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The Dark Knightre-releasing on IMAX in 2025? Now that’s everyBatmanfan’s dream come true. However, its rumored release date might put it in direct competition with an upcoming major summer blockbuster-in-the-making.
Call it a present-day creative drought or just fans giving in to nostalgia, but classic films have been returning to the big screen more than ever, especially in IMAX. So,The Dark Knight’spotential re-releaseat any point isn’t surprising, considering it’s one of the greatest films of all time, not just in the superhero genre.
IsThe Dark KnightGetting An IMAX Re-Release?
Rumored Release Date Clashes WithMission: Impossible 8
According to multiple unconfirmed reports surfacing online,The Dark Knightis set to re-release in IMAX on Jun 25, 2025. At the time of writing, there has been no official confirmation from Warner Bros. or any other parties. Regardless, the rumor quickly gained traction, sparking excitement amongBatman and Nolan fanson social media. The speculation likely stems from an AMC listing for aDark Knight Double Featureontheir official website, though it does not specify any theaters or IMAX screenings.
This potentialDark Knightre-release could spell trouble forMission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which is also scheduled to hit theaters on May 23. The Tom Cruise-led film is easily one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year. Some even expect it to mark the end of his nearly three-decade-long run in the action-thriller franchise. Unless the film is delayed and pushed to another release date — and Warner Bros. somehow knows about it — releasingThe Dark Knighton the same day asthe eighthMission: Impossiblefilmwould be a terrible move.
Budget
$400 million
Obviously, two movies can have successful runs at the same time, especially when one is a vintage re-release and the other is a contemporary cinematic event. However, the real issue here is IMAX. With only 1,772 IMAX theaters worldwide (about one for every 117 regular screens), the space is as limited as it gets. That’s whyfilms made for IMAXcarefully avoid direct competition.
IfThe Dark KnightandMission: Impossible – The Final Reckoningwere to release on the same day, week, or even month, it would result in a split in the allotment of IMAX screens. This could hurt both films, especiallyMission: Impossible, which relies heavily on the format for its theatrical impact. At the same time,The Dark Knightwas the first major motion picture to be filmed with high-resolution IMAX cameras.
Nolan helped make IMAX a mainstream format, so it’s only right thathis iconic Batman moviereturns to the biggest screen possible.
The Dark Knight’sre-release could also be inspired byInterstellar’s10th-anniversaryIMAX run. The film returned to 70mm and digital IMAX on June 15, 2025. Despite a limited theatrical window, Nolan’s space epic became the highest-grossing IMAX re-release of all time.Oppenheimerwas also re-released in select theaters with the format across North America earlier this month.
Mission: ImpossibleVs. Christopher Nolan Isn’t New
This isn’t the first timeTom Cruise andMission: Impossiblehave clashed with a Christopher Nolan release. In 2023,Dead Reckoningdebuted on July 12, just nine days beforeOppenheimerarrived on July 21. IMAX reserved a full three-week window for Nolan’s black-and-white drama, preventing any other film from playing in the format during that period. Not even Tom Cruise’s star power or theMission: Impossiblefranchise’s box office appeal could make an exception. IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond addressed this in 2023,speaking toVariety:
I feel sad in a way we can’t accommodate all of them. I know Mission: Impossible is going to be a really big movie. Nolan is special in IMAX’s heart because he uses our cameras and promotes us. It’s not a matter of us saying which we can make more money on. I would hope after Oppenheimer’s run, we can bring back Mission.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoningearned $570 million worldwide, a disappointing result given its $300 million budget. While losing the IMAX window wasn’t the only reason, it contributed to the film losing steam, along withtheBarbenheimercraze. AfterTop Gun: Maverick’sHollywood-saving success, many were stunned that a Tom Cruise blockbuster made barely half of what an R-rated historical drama and a movie about a plastic doll earned.
The Dark KnightCan Wait, Tom Cruise Cannot
A Smarter Release Strategy Could Be A Win-Win
Given this brief rivalry betweenMission: Impossibleand Christopher Nolan, Tom Cruise and Paramount are unlikely to surrender IMAX screens for aDark Knightre-release. If Warner Bros. is moving forward with the re-release, they should rethink the timing—there’s no need to compete withFinal Reckoning. Both Nolan and Cruise champion the big-screen experience, and pitting a classic against a major blockbuster would only hurt the industry.
An ideal solution would be to postponeThe Dark Knight’sIMAX re-release to a much later date. Instead, Warner Bros. could bring backBatman Beginsfor its 20th anniversary. As forMission: Impossible, ifFinal Reckoningtruly marksTom Cruise’s final outing as Ethan Hunt, Paramount should re-release all previous installments in theaters to build hype for the finale. Meanwhile, Nolan’s IMAX legacy moves forward withThe Odyssey, now in production.
