IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond Reveals Expansion Plans with 4 New 70mm Movies Slated for 2027

BY SACNILK

IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond has just released a new interview detailing the company's roadmap, which includes at least four unannounced movies slated for a 70mm release in 2027. This move follows a string of sold-out theatrical runs that have proven the massive audience appetite for authentic film projection. Gelfond's insights confirm that IMAX is no longer treating the 70mm format as a relic of the past but as a central part of its global strategy for the coming years. One of the most exciting takeaways from the interview is that IMAX currently has at least four unannounced movies slated for a 70mm release in 2027. While the specific titles remain a secret for now, this commitment shows that filmmakers are increasingly prioritizing the unique aesthetic and scale that only film can provide. This isn't just a one-off event but a growing movement that aims to give major tentpole releases the grand theatrical platform they deserve. The buzz is already building for 2029, with enthusiasts eager to see how the next wave of visionary directors will push the boundaries of this format. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) To support this growing demand, IMAX is essentially going on a scavenger hunt to increase its global capacity. Gelfond mentioned that the company is looking to track down and refurbish old 70mm projectors, with a goal of adding 10 more units to their current fleet. This would represent a 30 percent increase in capacity by the year 2027. The ultimate objective is to have roughly 75 of these specialized 70mm projectors functional across the globe. For context, the historical peak was around 102 projectors during the run of The Dark Knight Rises, so getting back toward that number would be a significant milestone for film preservation and exhibition. The expansion plan is also looking beyond North America. Gelfond expressed a clear desire to bring the 70mm experience to major markets like India and China, moving away from the saturation currently seen in the United States. He highlighted the incredible success of the IMAX 70mm screen in Melbourne, Australia, which has been recording insane numbers lately. This global interest proves that audiences everywhere are willing to seek out and pay for a premium, authentic film experience if it is made available to them. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The CEO also addressed the competition, specifically touching upon Disney's Infinity Vision. He characterized this as a clever way for Disney to market and brand their own premium releases, especially when IMAX screens are already occupied by other major studio tentpoles. While IMAX stands for the biggest cinematic events, Infinity Vision provides a dedicated branding tool for Disney's slate. This highlights how crowded the premium large format market has become, with IMAX still holding the crown for the most sought-after film experiences. Finally, the interview provided some rare transparency regarding the costs of these presentations. We now have a clear figure on the production of these massive reels: each IMAX 70mm film print costs roughly 50,000 dollars. When converted, this is approximately 48 lacs in Indian currency for a single print, and that is before you even consider the significant costs of international shipping and logistics. Despite these staggering expenses, the fact that screenings are consistently sold out for months indicates that the investment is paying off. The era of high-fidelity film projection is clearly entering a new golden age, and the roadmap for the next few years looks incredibly promising for moviegoers worldwide.

BY SACNILK

The premium screen landscape in India is about to witness its first significant shift since July. For the past 24 days, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has enjoyed an unprecedented and exclusive run on IMAX screens across the country. According to reports from Bollywood Hungama, the film has amassed roughly 167 crore in total net collections, with a massive 74 crore coming solely from IMAX shows. This historic hold was made possible by the film's extraordinary reception, but the exclusivity is finally coming to an end this Independence Day weekend. Starting Friday, August 14, The Odyssey will begin sharing the IMAX format with the Anne Hathaway-starrer, The End Of Oak Street. As reported by Bollywood Hungama, the transition is expected to be smooth as both films are being handled by the same distribution team at Warner Bros in India. The strategy involves allocating two prime-time IMAX slots to the new dinosaur-themed spectacle, while the remaining three or four daily shows will continue to be held by the Nolan directorial. This ensures that the long-standing blockbuster still remains accessible to those who missed out on the initial weeks of its premium run. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The distribution team is reportedly being quite strategic with its demands for regular 2D screens as well. Recognizing the heavy competition from the two major Hindi releases, Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2, they are keeping their requirements reasonable. For cinemas with three screens, the Hollywood newcomer is asking for just two shows, while theaters with four or more screens are expected to provide about three shows. For 4DX and IMAX formats, the requirement remains fixed at two shows per day, allowing local content to breathe during the busy holiday window. In a surprising move for moviegoers today, August 11, both The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day are expected to see a massive spike in footfalls due to the Tuesday ticket offers. For the first time since its blockbuster release, Spider-Man has joined the discounted pricing scheme. Audiences can now find tickets for the superhero film in the range of 150 to 200 rupees for regular shows, with premium PXL screens priced at roughly 250 rupees. This is a significant change from last week when the film opted out of discounts due to its peak demand. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Perhaps the most noteworthy highlight for Tuesday is the pricing for The Odyssey. While the film has previously participated in regular screen discounts, its IMAX version is being offered at reduced rates for the very first time. Most IMAX theaters are currently selling tickets between 300 and 500 rupees. This rare move has resulted in extraordinary occupancy levels for the IMAX format today, as fans rush to experience the film on the biggest screens possible at nearly half the usual price. As the market prepares for a crowded August 14, these tactical discounts are helping the current titles maintain their momentum against the upcoming wave of new releases.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 21 - Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey continues to rewrite the record books even after its release. The filmmaker's ambitious epic has achieved another remarkable milestone, with every scheduled IMAX 70mm screening at London's iconic BFI IMAX selling out through September 10, 2026. The unprecedented demand has transformed the venue into a global destination for cinephiles, with fans travelling from across the world just to experience the film in its intended format. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The BFI IMAX has confirmed that all 173 IMAX 70mm screenings scheduled across August and into early September have been completely booked. According to reports, moviegoers have flown in from countries including Singapore, Canada, and the United States specifically to watch The Odyssey on one of the world's premier IMAX screens. Such demand is virtually unheard of for a theatrical release and further highlights Christopher Nolan's ability to turn premium-format cinema into a must-see event. The sellout comes just weeks after The Odyssey shattered BFI IMAX's all-time first-day ticket sales record when advance bookings opened. Since then, the film has continued to dominate the box office worldwide, while premium-format screenings have remained in exceptionally high demand. The BFI IMAX website currently lists the entire run of IMAX 70mm screenings as sold out, with additional dates expected to be added to meet overwhelming audience interest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The Odyssey has sold out at the BFI IMAX theater in London until September It’s one of the 41 cinemas in the world that can show The Odyssey in authentic IMAX 70mm pic.twitter.com/TSSIWVv8Xg— ScreenTime (@screentime) July 21, 2026 Adding to the film's achievements, The Odyssey has also broken the BFI IMAX's opening weekend box office record, surpassing Star Wars: The Last Jedi to become the venue's biggest three-day performer ever. The accomplishment further cements Nolan's reputation as one of the few filmmakers capable of driving audiences to theatres purely for the cinematic experience, with The Odyssey proving that premium large-format exhibition remains a major attraction for movie lovers worldwide.

BY SACNILK

Christopher Nolan has once again proven that for Indian audiences, his films are more than just movies—they are high-end cinematic events. As first reported by Bollywood Hungama, his latest masterpiece, The Odyssey, is currently rewriting the record books for IMAX screenings in India, achieving numbers that have left trade analysts stunned. The film has achieved a feat that seems almost impossible on paper. It collected a massive ₹15.33 crore in just its first three days from a tiny footprint of only 34 IMAX screens across the country. To put that in perspective, while the film earned a total of ₹61.40 crore in India over its opening weekend, nearly 25 percent of that revenue came from just those 34 premium screens. The remaining 75 percent was spread across approximately 2,700 standard screens, highlighting an extraordinary demand for the premium experience despite the significantly higher ticket prices. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Let us look at the day-wise momentum that fueled this surge. On its opening Friday, July 17, the film sold over 45,700 tickets in the IMAX format alone, pulling in ₹4.72 crore with an occupancy of nearly 80 percent. Saturday saw even higher interest, reaching a peak of ₹5.36 crore with a staggering 86.3 percent occupancy. The momentum held firm on Sunday with ₹5.24 crore from nearly 50,000 ticket sales. Perhaps most impressively, the Monday hold remained rock-steady at ₹3.34 crore with a 63.1 percent occupancy, bringing the four-day IMAX total in India to ₹18.68 crore. This performance has effectively shattered the previous record held by Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which released in May 2025. The Odyssey now officially holds the highest-ever opening weekend for any IMAX release in Indian history, even outperforming locally produced big-budget spectacles in this format. This local success is part of a global trend where the film earned $52 million from 885 IMAX screens worldwide during its opening weekend. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The craze is far from over as the film heads into its second week. Trade experts note that the demand for the coming weekend is already hitting fever pitch. In many cities, bookings for the next Saturday and Sunday are filling up fast as soon as they open. For instance, Broadway Cinemas in Coimbatore has already opened its schedules until Wednesday, July 29, and many of those shows are already nearing a sell-out status well in advance. With such a powerful start, industry analysts believe The Odyssey has a very strong chance of crossing the ₹150 crore net mark in India during its lifetime run. Given the exclusive demand for the IMAX experience, it is likely that the film will maintain its hold on these premium screens for several weeks to come, potentially pushing its total even further than current projections suggest.

BY SACNILK

According to the official investor presentation, Rocking Star Yash's upcoming actioner, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, is now confirmed for an Experience it in IMAX release on March 19, 2026.This move ensures that the Geetu Mohandas directorial will be a premium visual attraction, particularly in the Indian market where Yash commands a massive large-format following. Even more significant is the inclusion of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part 1, which has been officially recognized as a Filmed For IMAX release. This prestigious distinction confirms that the film is being shot with IMAX-certified cameras to offer an expanded aspect ratio, positioning the Indian mythological epic on par with global Hollywood spectacles. The earnings call also provided a detailed look at the 2026 Hollywood schedule, revealing a major bottleneck for premium screens in late 2026. Notably, Avengers: Doomsday is confirmed to be losing its domestic (USA) IMAX exclusivity to Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three. Reports indicate that Dune 3 has secured a three-week exclusive IMAX window starting December 18, 2026, forcing the Avengers sequel to wait for a full IMAX rollout in the domestic market.Similarly, the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day is expected to face screen-sharing challenges due to a pre-existing exclusive window for the film Odyssey. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   In a landmark decision for streaming-led content, IMAX and Netflix have officially agreed on a specialized theatrical window for Greta Gerwig's The Chronicles of Narnia.The film is slated for a two-week exclusive IMAX run starting Thanksgiving 2026, followed by a total four-week theatrical window before its digital premiere on Christmas.This strategy marks a significant evolution in how IMAX partners with streamers to create eventized theatrical moments. Meanwhile, for fans concerned about the absence of certain titles like Prabhas's Varanasi from the 2027 list, the company clarified that all current slates are expected and non-exhaustive, with more titles to be added as production and distribution agreements are finalized. On the business front, IMAX reported its best financial year in history, crossing a record $1.28 billion in global box office in 2025 and projecting a rise to $1.4 billion for 2026.India remains a critical growth engine for the corporation, with flagship theater upgrades confirmed for locations like Koramangala IMAX (Bengaluru) and Palazzo IMAX (Chennai). With a global backlog of 434 system installs and over 2,300 Open Zones identified for future expansion, the platform is doubling down on its Filmed For IMAX initiative, which will feature at least 12 major releases worldwide in 2026.

BY SACNILK

In the world of global cinema, S.S. Rajamouli is no longer just a filmmaker; he is a visionary architect of spectacle. Following the historic global success of RRR, Rajamouli is now setting his sights on a new frontier—one that isn't just about the story on screen, but the screen itself.His upcoming globe-trotting adventure, officially titled Varanasi (formerly #SSMB29), starring Superstar Mahesh Babu, is being positioned as a cultural and technological inflection point for India. During a high-profile interaction, Rajamouli issued a playful yet pointed ultimatum to the tech giants in Los Angeles, sparking a viral conversation about India's theatrical infrastructure. The filmmaker's frustration centers on the lack of True IMAX screens in India—specifically those capable of the immersive 1.43:1 aspect ratio. To emphasize his point, Rajamouli shared a sentiment that has now become the rallying cry for Indian cinephiles: In India, we call something like Dharna that says like if you are not happy with someone we pitch tents outside their office and say we demand some theatre. So I am going to pitch tent outside IMAX in LA and demand them... we need big screens here in India. This isn't just a joke; it is a signal of intent from a director who refuses to let his 1,300-crore vision be compressed into standard formats. The irony of the current situation is hard to ignore. India is already IMAX's 7th largest market, with a staggering footprint growth of nearly 60% since 2020. The audience's appetite for premium large-format experiences is undeniable, yet the infrastructure lags behind the ambition. While most Indian IMAX screens are digital versions on smaller 1.90:1 displays, Rajamouli's Varanasi is being filmed specifically for the towering 1.43:1 format. For a story that spans multiple worlds—from the spiritual ghats of Varanasi to the frozen wastes of Antarctica and even the mythic Treta Yuga—the director insists that only the vertical scale of a True IMAX can do justice to the magnificent visuals. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   Perhaps the most stinging irony lies in Hyderabad, the heart of Telugu cinema. Despite producing the country's biggest blockbusters and housing a massive fan base, the city currently lacks a confirmed, top-tier IMAX screen. This gap between the industry's creative ambition and its technical infrastructure is precisely what Varanasi hopes to bridge. With a star-studded cast including Mahesh Babu as the protagonist Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini, and Prithviraj Sukumaran as the antagonist Kumbha, the film is designed for scale, myth, and immersion. Rajamouli has even noted that for the film's teaser launch, they audaciously built a custom 100-foot by 130-foot screen just to show the footage as intended. The ball is now firmly in the court of Indian exhibitors. IMAX has already responded to Rajamouli's Dharna comment with a clear we're ready, signaling that they are open for business and eager to expand.If Varanasi receives the IMAX treatment it deserves by its April 7, 2027 release, it won't just elevate one film; it will reset the expectations for how Indian blockbusters are experienced. It could finally normalize IMAX-first filmmaking in India, turning it from a premium afterthought into a standard for excellence. As Rajamouli prepares to take his fight to LA, the message is clear: Indian cinema has the vision—it's time for the theaters to provide the canvas.