U.S. Moviegoing Rebounds in 2026 as 3-Hour The Odyssey Fuels IMAX Boom
Updated
Updated · Jacobin magazine · Aug 11
U.S. Moviegoing Rebounds in 2026 as 3-Hour The Odyssey Fuels IMAX Boom
1 articles · Updated · Jacobin magazine · Aug 11
Summary
2026 has brought a broad moviegoing revival in the U.S., with audiences favoring original films such as The Drama and Obsession over franchise releases including Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, Moana and Supergirl.
The 3-hour The Odyssey has become the clearest symbol of that shift, drawing sold-out 2 a.m. screenings and pushing filmmaking back toward the center of pop culture.
IMAX is benefiting alongside Nolan's blockbuster, with the format pitched as a theater-only visual experience that outclasses even high-end 4K home viewing.
Repertory theaters are also strengthening the rebound, helping independent cinemas survive while exposing younger audiences to classic and foreign films through events like 70mm screenings and filmmaker appearances.
Together, the trends suggest a 2026 cinema renaissance built less on familiar IP than on original work, communal theatrical viewing and premium large-format presentation.