Spider-Man(R) 3 shatters IMAX box office records on opening weekend

Spider-Man(R) 3 shatters IMAX box office records on opening weekend

Picture Posts Largest Opening in IMAX's 40 Year History

Highlights include: ------------------- - Largest worldwide opening at $6.3 million - Largest domestic 3-day total at $4.8 million - Largest single day at $2.2 million

LOS ANGELES, CA, May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IMAX Corporation and Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man 3 shattered multiple box office records at IMAX(R) theatres through its opening weekend, contributing a record-setting $4.8 million of the $148 million that the film grossed at the domestic box office, from May 4, through Sunday, May 6. The picture also broke the record for IMAX's largest single day worldwide total at $2.2 million and posted a remarkable domestic opening weekend per screen average of $57,147. Spider-Man 3 opened on 84 domestic IMAX screens and 34 international IMAX screens, making it the largest opening in IMAX's 40-year history, with a record-breaking worldwide estimated total of $6.3 million. The film's overall worldwide debut total was an estimated $375 million.

"We are ecstatic about the opening results in both traditional theatres as well as IMAX venues," said Rory Bruer, President, Domestic Distribution, Sony Pictures Releasing. "The IMAX release offers fans of Spider-Man another unique and exciting way to experience the film, and we are encouraged by the contribution it has already made to the film's overall box office performance."

"The weekend results from Spider-Man 3 didn't just break our previous opening record, they blew it away," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "Several IMAX theatres were installed to open in time for Spider-Man 3, and we are delighted to see that these theatres are already translating into new IMAX audiences -- which means greater box office returns for the studio and exhibitors."

"You know you have a hit on your hands when theatre operators are adding extra shows and some of our theatres are even staying open 24 hours to keep up with the high consumer demand," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures and the Spider-Man filmmakers have delivered a history-making blockbuster to the IMAX theatre network, and the high advance IMAX tickets sales for next week gives us great confidence that this film is going to continue to be a significant draw at IMAX locations throughout the Spring."

Spider-Man 3 has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology, creating a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Spider-Man 3 is directed by Sam Raimi, who also directed the first two blockbuster installments of the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2. The picture reunites the cast led by Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco. To date, the Spider-Man series has surpassed $1.6 billion in worldwide box office receipts.

In Spider-Man 3, based on the legendary Marvel Comics series, Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero. But there is a storm brewing on the horizon. As Spider-Man basks in the public's adulation for his accomplishments and he is pursued by Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard), who rivals M.J. for his affections, Peter becomes overconfident and starts to neglect the people who care about him most. His newfound self-assuredness is jeopardized when he faces the battle of his life against two of the most feared villains ever (Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace), whose unparalleled power and thirst for retribution threaten Peter and everyone he loves.

Columbia Pictures Presents A Marvel Studios/Laura Ziskin Production Spider-Man(R) 3 starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons and James Cromwell. The film is directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2). The screenplay is by two-time Oscar(R) winner Alvin Sargent (Ordinary People, Spider-Man 2) and the screen story by Sam Raimi & Ivan Raimi and based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The producers are Laura Ziskin (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2), Avi Arad (Spider-Man, X-Men) and Grant Curtis (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2). The executive producers are Joseph M. Caracciolo (Spider-Man 2 and Charlie's Angels(R)) Kevin Feige (Spider-Man 2, X Men 2) and Stan Lee.

About IMAX Corporation

IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies, specializing in digital and film-based motion picture technologies. The worldwide IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event Hollywood films around the globe, with IMAX theatres delivering the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX(R) 3D, and IMAX DMR technology. IMAX DMR is the Company's groundbreaking digital remastering technology that allows it to digitally transform virtually any conventional motion picture into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R). IMAX's renowned projectors display crystal-clear images on the world's biggest screens, and the IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of September 30, 2006, there were 280 IMAX theatres operating in 40 countries.

IMAX(R), IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX DMR(R), IMAX MPX(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 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, the outcome of the Company's current accounting review, risks arising from potential material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, the ability to satisfy the reporting covenant by the amended filing deadlines, the extent and impact of the restatement of our financial statements, the outcome of the appeal of the NASDAQ Staff Determination letter 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, 2005.

Source: IMAX Corporation

CONTACT: Media: IMAX Corporation, New York, Sarah Gormley, (212)
821-0155, sgormley@imax.com; Entertainment Media: Newman & Company, Los
Angeles, Al Newman, (310) 278-1560, asn@newman-co.com; Investors: Integrated
Corporate Relations, Amanda Mullin, (203) 682-8243; Business Media: Sloane &
Company, New York, Whit Clay, (212) 446-1864, wclay@sloanepr.com

-------
Profile: intent