Dune 3 Shatters BFI IMAX Presale Record with 33,000 Tickets Sold in 24 Hours
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three has broken the first-day presale record at London’s BFI IMAX, selling 33,000 tickets in 24 hours for £880,000. This surpasses Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which previously held the record with £750,000. The film, set nearly two decades after the previous installment, is scheduled for a December 18 release and has already sold out multiple preview screenings.
Key points
- Dune: Part Three sold 33,000 advance tickets at the BFI IMAX in 24 hours, generating £880,000 in presales.
- This figure exceeds the previous record held by The Odyssey, which earned £750,000 in its first-day presales.
- The film is being presented on a pristine IMAX 70mm print, emphasizing the British Film Institute’s commitment to celluloid.
- Dune: Part Three is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2026, following sold-out preview screenings in April and October.
- The plot follows Paul Atreides nearly two decades after the previous film, as he faces betrayal and the consequences of his reign.
Background
The 2026 box office has seen a surge in demand for premium formats like 70mm IMAX, with Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday both opening on December 18. While the summer box office set all-time revenue records, attendance numbers remain lower than pre-pandemic levels when adjusted for inflation. The momentum for Dune follows the record-breaking opening of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey, which prioritized technical spectacle over traditional marketing.
Why it matters
The presale success of Dune: Part Three underscores the continued dominance of premium format screenings in driving box office performance. It highlights the enduring appeal of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi saga and the strategic importance of IMAX 70mm presentations in capturing high-value ticket sales. This record also signals strong audience confidence in the film’s potential to compete with other major December releases.
What to watch
Dune: Part Three is scheduled to open in theaters on December 18, 2026. The film will compete directly with Avengers: Doomsday, which has already generated over $50 million in domestic presales. Further box office performance will depend on the success of its wide release and the continued demand for premium IMAX screenings.
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