Sony’s “Jumanji 3” — the next instalment in the jungle‑adventure franchise starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan — has shifted its release strategy, now slated to debut on December 25, 2026, instead of its originally announced December 11 date.
More importantly, this change now leaves the holiday box office calendar with an open week of December 11, raising the question of whether the infamous “Dunesday” weekend on December 18 could be split up.
Both “Avengers: Doomsday” (Disney) and “Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros) are still scheduled to open on that same day, creating one of the most talked‑about holiday box office clashes in years — a potential sequel to the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon. Yet, neither studio has shown any sign that it plans to budge from the December 18 date, despite the obvious overlap in audience interest and theater demand.
“Avengers: Doomsday” arguably has more to lose. The last two ‘Avengers’ instalments grossed over $2 billion worldwide each, with the last one, “Avengers: Endgame,” earning a staggering $2.8 billion. Questions remain about whether the ‘Avengers’ brand still holds the same cultural clout seven years later, especially with no Iron Man. “Doomsday” will serve as the ultimate test of the franchise’s staying power.
Meanwhile, “Dune: Part Three” is coming off a predecessor that earned $714M worldwide, and the fanbase for these films seems to be growing. In fact, the buzz surrounding “Dunesday” could actually benefit the third and final instalment, potentially pushing it past the $800M mark.
Furthermore, ‘Dune 3’ has IMAX screens exclusively booked for a three-week run during that timeframe. In North America, Doomsday will have none — so why would it want to sacrifice that by switching dates? It doesn’t make much sense to me.
Quite honestly, I’m really hoping both films stick with the December 18 date. Theaters could definitely use another “Barbenheimer”-style cultural moment, and just imagine the buzz of two massive blockbusters duking it out at the same time. It would be a huge win for moviegoers, driving crowds, and reminding everyone why seeing a film on the big screen still feels special.
Here's a small scoop for Sunday night. Nothing too exciting, since it concerns the once-promising Ben Wheatley, a filmmaker who broke out with the cult-horror gut-punch of "Kill List" and "A Field in England.”