IMAX Explores Sale After Preliminary Buyer Talks as Shares Jump 10%
Updated
Updated · CNBC · May 21
IMAX Explores Sale After Preliminary Buyer Talks as Shares Jump 10%
4 articles · Updated · CNBC · May 21
IMAX held preliminary talks with potential buyers through intermediaries, according to a source, though the company has not made formal pitches.
Shares rose about 10% in extended trading after the Wall Street Journal reported the potential sale process.
CEO Rich Gelfond had already told shareholders in December he was open to a sale if it maximized value, and he recently returned from temporary medical leave for pneumonia treatment.
IMAX enters the talks from a position of strength: its global box office hit a record $1.28 billion in 2025, up more than 40% from 2024.
That growth reflects rising demand for premium large-format screens, which captured 16.3% of U.S. tickets in 2025 at an average price of $16.88.
With record box office yet lagging stock, is a sale the only way for IMAX to unlock its true value?
Who could buy the king of the big screen, and how would it change the future of moviegoing?