Record for IMAX in 2025: it had a global box office of $1,280 million, the best year in its history

Who said that cinema was a thing of the past?

IMAX closes 2025 as the best year in its history with a collection record of $1.28 billion dollars in the world box office.

IMAX theater offerings saw growth overall, with English-language projects dominating, while two of its five highest-grossing films of the year —Ne Zha 2 ($167 million dollars) and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle ($95.9 million dollars) — are productions that come from outside of Hollywood. Ne Zha 2 is number one in IMAX box office.

The other three are Avatar: Fire and Ash ($112 million dollars), F1: The Movie ($97.6 mdd), y Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning ($75.8 million dollars).

TOP 5 HIGHEST GROSSING FILMS IN IMAX IN 2025:

1. Ne Zha 2 ($167 mdd)
2. Avatar: Fire and Ash ($112 mdd)
3. F1: The Movie ($97.6 mdd)
4. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle ($95.9 mdd)
5. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning ($75.8 mdd)

SOME HIGHLIGHTS:

• IMAX increased its global box office year-on-year by 40%, surpassing its previous record, set in 2019, by 13%.
• He had his highest grossing year at the box office in the three main geographies: North America, China and the rest of the international markets, and in a total of 35 countries and territories worldwide.
• Best domestic box office with $449 million dollarsup 14% from the previous record set in 2023.
• Best international box office in the rest of the world with $427 million, 12% more than the previous record set in 2023.
• Best box office in China with $407 million dollarsup % from the previous record set in 2019.
• Largest global market share in history, with 3.8% of the global box office in just over 1,800 theaters worldwide.
• Box office record in 35 countries and territories around the world, including notable performances in Japan, Germany, India, Australia and Southeast Asia.
• The Longest programming in IMAX historycon 122 new releases around the world. The largest selection of local language films in IMAX history, with 67 international films released in 14 countries around the world.

The metrics are expected to continue growing in 2026, with an estimated collection of $1.4 billion dollars worldwide, considering the promising release schedule that awaits us this year, according to information shared by its official site. We will know the official figures for 2026 in twelve months.

Some of the high-profile projects of 2026 include The Mandalorian and Grogu by Jon Favreau; The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan, as the first film to be filmed entirely with IMAX cameras; Narnia by Greta Gerwig, which being a Netflix production will only have a limited release in American cinemas, and that release will be in IMAX theaters on Thanksgiving; and Dune: Part Three by Denis Villeneuve.

Other feature films that are being particularly anticipated by audiences are Michael, Project Hail Mary, The Super Mario Galaxy Moviey Toy Story 5.