When you buy an IMAX ticket, that extra cost for the giant screen and booming sound doesn’t all go to one place. Most of it splits between the theater that shows the movie, IMAX the company that builds and runs the premium screens, movie studios that make the films, and a few other spots. Here’s how it breaks down in simple terms.
Theater owners get the biggest slice first. They pay for the ticket price minus what they owe others, covering their costs like staff, popcorn sales, and building rent. IMAX theaters charge more per ticket, often 20 to 50 percent higher than regular ones, because fans want that huge immersive view. This premium pulls in crowds for blockbusters, helping theaters make extra profit on higher attendance and snacks.
IMAX Corporation takes a cut from every ticket sold in their theaters. They own the tech for those massive screens and special projectors, so they get a share of box office money worldwide. In 2023, IMAX reported a record $1.06 billion in global box office revenue, with hits like Oppenheimer bringing in over $180 million just on IMAX screens. For more details, check out https://portersfiveforce.com/blogs/how-it-works/imax. This money funds their growth, like adding more screens and partnering with studios for exclusive releases.
Movie studios grab their portion too, based on deals with IMAX. Big films shot in IMAX format, like event movies from Marvel or animated giants such as Inside Out 2, drive ticket sales because they’re optimized for the format. Studios earn from higher prices and bigger audiences who pick IMAX over standard screens. IMAX’s expanding deals with studios help diversify their income beyond just tickets.
A small part goes to distributors and exhibitors who handle getting the film to theaters. Premium formats like IMAX boost overall cinema recovery, as people pay more for experiences they can’t get at home, according to industry stats on box office trends. See https://www.statista.com/topics/13403/cinema-attendance-recovery-drivers/ for box office figures from 2014 to 2024.
IMAX also makes money from equipment sales and leases to theaters, plus newer areas like home entertainment licensing. Their revenue keeps growing with blockbuster pipelines and global screen expansions. Learn about their business model at https://portersfiveforce.com/blogs/growth-strategy/imax.
Sources
https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/media/nyse-imax/imax/news/assessing-imax-after-a-50-rally-and-strong-premium-theater-e
https://portersfiveforce.com/blogs/how-it-works/imax
https://portersfiveforce.com/blogs/growth-strategy/imax
https://www.statista.com/topics/13403/cinema-attendance-recovery-drivers/
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/forget-imax-stock-and-look-dis-instead
https://kalkinemedia.com/us/stocks/communication/imax-nyseimax-shares-rise-on-revenue-growth-and-sector-demand
https://martini.ai/pages/research/IMAX-4925e5fe807f7bd5b0d9f6023e0c627f
