IMAX CEO: Thanksgiving Movie Slot Secured

IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond has confirmed that the company has secured an exclusive Thanksgiving release slot for 2026, signaling a continued commitment to this holiday tradition. While an initial partnership for a Narnia adaptation has shifted, Gelfond remains confident in the long-term model of exclusive holiday releases, potentially with different partners or terms.

Gelfond also commented on Disney's introduction of 'Infinity Vision' for premium large-format theaters, which began with 'Avengers: Endgame.' He characterized this as primarily a marketing initiative without creating additional screens, especially as IMAX has secured an exclusive three-week run for 'Dune 3.'

Despite recent fluctuations in IMAX's stock price, driven by investor concerns over blockbuster performance, Gelfond expressed optimism about the movie slate for the rest of 2026. He believes these worries are unnecessary and maintains confidence in the upcoming releases from major studios.