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IMAX-70mm blockbuster opens $51.2 M, 2026’s biggest

7/18/2026

27 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The film opened in the United States with a $51.2 million Friday debut, the biggest live-action opening of 2026.
Produced for $250 million, it targets a domestic opening of $120 million-plus, is the first narrative feature shot on IMAX 70 mm, and saw 95 % of its IMAX screenings sell out within five weeks.
The film, which earned a 95 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating and an A CinemaScore, is projected to gross $257.8 million this weekend.

History

Historical Context

In December 2009 James Cameron’s Avatar, made for $237 million, became the first film to exceed $2 billion and drove worldwide 3-D IMAX adoption. The blockbuster’s $2.9 billion haul and award sweep showed the profit potential of immersive formats. Building on that trend, Disney and Warner Bros. launched a 2026 live-action epic shot on IMAX 70 mm, opening with $51.2 million in the U.S.

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Story summary

The film opened in the United States with a $51.2 million Friday debut, the biggest live-action opening of 2026.
Produced for $250 million, it targets a domestic opening of $120 million-plus, is the first narrative feature shot on IMAX 70 mm, and saw 95 % of its IMAX screenings sell out within five weeks.
The film, which earned a 95 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating and an A CinemaScore, is projected to gross $257.8 million this weekend.

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