By George & Josh Bate
Paramount Pictures began and concluded their CinemaCon 2025 with a spotlight on their flagship Mission: Impossible franchise. With stars like Tom Cruise, Glen Powell, Channing Tatum, and more present to discuss upcoming Paramount releases, the 113 year old movie studio affirmed their commitment to the moviegoing experience by showcasing titles that will get viewers to the cinema.
Below you’ll find an overview of Paramount Pictures’ CinemaCon 2025 presentation….
Kicking off the Paramount presentation in style, four motorcycle riders rode their bikes onto the CinemaCon stage and did cool tricks while the iconic Mission: Impossible theme boomed in the background.
The Running Man
After brief discussions of titles like Scream 7 and Children of Blood and Bone, Paramount brought out director Edgar Wright and star Glen Powell to discuss their new film The Running Man.
The film, which is based on a book by Stephen King, is set in a future in which people participate in a deadly game show to see if them can survive being hunted by assassins for 30 days. If a contestant wins, they pick up a cash prize, something that Powell’s lead character desperately needs to help his sick daughter and ailing family.
“We literally just finished shooting less than a week ago,” Wright said.
Wright promised an adaptation of the Stephen King novel that is closer to the source material. “The real story in that book has never quite been told the way it was written [by Stephen King],” said Wright. Wright made mention of the fact that King’s original novel is set in 2025, which elicited a few laughs from the crowd.
The film requires much physicality from Powell, who commented, ““Probably what I get for asking Tom Cruise for advice on using a stunt doubt.” On a more serious note, Powell remarked, “I can say I’ve never worked harder on a movie in my life.”
Powell continued by explaining what kind of treat moviegoers have in store for them. “This one is the full meal,” Powell said. “You’re in for a real cinematic treat. What Edgar [Wright] has cooked up with this one is nothing short of extraordinary.”
Joining Powell and Wright on stage were Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin, who also star in the film. Brolin described his villainous character as “wonderfully maniacal,” while Domingo plays the announcer of the titular game.
Given his role in the film, Colman Domingo introduced the trailer of The Running Man to the CinemaCon crowd with great gravitas. The trailer shows Josh Brolin’s villain convincing Powell’s character to join The Running Man reality show in order to turn his life around. The footage was filled to the brim with action. Glen Powell seemingly dips into his wild side with his performance. He screams at a camera saying, “Don’t film me!,” slaps his own ass (twice), and puts the middle finger up to the camera while laughing like a maniac. Wright has handled action before but never quite so prominently as this.
The Running Man hits theaters November 7, 2025.
Smurfs
A new trailer for Smurfs was screened exclusively to the CinemaCon crowd.
Starring Rihanna as Smurfette, the trailer shows Papa Smurf kidnapped by evil wizards Razamel and Gargamel (both voiced by J.P. Karliak). Smurfette then leads the other Smurfs to the real world to save Papa Smurf.
Smurfs hits theaters on July 18, 2025.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants
The man behind the legendary voice of SpongeBob – Tom Kenny – arrived on the CinemaCon stage to discuss the new film The SpongeBob Movie; Search for Squarepants.
Mark Hamill joined Kenny on stage as he will playing the film’s villain the Flying Dutchman. During Lionsgate’s CinemaCon presentation on Tuesday, Hamill was presented to talk about his role as the villain in The Long Walk and joked that, as a villain in the new SpongeBob movie as well, he will be appealing to audiences of all ages.
Mark Hamill noted that he once guest starred on an episode of SpongeBob years ago. “I did such a good job in one episode of Season 5 of SpongeBob that they finally asked me back…If I’ve done a good job, every kid in America will soon hate me.”
A trailer for the new movie was screened exclusively to the CinemaCon crowd. As we haven’t really seen much of the original SpongeBob show, it is hard to tell how much this movie will resonate with fans of the character and franchise, although the 3D animation and blend of live-action looked impressive.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants hits theaters on December 19, 2025.
The Naked Gun
Paramount Pictures then showcased a trailer for the reboot of The Naked Gun starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson. The trailer, which was also released to the public, can be seen below.
Even with an impressive showing from the upcoming Mission: Impossible movie (which we’ll get to below), The Naked Gun was our favorite part of the Paramount presentation. The film looks hilarious and perfectly captures the sense of humor that made the Leslie Nielsen-led films so special.
The Naked Gun hits theaters on August 1, 2025.
Roofman
Channing Tatum then took the stage at CinemaCon to discuss his new film Roofman. Tatum, who is CinemaCon’s distinguished decade of achievement in film award winner, spoke glowingly about his work on the new drama from filmmaker Derek Cianfrance.
Roofman is based on the true story of a man who robbed 60 McDonald’s, went to prison, escaped from prison, and then hid out for a while in a Toys R Us.
“I know everybody’s come and out and said they have something special to show you. They lied,” Tatum joked. “I am the one who has something special to show you. That movie is Roofman, it is a really, really special movie.”
Tatum continued, “[Cianfrance has] crafted this movie that is an immensely entertaining ride, equal parts devastating, emotional and somehow hilarious.”
Tatum presented a trailer of Roofman to the CinemaCon crowd. The footage shows Tatum’s character Jeffrey Manchester wearing a ski mask while he conducts the kindest robbery you’ll ever seen. While robbing a McDonalds at gunpoint, Manchester gives an employee (played by Tony Revolori) his jacket to keep warm.
Manchester is then seen at his daughter’s birthday party when the police raid his home and arrest him. Quick edits show Manchester imprisoned and then breaking out prison, before he flees to a Toys R Us and hides out there for seemingly months on end. Surviving off stolen peanut M&Ms (which Peter Dinklage’s store manager character is concerned about), Manchester falls in love with another toy store co-worker played by Kirsten Dunst. The love story seems to get out of hand eventually as the police get closer and closer to catching Manchester.
Roofman hits theaters on October 3, 2025.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Rounding out Paramount’s presentation was Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which was showcased by none other than Tom Cruise.
Cruise exhibited his unrivaled movie star charisma on stage, captivating the crowd for quite a while as he discussed the film and his work with director Christopher McQuarrie. Before doing so, however, Cruise paid tribute to the late Val KIlmer, who passed awway at the age of 65 this week. Cruise asked the CinemaCon crowd to hold a moment of silence for his Top Gun co-star and said, “Thank you, Val. We wish you well on your next journey.”
Cruise then spoke glowingly of Christopher McQuarrie (who he fondly calls ‘McQ’). McQuarrie is the recipient of CinemaCon’s Director of the Year Award, which made it the perfect opportunity for Cruise to chronicle his relationship with McQuarrie and why he is such an accomplished filmmaker.
Cruise told an interesting story of how he brought on McQuarrie to fix Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. The film directed by Brad Bird was struggling to come together when Cruise brought on his friend and colleague McQuarrie to fix the script. On day one, McQuarrie came to set without Brad Bird or Simon Pegg even knowing that he had been brought on to rewrite the film. Quickly and almost instinctively, McQuarrie rewrote the infamous scene involving Cruise’s Ethan Hunt climbing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Cruise went on to thank McQuarrie for his perseverance in filming Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Filming was disrupted due to COVID safety protocols and two strikes, and yet McQuarrie steered the ship commendably to produce what looks to be one of the year’s best action movies.
Also releasing this summer alongside Cruise’s film is F1, a Formula One drama starring Brad Pitt. Cruise said that he is excited for F1 and that he will see it in theaters when he releases this summer. Cruise also fondly recounted how Brad PItt “is a very good driver” having “raced against him” while filming Interview of the Vampire. Pitt and Cruise would race go-carts after filming for the day concluded.
To end the presentation, Cruise and McQuarrie showed a new trailer for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. The trailer was interspersed with lots of clips from previous M:I movies, suggesting that plots from other films may play a role in this final entry. In keeping with tradition for M:I movies, the action looks sprawling and dangerous and the stakes seem high.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning hit theaters on May 23, 2025.