believe in the promises that he has made to increase the number of movies being made by Paramount and Warner Bros.”Aron added that he trusts Ellison will respect calls to keep films in theaters for 45 days before they’re available for premium purchase at home and much later, on streaming services.That strategy, known as windowing, became a more contentious issue after the pandemic when some studios began to reduce the amount of time films were in cinemas before audiences could view them at home.“We’re enthusiastic that David will fulfill his promises,” Aron said.

“And that in the end, this will prove to be a good thing for our company and our industry.”He added that he hopes current Warner Bros.film chiefs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy “continue to have the opportunity to do great work” at that studio.

The pair led Warner Bros.to 30 Oscar nominations — more than any other studio this year — and 11 Academy Awards,...