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IMAX’s Record Quarter, Explained

The Odyssey powered IMAX to a record US$712 million global box office between July and September, and December's slate is already selling.

By Jeff Cameron November 13, 2026 3 min read

Photo: Netflix Published 13 Nov 2026 Edited by Andrew Lovesey

Trailer: The Odyssey. Cast, where to watch and more on the title page.

For years the question hanging over the premium screen was whether audiences would keep paying extra to see a film properly. This summer answered it at scale. IMAX reported the best quarter in its history on 5 November: US$712 million in global box office for the three months to 30 September, almost double its previous quarterly record of US$372 million.

The engine was one film. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey took US$538 million on IMAX screens in the quarter alone and has passed US$550 million worldwide, which IMAX says makes it the highest grossing IMAX release of all time. Spider-Man: Brand New Day added US$58 million.

The numbers

IMAX, which keeps its principal offices in Mississauga, Ontario, and New York, reported these figures for the third quarter, against the same period of 2025:

A blonde woman stands by a lamp and window in The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth — In pictures 3

Two men in a living room, one eating at a tray table, in The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth — In pictures 3

Revenue: US$174.6 million, up 64% from US$106.7 million.
Content Solutions revenue (the share of ticket sales IMAX collects on its films): US$94 million, up 110%.
Adjusted EBITDA: US$120.9 million, up from US$51.8 million, a margin of 69.3%.
Net income: US$117.1 million, against US$22.6 million.
Adjusted earnings per share: US$2.21, up from US$0.47.

The net income figure flatters the quarter slightly. It includes the release of a US$36.7 million valuation allowance against Canadian tax assets, an accounting gain rather than ticket money. Adjusted EBITDA is the cleaner read, and it more than doubled.

Chief executive Rich Gelfond framed the period as more than a strong run of business. “What we believe we are witnessing is an awakening to the power and potential of our platform to impact global culture,” he said.

The screens behind it

The network keeps growing, if slowly. IMAX installed 32 systems in the quarter and signed 20 more, bringing the total to 1,887 worldwide. Its backlog of contracted but uninstalled systems fell to 409 from 478 a year earlier, partly because a contract restructuring in Greater China cancelled 17 locations. More premium screens are coming, but the scarcity that makes a Nolan opening feel like an event is not going away soon.

The slate ahead

IMAX points to strong presales for December’s Dune: Part Three as the start of a heavy run. The company also names Avengers: Doomsday in China, Wandering Earth 3 for Chinese New Year, and a 2027 line-up that includes Star Wars: Starfighter, the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow and Avengers: Secret Wars. The original Star Wars returns, restored, on Friday 19 February 2027, its first IMAX release, with 70mm film prints at select locations.

One title the release does not mention is the most unusual on the calendar. Netflix opens David Fincher’s The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, with Brad Pitt, in IMAX on 25 November before it streams on Netflix on 23 December. That IMAX-only run is the clearest sign yet that a streamer sees the format as a launch pad rather than a rival.

What it means for you

Premium screens are scarce and the biggest films sell them out early. For Dune: Part Three, book IMAX seats well ahead of opening weekend.
The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth is the rare Netflix film worth seeing in a cinema first: the IMAX run starts 25 November, a month before it streams.
A record quarter for premium formats gives studios more reason to hold films in cinemas longer. For how that affects home release, see how theatrical windows work.
Star Wars returns to IMAX on 19 February 2027; 70mm prints play only at select locations, so check IMAX listings before booking.