Cruise was not present at the presentation, but did narrate a film used to open the event, which focused on the studio’s commitment to releasing films on the big screen.
At the end, Cruise – sitting atop the water tower on the studio’s lot – says: “The future looks great from here.”
Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison told attendees that the studio would guarantee a 45-day theatrical release window for its films before moving them to streaming platforms.
“Once we combine with Warner Brothers, we’re going to make a minimum of 30 films annually,” Ellison said in a pledge to theatre owners. “Long live the movies.”
Paramount has launched a massive US$111b bid to take over Warner Bros, topping a rival bid from Netflix.
But many in Hollywood fear the mega-merger will lead to cuts that will forever change the film industry.
Also on Paramount’s upcoming slate is a film adaptation of the popular video game Call of Duty, due in theatres in June 2028.
CinemaCon attendees also saw early footage from Heart of the Beast, a thriller starring Brad Pitt as a military veteran who must survive a plane crash in Alaska with his combat dog.
And Johnny Depp showed up to offer a preview of Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, the latest adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens tale, in which he plays the grumpy Scrooge.
-Agence France-Presse