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Imax Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 July 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted and adjusted EPS rose: Diluted EPS was $0.27 against $0.20. Adjusted EPS was $0.43 against $0.26, which the release describes as a record second-quarter figure. Source
  • The Odyssey opened to $52 million: The Odyssey, shot with IMAX film cameras, had a $52 million opening weekend, which the release says was 20% of global box office. Management called it the biggest IMAX opening in like-for-like markets. Source
  • Holds and presales point to historic run: Management said holds were record-breaking, with the company's highest-grossing Monday and Tuesday ever, and about $60 million in presales for later showtimes. Source
  • Technology Products and Services revenue up 16%: Technology Products and Services revenue was $64.8 million, up 16%, and gross margin was $39.0 million, up 29%. Growth came from higher systems sales, rental revenues and amendments and renewals of existing agreements. Source
  • Backlog down to 421 systems: Backlog ended the quarter at 421 systems, against 501 a year earlier. Sales arrangement backlog rose to 234 from 165, while traditional JRSA backlog fell to 182 from 242 and hybrid JRSA to 5 from 94. Source
  • Six-month operating cash flow up 19%: Net cash from operations for the first half was $36 million, up 19%. The company attributed this to higher operating profits and improved working capital from higher collections. Source
  • Buybacks resumed in second quarter: The company repurchased 404,866 shares at an average $33.91, for $13.7 million. The first-quarter release said no shares were repurchased in that quarter.
  • Second-half slate follows The Odyssey: After The Odyssey, the second-half slate culminates with Dune: Part Three and includes Spider-Man: Brand New Day in China, Japan and South Korea, plus multiple local-language blockbusters. Source

“is emerging as a transformational event for IMAX, as the purest and most complete expression yet of the power of our global platform,”

Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Box office presales SourceFuture showtimes of The Odysseyapproximately $60 million
Global box officeFull year 2026$1.4 billion

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Restructured Greater China contracts cancelled backlog for 17 system locations, which the release describes as mutually no longer beneficial to IMAX and its exhibition customers. Source
  • New: Share repurchases resumed in the second quarter, after none in the first quarter: 404,866 shares at an average $33.91. Source

Results and profitability

  • Revenue rose 12% in quarter: Revenue was $102.8 million, up from $91.7 million. Gross margin was $62.9 million, up 17%, and gross margin percentage rose to 61.2% from 58.5%. Source
  • Diluted and adjusted EPS rose: Diluted EPS was $0.27 against $0.20. Adjusted EPS was $0.43 against $0.26, which the release describes as a record second-quarter figure. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin widened to 46.6%: Total Adjusted EBITDA was $48.0 million, up 23%, with a margin of 46.6% against 42.6%. Net income margin was 15.5% against 13.3%. Source
  • Six-month net income and EPS rose: Six-month revenue was $184.2 million, up 3%, and net income was $22.0 million, up 8%. Six-month diluted EPS was $0.35, up 40%, while six-month gross margin fell 90 basis points to 59.0%. Source
  • Operating income rose to $20.8 million: Income from operations was $20.8 million against $14.3 million a year earlier. Net income attributable to common shareholders was $15.4 million, up 36%. Source

Box office and The Odyssey

  • The Odyssey opened to $52 million: The Odyssey, shot with IMAX film cameras, had a $52 million opening weekend, which the release says was 20% of global box office. Management called it the biggest IMAX opening in like-for-like markets. Source
  • Holds and presales point to historic run: Management said holds were record-breaking, with the company's highest-grossing Monday and Tuesday ever, and about $60 million in presales for later showtimes. Source
  • Second-quarter global box office up 1%: Global box office was $285 million, up 1%, the highest second quarter since 2019. International excluding Mainland China rose 24%. Michael, The Mandalorian & Grogu and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie were the top titles. Source
  • Highest international share of any major release: Management said The Odyssey delivered the highest IMAX international market share in like-for-like markets of any major release in the company's history. Source

“In its debut, The Odyssey achieved the biggest IMAX opening weekend of all time in like-for-like markets”

Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX

Segments and revenue lines

  • Technology Products and Services revenue up 16%: Technology Products and Services revenue was $64.8 million, up 16%, and gross margin was $39.0 million, up 29%. Growth came from higher systems sales, rental revenues and amendments and renewals of existing agreements. Source
  • Content Solutions revenue edged up 2%: Content Solutions revenue was $34.7 million, up 2%, and gross margin was $21.9 million, down 2%, a 63% margin against 66%. The release attributes the margin to its diversified global model. Source
  • Six-month Content Solutions down, Technology up: Six-month Content Solutions revenue was $66.1 million, down 3%, with gross margin of $40.2 million, down 13%. Six-month Technology Products and Services revenue was $113.1 million, up 7%, with gross margin of $65.9 million, up 11%. Source
  • All Other revenue rose: All Other, which includes the Streaming and Consumer Technology business, had revenue of $3.3 million, up from $2.1 million, and gross margin of $2.0 million, up from $1.0 million. Source

Network installs and backlog

  • 38 systems installed, highest Q2 in decade: The company installed 38 systems against 36 a year earlier, including 18 under sales arrangements against 13. The release calls 38 the highest second-quarter count in a decade. Source
  • International network expansion of 9%: Total system network was 1,876 at June 30, against 1,821 a year earlier. Commercial multiplex systems rose to 1,809. International excluding China network expansion was 9% year-over-year. Source
  • Backlog down to 421 systems: Backlog ended the quarter at 421 systems, against 501 a year earlier. Sales arrangement backlog rose to 234 from 165, while traditional JRSA backlog fell to 182 from 242 and hybrid JRSA to 5 from 94. Source
  • Greater China backlog cancelled for 17 locations: Restructuring of certain Greater China contracts cancelled backlog for 17 system locations. The release says the cancellation was deemed mutually no longer beneficial to IMAX and its exhibition customers. Source
  • Signings up in quarter, down year to date: System signings were 36 in the second quarter, against 28. Six-month signings were 59, against 123, a comparison that includes 70 traditional JRSA systems with AMC in 2025. Source

“look forward to building on our momentum to deliver global box office growth, network expansion worldwide”

Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX

Costs, tax and non-controlling interests

  • SG&A slightly lower in quarter: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $34.5 million, against $35.3 million. Six-month SG&A was $67.0 million, against $68.8 million. Source
  • Image enhancement costs rose: Costs of image enhancement and maintenance services were $22.6 million, against $21.4 million. Technology sales costs were $9.6 million, against $9.4 million. Source
  • Credit losses and restructuring rose: Credit loss expense was $1.5 million, against a $0.2 million reversal a year earlier. Restructuring charges and other impairments were $2.3 million, against $0.8 million. Source
  • Income tax expense rose: Income tax expense was $3.5 million, against $1.2 million. Six-month income tax expense was $5.9 million, against $8.5 million. Source
  • Minority share of net income fell: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests was $0.5 million, against $1.0 million in the quarter, and $2.4 million, against $6.8 million, for six months. Source

Cash and liquidity

  • Six-month operating cash flow up 19%: Net cash from operations for the first half was $36 million, up 19%. The company attributed this to higher operating profits and improved working capital from higher collections. Source
  • Free cash flow rose to $23.0 million: Free cash flow for six months was $23.0 million, against $8.1 million. Free cash flow before growth capex was $31.7 million, against $22.8 million. Growth capex was $8.7 million, against $14.7 million. Source
  • Liquidity of $551 million at June 30: Available liquidity was $551 million: $160 million of cash, $334 million of revolver capacity and $57 million under IMAX China facilities. Total debt was $292 million, down from $300 million at March 31. Source

Share count and buybacks

  • Buybacks resumed in second quarter: The company repurchased 404,866 shares at an average $33.91, for $13.7 million. The first-quarter release said no shares were repurchased in that quarter.
  • Repurchase authority $237 million left: Total repurchase authority was $500.0 million, with about $237.0 million available at June 30, against $250.7 million available at March 31. Source
  • Program extension dates differ across releases: The second-quarter release gives the program extension as through June 30, 2026. The first-quarter release gave June 30, 2027 for the same extension. Source
  • Diluted share count rose: Weighted average diluted shares were 56.6 million, against 55.2 million. Basic shares were 55.0 million, against 53.8 million. Source
  • Shares outstanding rose to 54.8 million: Shares issued and outstanding were 54,842,114 at June 30, up from 53,921,676 at December 31, 2025. Source

Second-half slate and strategy

  • Second-half slate follows The Odyssey: After The Odyssey, the second-half slate culminates with Dune: Part Three and includes Spider-Man: Brand New Day in China, Japan and South Korea, plus multiple local-language blockbusters. Source
  • Cruise and Netflix titles listed: The release lists Tom Cruise's Digger and an IMAX-exclusive theatrical release of Netflix's Cliff Booth project in the second half. Source
  • Odyssey effects partly unpredictable: Management said The Odyssey has the potential to affect the business in many clear ways and in ways it cannot yet predict, as its success reverberates across the creative community. Source

People and leadership

  • CEO Gelfond quoted on the quarter: Rich Gelfond, CEO, is quoted on the second-quarter results. The first-quarter release described him as gradually re-engaging in the business after medical leave and involved in strategic decisions.
  • CFO quoted only in first quarter: The first-quarter release quoted Chief Financial Officer Natasha Fernandes. The second-quarter release quotes only the CEO.
  • Management ran day-to-day during leave: During the CEO's medical leave, the first-quarter release said the management team would continue its day-to-day responsibilities.

Coming up, as management said on 23 July 2026

  • Odyssey opens in Asian markets later: The Odyssey opens in South Korea on Aug 5, Mainland China on Aug 14 and Japan on Sep 11. Box office from those markets is excluded from the global figures quoted. Source
  • Dune: Part Three in IMAX 70mm: Dune: Part Three was shot with IMAX film cameras and will be presented in IMAX 70mm film, the release says. Source
  • Monthly box office updates: The company expects to post quarter-to-date box office within five business days of month-end, though timing may change without notice. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Systems installed in quarter Source38
System backlog at June 30, 2026 Source421 systems
System signings in quarter Source36
Commercial multiplex systems at June 30, 2026 Source1,809
Total system network at June 30, 2026 Source1,876
Global box office in quarter Source$285 million

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said management looked forward to delivering $1.4 billion in full-year global box office. The second-quarter release does not restate this.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.