Theaters Brace for Potential Blockbuster Merger: Warner Bros. Acquisition Sparks Industry Concerns

As of November 3rd, 2025, the movie theater industry is bracing for a potential crisis as Warner Bros. faces acquisition by another major Hollywood studio. Theaters, still recovering from the pandemic and streaming challenges, fear that such a merger could lead to a significant reduction in the number of films released in theaters.

Exhibitors have expressed grave concern, if not outright panic, over the possibility of a studio that grossed over $4 billion worldwide this year and provided many of the box office hits of the past six months being assimilated into another company. They believe this could result in Warner Bros.' output being dramatically curtailed, dealing a massive blow to an industry that has not yet fully recovered.

Theaters are considering legal action to block the merger, viewing it as an antitrust issue that could have severe consequences. Prior to this, the industry was feeling optimistic about the future, with Paramount's acquisition of Skydance and plans to increase its annual theatrical slate to 15 films by 2027. However, the prospect of Warner Bros. being acquired has reversed that optimism, leaving exhibitors worried about the potential impact on their businesses.