LOS ANGELES, Aug 3, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) and Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2: An IMAX 3D Experience, the final installment of the blockbuster film series based on the beloved books by J.K. Rowling, will be released nationwide in China, including on 26 IMAX screens, day-and-date on Thursday, August 4.

Since its launch on July 13, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 has grossed $51.5 million globally in IMAX(R) theatres through Sunday, July 31. The film surpassed opening weekend IMAX box office records globally by generating $23.2 million of its record-setting estimated worldwide gross of more than $481 million, for an IMAX per-screen average of $59,000.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2: An IMAX 3D Experience has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) through proprietary IMAX DMR(R) technology. With crystal clear images, laser-aligned digital sound and theatre geometry that maximizes field of view, IMAX provides the world's most immersive movie experience.

About Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climatic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, reprising their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film's ensemble cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright.

The film was directed by David Yates, and produced by David Heyman, David Barron and J.K. Rowling. Screenwriter Steve Kloves adapted the screenplay, based on the book by J.K. Rowling. Lionel Wigram is the executive producer.

Behind the scenes, the creative team included director of photography Eduardo Serra, production designer Stuart Craig, editor Mark Day, composer Alexandre Desplat, visual effects supervisor Tim Burke, and costume designer Jany Temime.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a Heyday Films Production, a David Yates Film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2, which marks the last installment in the most successful film franchise of all time. The film is being released in theatres and IMAX, in 3D and 2D. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2 is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2: An IMAX 3D Experience is scheduled to play day-and-date at the following IMAX(R) 3D theatres beginning Thursday, August 4:

Beijing Beijing CBD Wanda IMAX Theatre Shijingshan Wanda IMAX Theatre Beijing UME Huaxing IMAX Theatre Changchun Changchun Wanda IMAX Theatre Changsha Changsha Wanda IMAX Theatre Chongqing Lumiere Chongqing Jinyuan Mall IMAX Theatre Fuzhuo Fuzhuo Financial Street Wanda IMAX Theatre Guangzhou Guangzhou Wanda IMAX Theatre Hangzhou Hangzhou Broadway MixC Mall IMAX Theatre Hangzhou Cinyo IMAX Theatre Hefei Hefei Wanda IMAX Theatre Jinan Jinan Wanda IMAX Theatre Kunming Kunming Broadway IMAX Theatre Nanjing Nanjing Jianye Wanda Plaza IMAX Theatre^ Ningbo Ningbo Yinzhou Wanda Plaza IMAX Theatre^ Qingdao Qingdao Wanda IMAX Theatre Shanghai Shanghai Jiangqiao Wanda IMAX Theatre Shanghai Peace IMAX Theatre Shanghai Stellar Super Brand Mall IMAX Theatre Shanghai Wujiaochang Wanda IMAX Theatre Shenzhen UA KK Mall IMAX Theatre Suzhou Suzhou Science + Cultural Arts Center IMAX Theatre Tianjin China Film Tianjin IMAX Theatre Wuhan Wuhan Studio City IMAX Theatre Wuxi Wuxi Big World IMAX Theatre Xi'an, Shaanxi Daming Palace Relics Park IMAX Theatre

Please check local listings or IMAX.com for final theatre listings, launch dates and showtimes.

^denotes new IMAX

About IMAX China

IMAX China is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, and is incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong. IMAX China was established by IMAX Corporation specifically to oversee the expansion of IMAX's business throughout Greater China.

About IMAX Corporation

IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading entertainment and technology companies, specializing in the creation and delivery of premium, awe-inspiring entertainment experiences. With a growing suite of cutting-edge motion picture and sound technologies, and a globally recognized entertainment brand, IMAX is singularly situated at the convergence of the entertainment industry, innovation and the digital media world. The industry's top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and as such, the IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe. The Company's new digital projection and sound systems - combined with a growing blockbuster film slate - are fueling the rapid expansion of the IMAX network in established markets such as North America, Western Europe, and Japan, as well as emerging markets such as China and Russia. IMAX theatres deliver the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX(R), IMAX 3D(R), and IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-Mastering) technologies. IMAX DMR enables virtually any motion picture to be transformed into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R).

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo and Shanghai. As of June 30, 2011, there were 560 IMAX theatres (417 commercial multiplex, 25 commercial destination and 118 institutional) operating in 46 countries.

IMAX(R), IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX DMR(R), Experience It In IMAX(R), An IMAX 3D Experience(R) and The IMAX Experience(R) are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

The IMAX Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6469

This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX 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, but are not limited to, general economic, market or business conditions, including the length and severity of the current economic downturn, the opportunities that may be presented to and pursued by IMAX, the performance of IMAX DMR films, conditions in the in-home and out-of home entertainment industries, the signing of theatre system agreements, changes and developments in the commercial exhibition industry, the failure to convert theatre system backlog into revenue, new business initiatives, investments and operations in foreign jurisdictions, foreign currency fluctuations and IMAX's prior restatements and the related litigation. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed IMAX's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: IMAX Corporation

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