Is 3D cinema set for another big revival? Audience trends and industry moves point in that direction, but it may be fueled by a potentially destructive force: artificial intelligence.

North American 3D ticket sales jumped 34% from May, June and July 2024 to the same period this year, according to RealD’s study of comScore data. With formats like RealD 3D, 4DX and IMAX 3D dominating premium exhibition, seven of the top ten new releases from May to July made a combined $222 million on 3D screens, or 13% of all tickets sold.

The upward trend reflects moviegoers’ willingness to pay a pricey $18.51 for an average 3D ticket, around $4 more than 2D, per RealD/comScore. It bodes well for a wide range of films, from James Cameron’s epic “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” coming Dec. 19 from 20th Century S

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