Spider-Man and The Odyssey Drive Summer Box Office

The summer movie season has seen a notable resurgence at the box office, largely driven by the strong performance of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and "The Odyssey." Sony's latest "Spider-Man" installment, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," generated $360 million domestically and $932 million globally during its opening weekend. In its second week, the film added another $145 million domestically, pushing its global total past the $1 billion mark. Similarly, "The Odyssey" has also surpassed $1 billion in worldwide earnings, with over $460 million from domestic ticket sales. A key factor contributing to this success is the increasing popularity of premium theatrical formats among moviegoers. "The Odyssey" has experienced consistent sell-outs in IMAX, particularly in the 70mm format, which is available on only 41 screens globally and has seen demand extended due to its popularity. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" also saw substantial revenue from premium formats, with $31 million of its opening weekend gross coming from ScreenX and 4DX theaters. ScreenX offers a 270-degree panoramic viewing experience by extending the screen to the sides of the auditorium for select sequences, while 4DX incorporates motion synchronized with environmental effects such as wind, water, and vibrations. Data from Comscore, cited by Variety, indicates that grosses from ScreenX and 4DX theaters increased by 47% in North America during the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. While overall theatrical box office revenue has not yet reached pre-pandemic levels, the industry is experiencing a strong year. As of August 2, domestic revenue stood at $6.2 billion, representing a 15% increase from the prior year, according to Rentrak data. This growth is partly attributed to the significant contribution of premium formats. Notably, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is the first film produced under CJ 4DPLEX's "Shot for ScreenX" initiative, a program by the South Korean cinema technology company that developed the ScreenX format. This collaboration highlights the growing integration of advanced cinematic technologies with major film releases to enhance the audience experience and drive box office performance.