This sounds fantastic.
CinemaCon®, the world’s largest convention for the global cinema industry and the official convention of Cinema United, announced today that it will kick off its Tuesday, April 14 studio presentations on the main stage of the Caesars Palace Colosseum with a special preview from GKIDS, further demonstrating the importance of diverse movies seen on the big screen.
GKIDS, the Academy Award®-winning curator, producer, and distributor that was acquired by TOHO in 2024, will kick off Tuesday morning’s “State of the Industry” opening presentation with exclusive sneak preview footage from the highly anticipated Godzilla Minus Zero. Director Takashi Yamazaki, who won 2023’s Academy Award® for Best Visual Effects for the box office phenom Godzilla Minus One, will take the stage at CinemaCon for the first time for a special introduction to the upcoming film. This year’s exclusive first-look of footage from Godzilla Minus Zero bookends an earlier presentation from 2024, when TOHO President Hiro Matsuoka took to the stage at CinemaCon to celebrate the historic release of Godzilla Minus One and highlight the Godzilla franchise’s 70th anniversary.
“The future strength of our industry depends on a year-round diverse slate of films that speaks to the broad range of moviegoing audiences around the world. GKIDS exemplifies a commitment to diverse moviegoing choices, and we are thrilled to be working with them,” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “Many thanks to David Jesteadt, the entire GKIDS team and the visionary filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki for their continued support of theatrical and what is sure to be an incredible show.”
“We are longtime champions of the importance of the shared theatrical experience,” said David Jesteadt, President of GKIDS. “We believe there’s no better place to kick off Yamazaki-san’s Godzilla Minus Zero than at CinemaCon with the folks who present that movie magic on the big screen: the cinema owners.”
TOHO will release Godzilla Minus Zero theatrically in Japan on Tuesday, November 3, with GKIDS set to launch a wide theatrical release across North America beginning Friday, November 6, 2026.
This news follows on the heels of the previously announced inaugural “CinemaCon Film Showcase,” which will feature Angel, Row K Entertainment and STUDIOCANAL, all on the main stage for the first time on Monday, April 13. Hosted by Cinema United, CinemaCon is the world’s premier showcase of theatrical exhibition, taking place April 13-16 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
About GKIDS
GKIDS is the Academy Award-winning curator, producer, and distributor of artist-driven, globally inspired cinema dedicated to connecting North American audiences with distinctive stories from around the world. Widely celebrated for its leadership in the “animation is film” movement, the studio has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape for feature animation in the U.S. and internationally for nearly two decades. GKIDS represents the work of many of the world’s most acclaimed animation filmmakers, including Makoto Shinkai (Your Name., Weathering With You), Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress), Tomm Moore (Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers), Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai, Wolf Children), and serves as the North American home of Japan’s legendary Studio Ghibli.
Upcoming theatrical releases include the Oscar-nominated Kokuho, a generations-spanning drama set in the world of kabuki, which has become the highest-grossing Japanese live action film of all time in its home market; the highly anticipated Godzilla Minus Zero, from the Academy Award-winning filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki; and Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, the latest Aardman feature in the beloved Oscar-nominated film series. In addition to the Oscar-nominated Little Amélie and the Character of Rain, recent theatrical releases are the box office hit Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, Mamoru Oshii’s cult classic Angel’s Egg, and the critically acclaimed All You Need Is Kill, alongside groundbreaking television series such as Dan Da Dan, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Arcane: League of Legends. @GKIDSFilms
About GODZILLA MINUS ZERO
Godzilla Minus Zero is the highly anticipated new film from director, screenwriter and with VFX by Takashi Yamazaki, who won the Academy Award® for Best Visual Effects for Godzilla Minus One. While plot details remain tightly under wraps, CinemaCon attendees can look forward to a special first look of the hotly anticipated new feature. TOHO will release Godzilla Minus Zero theatrically in Japan on Tuesday, November 3, with GKIDS set to launch a wide theatrical release across North America beginning Friday, November 6, 2026. Takashi Yamazaki returns to Godzilla as Director, Screenwriter and for VFX. The film, which is currently in production, is produced by TOHO Studios and ROBOT, with VFX from SHIROGUMI Inc.
About Cinema United
Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 31,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 80 countries worldwide. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world. For additional information, please visit cinemaunited.org. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.
About CinemaCon
CinemaCon attracts upwards of six thousand motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry – from exhibition and distribution to the equipment and concession areas – all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. The Coca-Cola Company – one of the industry’s most highly regarded and respected partners in the world of movies – and Barco – a global technology company leading in visualization, networking, and collaboration solutions – are the official co-presenting sponsors of CinemaCon 2026. For more information, visit cinemacon.com. Follow CinemaCon on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.
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