Imax saw revenue and operating earnings surge last quarter with numbers meeting and exceeding forecasts as the big screen exhibitor posted its best ever $1.28 billion global box office haul in 2025 and anticipates the number will grow to $1.4 billion this year. The stock popped 4% in after hours trading. Fourth quarter gross box office increased 62% year-over-year to $336.2 million, setting a new fourth quarter record anchored by Avatar: Fire and Ash. The James Cameron juggernaut released Dec. 19 contribut ...

‘Avatar: Fire And Ash’ Opens With $88 Million—Falling Behind Last ‘Avatar’ Filmhttps://t.co/laDjfFxfnc https://t.co/cMeVpfBntD ...

Core Viewpoint - Walt Disney Company is poised for a strong fiscal year with the release of highly anticipated films "Zootopia 2" and "Avatar: Fire and Ash" in late 2025, which could significantly impact Disney's stock performance and benefit associated companies like AMC Entertainment and Imax [1]. Box Office Performance - "Avatar: Fire and Ash" is projected to gross between $90 million and $105 million domestically and around $250 million to $275 million internationally during its opening weekend, leading to a total worldwide opening of approximately $340 million to $365 million [2]. - The previous films in the Avatar franchise have demonstrated strong box office staying power, with "Avatar" (2009) grossing $785.2 million domestically and $2.92 billion worldwide, and "Avatar: The Way of Water" (2022) grossing $688.5 million domestically and $2.34 billion worldwide [3][7]. Success of "Zootopia 2" - "Zootopia 2," released on November 26, has already grossed $266.2 million domestically and $1.15 billion worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2025 in less than a month [4]. - The first "Zootopia" film grossed $341.3 million domestically and $1.03 billion worldwide, indicating a strong franchise performance [4]. Fiscal Quarter Impact - Disney's first fiscal quarter will capture the success of "Zootopia 2" and the initial results from "Avatar: Fire and Ash," potentially leading to significant revenue contributions [5]. Industry Outlook - The anticipated success of "Avatar: Fire and Ash" is expected to boost movie theater stocks, particularly for AMC and Imax, as both previous Avatar films were major successes in Imax formats [6][8]. - AMC CEO Adam Aron predicts that the fourth quarter of 2025 will be the highest-grossing fourth quarter in six years, with expectations for the 2026 box office to surpass that of 2025 [10]. Future Releases - Disney's 2026 lineup includes major titles such as "Mandalorian and Grogu," "Toy Story 5," and a live-action "Moana," with "Avengers: Doomsday" set for December 2026, which is expected to be a significant box office draw [10][11].

Core Insights - Disney plans to spend $24 billion on content in fiscal 2026, an increase of $1 billion from the previous year, with a balanced allocation between sports and entertainment [1] - The company anticipates that the mix of spending will remain stable, with entertainment potentially growing faster than sports, focusing on international market expansion and local content to enhance engagement and retention [2] - Disney's content spending has decreased from approximately $30 billion in previous years as the company and other media firms adjusted their strategies in response to the streaming market [3] Spending Strategy - Disney's content expenses are expected to grow, but at a slower rate compared to revenue from the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) business, reflecting a more measured approach to content production [4] - The allocation of spending among Disney's various brands, including Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm, is based on market segment evaluations and the potential for growth, emphasizing the importance of high-quality ideas over mere financial investment [4] - A significant upcoming release is "Avatar: Fire And Ash," set for December 19, which has been described as spectacular, albeit costly to produce, indicating a continued commitment to high-quality content [4]