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.
An Imax representative said the company had no comment on the report.
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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