-

IMAX Soars to Top Five All-Time Global Opening with $43.6 Million Debut of James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash”

IMAX Global Network Delivers 12.6% of Worldwide Debut on Less Than 1% of Total Screens

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) soared to a $43.6 million global opening weekend with Disney/20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: Fire and Ash” — delivering the Company’s biggest opening weekend of 2025 and the fifth biggest debut in IMAX history.

Building on the record-breaking bond between James Cameron’s groundbreaking sci-fi saga and IMAX, fans turned out to experience the highly anticipated threequel in IMAX in outsized numbers; IMAX delivered 12.6% of the global debut of “Avatar: Fire and Ash” on less than 1% of total screens.

“As James Cameron continues to break new ground with Avatar, the indelible connection between IMAX and this one-of-a-kind franchise endures, with IMAX delivering an outsized share of the box office across virtually every market worldwide,” said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX. “Avatar films have historically played with longevity like few other franchises and, with a coveted ‘A’ CinemaScore, we look forward to fans enjoying ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ in IMAX throughout the holiday season and beyond.”

Around the world, IMAX delivered exceedingly strong market share for “Avatar: Fire and Ash” in its first weekend:

  • In North America, IMAX grossed $13 million — good for 14.8% of the film’s domestic debut and the fourth-highest IMAX indexing ever for a domestic opening above $85 million.
  • Internationally, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” earned another $30.6 million — the third-highest IMAX international opening of all time.
  • Numerous countries notched their biggest IMAX opening weekends ever, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Belgium, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Romania, Switzerland, and Turkey.
  • In China, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” earned $13.5 million in IMAX, which accounted for a strong 23% of the film’s overall debut in the market.

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" debuted with the widest IMAX global release of all time across 1,703 screens and is available exclusively in IMAX 3D in IMAX locations worldwide. The film will screen across the IMAX network through January in most global markets.

About IMAX Corporation

IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture, and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX systems to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, making IMAX's network among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, with additional offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As of September 30, 2025, there were 1,829 IMAX systems (1,759 commercial multiplexes, 10 commercial destinations, 60 institutional locations) operating in 89 countries and territories. Shares of IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code “1970”.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, Experience It In IMAX®, The IMAX Experience®, DMR®, Filmed For IMAX®, IMAX Live®, IMAX Enhanced® and IMAX VisionScienceTM are trademarks and trade names of the Company or its subsidiaries that are registered or otherwise protected under laws of various jurisdictions. For more information, visit www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Instagram (www.instagram.com/imax), Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/imax), X (www.twitter.com/imax), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

Contacts

Investors
Jennifer Horsley
jhorsley@imax.com

Media
Mark Jafar
mjafar@imax.com

IMAX

NYSE:IMAX

Release Versions

Contacts

Investors
Jennifer Horsley
jhorsley@imax.com

Media
Mark Jafar
mjafar@imax.com

More News From IMAX

IMAX Soars to Highest Grossing Summer Ever with $728 Million Worldwide — Up 73% Over Previous Record

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IMAX Corporation soared to its highest grossing summer ever at the global box office with $728 million in worldwide receipts from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends — up a staggering 73% over its previous record set in 2023. Powered by the historic performance of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the IMAX global network also delivered its greatest share ever of the overall box office from June through August, with 5.8% of the total on just over 1,800 screens world...

IMAX to Present at Upcoming Institutional Investor Conferences

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) today announced that the Company will participate in: the BofA Securities 2026 Media, Communications and Entertainment Conference and Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology 2026 Conference. Event: BofA Securities 2026 Media, Communications and Entertainment Conference Location: New York, NY Fireside Date: Wednesday, September 9th Fireside Time: 9:40 a.m. ET (6:40 a.m. PT) IMAX Executive: Rich Gelfond, CEO Event: Goldman Sachs Communacopi...

IMAX Soars to $47 Million Global Weekend as Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Delivers Strong Debut in China

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On the heels of a record-shattering four consecutive weekends of $50 million-plus at the global box office, IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) continued its historic summer with $47 million in worldwide receipts — powered by a $13 million opening weekend for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in China. With a record-setting $6.3 million in IMAX sneak preview grosses already banked, Universal Pictures’ mythic action epic earned a total of $19.3 million in its IMAX China debut...
Back to Newsroom