Imax Seeks New Thanksgiving 2026 Exclusive Release After Narnia Shift

Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s *Narnia* was originally slated for an Imax debut during Thanksgiving 2026, two weeks before its Netflix streaming launch. The film’s release has been moved to February 12 2027, leaving Imax’s exclusive Thanksgiving slot vacant and prompting the company to seek a replacement partner.

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The original agreement paired Imax with Netflix for a theatrical window, while Disney announced its Infinity Vision certification for PLF venues. Imax has secured an exclusive three-week run of *Dune 3* with Warner Bros. and Legendary, and CEO Rich Gelfond is leading the search for a new Thanksgiving partner.

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Nov 2025: *Narnia* slated for Thanksgiving 2026 Imax release. May 2026: release moved to Feb 12 2027. June 2026: Gelfond told the J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications conference the slot is “on the verge of replacing it.” Sept 2026: Disney launched Infinity Vision with *Avengers: Endgame*; Dec 2026: Disney plans Infinity Vision for *Avengers: Doomsday*; Late 2026: Imax confirmed the *Dune 3* exclusive run.

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Gelfond told investors Imax is “close” to naming a new Thanksgiving partner and remains confident the exclusive-release model will endure, even if terms change. He highlighted the *Dune 3* run as a holiday anchor while noting that Imax’s share price has fallen amid broader investor concerns about tentpole performance.

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Gelfond dismissed Disney’s Infinity Vision as a “marketing vehicle” that merely re-brands existing screens without adding capacity. He also warned that investors are overreacting to the recent stock dip, emphasizing that the company’s slate remains strong despite market volatility.

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• “Obviously it’s a good time of the year to release a movie, and I was hoping on this call to be able to announce what’s going into that slot, and we’re really close,” — Rich Gelfond, CEO, Imax

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• “We’re on the verge of replacing it,” — Rich Gelfond, CEO, Imax

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• “Longer term, I think the model that we put together will continue to exist. You know, it may be a different partner, it may be different specific terms. But I’m quite confident that we’re having an Imax exclusive release along the lines of what we talked about,” — Rich Gelfond, CEO, Imax

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• “They created kind of a marketing vehicle called Infinity Vision, which enables them to ‘brand’ their release. It’s important to note there’s no additional screens. It’s just kind of a branding move on their part,” — Rich Gelfond, CEO, Imax

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• “I think people are needlessly worried, but we’re not,” — Rich Gelfond, CEO, Imax

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Imax plans to announce the Thanksgiving 2026 partner later this year, while Disney proceeds with Infinity Vision releases of *Avengers: Endgame* and *Avengers: Doomsday*. The commercial performance of *Dune 3* and the new partner will shape Imax’s premium-format strategy for the 2026-27 holiday season.

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