In 2025, the broader film industry saw ticket sales plateau at $8.9 billion, falling short of the pre-pandemic peak of $11.4 billion. In stark contrast, IMAX reported its strongest year on record, with revenue climbing approximately 40 percent. This trend continued into 2026, driven by major releases such as Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey, which positioned the American box office for its best performance since 2019 despite overall attendance remaining at roughly two-thirds of capacity. Demand is already surging for Dune: Part 3, with viewers booking tickets for its December premiere in IMAX.
The disparity stems from a shift toward big-budget, visually intensive films that align with IMAX’s capabilities, alongside rising costs that have elevated moviegoing to a premium experience. However, scarcity remains a challenge. Globally, IMAX operates around 1,800 screens, yet only 41 support the prestigious 70mm format, with just 32 located in North America. Consequently, some enthusiasts travel hundreds of miles to access these specialized venues.
The root of this limitation lies in manufacturing. IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond revealed to Variety that the company has not produced a new IMAX film projector in roughly five decades. The industry’s transition to digital formats resulted in lost blueprints, a shortage of components, and fading institutional expertise, making it nearly impossible to replicate the massive projectors from scratch. As a result, IMAX has relied on retrofitting legacy equipment, of which only about 90 qualified projectionists exist worldwide.
Although IMAX has added eleven 70mm theaters since 2023, the commercial success of The Odyssey, which has surpassed $346 million, indicates that expansion is necessary. For now, patrons can locate nearby venues and identify specific format capabilities through the company’s online search tool, while comprehensive lists of 70mm locations are available via industry guides.
I drove four hours last week for a 70mm showing. Totally worth it, but the scarcity makes booking stressful.
Wait, they haven’t built new projectors in fifty years? How are we still running these machines at all?
$4.5 billion on premium formats while normal screens stay empty? That is wild business strategy, honestly impressive.
So we are paying more for less choice. The 70mm shortage is a tragedy for true cinephiles everywhere.