IMAX has rolled out its most ambitious year yet, announcing a slate of twenty major films headed to its premium screens in 2026—a lineup so stacked with tentpoles and auteur projects that it reads like a greatest hits compilation of Hollywood’s biggest bets.
The announcement came during the company’s investor presentation today, with IMAX clarifying that this list “does not reflect fully confirmed or complete listing of all titles planned to be played across the IMAX global network.” Translation: This blockbuster bonanza could get even bigger.
July 17: The Day Cinema Stops
If there’s a single date circled on every film executive’s calendar for 2026, it’s July 17—when Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” arrives in IMAX theaters. The filmmaker’s adaptation of Homer’s epic poem promises to deliver the kind of large-format spectacle that has made Nolan synonymous with the IMAX experience since “The Dark Knight.”
The Nolan effect appears so powerful that it may have created collateral damage: “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is notably absent from the IMAX slate, potentially locked out due to an exclusivity window for “The Odyssey.” When Nolan wants IMAX screens, Nolan gets IMAX screens—even if it means Spider-Man has to swing elsewhere.
December 18: The Ultimate Box Office Showdown
If July 17 belongs to Nolan, December 18 might break the box office entirely. That’s when two of cinema’s most anticipated sequels arrive simultaneously on IMAX screens: the Russo Brothers’ “Avengers: Doomsday” and Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part III.”
It’s an unprecedented collision of franchise juggernauts. Marvel’s latest Avengers entry represents the studio’s continued dominance of event cinema, while Villeneuve’s third “Dune” installment caps off one of the most ambitious sci-fi trilogies in decades. Both films demand to be seen on the biggest possible screens, making this counter-programming strategy either brilliant or insane—possibly both.
Also arriving November 26 is Greta Gerwig’s “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew,” Netflix’s first film to receive IMAX distribution. After “Barbie” became a cultural phenomenon, Gerwig secured the rare privilege of an IMAX release for her Chronicles of Narnia adaptation, signaling Netflix’s evolving relationship with theatrical exhibition.
The Full 2026 IMAX Lineup
January-March: Prestige and Sci-Fi
- “Mercy” (January 23)
- “The Bride” (March 6)
- “Project Hail Mary” (March 20) – Ryan Gosling stars in this Andy Weir adaptation
April-May: Franchises Everywhere
- “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” (April 3)
- “Michael” (April 24) – Michael Jackson biopic
- “Mortal Kombat II” (May 8)
- “The Mandalorian & Grogu” (May 22) – Star Wars hits theaters
June-July: Summer Blockbuster Season
- “Toy Story 5” (June 19)
- “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” (June 26) – DC Universe film
- “Minions 3” (July 1)
- “Moana” (July 10) – Live-action Disney remake
- “The Odyssey” (July 17) – Christopher Nolan
- “Flowervale Street” (August 14) – Steven Spielberg UFO film
Fall: Gaming and Auteurs
- “Resident Evil” (September 18)
- Untitled Iñárritu/Tom Cruise Project (October 2)
- “Street Fighter” (October 16)
- “Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” (November 20)
Holiday Season: The Big Guns
- “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew” (November 26) – Greta Gerwig
- “Avengers: Doomsday” (December 18) – Russo Brothers
- “Dune: Part III” (December 18) – Denis Villeneuve
What This Slate Reveals About Hollywood
The IMAX 2026 lineup offers fascinating insights into Hollywood’s current priorities and challenges:
Franchise Dominance: Sequels, reboots, and established IP dominate. Original films are rare, with Nolan’s “The Odyssey” being one of the few non-franchise titles (though adapting Homer is its own kind of IP play).
Auteur Power: The slate demonstrates that certain filmmakers—Nolan, Villeneuve, Gerwig, Spielberg, Iñárritu—can still command premium treatment. Studios bet big on director-driven visions when those directors have proven box office track records.
Gaming’s Rise: Three video game adaptations (“Super Mario Galaxy,” “Mortal Kombat II,” “Street Fighter,” “Resident Evil”) reflect gaming’s increasing importance to Hollywood’s franchise ecosystem.
Animation Remains King: Multiple Pixar, Disney, and Illumination titles showcase animation’s continued dominance of family moviegoing.
Streaming’s Theatrical Evolution: Netflix’s “Narnia” and Disney’s “The Mandalorian & Grogu” demonstrate how streaming giants are increasingly embracing theatrical releases for their biggest properties.
The Spider-Man Absence
Perhaps the most intriguing omission is “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” which had been expected to launch in summer 2026. The film’s absence from the IMAX slate suggests it may have been bumped to accommodate Nolan’s exclusivity demands or potentially delayed entirely.
This isn’t unprecedented—Nolan has historically negotiated preferential IMAX access for his films, recognizing that large-format presentation is integral to his cinematic vision. Studios generally comply because Nolan’s films perform exceptionally well in IMAX, often over-indexing compared to standard theaters.
Still, bumping Spider-Man for “The Odyssey” represents a bold bet that Nolan’s ancient Greek epic will outperform a Marvel superhero tentpole. It’s the kind of decision that only makes sense when you’re Christopher Nolan.
Gaps in the Schedule
IMAX’s current slate shows noticeable gaps in early January, February, early June, early September, and early November—windows that could accommodate additional titles as release dates firm up. These gaps suggest either strategic breathing room between major releases or placeholders for films not yet announced.
The spacing also reveals IMAX’s strategy of avoiding direct competition between major titles whenever possible. With limited screens compared to standard theaters, IMAX must carefully curate its lineup to maximize each film’s earning potential.
IMAX’s Continued Dominance
The premium exhibitor’s aggressive 2026 slate comes as IMAX continues outperforming traditional theaters. The company’s domestic box office rose 29% in Q3 2025, compared with an 11% decline for regular cinemas—proof that audiences will show up for movies when the presentation justifies the premium ticket price.
This performance gap explains why studios increasingly prioritize IMAX releases for their biggest titles. The format has become essential for event films, offering both enhanced presentation and implicit prestige. An IMAX release signals that a film is worth the extra money and effort to see in premium format.
What to Watch For
As 2026 approaches, several questions loom:
Will “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” find another release window, or has it been delayed beyond 2026?
How will “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Dune: Part III” perform when released simultaneously? Will they split the audience or drive repeat viewings?
Can Nolan’s “The Odyssey” justify its July dominance and Spider-Man’s displacement?
Will Netflix’s theatrical experiment with “Narnia” prove successful enough to become a template for future streaming-to-IMAX releases?
What projects will fill those conspicuous gaps in the release calendar?
The Verdict
IMAX’s 2026 slate represents both the best and most challenging aspects of modern Hollywood: extraordinary technical ambition and creative talent marshaled in service of mostly familiar IP. It’s a year designed to get audiences back into theaters by making those theatrical experiences genuinely unmissable.
Whether you’re drawn by Nolan’s epic ambitions, Villeneuve’s sci-fi grandeur, Gerwig’s fantasy storytelling, or simply want to see the Avengers assemble one more time, 2026 promises to deliver exactly what IMAX does best: movies that demand to be seen as big and loud as possible.
The cinema experience isn’t dead—it’s just increasingly premium, spectacular, and expensive. And if this slate is any indication, audiences are willing to pay for it.
