$715M Sci-Fi Masterpiece’s Sequel Gets Release Update That’s a Major Threat to Its Box Office (& It’s Bad for Marvel Too)

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Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies have quickly become some of the most important science fiction films of recent years. Both films have been critically acclaimed and have earned a lot of money – Dune: Part Two alone made over $714 million worldwide. Beyond the strong story, the films are known for their grand scale and ability to fully transport audiences to the world of Arrakis. Villeneuve’s careful direction and attention to detail make the Dune films best experienced on the largest screens possible. While the next film, Dune: Part Three, is expected to continue this trend, a recent development might negatively impact how well it performs at the box office.

A recent IMAX presentation revealed a list of upcoming films planned for their premium screens, including Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three. Both movies are currently scheduled to come out on December 18, 2026. If this remains true, the competition between the two releases could negatively impact both films’ success.

Why Dune: Part Three & Avengers: Doomsday Opening on the Same Day Is Bad News

IMAX is becoming a more and more popular way to watch movies in theaters, but there aren’t many IMAX screens available nationwide. Because of this, two new films, Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, will have to share the limited number of IMAX screens, which is unusual. Typically, one major movie gets most of the IMAX screens for a few weeks before another big release comes out. Recently, for example, Paramount delayed The Running Man by a week to allow Edgar Wright’s film to play on more IMAX screens after Predator: Badlands had its run.

Splitting the number of IMAX theaters between films will likely mean lower earnings for both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, which isn’t ideal for either movie. About 20% of Dune: Part Two‘s total box office revenue came from IMAX showings, so Warner Bros. was expecting a similar, or even higher, percentage for Dune: Part Three – especially since it’s being promoted as the epic conclusion to the Dune trilogy. Disney also has high expectations for Avengers: Doomsday as they try to revitalize the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They delayed the release of both Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars until December to take advantage of the profitable holiday season and maximize ticket sales. Disney is aiming for these films to be massive hits, potentially earning over $2 billion worldwide.

For movie fans deciding between IMAX showings, Dune: Part Three might be the more popular choice. Because it’s being filmed directly with IMAX cameras, director Villeneuve is truly maximizing the potential of the format. Those who prioritize high-quality viewing experiences will likely seek out IMAX screenings of Dune to fully appreciate its scale and vision. While Avengers: Doomsday will undoubtedly look fantastic in IMAX, many viewers might simply want to see it as soon as possible, in any format, to avoid spoilers. Ultimately, preference will play a role, but Dune seems poised to deliver a more immersive IMAX experience.

Moving either Avengers: Doomsday or Dune: Part Three would be beneficial. Both films appeal to the same audiences, and rescheduling would allow each to maximize its box office potential. Separating their release dates would also give them access to all available IMAX screens. However, 2026 release dates, including IMAX slots, are filling up quickly, so a change – most likely for Dune, given Disney’s strong position around the holiday season – needs to happen soon. If the release dates remain as is, both Disney and Warner Bros. will be hoping for a similar level of success as the Barbenheimer phenomenon.

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2025-10-25 18:41