Universal Pictures’ Mythic Action Epic Bows with $19.3 Million across IMAX Previews and Opening Weekend — 53% of the Film’s Chinese Box Office to Date

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 17, 2026-- 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 — good for a massive 53% of the film’s overall gross in the market on just 1% of total screens. The figures marked the biggest IMAX debut and market share ever for a Christopher Nolan film in China.

“The Odyssey continues to be an IMAX box office phenomenon without precedent. We came just shy of our fifth consecutive weekend of $50 million-plus at the global box office; prior to 2026, we’ve never had more than one $50 million weekend in an entire year,” said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX. “With its strong debut, The Odyssey has the potential to emerge as a cultural phenomenon in China as it has around the world, and we believe we have a lot of room yet to run in this market and across our global footprint.”

The weekend results lifted The Odyssey to $346.4 million grossed worldwide in IMAX — extending its formidable lead as the highest grossing IMAX release of all time — with IMAX screens accounting for 26% of the film’s global box office to date. Outside China, The Odyssey delivered another $16 million internationally and $8 million in North America. The Odyssey will continue its run on IMAX screens throughout the world through at least mid-September.

With the strong debut of The Odyssey, IMAX China has already delivered its highest-grossing August ever, putting the Company on track for one of its highest grossing summer seasons ever in China. IMAX screens accounted for a record 94% of The Odyssey sneak previews in China, with virtually every IMAX screening at or near capacity.

The Odyssey — for which IMAX developed a next-generation film camera and state-of-the-art technology enabling sync sound — is the first theatrical release shot entirely with IMAX Film Cameras. Christopher Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema collaborated with IMAX to develop The Keighley, a next-generation IMAX Film Camera, along with a new sound blimp compatible with multiple IMAX Film Cameras, which together shot a total of 2.1 million feet of IMAX film in the making of The Odyssey.

The Company’s $47 million global weekend was further buoyed by Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which delivered $4.8 million in North America and select international markets for an overall total of $53 million to date in IMAX. Additionally, Muye Wen’s Once Upon a Time in the Middle East debuted in China to $2.1 million in IMAX box office.

About IMAX Corporation

IMAX (NYSE: IMAX) is a global leader in entertainment technology, delivering immersive cinematic experiences through proprietary software, architecture, and projection systems. Filmmakers, studios, and artists worldwide use IMAX to connect with audiences at scale, making its network one of the most powerful platforms for blockbuster events and entertainment.

Headquartered in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, IMAX operates 1,876 systems across 91 countries and territories as of June 30, 2026. IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trades on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under stock code “1970.” IMAX and related marks are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. For more information, visit www.imax.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260817148459/en/

For additional information please contact:

Investors:
Jennifer Horsley
jhorsley@imax.com

Media:
comms@imax.com

Source: IMAX