How Universal Doubled Down on Big Movies and Came Out on Top

Hollywood executives are much more accustomed to pointing a spotlight rather than occupying one. There are exceptions like CinemaCon, the annual gathering of global movie theater owners in Las Vegas. It’s here that the studio chiefs hope to dazzle exhibitors with upcoming film slates, celebrity cameos and exciting new footage. All this to say: “We promise to put butts in your seats, and buckets of popcorn in their laps.” Last month at the convention, it was nearly the end of the Universal Pictures presentation and Donna Langley — chairman of...