By India McCarty
Streaming movies are no longer a priority for Paramount following their recent merger with Skydance.
“One of our biggest priorities is restoring Paramount as the No. 1 destination for the most talented artists and filmmakers in the world,” David Ellison, the studio’s new chairman and CEO said at a recent event. “Great filmmakers make great movies.”
Paramount president Jeff Shell agreed, telling Variety he will continue being an advocate for strong theatrical releases, just as he was while helming NBCUniversal.
“I don’t think each movie is created equal,” he explained to the outlet. “Different movies deserve different windows. Theatrical is critical and has to be part of the equation, but we’re going to be much more diligent about looking at the value.”
Ellison added that the “debate was over” concerning the overall impact of straight-to-streaming releases versus theatrical releases.
Paramount’s new head of streaming, Cindy Holland, made it clear at a recent press conference, saying, “Streaming movies are not a priority for me.”
The leadership team at Skydance’s Paramount has no interest in original streaming movies and is doubling down on robust theatrical releases.
Paramount’s new streaming chief, Cindy Holland, put it bluntly: “Streaming movies are not a priority for me.”https://t.co/VlOFzhkcTK
— Variety (@Variety) August 13, 2025
Film co-chief Dana Goldberg also opened up about what kinds of movies Paramount is looking to bring to theaters, saying, “We’re going to run towards [family movies],” such as THE GOONIES and NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM.
Related: Paramount+ Just Signaled a Major Rebrand
“Legacy media kind of swam out to the middle of the lake, but wasn’t exactly sure how to get to the other side. Some people wanted to go back and burn the boats,” Ellison said, adding that he plans to “get to the other side of the lake,” per The Hollywood Reporter
While streaming movies are not important in the studio’s plan to get Paramount back on top, that doesn’t mean they’re abandoning streaming all together. Instead, Paramount is refocusing their efforts on their TV shows.
“We want to entertain all audiences around the world on Paramount+,” Holland shared via THR, explaining that Paramount+ needs to revamp their streaming selection. “We’re seeking to expand that and make sure that we’re offering programming for everybody, not just occasionally and not just for the one thing they want to come back for.”
Ellison pointed to behind-the-scenes stars like YELLOWSTONE creator Tyler Sheridan. He has created a number of hit shows for the streamer, including MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN, TULSA KING, LANDMAN, and YELLOWSTONE spin-offs 1883 and 1923.
“He is literally a singular genius with a perfect track record,” Ellison said. “If we can make this his home as long as he wants to tell stories, we want to do that.”
Paramount’s new plan to focus on boosting movies at theaters, while also pushing high-quality content on their streaming service, is a smart move as the studio hopes to get back on top in Hollywood.
Read Next: What the Paramount-Skydance Merger Means for You
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