“F1: The Movie” continued to be a hit in theaters, leading Imax to a third-quarter profit. The racing drama used Imax cameras to film key action sequences and featured premium theater branding heavily in its marketing materials. “F1” grossed $97 million worldwide on IMAX screens, making it the company’s most successful release so far this year.
IMAX also got a boost from other summer and early fall hits, including the animated blockbuster “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” and horror offerings like “Weapons” and “The Conjuring: Last Rites.”
Imax revenue increased 17% year over year to $106.6 million. The company’s net income increased 48% to $22.6 million. Adjusted earnings per share ended up being 47 cents, an increase of 34% from the year-ago period. IMAX stock rose more than 2% in pre-market trading following the latest earnings report.
In addition to sharing box office revenue from its own screens, Imax licenses its technology to theater chains. The company installed 38 systems during the quarter, a decrease of 22%. However, 95 systems will be installed in 2026, up from 88 systems last year.
The company promoted a wide range of films, from scary movies to spectacular adventures to local language favorites like Japan’s original Slam Dunk, drawing crowds to the venue. The company also screened the concert film “The Grateful Dead Movie” and the 50th anniversary re-release of “Jaws” during the quarter. Historically, Imax has been associated with comic book adventures that appeal to fanboys and fangirls.
“Imax is moving into a new position and aiming for bigger things,” Imax CEO Rich Gelfond said in a statement. “Our results this quarter and year-to-date demonstrate that we are moving to a higher level and delivering results.” “We continue to exceed expectations and deliver results across the broader market, thanks in large part to our unique and diverse global content portfolio spanning Hollywood, local languages, music and more.”
