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Warner Bros motion picture group co-chairs and co-CEOs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy have renewed their contracts as the studio celebrates a stellar box office run in 2025 that has seen it become the first to cross $4bn at the worldwide box office this year.
Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) CEO David Zaslav noted in a memo to staff on Wednesday that nine films have debuted at number one at the global box office with hits like A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, Superman, F1 for Apple Original Films, Weapons, and Final Destination: Bloodlines, while the slate has held the number one spot for a combined total of 15 weeks.
Zaslav praised his film group co-heads for their ”unwavering leadership and commitment”. His jubilant tone comes as WBD’s stock has been on a tear since reports emerged in September that David Ellison’s Paramount might be eying an acquisition. WBD stock has climbed from around $12 prior to September 10 to as high as $19.47. By close of trading on Wednesday it was at $17.89.
2025 has delivered a stunning turnaround for film group co-heads De Luca and Abdy. Prior to the release of A Minecraft Movie in April there were question marks about their future following after a disappointing run of releases that saw Mickey 17, Alto Knights and Joker 2 underperform.
Since then there has been the succession of number one releases. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another opened top of the global and North American charts a couple of weeks ago. While it was always viewed as arguably the riskiest film on the slate despite an ensemble led by Leonardo DiCaprio, the $130m film’s $110m-and-counting box office is a record for the director and the action adventure is expected to remain in cinemas heading into what is shaping up to be a strong awards season run.
Having said all that, the studio has front-loaded its pipeline and will not release it’s next film until Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi on February 13, 2026. Next year’s slate include’s Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! starring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, and Denis Villeneuve’s third Dune film with Timothée Chalamet.
De Luca and Abdy were previously confirmed to remain in their posts when WBD splits into two companies, which Zaslav expects to happen in spring 2026.
David Zaslav’s memo appears below:
To All Motion Picture Group Team Members-
As we approach the end of 2025, I wanted to take a moment to congratulate the entire Motion Picture Group for a truly incredible year. Thanks to your talent, dedication and teamwork, our studio has achieved a milestone that hasn’t been achieved since 2019 – surpassing $4 billion at the global box office with just 11 films. Together, we’ve delivered 15 weeks at #1, seen nine films debut in the top global spot, and proudly hold three of the top ten highest grossing films worldwide. These achievements are not just numbers, but they are a testament to the creativity, passion and relentless drive that each of you brings to this work every day. The results have been nothing short of remarkable, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished together.
When I first arrived at the studio, recommitting this storied company to its theatrical roots, renewing Warner Bros. longstanding role as a home for the world’s best storytellers, and reestablishing this iconic studio to its position as an industry leader in terms of quality and box office success were among my key objectives. Bringing Mike & Pam on to lead this team was an important step to achieve those goals, and I am excited to share with you that we have re-upped their deal to enable them to continue the stellar work they and this team will do over the next several years bringing the very best movies to cinemas around the world.
Mike & Pam’s unwavering leadership and commitment to this business has been critical to our success this year, with countless box office records broken across Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, where Jesse Ehrman, Richard Brenner and their teams have been flawless. Among our greatest achievements is our balanced slate featuring global tentpoles, strategically leveraged IP from among Warner Bros. storied past, including those from DC Studios, led by Peter Safran and James Gunn, and our world-class collection of horror films, while adding new and groundbreaking original works. Next year, we will take another important step as we re-introduce new animated titles to that strategy.
We have a lot to be grateful for and much to celebrate including several of this year’s best reviewed movies, many of which have pierced the culture zeitgeist in profound ways while also delighting moviegoers around the world.
With thanks,
David
The memo from Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy appears below:
Team!
What a year we have had! We are grateful to all of you for your hard work and to David for his steadfast belief in in both of us and this team. We are so proud to stand on the shoulders of the incredible leaders who have steered Warner Bros. over its 100-year history.
We knew from our first meeting with David that his unwavering vision, leadership and resolve to be a destination for filmmakers with singular visions would lead Warner Bros. back to its founding principles of making fearless, entertaining and cinema worthy films for audiences of all ages.
We have the privilege to do this job because of the support and trust he has put in us, and in all of you. We could not be more excited to be leading this team as we introduce an exciting slate of films in the coming years and continue making every film experience an event worthy of the Warner Bros. shield.
Pam & Mike
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