February 25, 2026, is a day that will be remembered for all time by movie enthusiasts. As of today’s date, Dune: Part Three (Dune: Messiah) has been officially given its three-week exclusive run on every single IMAX screen within the United States of America beginning on December 18, 2026. This just so happens to be the same day Avengers: Doomsday will be released in theaters. With that being said, “Dunesday” has officially transitioned from being a meme to being the start of a box office war between these two behemoth films.
Warner Bros locks IMAX exclusivity for Dune: Part Three
As you can imagine, for Dune enthusiasts worldwide, this is basically the way things are supposed to be. Denis Villeneuve has not simply made another sequel to the Dune series; rather, Villeneuve and cinematographer Linus Sandgren have shot the entire Dune: Part Three (Dune: Messiah) feature on next-generation 15/70mm IMAX cameras. This is not a movie being converted to IMAX; rather, it was built for it. The date was secured nearly one year ago by Warner Bros., and IMAX will be honoring this original deal. First-come, first-served. The spice must flow on the biggest screens imaginable!
As for the Avengers side of things, well… this is huge!
Marvel Studios has dominated the IMAX screens within the United States during the opening weekend for each and every one of their films. This time around, however, Avengers: Doomsday, despite featuring the return of Robert Downey Jr. as the infamous Doctor Doom, will not be receiving a single IMAX screening within the United States during its opening frame. The international release will feature IMAX showtimes; however, it should be expected that millions of dollars will be shaved off of its opening weekend gross due to this absence. Expect Dolby Cinema to be heavily promoted for this release.
As of today, it appears that Dune: Part Three (Dune: Messiah), despite being the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Dune: Part Two (Dune: Part Two) will be receiving its three-week exclusive run on every single IMAX screen within the United States of America beginning on December 18, 2026. Avengers: Doomsday will be receiving no such privilege during its opening frame within the United States of America.
Dunesday will be more than just a battle between these two behemoth films; it will be a battle of ideologies.
