Thescreescore – In a surprising turn of events that has sent ripples through the cinematic landscape, Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated blockbuster, Avengers: Doomsday, is set to bypass its opening weekend IMAX run in U.S. theaters. This unexpected decision places the monumental Multiverse Saga culmination in direct competition with another colossal release, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three, which will instead command all IMAX screens across the United States upon its debut.
Slated for a December 18, 2026, premiere, Avengers: Doomsday promises an unprecedented assembly of heroes and villains, with Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU as the formidable Doctor Doom. However, the film’s domestic IMAX exclusion for its initial theatrical bow marks a significant departure from typical Marvel tentpole releases. According to IMAX, Doomsday will only be available in the premium large format in select international markets, ceding the lucrative U.S. IMAX real estate entirely to Dune: Part Three.
This strategic move by IMAX is likely a key factor in Dune: Part Three‘s steadfast commitment to its December 18 release date, despite the formidable challenge of opening alongside an Avengers film. Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah had secured its spot on the calendar before Doomsday shifted its premiere from a previously planned May theatrical debut. With IMAX tickets commanding higher prices and offering an unparalleled immersive experience, this exclusivity provides a considerable advantage to the Timothée Chalamet-led sci-fi epic in the crucial opening weekend box office battle.
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While Dune: Part Three may gain an immediate edge in premium format ticket sales, analysts at thescreescore.com still anticipate Avengers: Doomsday to be an astronomical financial success. As the first Avengers installment since 2019’s Endgame, which grossed a staggering $2.7 billion worldwide, the film carries immense weight and fan expectation. Its narrative ambition, uniting long-standing Avengers with the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Wakandans, Thunderbolts, and a host of popular characters introduced post-Endgame, ensures a broad appeal that transcends specific viewing formats.
The star-studded ensemble for Avengers: Doomsday includes Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, and Letitia Wright as Shuri. Furthermore, the film is poised to introduce iconic mutant characters with Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Ian McKellen as Magneto, alongside Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards and Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm. Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi and even Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers are also among the confirmed cast, promising a truly epic crossover event. Guiding this cinematic behemoth are directors Joe and Anthony Russo, the visionary duo behind previous MCU triumphs like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame.
Fans eager for the full IMAX experience with future MCU entries can take solace in the fact that Avengers: Secret Wars, scheduled for December 17, 2027, is slated for a full IMAX release in both the U.S. and overseas markets. For now, however, the domestic opening weekend of Avengers: Doomsday will unfold on standard and other premium screens, leaving U.S. IMAX audiences to journey through the sands of Arrakis.
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