James Cameron's Avatar to Open in Record Number of IMAX(R) Theatres on December 18, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) and Twentieth Century Fox today announced that James Cameron's Avatar will open in 178 IMAX(R) theatres domestically on December 18, 2009, simultaneously with the motion picture's premiere in conventional theatres. The IMAX(R) 3D release will also open in 83 IMAX theatres internationally starting on December 16th, for a total of 261 theatres, making this the Company's widest release to date.

Avatar is directed and written by Academy Award Winner James Cameron and stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver. Avatar has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R).

"Our goal with Avatar is to revolutionize live-action 3D moviemaking, and it looks and sounds incredible in IMAX 3D," said director James Cameron. "The larger field of view and powerful surround sound of an IMAX theatre will immerse the audience in a way that cannot be experienced anywhere else."

"This movie represents the essence of The IMAX Experience, which is to transport people to places they normally couldn't go," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "Moviegoers can experience this movie in IMAX 3D in more theatres than ever before, and we're already seeing strong pre-sales and sold out shows beyond opening weekend."

"James Cameron is a genius filmmaker. His vision and 3D expertise has made Avatar a natural fit for IMAX," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "Every aspect of this film was meticulously designed for 3D, so when audiences experience this revolutionary film in an IMAX 3D theatre, they will feel as if they are actually IN the movie."

Avatar is the story of an ex-Marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people. More than ten years in the making, Avatar marks Cameron's return to feature directing since helming 1997's Titanic, the highest grossing film of all time and winner of eleven Oscars(r) including Best Picture. WETA Digital, renowned for its work in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and King Kong, will incorporate new intuitive CGI technologies to transform the environments and characters into photorealistic 3D imagery that will transport the audience into the alien world rich with imaginative vistas, creatures and characters.

Avatar: An IMAX 3D Experience is scheduled to play day-and-date at the following IMAX(R) Theatres beginning December 18th.

 UNITED STATES

 Arizona
 Mesa - Dickinson Gateway 12 IMAX Theatre
 Phoenix - AMC Deer Valley 30 with IMAX
 Phoenix - AMC Desert Ridge 18 with IMAX
 Tempe - Harkins IMAX at Arizona Mills
 Arkansas
 Little Rock - Dickinson Chenal 9 IMAX Theatre
 California
 Alhambra - Edwards Renaissance Stadium 14 + IMAX
 Aliso Viejo - Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20 & IMAX
 Anaheim - CinemaFusion 14 + IMAX
 Arcadia - AMC Santa Anita 16 & IMAX
 Burbank - AMC Burbank 30 & IMAX
 Camarillo - Edwards Camarillo Palace Stadium 12 & IMAX
 Cathedral City - Desert IMAX Theatre
 Covina - AMC Covina 30 with IMAX
 Cupertino - AMC Cupertino 16 & IMAX
 Dublin - Regal Hacienda Crossings Stadium 21 & IMAX
 El Dorado Hills - Regal Cinemas El Dorado Hills Stadium 14 & IMAX
 Emeryville - AMC Bay Street 16 & IMAX
 Escondido - Regal Escondido Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Fairfield - Edwards Fairfield Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Fresno - Fresno Stadium 21 + IMAX
 Irvine - Edwards Irvine Spectrum IMAX
 Long Beach - Edwards Long Beach 26 & IMAX
 Los Angeles - AMC Century City 15 & IMAX
 Los Angeles - IMAX Theatre at The Bridge: cinema de lux
 Los Angeles - AMC Universal CityWalk Stadium 19 with IMAX
 National City - AMC Plaza Bonita 14 & IMAX
 Ontario - Edwards Ontario Palace 22 & IMAX
 Riverside - AMC Tyler Galleria 16 with IMAX
 Rowland Heights - AMC Puente Hills 20 with IMAX
 Sacramento - Esquire IMAX
 San Diego - AMC Palm Promenade 24 & IMAX
 San Diego - Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 & IMAX
 San Francisco - AMC Loews Metreon 16 with IMAX
 San Jose - AMC Eastridge Mall 15 & IMAX
 Santa Clara - AMC Mercado 20  & IMAX
 Simi Valley - Regal Civic Center Plaza 16 & IMAX
 South Gate - Edwards South Gate Stadium 20 & IMAX
 Stockton - Regal City Centre Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Temecula - Temecula Stadium15
 Torrance - AMC Del Amo 18 & IMAX
 Woodland Hills - AMC Promenade 16 & IMAX
 Colorado
 Colorado Springs - Carefree Circle 16 + IMAX
 Denver - UA Colorado Center Stadium 8 & IMAX
 Highlands Ranch - AMC Highlands Ranch 24 & IMAX
 Westminster - AMC Orchard 12 & IMAX
 Westminster - AMC Westminster Promenade 24 & IMAX
 Connecticut
 Manchester - IMAX Theatre at Cinema de Lux Buckland Hills 18
 Florida
 Altamonte Springs - AMC Altamonte Mall 18 & IMAX
 Aventura - AMC Aventura 24 & IMAX
 Fort Myers - Regal Gulf Coast Town Center Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Ft. Lauderdale - AutoNation IMAX - MODS
 Jacksonville - AMC Regency 24 & IMAX
 Oldsmar - Woodlands Square 20 with IMAX
 Orange Park - AMC Orange Park 24 & IMAX
 Orlando - AMC Loews Universal Cineplex 20 & IMAX
 Orlando - Regal Waterford Lakes Stadium 20 & IMAX
 Orlando - Pointe Orlando Stadium 20 + IMAX
 South Miami - AMC Sunset Place 24 & IMAX
 Tallahassee - AMC Tallahassee Mall 20 with IMAX
 Tampa - AMC Veterans 24 & IMAX
 West Palm Beach - Muvico Parisian IMAX
 Georgia
 Augusta - Regal Augusta Exchange Stadium 20 & IMAX
 Buford - Mall Of Georgia Stadium 20 + IMAX
 Kennesaw - AMC Barrett Commons 24 & IMAX
 Morrow - AMC Southlake Pavilion 24 & IMAX
 Hawaii
 Honolulu - Regal Dole Cannery 18 & IMAX
 Idaho
 Boise - Edwards Boise Stadium 22  & IMAX
 Illinois
 Batava - Randall 14 + IMAX
 Chicago - Navy Pier IMAX Theatre
 Hodgkins - Loews Quarry Cinemas 14 with IMAX
 Lincolnshire - Lincolnshire Stadium 20 + IMAX
 South Barrington - AMC Barrington 30 & IMAX
 Woodridge - Cinemark 16 + IMAX
 Indiana
 Evansville - Showplace East 18 + IMAX
 Indianapolis - Showplace 16 + IMAX
 Noblesville - Hamilton 16 IMAX
 Portage - Portage 15 + IMAX
 Iowa
 Council Bluffs - Kerasotes Star Cinemas 16 & IMAX
 Kansas
 Olathe - AMC Studio 30 & IMAX
 Kentucky
 Newport - Newport Levee 20 with IMAX
 Louisiana
 Harahan - Elmwood Palace 20 with IMAX
 Maine
 Saco - Cinemagic & IMAX in Saco
 Maryland
 Baltimore - AMC Loews White Marsh 16 & IMAX
 Columbia - AMC Columbia 14 & IMAX
 Massachusetts
 Danvers - AMC Liberty Tree Mall 20 & IMAX
 Methuen - Loews Methuen 20 with IMAX
 Natick - Jordan's Furniture IMAX - Natick
 Reading - IMAX 3D Theatre in Reading - Jordan's Furn
 Michigan
 Auburn Hills -Lakes 25 with IMAX
 Grand Blanc - NCG Trillium Cinema + IMAX
 Grand Rapids - Celebration! Cinema IMAX Theatre
 Livonia - Livonia 20
 Sterling Heights - AMC Forum 30 & IMAX
 Ypsilanti - National Amusement Showcase Ann Arbor & IMAX
 Minnesota
 Apple Valley - Great Clips Imation IMAX
 Edina - Southdale 16 with IMAX
 Roseville - AMC Rosedale 14 & IMAX
 Missouri
 Independence - AMC Independence Commons 20 & IMAX
 Kansas City - AMC BarryWoods 24 & IMAX
 Nevada
 Henderson - Regal Sunset Station Stadium 13 & IMAX
 Las Vegas - Brenden Palms 13 + IMAX
 Las Vegas - Regal Red Rock Stadium 16 & IMAX
 North Las Vegas - Regal Aliante Stadium 16 & IMAX
 New Hampshire
 Hooksett - Cinemagic & IMAX in Hooksett
 New Jersey
 Atlantic City - IMAX & the Tropicana
 Cherry Hill - AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24 & IMAX
 Elizabeth - Jersey Gardens 20
 Hamilton - AMC Hamilton 24 & IMAX
 New Brunswick - Loews New Brunswick 18 with IMAX
 Paramus - Garden State 16
 Rockaway - Rockaway 16 with IMAX
 New York
 Albany - Regal Crossgates Mall 18 & IMAX
 Brooklyn - Sheepshead Bay 14 with IMAX
 Deer Park - Deer Park Stadium 16 and IMAX
 New Rochelle - New Roc City Stadium 18 + IMAX
 New York City - Empire 25 & IMAX
 New York City - AMC Loews 34th Street 14 & IMAX
 New York City - AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX
 Rochester - Tinseltown 16 + IMAX
 Stony Brook - AMC Stony Brook 17 & IMAX
 West Nyack - IMAX Theatre at Palisades Center
 White Plains - City Center 15 IMAX
 Williamsville - Transit Center Stadium 18 + IMAX
 North Carolina
 Charlotte - Regal Stonecrest At Piper Glen Stadium 22 & IMAX
 Concord - AMC Concord Mills 24 & IMAX
 Raleigh - Wachovia IMAX Theatre
 Ohio
 Columbus - Easton Town Center 30 & IMAX
 Columbus - Lennox Town Center 24 with IMAX
 Oklahoma
 Oklahoma City - Quail Springs 24
 Tulsa - Cinemark 17 + IMAX
 Oregon
 Tigard - Regal Bridgeport Village Stadium 18 & IMAX
 Pennsylvania
 Bensalem - AMC Neshaminy 24 & IMAX
 Homestead - AMC Waterfront 22 & IMAX
 King of Prussia - UA King of Prussia Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Reading - RC Reading Movies 11 + IMAX
 Tarentum - Pittsburgh Mills Mall 17 + IMAX
 Rhode Island
 Providence - Providence Place Cinemas 16 & IMAX
 South Carolina
 Charleston - Southeast Cinemas
 Tennessee
 Knoxville - Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 at Turkey Creek
 Nashville - Regal Opry Mills 20 & IMAX
 Texas
 Austin - IMAX Theater Austin - Bob Bullock
 Colleyville - Colleyville Cinema Grille & IMAX
 Dallas - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Cinemark 17
 Frisco - Stonebriar 24 with IMAX
 Garland - AMC Firewheel 18 & IMAX
 Houston - AMC Gulf Pointe 30 & IMAX
 Houston - Edwards Houston Marq*e 23 & IMAX
 Mesquite - AMC Mesquite 30 & IMAX
 San Antonio - Santikos Palladium 18 IMAX Theatre
 Sugar Land - AMC First Colony 24 & IMAX
 Tomball - Silverado 19 IMAX
 Utah
 Sandy - Jordan Commons 16 + IMAX
 Virginia
 Alexandria - AMC Hoffman Center 22 & IMAX
 Hampton - Hampton Towne Centre 24 with IMAX
 Hampton - VASC IMAX Theatre
 Midlothian - Regal Commonwealth 20 & IMAX
 Virginia Beach - AMC Lynnhaven 18 & IMAX
 Woodbridge - AMC Potomac Mills 18 & IMAX
 Washington
 Bellevue - Lincoln Square Cinemas IMAX Theatre
 Kent - Kent Station 14 with IMAX
 Lacey - Regal Martin Village Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Seattle - Boeing IMAX - Pacific Science Center
 Seattle - Regal Thornton Place Stadium 14 & IMAX
 Spokane - River Park Square 20 with IMAX
 Tukwila - AMC Southcenter 16 & IMAX
 Wisconsin
 Fitchburg - Kerasotes Star 18 & IMAX
 Wauwatosa - Mayfair Mall 18 with IMAX

 CANADA
 Alberta
 Calgary - Cineplex Scotiabank Theatre Chinook IMAX Theatre
 Edmonton - Cineplex Scotiabank West Edmonton Mall IMAX Theatre
 British Columbia
 Langley - Cineplex Colossus Langley IMAX Theatre
 Richmond - Cineplex SilverCity Riverport IMAX Theatre
 Nova Scotia
 Halifax - Empire 17 & IMAX Theatre
 Ontario
 Gloucester - Cineplex SilverCity Gloucester IMAX Theatre
 Mississauga - Cineplex Coliseum Mississauga IMAX Theatre
 Toronto - Scotiabank Theatre Toronto & IMAX
 Woodbridge - Cineplex Colossus Woodbridge IMAX Theatre
 Quebec
 Montreal - Cineplex Scotiabank Theatre Montreal IMAX Theatre
 Quebec City - IMAX Le Theatre At Quebec


 INTERNATIONAL
 Argentina
 Buenos Aires - IMAX Showcase Norte*
 Australia
 Melbourne - Highpoint Hoyts IMAX^
 Melbourne - Melbourne Museum IMAX^
 Perth - Carousel Hoyts IMAX^
 Sydney - Entertainment Quarter Hoyts IMAX^
 Sydney - LG IMAX Theatre Sydney^
 Austria
 Graz - Cineplexx 8055 Graz
 Vienna - Cineplexx Apollo Das Kino
 Brazil
 Curitiba - Palladium Shopping Center IMAX
 Sao Paolo - Bourbon Shopping Center Espaco Unibanco Pompeia IMAX
 Bulgaria
 Sofia - Mtel IMAX
 China
 Beijing - Beijing UME Huaxing Cineplex*
 Beijing - Shijingshan Wanda Cinema*
 Beijing - China National Film Museum*
 Changchun - Changchun IMAX Theatre*
 Changsha - Changsha IMAX Theatre*
 Dongguan - Dongguan Wanda Theatre*
 Kunming - Kunming Broadway IMAX Theatre*
 Shanghai - Shanghai Peace IMAX*
 Tianjin - China Film Cinema IMAX Theatre*
 Wuhan - Studio City Wuhan*
 Wuxi - SUC Wuxi IMAX*
 Colombia
 Bogota - Centro Commercial Plaza de las Americas
 Costa Rica
 San Jose - Centro Comercial Avenida Escazu Cine IMAX
 Czech Republic
 Prague - Oskar IMAX Palace Flora^
 France
 Paris - Gaumont Disney Village^
 Germany
 Berlin - CineStar Potsdamer Platz IMAX 3D^
 Guatemala
 Guatemala City - Pradera Concepcion
 Hong Kong
 Kowloon - UA MegaBox IMAX Theatre^
 Hong Kong SAR - I Square - Lark Intl. Multimedia Ltd.^
 Hungary
 Budapest - Cinema City Arena IMAX Hungary^
 India
 Hyderabad - Prasad IMAX Theatre*
 Mumbai - Big Cinemas IMAX Theatre*
 Japan
 Kanagawa - 109 Cinemas Kawasaki*
 Minoh - 109 Cinemas Minoh*
 Nagoya - 109 Cinemas Nagoya*
 Saitama - 109 Cinemas Shobu*
 Korea
 Daegu - CGV Daegu^
 Gwangju - CGV Gwangju^
 Ilsan - CGV Ilsan^
 Seoul - CGV Wangsipni^
 Seoul - CGV Yongsan^
 Kuwait
 Safat - 360 Shopping Mall - Kuwait National Cinema Company^
 Mexico
 Guadalajara - Cinepolis Galerias^
 Juarez - Cinepolis Las Misiones Cd. Juarez IMAX Theatre^
 Mexico City - Cinepolis Perisur IMAX Theatre^
 Mexico City - Cinepolis Universidad IMAX Theatre^
 Monterrey - Galerias Valle Oriente^
 Toluca - Cinepolis Galerias Metepec IMAX Theatre^
 Netherlands
 Amsterdam - Pathe Arena^
 Rotterdam - Pathe Schouwburgplein^
 New Zealand
 Auckland - SKYCITY IMAX Queen Street^
 Philippines
 Manila - San Miguel Coca-Cola IMAX^
 Manila - SM City North Edsa Mall IMAX^
 Poland
 Katowice - Orange IMAX Katowice*
 Krakow - Orance IMAX Krakow*
 Lodz - Orange IMAX Manufaktura*
 Poznan - Poznan IMAX*
 Warsaw - Orange IMAX Sabyda*
 Qatar
 Doha - Villagio Shipping Mall IMAX^
 Romania
 Bucharest - Cinema City IMAX Bucharest^
 Russia
 Moscow - KinoStar City @ Mega Belaya Dacha^
 Moscow - Nescafe IMAX^
 Perm - Kristall IMAX^
 St. Petersburg - Coca-Cola IMAX Kinostar City^
 Ufa - ZAO Kompaniya Perspektiva Ufa IMAX Theatre^
 South Africa
 Durban - Gateway IMAX
 Pretoria - Menlyn IMAX
 Taiwan
 Taipei - Samsung IMAX Theatre Miramar Cinema
 Taipei - Viewshow
 Thailand
 Bangkok - KrungSri IMAX Siam Paragon^
 Turkey
 Istanbul - AFM IMAX Istinye Park
 UK
 Birmingham - Birmingham IMAX Millennium Point^
 Bradford - National Media Museum IMAX Bradford^
 Cardiff - Cardiff^
 Gateshead - Metrocentre^
 Glasgow - Glasgow Science Centre IMAX Cinema^
 Greenwich - ODEON Greenwich IMAX^
 London - BFI London IMAX Cinema^
 Manchester - Manchester IMAX @ The Printworks^
 Wimbledon - ODEON Wimbledon IMAX^
 Ukraine
 Kiev - Utel IMAX Theatre^
 United Arab Emirates
 Dubai - Grand Megaplex 21 & IMAX^

 ^ denotes earlier launch  *denotes later launch

Additional theatres will be confirmed. Please check local listings or IMAX.com for final theatre listings, launch dates and showtimes.

About IMAX Corporation

IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies, specializing in immersive 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 3D, and IMAX DMR technology. IMAX DMR is the Company's groundbreaking digital re-mastering technology that allows it to digitally transform virtually any conventional motion picture 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 for consumers. As of September 30, 2009, there were 403 IMAX theatres (280 commercial, 123 institutional) operating in 44 countries.

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

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).

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 ongoing discussions with the SEC and OSC relating to their ongoing inquiries and the Company's accounting, the performance of films, the signing of theatre system agreements, the viability of new technologies, businesses and products, 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, risks arising from potential material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and fluctuations in foreign currency and in the large format, general commercial exhibition and out-of-home entertainment markets. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

CONTACT:  IMAX Corporation, New York
          Media:
          Sarah Gormley
            212-821-0155
            [email protected]
          Investors:
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            212-821-0121
            [email protected]

          Rogers & Cowan, Los Angeles
          Entertainment Media:
          Jason Magner
          310-854-8128

          Sloane & Company, New York
          Business Media:
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          212-446-1864
          [email protected]