David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, reaffirmed plans to release 30 films theatrically each year following the merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The company anticipates significantly lower theatrical revenue in 2026 despite nearly doubling its film slate. Ellison described the pending acquisition as a 'powerful accelerant' to the company's strategy.
Paramount Skydance has increased its theatrical film slate from eight titles in 2025 to 15 in 2026, matching Warner Bros. Discovery's 15 films for the year, according to Ellison during the company's Q1 2026 earnings call. He stated, “The two companies are actually making 30 films to date, which I think is important to note,” adding that this number is “accelerating.” The firm remains “firmly committed” to 30 annual theatrical releases once the merger completes. Ellison noted the deal is on track to close by September 2026, pending regulatory approvals, with several state attorneys general reviewing potential challenges. Several state attorneys general have been considering whether to sue to block the deal. To fund the $111 billion acquisition, secured in late February after Netflix declined to raise its offer, Paramount Skydance secured $24 billion from sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. The combined entity will be 49.5% owned by foreign investors, including 38.5% by the three Middle Eastern funds, as disclosed in an FCC filing. The new company will serve more than 200 million subscribers across over 200 countries. Despite the expanded slate, Paramount expects “significantly lower theatrical revenue year-over-year” in 2026 due to reduced average box office per film and a tough comparison to 2025's “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” which earned nearly $600 million globally. Studio segment profitability is still projected to rise, boosted by licensing revenues from Paramount Television Studios and CBS Studios. Q1 studios revenue grew 11% to $1.3 billion, aided by “Scream 7,” which achieved franchise-best results of $122 million domestically and nearly $208 million worldwide. Upcoming releases include “Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour” on May 8, “Passenger” over Memorial Day, “Scary Movie” two weeks later, and “Jackass: Best and Last” on June 26.
