Imax is exploring the possibility of a sale, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, and has approached potential entertainment industry buyers.
The Journal report said the process is in its early stages and might not result in a deal. Imax shares spiked by more than 10% late on Thursday (May 21) after the report appeared.
Imax representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The premium cinema format company is at the forefront of the increasing popularity of large screen cinemagoing, playing a big role in the success of recent hits including Avatar: Fire And Ash and Project Hail Mary.
The company’s slate for 2026 includes The Odyssey, the first theatrical feature shot entirely with Imax film cameras, and Dune: Part Three.
In January, Imax reported a 2025 global box office gross of $1.28bn, 40% up on last year and a record for the company. The company also had its best year ever in North America, with a total gross of $449m; the international marketplace (excluding China), with $427m; and China, with $407m.
At an investors meeting last December, Imax chief executive Rich Gelfond said that as the premium format trend accelerates, “Imax becomes an incredibly valuable player, either as a wholly differentiated publicly traded company or as part of a larger company with the keys to unlock even greater value and are strong business worldwide.”
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