⚡ Quick answer
Don’t count on King in IMAX in the US on opening week. Dune: Part Three holds an exclusive three-week run on North American IMAX screens from December 18, which covers King’s December 24 opening. No IMAX version of King has been announced; look for Dolby, 4DX and other premium screens instead.
Pathaan and Jawan both played in IMAX, so plenty of US fans assume King will too. This Christmas is different. Hollywood has packed the same week with Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three and a new Jumanji, and the biggest screens in America were spoken for months ago. Here is what that means for your King tickets.
Will King release in IMAX in the USA?
Not in its first weeks, as things stand. Warner Bros. locked up an exclusive three-week IMAX run in North America for Dune: Part Three starting December 18. That window runs past Christmas and into early January, which is exactly when King opens. Even Avengers: Doomsday, which opens the same day as Dune, has been shut out of IMAX in the US and Canada.
Trade reports say an IMAX release for King is not impossible in other countries, but it depends on negotiations between the studios, theater chains and IMAX itself. Nothing has been announced.
King vs Avengers: Doomsday vs Dune: Part Three: the December calendar
| Date | Film | Big-screen situation in the US |
|---|---|---|
| December 18 | Dune: Part Three | Exclusive IMAX run for three weeks |
| December 18 | Avengers: Doomsday | No IMAX at launch; Disney’s own premium screens |
| December 24 | King | No IMAX announced; regular and other premium formats |
| December 25 | Jumanji: Open World | Standard and premium formats |
Who is releasing King in the US?
Overseas distribution changed hands in late October. Yash Raj Films was originally announced as King’s international distributor, but Dubai-based Phars Film has since taken over the overseas rights in a deal reported at about ₹175 crore, a record for an Indian film. Trade reports say North America and the UK will see the biggest changes in how the film is booked.
Best premium formats to watch King in the US
- Dolby Cinema (AMC). Brighter picture and better sound. Indian films often get a few Dolby shows in big markets.
- 4DX and ScreenX. Common for Indian action films at Regal and select Cinemark locations.
- Premium large formats. Theater brands such as XD, RPX and BigD are large screens that are not IMAX but still beat a standard auditorium.
- Standard 2D. Where most Indian-film showtimes will be, especially at theaters that regularly book Hindi releases.
Premium screens will be tight across the board that week, so book as soon as advance sales open.
Did Pathaan and Jawan play in IMAX?
Yes. Pathaan was Shah Rukh Khan’s first IMAX release, in January 2023, and Jawan followed with IMAX and 4DX shows worldwide later that year. Both opened in quieter months, though. King is the first Siddharth Anand–SRK film to land in the middle of a Hollywood holiday traffic jam.
Could King get IMAX in the US later?
Possibly, once Dune’s exclusive window ends in early January. If King is still drawing crowds in its third week, a short IMAX run is the kind of thing distributors arrange. That would be a bonus, not a plan, so don’t wait for it if you want to see King on opening weekend.
On the IMAX screen crunch: Variety India.
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Frequently asked questions
Is King releasing in IMAX?
No IMAX version of King has been announced. In North America, Dune: Part Three holds IMAX screens for three weeks from December 18.
When does King release in the USA?
King opens worldwide, including the US, on December 24, 2026.
Who is distributing King overseas?
Phars Film holds King’s overseas distribution rights after taking over from Yash Raj Films.
Is Avengers: Doomsday in IMAX?
Not in North America at launch, because Dune: Part Three has an exclusive IMAX run starting December 18.
Did Pathaan release in IMAX?
Yes. Pathaan was Shah Rukh Khan’s first IMAX release, and Jawan also played in IMAX.
