LOS ANGELES, Aug. 3, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) and Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that the wide domestic release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: An IMAX 3D Experience opened with strong box office results, generating a five day total of approximately $4.7 million from 166 IMAX(R) theatres. The film's domestic three day weekend total is approximately $3.2 million, with a per screen average of approximately $19,000 from Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 2. The IMAX release contributed approximately 17% of the film's $18 million domestic weekend total. Nineteen of the top twenty and forty-seven out of the top fifty screens showing the film in North America during the weekend were IMAX locations.
The IMAX release also continued to perform well internationally, generating over $900,000 from 62 IMAX screens during its third weekend, bringing its international total to $8.4 million and the worldwide IMAX total to $14 million.
"The excitement surrounding the IMAX release, with exclusive scenes in IMAX(R) 3D, gave the film a big boost this weekend," said Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Picture's president of domestic distribution. "People who have already seen the film in regular theatres are seeing it a second and third time in IMAX to experience it in a completely different way."
"We're very pleased with the way the film opened domestically and the continued strong performance internationally," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "These results reinforce the winning combination of a beloved movie franchise, a top quality film, and The IMAX Experience(R)."
"Clearly a significant number of moviegoers and Potter fans were either waiting to experience the film in IMAX or they returned to IMAX theatres to see it again," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The exclusive scenes in IMAX 3D, combined with a spot on marketing campaign by Warner Bros. have helped deliver strong initial results, with IMAX tickets representing approximately one out of every five tickets sold for the film during the weekend."
In IMAX 3D theatres, the film features approximately 12 minutes of the movie's explosive opening sequence exclusively in live-action IMAX 3D, a special element fans last enjoyed in the final fight scene in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 2007.
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 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(R). The IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of March 31, 2009, there were 371 IMAX theatres (250 commercial, 121 institutional) operating in 43 countries.
IMAX(R), IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX(R) DMR, The 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/imaxnews) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
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