Cinema United Urges Settlement in Paramount's $110 Billion Warner Deal as Box Office Tops $6.8 Billion
Updated
Updated · Fox Business · Aug 18
Cinema United Urges Settlement in Paramount's $110 Billion Warner Deal as Box Office Tops $6.8 Billion
3 articles · Updated · Fox Business · Aug 18
Summary
Cinema United, representing 30,000 U.S. screens, formally reversed course and urged California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Paramount CEO David Ellison to negotiate a settlement over Paramount's $110 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition.
Nearly 20% stronger domestic box-office receipts — $6.8 billion so far in 2026 — drove the shift, with the group warning that prolonged litigation could disrupt the industry's recovery unless theaters get enforceable protections.
Those safeguards include preserving wide theatrical releases and exclusive windows, blocking higher film-rental terms, preventing onerous booking conditions and guaranteeing access to both companies' film libraries.
Bonta welcomed theater owners' views but said the merger would still violate antitrust law, cost jobs, cut wages and raise prices, while Paramount argues delay is already harming entertainment workers and facing a $7 million daily fee after Sept. 30.
Cinemark has joined AMC and Regal in backing a faster resolution, and with unions also pressing for talks or a quicker trial, the antitrust case is still set to begin on March 2, 2027.