IMAX Corporation (IMAX) stock rose 3% on Friday as investors became more confident in the company’s premium offering, which has seen an increase.
IMAX is enjoying a surge in popularity and profitability as global audiences increasingly seek premium theatrical experiences.
In a year marked by the success of major releases like F1: The Movie, the company has achieved significant box office milestones.
IMAX screens accounted for over 20% of the film’s nearly $300 million global earnings in its first 10 days, despite IMAX representing less than 1% of global movie screens.
In North America, the format contributed 25% of all domestic ticket sales for the film.
This strong performance highlights IMAX’s growing market share.
Two other 2025 releases—Warner Bros’ Sinners and Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning—also crossed the 20% IMAX market share threshold, further underlining the company’s strength in the premium moviegoing segment.
According to CEO Rich Gelfond, IMAX is on track to generate a record $1.2 billion in global box office revenue this year, a 33% increase over 2024.
Wall Street analysts forecast even stronger growth in 2026, driven by a combination of new content, higher ticket prices, and global screen expansion.
Studio demand for IMAX format grows
A key factor in IMAX’s recent success is the rising number of films being shot with IMAX cameras.
“This year, we have eight movies in a row in North America that were filmed with IMAX cameras,” Gelfond said, noting that these films tend to perform better at the box office.
The enhanced visual and audio experience, coupled with filmmaker endorsements, has made IMAX a preferred format for cinematic storytelling.
Blockbusters such as Oppenheimer, Dune, and Mission: Impossible were all shot using IMAX technology, helping to drive both audience engagement and higher ticket prices.
Alicia Reese, analyst at Wedbush, noted that the more titles specifically filmed for IMAX, the greater the outperformance and profitability, with studios increasingly taking ownership of marketing campaigns for these titles.
However, this growing demand is creating scheduling challenges. The three-week exclusive window for F1: The Movie resulted in Universal’s Jurassic World Rebirth missing a domestic IMAX release, appearing only in China, and upcoming screenings in Japan.
Roth’s Eric Handler referred to this as a “high-class problem of too much content availability.”
Global expansion and local content bolster growth
While Hollywood hits are boosting domestic revenue, IMAX is also expanding internationally and leveraging local-language films in key markets like China, Japan, South Korea, and parts of Europe.
The Chinese animated feature Ne Zha 2 alone contributed nearly $170 million to IMAX’s global box office, out of its more than $2 billion total haul.
IMAX currently operates around 1,700 screens worldwide, including 400 in North America.
Gelfond revealed that the company has contracts in place to build another 500 screens, pointing to ongoing global demand. “We signed almost as many new theaters this year as we signed for the whole year last year,” he said.
With a strong release slate through 2025 and 2026 – including Superman, Fantastic Four, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Toy Story 5, and Nolan’s The Odyssey, IMAX is poised to continue capitalizing on the premium cinema trend.
Full details on growth and financial performance are expected in the company’s upcoming earnings report later this month.
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