LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) and Sony Pictures Releasing today announced that Resident Evil: Afterlife, the highly-anticipated fourth installment of the popular film series based on the video game, opened number one at the box office this weekend with 141 IMAX screens contributing $2.6 million of the film's $26.6 million overall domestic gross from 3200+ 2D and 3D screens for a domestic per screen average of approximately $18,500. Internationally, the IMAX release generated more than $1 million on 19 screens, with a per screen average of approximately $55,000. The global IMAX cume for the weekend was over $3.6 million, with a global per screen average of approximately $23,000.
"This is a solid opening performance, and we're pleased that Sony was able to offer Resident Evil fansa special IMAX release, which was made possible thanks to the growing network of digital IMAX locations," said IMAX's Chief Executive Office Richard L. Gelfond. "These results provide another testament to the winning combination of a film that is ideally suited to The IMAX Experience® and the loyal fan boy demographic. Resident Evil is the 20th consecutive number one film for IMAX theatres, further reinforcing the fact that studios are choosing to release their biggest event movies in IMAX, and we're proud of our track record of creating the best possible slate for IMAX fans."
"Sony has delivered another strong opening for IMAX theatres, and the results are solid across our entire network of digital IMAX locations," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We believe there is a real passion for Resident Evil in IMAX among fan boys worldwide, and we're looking forward to more of them experiencing the movie in IMAX as we open the film in additional digital locations internationally in the coming days."
Resident Evil: Afterlife was filmed in 3D, and the IMAX release has been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology for presentation in IMAX® 3D. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique immersive environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
About Resident Evil: Afterlife
In a world ravaged by a virus infection, turning its victims into the Undead, Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead - and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap. Written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, the film is produced by Jeremy Bolt, Paul W.S. Anderson, Robert Kulzer, Don Carmody, Bernd Eichinger, and Samuel Hadida. A Constantin Film International GmbH / Davis Films/Impact Pictures Inc. Production.
About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 130 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/">www.sonypictures.com.
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 June 30, 2010, there were 447 IMAX theatres (325 commercial, 122 institutional) operating in 47 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, An IMAX 3D Experience® and The IMAX Experience® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at http://www.imax.com/">www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/imax">www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/imaxnews">www.twitter.com/imaxnews) and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/imaxmovies">www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
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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.