LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ:
IMAX; TSX: IMX) and Twentieth Century Fox today announced that The Day The
Earth Stood Still, which opened number one at the domestic box office,
generated an estimated $31 million, with 123 IMAX(R) theatres contributing
approximately $3.7 million to http://ecmisapp:9090/editor/blockedit.HTM#the
domestic total. From Friday, December 12, through Sunday December 14, the IMAX
release generated an impressive per screen average of approximately $30,000.
Included in the weekend's performance were 38 locations equipped with IMAX's
new digital projection technology. The film also had a strong international
opening, grossing $532,000 from 20 IMAX screens, and it will ultimately play
on 26 international IMAX screens in the weeks to come.
"We're very happy with the film's overall performance for the weekend and,
with 19 of the top 20 engagements having IMAX screens, its clear that more
moviegoers are taking advantage of The IMAX Experience(R) to make the film an
extra special event," said Bruce Snyder, President, Domestic Distribution,
Twentieth Century Fox. "We look forward to its continued success in both
conventional and IMAX theatres throughout the holiday season."
"This strong opening demonstrates that people are still going to the
movies and are willing to pay a premium ticket price for The IMAX Experience,
despite the economic downturn," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L.
Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "Twentieth Century Fox has once again
delivered a box office winner during the holiday season, and we're very
pleased with the initial results at IMAX theatres. We're particularly happy
with the performance of our new joint venture digital locations, which are
gaining a lot of traction, given the rapid pace of the rollout."
"The exciting action and stunning visual effects in The Day the Earth
Stood Still are very conducive to The IMAX Experience and, as a result,
Twentieth Century Fox has enabled the IMAX network to be part of another
number-one debuting movie at the box office," said Greg Foster, Chairman and
President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The combination of the studio's
well-executed marketing and distribution plan,, the film's appeal to the
tech-savvy 15-30 year-old demographic and the larger footprint of IMAX
theatres is proving to be an effective draw, which we believe bodes well for
the IMAX network as we head into 2009."
In THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, a contemporary reinvention of the 1951
science fiction classic, renowned scientist Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer
Connelly) finds herself face to face with an alien called Klaatu (Keanu
Reeves), who travels across the universe to warn of an impending global
crisis. When forces beyond Helen's control treat the extraterrestrial as a
hostile and deny his request to address the world's leaders, she and her
estranged stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith) quickly discover the deadly
ramifications of Klaatu's claim that he is "a friend to the Earth." Now Helen
must find a way to convince the entity who was sent to destroy us that mankind
is worth saving - but it may be too late. The process has begun.
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 movie presentations using
proprietary IMAX, IMAX(R) 3D, and IMAX DMR(R), 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. 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, 2008,
there were 320 IMAX theatres operating in 42 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'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.
SOURCE: IMAX Corporation 12/15/2008
CONTACT: Media: IMAX Corporation,
New York, Sarah Gormley,
(212)
821-0144, [email protected]
Twentieth Century Fox, Los Angeles,
Gregg
Brilliant, (310) 369-5634, [email protected]
Investors: IMAX
Corporation - New York, Heather Anthony, (212) 821-0121, [email protected]
Entertainment Media: Rogers & Cowan, Los Angeles,
Jason Magner, (310)
854-8128, [email protected]
Zoomwerks,
Warren Betts, (626) 836-2080,
[email protected]
(IMAX IMX.)
CO: IMAX Corporation