Even good things can become problematic if there’s too much of them, and this is especially true for movie theaters, which have a limited number of screens to show films. Late in 2026, theaters will face a particularly tough challenge: two major, highly anticipated movies are currently scheduled to open on the same day.
The upcoming movies Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three are currently scheduled to be released on December 18th. It’s common for studios to compete for release dates, and one often changes plans to avoid going up against another big film. This is happening now with Marvel and Warner Bros., who have a history of this. For example, Warner Bros. moved up the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 to avoid competing with Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War.
It looks like the release dates for both Dune: Part Three and upcoming Marvel films are firm. As The Hollywood Reporter points out, the Dune posters clearly state a December 18th release, suggesting Warner Bros. isn’t planning to change it. Marvel hasn’t hinted at any adjustments to their schedule either. This means moviegoers will have a lot to choose from that weekend, but theaters and concessions stands could be very crowded.
A theater industry executive said someone needs to make room for other films, explaining that having too many big releases at once doesn’t make sense. They argued that smaller films will get fewer showings and that, after more than five years of challenges since the pandemic, it’s smart to share the success. They specifically mentioned that both a new Avengers movie and Dune 3 are expected to be major hits.
It’s not simply a lack of available screens. Screen size also matters, and as The Hollywood Reporter notes, the largest, premium-format screens are already booked by Dune: Part Three, which used IMAX cameras during filming. One industry executive complained that Doomsday not getting those premium screens was a mistake, calling the more expensive tickets associated with them essentially “free money.”
Although Doomsday and Dune 3 both appeal to similar audiences – fans of sci-fi and action-packed sequels – there’s a possible reason Marvel decided not to release Doomsday in IMAX. Dune: Part Three finishes a popular story that’s been building for two movies, while Doomsday is essentially a fresh start for the Avengers. By bringing back beloved characters, even some thought to be retired from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the studio seems to be trying to re-engage fans after a few less successful films. Instead of pushing expensive premium tickets, they might just want to fill as many regular seats as possible.
Despite the worry some people have expressed about the upcoming competition between these films, others see it as a positive situation. According to THR, one theater representative described it as a “win-win,” explaining that after dividing up the premium large-format screens, there will still be plenty of regular screens available for both movies, ensuring a strong holiday season for both releases.
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Several of the actors involved in the upcoming movie releases are taking the competition in stride. Robert Downey Jr., who is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom in Doomsday, playfully referenced the situation after running into Timothée Chalamet, star of Dune. Downey joked that with both films opening on December 18th, they were considering calling it ‘Dunesday,’ adding, ‘We’ll see if we’re still friends by then.’
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2026-03-19 16:21