Avengers: Doomsday Projected to Top 2026 Box Office Despite IMAX Loss

For long-suffering movie theaters, salvation always seems to be just around the corner. In 2026, many of the biggest film franchises in history are returning to screens, but none is generating more early confidence than Avengers: Doomsday.

A new survey of more than 700 industry experts, cited by Bloomberg, projects the Marvel Studios blockbuster will be the highest-grossing film of the year.

Disney executives are reportedly pleased with early footage and believe the film can cross $1 billion globally, even without an IMAX release.

That projection positions Doomsday as the early frontrunner in a crowded slate of franchise tentpoles that includes The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Toy Story 5, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

IMAX Standoff with Dune: Part Three

Avengers: Doomsday is set to release on December 18, 2026 — the same day as Dune: Part Three, which has secured IMAX exclusivity for its opening weekend.

The scheduling conflict means Doomsday will not be shown in IMAX theaters, sparking online discussion about how both films will perform at the box office.

Despite lacking IMAX support, Disney plans to heavily promote other premium formats, including Dolby, D-Box, and 4DX.

One Disney insider told TheWrap that, even without IMAX exclusivity, Doomsday should be able to generate significant revenue.

The company is drawing inspiration from successful films like Barbie and the live-action Lilo & Stitch, both of which crossed the $1 billion threshold without IMAX.

Massive Cast and 2026 Outlook

Details about Avengers: Doomsday remain scarce, but the film is set to feature a huge ensemble.

Confirmed cast members include Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby’s Invisible Woman, Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Letitia Wright’s Shuri, and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man.

Several X-Men characters are also returning, including Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier and Ian McKellen’s Magneto.

Since COVID upended the movie business, the box office has never been harder to predict.

Last year, Marvel — once the most consistent hit-maker in Hollywood — saw multiple hyped-up superhero movies fail to connect with audiences, while auteur-driven films like Sinners and anime offerings like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle became unlikely successes.

The 2026 slate presents a critical test for theaters seeking recovery, with Avengers: Doomsday leading projections but facing unprecedented competition and format limitations.