‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Now Playing in IMAX as Fans Celebrate the Experience

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ has been breaking box office records since its release, but one notable absence has been its availability on IMAX screens. That gap has finally been filled, and moviegoers are sharing their excitement about how much more immersive the experience is now that Tom Holland’s latest adventure is available in the format originally envisioned by director Destin Daniel Cretton.

The film’s box office success has been remarkable, debuting with $355 million domestically and $572 million internationally for a total of $927 million worldwide, marking the second-largest opening of 2026 so far. This achievement was primarily driven by standard theaters and other premium formats, as Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ had secured an exclusive multi-week IMAX window starting July 17, effectively sidelining ‘Brand New Day’ during its critical opening period.

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is now showing in IMAX, launching in select digital IMAX locations across North America as of August 6, following the end of ‘The Odyssey’s’ exclusive run. This decision comes in response to the film’s record-setting performance, with IMAX opting to share its North American screens between the two blockbusters rather than allowing one to dominate the format completely.

IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond addressed this decision, highlighting it as a response to the overwhelming demand for Sony’s superhero film. He stated, “Spider-Man has been one of the most bankable superheroes at the global box office for over two decades, with the franchise generating $365 million in IMAX receipts to date, and ‘Brand New Day’ is elevating that legacy with its record-breaking opening weekend. We believe more Spidey fans worldwide will want to experience his latest adventure in IMAX, and we aim to drive both new and repeat viewings for this incredible hit this year.”

This new arrangement allows both films to coexist in IMAX’s screen inventory, rather than forcing either to miss out on the format entirely. ‘The Odyssey’ retains its exclusive hold on all 41 of IMAX’s 70mm film locations globally, while ‘Brand New Day’ gains access to the wider network of digital IMAX screens. Notably, in markets like China, Japan, and South Korea, where ‘The Odyssey’ has not yet released, ‘Brand New Day’ has already been screening on IMAX, earning a combined $23 million in those regions alone.

The competition for premium large-format screens has become increasingly fierce this summer, with two major releases vying for the same limited auditoriums. In addition to IMAX, ‘Brand New Day’ has also attracted audiences through formats like ScreenX, which provides a 270-degree viewing experience using specially created footage, and 4DX, which enhances the experience with moving seats and environmental effects.

Despite launching without IMAX access during its opening weekend, ‘Brand New Day’ has outperformed ‘The Odyssey’ in nearly every aspect, surpassing Nolan’s film’s $911 million global total after just three weekends. This impressive performance ultimately compelled IMAX to reevaluate an exclusivity agreement that had only recently been publicly celebrated with Nolan’s team.

With both films now sharing space in IMAX’s premium network, audiences can finally enjoy ‘Brand New Day’ as its director intended. The ongoing competition between these two summer blockbusters is likely to influence how studios negotiate screen access in the future.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!