Imax reported strong first-quarter results for 2025, driven by the success of the Chinese blockbuster “Ne Zha 2.”
The company’s revenue for the three months ending in March reached $86.7 million, a 10% increase from $79.1 million in the same period last year. This figure surpassed Wall Street’s forecast of $84.23 million. Imax’s net income rose 52% year-over-year to $8.2 million. Meanwhile, adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were 13 cents, a turnaround from a loss of 15 cents per share in the first quarter of 2024.
Imax’s box office revenue hit $298 million, marking a 12% increase from last year. A key driver of this growth was “Ne Zha 2,” which became a major hit during the Chinese New Year and finished its run as Imax’s highest-grossing film ever, earning $161 million. Additionally, Imax expanded its global presence, signing contracts for 95 new and upgraded systems, a significant jump from just eight last year. The company also installed 21 new systems, a 40% increase from 2024.
Rich Gelfond, CEO of Imax, highlighted the company’s strong start to the year. “The fundamentals of our business have never been stronger,” he said. “With record global box office and strong system sales and installations in Q1, we believe we are entering a new era of growth.”
The overall box office is gradually recovering after a slow start to the year, with new releases like “A Minecraft Movie” and Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller “Sinners” attracting large audiences. Imax expects to reach a record global box office of over $1.2 billion in 2025, supported by films like “Sinners,” as well as upcoming blockbusters such as “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and “How to Train Your Dragon,” all filmed with Imax cameras.
Looking ahead, Gelfond believes Imax is well-positioned for continued growth. “We are uniquely positioned to benefit from a combination of Hollywood’s promising slate and the rise of high-budget, local language blockbusters,” he said.
Related topics:
