Moviegoers are Riveted by Robots: The IMAX Experience in Opening Weekend
Moviegoers are Riveted by Robots: The IMAX Experience in Opening Weekend
IMAX's First Digitally Re-Mastered Spring Release Opens to Sold Out Shows and High Audience Satisfaction
LOS ANGELES, CA, March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX) today announced that Robots: The IMAX Experience, its first day-and-date release with Twentieth Century Fox, posted strong box office results in its opening weekend, grossing approximately $1.4 million in 58 North American IMAX(R) theatres. The IMAX DMR(R) version of the animated feature was sold out in many locations across the continent, recording a noteworthy per screen average of more than $24,000. Robots marks the first Hollywood simultaneous release of an IMAX DMR film during the spring film season and its strong opening helps underscore the year-round appeal and earning power of The IMAX Experience(R).
"Robots' impressive IMAX debut helps advance our commercial growth strategy, as one of our key objectives is for each IMAX theatre to average at least $1 million in total box office each year," said IMAX Co-CEO's Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "In just two and a half months, we believe we are well on our way towards that goal, and we've only just begun to roll out one of the best commercial film slates in IMAX's history. This film's early performance also illustrates that with each IMAX DMR release, more and more people are going to see event movies in IMAX's format - and that they're willing to pay a premium price for the experience."
IMAX theaters throughout North America reported sold out shows and great audience reaction to Robots: The IMAX Experience this past weekend. Once again, the highest grossing theatre in the network was the Comcast IMAX(R) 3D Theatre at Jordan's Furniture in Reading, Massachusetts, which grossed approximately $60,000. The new Cinepolis Valle Oriente IMAX theatre in Monterrey, Mexico posted an impressive opening, selling out roughly half the shows during its first weekend of operation. Cinepolis' other IMAX theatre, in Mexico City, which registered its own highly successful debut last November, continued to perform well, reporting results similar to Monterrey for Robots in IMAX's format.
"Of our overall business, some four per cent was from just 58 IMAX theatres, which is a very impressive showing," said Bruce Snyder, President, Domestic Distribution, Twentieth Century Fox. "The feedback from audiences has been terrific and we believe that releasing the movie in IMAX's format 'eventized' the film, helping to increase awareness and box office performance of the 35mm version. We're excited Robots was the number one picture in the country this weekend, and early exit polls lead us to believe it will have strong legs in IMAX and 35mm theatres."
"Twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios have delivered another highly entertaining film for the whole family," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The marketing push behind the film was fantastic and the word of mouth coming out of the first weekend is very positive. We're thrilled with Robots' strong opening in IMAX theatres and believe this is an important development for further expanding our partnership with Twentieth Century Fox."
About IMAX Corporation
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Founded in 1967, IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX) is the newest distribution platform for Hollywood content and one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies. IMAX delivers the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX 3D, and IMAX DMR technology. IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) makes it possible for virtually any 35mm film to be transformed into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. The IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences. As of December 31, 2004, there were 248 IMAX theatres operating in more than 35 countries.
IMAX(R), IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX DMR(R) and The IMAX Experience(R) are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information on the Company can be found at www.imax.com.
This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Important factors that could affect these statements include the timing of theatre system deliveries, the mix of theatre systems shipped, the timing of the recognition of revenues and expenses on film production and distribution agreements, the performance of films, the viability of new businesses and products, and fluctuations in foreign currency and in the large format and general commercial exhibition market. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2003 and in the subsequent reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Source: IMAX Corporation
CONTACT: please contact: Media: IMAX Corporation, New York, Romi
Schutzer, (212) 821-0144, rschutzer@imax.com; Twentieth Century
Fox, Los Angeles, Florence Grace, (310) 369-5634, florence.grace@fox.com;
Entertainment Media: Newman & Company, Los Angeles, Al Newman, (310) 278-1560,
asn@newman-co.com; Analysts: IMAX Corporation, New York, Cheryl Cramer,
(212) 821-0121, ccramer@imax.com; Business Media: Sloane & Company, New
York, Whit Clay, (212) 446-1864, wclay@sloanepr.com
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