Spider-Man: Brand New Day Eyes $190M Debut - Without a Single US IMAX Screen

LOS ANGELES - Sony and Marvel Studios’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is tracking to deliver the biggest box-office opening of 2026 — and it is set to do so under an unusual handicap: the film will not play on a single IMAX screen in the United States during its debut weekend.

Industry tracking three weeks out has the Tom Holland-led sequel opening between $180 million and $190 million domestically when it arrives on July 31, with some forecasts suggesting it could push toward $200 million or more if momentum builds. Either way, it would give a soft summer box office a much-needed jolt.

A record in reach

If the projections hold, “Brand New Day” would claim the largest domestic opening of the year so far, overtaking Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” and its $159.6 million debut. It would also rank as the second-biggest opening in the history of Holland’s Spider-Man franchise — behind only 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which launched with a staggering $260.1 million, at the time the second-largest domestic debut ever behind “Avengers: Endgame.”

Shut out of IMAX

The catch is the format. “Brand New Day” will forgo IMAX entirely in the United States on opening weekend because Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has locked up an exclusive four-week run on those screens, beginning July 17 and extending straight through Spider-Man’s launch. IMAX gives priority to films shot natively on its cameras, and Nolan’s historical epic — reported to be the first feature shot entirely with IMAX film cameras — is precisely the kind of showcase the format is built to promote.

The contrast is striking. “The Odyssey” is tracking for an opening in the $80 million to $100 million range with every IMAX screen in North America at its disposal. “Brand New Day,” locked out of the format entirely, is projected to nearly double that. To compensate, Sony and Marvel will lean on other premium large-format screens.

Why the hype holds

Early indicators suggest the missing IMAX screens will do little to cool demand. Advance ticket sales have reportedly been the strongest for any Spider-Man film since “No Way Home,” trailing only that title, while audience surveys have ranked “Brand New Day” as the most anticipated release of the summer. The film is expected to draw especially strongly from younger male moviegoers.

The film and what’s next

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” reunites Holland’s Peter Parker with a cast that includes Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal and Mark Ruffalo. Holland’s web-slinger is due to appear next in “Avengers: Doomsday,” slated for December.

A lift for a sluggish summer

The dueling releases arrive at a useful moment for exhibitors. After a summer in which several would-be tentpoles underperformed, “Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey” are expected to anchor the tail end of July — an unusual case of two major films effectively splitting the premium-format landscape rather than competing for it. For now, the question is whether Spider-Man’s advance momentum translates into the year’s first genuine blockbuster opening.