The 15 Most Anticipated Movies Out of CinemaCon and Our Trip to the Sphere!

In this three-part episode of The Big Picture, hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins, joined by guest Matt Bellany, reflect on their experience at CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas, beginning with a visit to the Sphere to witness an AI-enhanced reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. While the tornado sequence was hailed as a technical marvel, the rest of the film was criticized for awkward edits and a loss of the original’s charm, sparking debate over whether such high-tech upgrades constitute true cinema or merely spectacle-driven tourism. The hosts explore broader industry trends, noting rising box office optimism and the growing influence of influencers at studio events, while praising Universal and Disney for their de-risked, franchise-savvy strategies. Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday trailer drew mixed reactions—celebrated for fan service but questioned for creative repetition. The discussion then shifts to personal and emotional anticipation, with standout excitement for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, particularly its groundbreaking Trojan horse sequence, and genre films like Whale Fall and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which promise depth beyond spectacle. However, the Mandalorian movie footage left the hosts underwhelmed, criticizing its lack of narrative cohesion, underused Grogu, and tonally jarring John Wick-style violence, ultimately questioning its purpose as a cinematic event. Despite some skepticism, the episode closes with a sense of cautious optimism about the future of cinema as an immersive, event-driven experience.