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Friday, June 17, 2005

IMAX Signs Theatre Deal with Largest Theater Operator in St. Louis, Missouri

IMAX Signs Theatre Deal with Largest Theater Operator in St. Louis, Missouri

Wehrenberg Theatres to Open First Commercial IMAX(R) Theatre in St. Louis This Year at Missouri's Top Performing Megaplex

TORONTO, June 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX) and Wehrenberg Theaters, Inc., the oldest family-owned and operated theatre circuit in the country, today announced an agreement to install an IMAX(R) MPX(TM) theatre system at the top performing multiplex in Missouri. It will be the first commercial IMAX(R) theatre in St. Louis and is scheduled to open on November 18th for the day-and-date release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The IMAX Experience. The deal reflects IMAX's growing traction with commercial operators in the US, as Wehrenberg Theaters becomes the latest in series of leading North American exhibitors that will open multiplex-based IMAX theatres this year.

"Opening an IMAX theatre in our Ronnies 20 Cine, St. Louis' top performing megaplex, will drive incremental economic returns and give us another competitive advantage in our most important market," said Ron Krueger, Chairman and CEO of Wehrenberg Theatres, Inc.

Continued Ron Krueger II, President of Wehrenberg Theatres, "Our cinema chain has a nearly 100 year legacy of innovation, and by exhibiting the best Hollywood blockbusters in IMAX's format, we're ensuring we continue to provide our guests with an unparalleled entertainment experience. Moreover, by rapidly retrofitting one of our existing auditoriums into an IMAX theatre, we will be able to offer moviegoers in St. Louis a number of the impressive films IMAX has lined up for the remainder of 2005."

"We're very pleased to be in business with the largest exhibitor in St. Louis and to add another key US market to the commercial IMAX theatre network," said IMAX Co-CEOs and Co-Chairmen Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "Commercial operators continue opening new multiplex-based IMAX theatres, as moviegoers are increasingly demanding a differentiated moviegoing experience and more blockbusters are available in IMAX's unique format. We've had great success working with leading regional exhibitors like Wehrenberg Theatres and we look forward to bringing digitally re-mastered event films to their number one location."

Wehrenberg Theatres will retrofit an existing stadium seating auditorium with an IMAX MPX theatre system, which was specifically designed for the megaplex environment. The new IMAX theatre is expected to open for the 2005 holiday release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The IMAX Experience at Wehrenberg's flagship location, the Ronnies 20 Cine megaplex in St. Louis, Missouri. It will be capable of showing Hollywood films converted into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R), as well as other 2D and IMAX(R) 3D films.

IMAX's 2005 film slate includes more Hollywood event films than any other in the company's 35-year history. Warner Bros. Pictures will release Batman Begins: The IMAX Experience (June 15), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The IMAX Experience (July 15) and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The IMAX Experience (November 18). In September, Playtone Productions will release Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D, an original IMAX 3D film presented and narrated by Tom Hanks. This film will transport audiences to the lunar surface and enable them to share in the experiences of the twelve astronauts that have walked on the moon. Back by popular demand, The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience, IMAX's most successful digitally re-mastered release to date, will also be back in IMAX theatres this holiday season.

About Wehrenberg Theatres, Inc.
-------------------------------

Wehrenberg Theatres is the oldest family-owned and operated theatre circuit in the United States. With the infancy business beginning in 1906, Wehrenberg Theatres celebrates 100 years in 2006. Under the leadership of third generation, Ronald P. Krueger, Chairman and CEO, and fourth generation, Ronald P. Krueger II, President, Wehrenberg Theatres currently operates 15 theatres with more than 200 screens in the Midwest region.

About IMAX Corporation
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Founded in 1967, IMAX Corporation 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(R) 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 March 31, 2005, there were 250 IMAX theatres operating in more than 35 countries.

IMAX(R), IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX DMR(R), IMAX(R) MPX(TM) 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 for the year ended December 31, 2004 and in the subsequent reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Source: IMAX Corporation

CONTACT: Media: IMAX Corporation, New York, Romi Schutzer,
(212) 821-0144, rschutzer@imax.com; Wehrenberg Theatres, St. Louis, Kelly
Hoskins, (314) 822-4520, kellyhoskins@wehrenberg.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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