Dune Part Three tops BFI IMAX record
The new Dune film shattered the UK IMAX record, topping Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in pre‑sale sales.
21 Oct 2026 0 reads Compiled with AI
#Dune #BFI IMAX #Denis Villeneuve #Timothée Chalamet
The science‑fiction sequel Dune: Part Three is set to hit theatres worldwide on 18 December 2026 and has already broken the BFI IMAX record for first‑day advance presales. The venue sold more than 33,000 advance tickets in under 24 hours, bringing in a gross of more than $988,000 – a figure that eclipses the previous record held by The Odyssey. The film’s release in 70mm IMAX and the rarity of that format have driven this surge in demand.
Record broken
The previous record was held by Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which had a first‑day presale of about $841,000, and by a UK‑based figure of £750,000. Dune: Part Three now sits on top of the BFI IMAX list, with Oppenheimer and Avatar: Fire & Ash falling in the top five. Earlier releases such as Dune: Part Two grossed over $490,000 and Avatar: Fire & Ash grossed £116,000, showing the scale of the new record.
The record‑breaking sales are linked to the scarcity of 70mm IMAX screens. The BFI IMAX is one of only a few dozen worldwide that can screen the film in the premium format, and the venue has a history of selling out screenings months in advance. The demand is described as unprecedented, driven by the film’s unique 65mm and IMAX film production and the excitement surrounding the new entry in the franchise.
Dune: Part Three returns a number of familiar faces and introduces new ones. Timothée Chalamet plays Paul Atreides, with Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson and Jason Momoa also starring. Robert Pattinson joins the cast as a villain. The plot picks up 17 years after the second film, with Paul confronting new threats and betrayals, as described in the synopsis released at CinemaCon.
The film’s promotional cycle began with a 7‑minute teaser shown at Las Vegas CinemaCon in April, featuring Javier Bardem’s character Stilgar. BFI IMAX has already sold out previews and is scheduled to screen the first two Dune films in December leading up to the third film’s release. These early screenings and the film’s format advantages have helped it set a new benchmark for IMAX presales in the UK.