‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Skips IMAX But Makes History in ScreenX
Marvel Studios has long relied on IMAX’s expansive screens and immersive sound systems to enhance the experience of its major crossover events. This partnership has become a staple for the franchise’s flagship releases, making any departure from it noteworthy.
In a significant shift, ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ will not be shown in IMAX theaters across the U.S. for its first three weeks. This is due to ‘Dune: Part Three’ securing an exclusive contract for IMAX’s limited domestic screens during that period, and Marvel opted not to adjust its December 18 release date.
Instead, Disney and Marvel are embracing a different format, which also marks a historic moment. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ will be the first Avengers film to screen in ScreenX theaters.
ScreenX provides a 270-degree panoramic viewing experience, extending the visuals onto additional screens along the theater’s side walls instead of limiting the image to a single central display. A newly released preview clip from a ScreenX auditorium offers fans a glimpse of how ‘Doomsday’ will utilize this expanded field of view when it premieres.
Marvel previously experimented with this immersive format earlier this year with ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ which included additional footage specifically filmed for its ScreenX release. A separate 15-second comparison clip for ‘Doomsday’ highlights the differences, showcasing a standard 2.39:1 aspect ratio shot alongside the expanded three-wall ScreenX version, revealing details on the side screens that were cropped from the traditional frame.
These extra details feature an extended view of Namor navigating a parted ocean, with the ruins of Talokan city visible in the background, as well as a broader look at the X-Mansion’s interior, showcasing more of its stained-glass architecture and visible debris.
In addition to ScreenX, Disney has launched a new certification called Infinity Vision, designed to ensure moviegoers experience large screens, bright images, and excellent sound quality across a network of certified Premium Large Format theaters. The studio will first roll out Infinity Vision with the theatrical re-release of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ in September, using it as a test ahead of ‘Doomsday’s’ December release.
It’s important to note that Infinity Vision is not a new projection technology like IMAX; rather, it serves as a consumer-facing label to help audiences identify which existing large-format auditoriums meet Disney’s standards. Ticket sales for premium formats, including Infinity Vision, ScreenX, 4DX, and RPX, began on July 20, while general ticket sales for the film opened on August 14 through Fandango.
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is set to unite the Avengers with the X-Men and Fantastic Four in live-action for the first time, featuring the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers after a seven-year hiatus. With a reported runtime of 165 minutes still subject to change, the film is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, with Thursday preview screenings anticipated the night before.
Given Marvel’s focus on enhancing the visual experience for ‘Doomsday,’ this ScreenX debut could become one of the most memorable ways to enjoy the film in theaters.
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