Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has helped IMAX achieve the biggest quarter in the company’s history. The film has become the highest-grossing IMAX release of all time, while the company has reported record-breaking financial results for the third quarter of 2026, covering July to September. IMAX recorded a global box office collection of $712 million during the quarter, marking a massive 90% increase over the $372 million reported during the same period last year. Its revenue rose 64% to $175 million, while net income surged to $117 million, compared with $22.6 million a year ago.
The Odyssey Sets an All-Time IMAX Box Office Record
The Odyssey alone collected more than $550 million from IMAX screens worldwide, accounting for over 30% of the film’s total theatrical earnings. This makes it the biggest IMAX release ever. The film also holds the distinction of being the first full-length feature shot entirely with IMAX film cameras. Its IMAX opening weekend generated a record $52 million, representing 20% of its global debut. The enormous response highlights the audience turnout for Nolan’s epic in the premium format and its contribution to IMAX’s historic quarter.
IMAX Expects Another Record-Breaking Year
IMAX described The Odyssey as “a historic cinematic achievement crafted entirely with IMAX technology” and said its success “marks a new era of opportunity for our company.” Following the record-breaking quarter, the company expects to comfortably surpass its earlier target of $1.4 billion in global box office collections for 2026, which would itself be a record. The film’s performance also underlines the growing appeal of premium big-screen experiences, with audiences willing to pay more for them. In India, too, premium formats are booming, as producers in Hyderabad and other cities invest in bigger and better screens, including IMAX. The Odyssey demonstrates the commercial potential of that theatrical experience.
