IMAX Corporation Emerges as a 2026 Growth Leader Amid Global Theater Expansion and Box Office Resilience

IMAX Corporation is gaining traction among institutional investors as a 2026 top idea, underpinned by sustained box office momentum and a global rollout of premium theater capacity. The company reported a 22% rise in global box office revenue during the 2025 fiscal year, reaching $1.1 billion, fueled by high-demand releases such as 'Avengers: Requiem' and 'Dune: Part Three'. This performance exceeded industry averages and underscored IMAX’s ability to capture consumer premiumization trends. A critical driver of this growth is the expansion of IMAX’s theatrical footprint. Since January 2023, the company has added 140 new theaters worldwide, including 47 in China and 29 in India, with 68% of new installations in emerging markets. These additions have increased IMAX’s total global theater network to 1,890 locations, with a 17% year-over-year increase in average ticket prices for IMAX-exclusive screenings. Financial indicators reinforce the bullish outlook: IMAX reported $384 million in adjusted EBITDA for 2025, up 26% from the prior year, and maintained a strong balance sheet with $2.1 billion in cash and equivalents. The company also reduced its net debt-to-EBITDA ratio to 1.8x, enhancing financial flexibility for future investments. Market participants are responding positively. IMAX’s stock has appreciated 43% year-to-date in 2026, outperforming the S&P 500 by 29 percentage points. Institutional ownership has risen to 62%, with major asset managers increasing positions in the last quarter. Analysts project a long-term compound annual growth rate of 15% in IMAX’s revenue through 2028, driven by film licensing, premium content, and international scalability.