You Won’t Be Able to See AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY in IMAX Opening Weekend Thanks to DUNE: PART THREE

When Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters this December, it’s going to be massive. Marvel Studios isn’t exactly known for small releases, and this one is shaping up to be a full-on cinematic event.

But, if you’re planning to experience it in IMAX on opening weekend in the United States, you might want to rethink those plans.

Because Dune: Part Three got there first.

Originally, Avengers: Doomsday was set to arrive on May 1, 2026. Then Disney reshuffled its release calendar, sliding the film to December 18. That new date just happens to be the same day that Denis Villeneuve’s final chapter in his Dune trilogy lands in theaters.

That sounds like a it’ll holiday box office showdown for the ages. But, it’s created a very specific problem for Marvel fans who love their premium formats.

IMAX recently confirmed during an investor presentation that Dune: Part Three secured exclusive IMAX screening rights in the United States for its opening weekend. Since there was no competing title on that date at the time, the deal was locked in.

That means Avengers: Doomsday won’t play in IMAX domestically during its debut weekend. Internationally, it’s a different story, but in the U.S., those giant screens belong to Arrakis.

That’s a big deal. IMAX isn’t just about a larger screen. It’s about higher ticket prices, enhanced sound, and the kind of presentation studios count on to boost opening weekend totals. Losing that premium format, even briefly, could shave off some high-value revenue. It also puts Disney in an interesting position.

For months, fans have speculated whether Disney or Warner Bros. might shift their dates to avoid a head-to-head collision between Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three. Now that IMAX exclusivity is officially in play, the pressure arguably leans toward Disney. If the studio wants those IMAX dollars on opening weekend, it would have to make the move.

But don’t expect that to happen.

Disney appears fully committed to December 18. Marvel has even been running a livestream countdown on its YouTube channel for over a month and a half since the final teaser dropped. That kind of marketing momentum doesn’t suggest a studio preparing to blink.

Whether superhero fatigue is real or just a talking point, it’s hard to imagine an Avengers movie struggling to draw a crowd. Even without IMAX in the U.S. on opening weekend, Avengers: Doomsday is still going to be a monster at the box office. Fans will show up for this one.

Still, it’s wild to think that on one of the biggest movie weekends of the year, American audiences will have to choose between giant sandworms in IMAX or Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on a standard screen. That’s not a bad problem to have, but it’s definitely one nobody saw coming when those release dates first shifted.

Personally, I’ll be doing a double feature!