This holiday season, Disney’s Moana 2 and Mufasa: The Lion King will be featured in IMAX theaters. Moana 2 is scheduled to open on November 27, coinciding with the traditional Disney release window before Thanksgiving, while the prequel Mufasa: The Lion King will premiere on December 20.
The 2019 release of The Lion King generated $63 million from IMAX screens worldwide, contributing to its impressive $1.66 billion global box office earnings. However, there will be some screen-sharing during the Thanksgiving period, as Paramount’s Gladiator II is set to release on November 22 and is already heavily promoting its IMAX format. Universal’s Wicked will also debut on the same day, complicating the IMAX landscape.
On December 20, Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will also hit theaters, adding to the competition. Upcoming films shot in IMAX include Warner Bros.’ Joker: Folie à Deux, releasing on October 4, and Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance, set for October 25.
IMAX recently reported one of its highest-grossing third quarters, with over $225 million at the global box office through September 16. This success has been bolstered by hits such as Disney/Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine, which earned $84 million in IMAX worldwide, making it the fifth highest-grossing Marvel title in that format. Additionally, Alien: Romulus has become the highest-grossing horror film of all time in IMAX, with $40 million in earnings.
