If you thought the Avengers were gearing up to assemble for an epic opening weekend for Avengers: Doomsday in IMAX, then think again: Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah (also known as Dune: Part Three) got there first.
Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday was originally slated for a May 1 theatrical debut, but was eventually moved to a Dec. 18 release — the same date as Dune: Part Three. While there were murmurs among fans about whether either Doomsday or Dune would be moved, Warner Bros. has stuck to its guns. As revealed by IMAX, the third part of the Timothée Chalamet–led adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune has secured IMAX exclusivity for its opening weekend across all US IMAX screens. Doomsday, on the other hand, will only play in IMAX theaters for select international markets.
Because many theaters have only a single IMAX screen, Doomsday’s failure to secure IMAX for its U.S. (Stateside) opening is a major loss for Marvel. IMAX tickets cost significantly more due to superior picture and sound quality and higher operating costs, meaning Dune: Part Three is likely to rake in more cash during its opening weekend, thus giving it a major advantage over Doomsday.
However, Avengers: Doomsday will still be showing in IMAX internationally, meaning it can get a revenue boost in international markets. Most importantly, it’s the very first Avengers film since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which was incredibly well-received and grossed $2.7 billion worldwide.
While it’s undoubtedly true that some fans have grown tired of superhero movies, there are still many others who are hyped for what’s next for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Couple that with the fact that Doomsday is bringing the crossover of all crossovers by uniting every superhero team, including the Thunderbolts, X-Men, Avengers, Wakandan heroes, and the Fantastic Four, and you have a team-up that rivals the assembly of heroes against Thanos in Endgame.
Whether it’ll be enough to beat Paul Atreides and his fellow Fremen at the box office, however, remains to be seen.
