Highlights Include:
* 17 of the top 20 locations included IMAX(R) theatres
* Film marks biggest September opening for IMAX
* Sony Pictures Animation family film opens #1 with $30.4 million
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 21, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) today announced that Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs opened with strong box office results, generating approximately $2.4 million from 127 IMAX(R) theatres during the weekend from Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20, marking the biggest September opening for an IMAX release. The IMAX(R) 3D locations generated a per screen average of approximately $20,000.
The film was released in 3,119 locations and was the #1 film of the weekend, earning a total of $30.4 million. The majority of the film's bookings were in 3D.
The version of the film playing in 127 IMAX(R) 3D locations was digitally re-mastered from Sony Pictures Animation's Stereoscopic 3D master into the state-of-the-art image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-Mastering) technology.
Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs is an adaptation of the bestselling children's book written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett. The film was written for the screen and directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord. The film is produced by Pam Marsden.
"Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs is a fantastic family film that is resonating with moviegoers who are clearly taking advantage of the opportunity to experience the film in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D," said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide theatrical distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment.
"We're very pleased with how the film opened, especially for this time of year," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "Given the positive word of mouth and the fact that family films typically show strong legs in IMAX, we believe it will continue to have a good run in 2D and 3D formats."
"This is our biggest September opening, and we're happy to see that 17 of the top 20 grossing locations included IMAX theatres," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We congratulate our partners at Sony and look forward to entertaining moviegoers with this fun family 3D adventure over the next few weeks."
Columbia Pictures' and Sony Pictures Animation's Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs is inspired by the beloved children's book, and focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain.
Bill Hader, star of "Saturday Night Live" and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, will voice Flint Lockwood, a young inventor who dreams of creating something that will improve everyone's life. Anna Faris, who recently turned heads as the star of the comedy hit The House Bunny, takes on the role of Sam Sparks, a weathergirl covering the phenomenon who hides her intelligence behind a perky exterior. James Caan plays Tim Lockwood, Flint's technophobic father. Andy Samberg plays Brent, the town bully who has plagued Flint since childhood. Bruce Campbell plays Mayor Shelbourne, who figures out that Flint's invention can put the town, and more importantly himself, on the map and Mr. T plays the by-the-rules town cop Earl Devereaux. The film also features the vocal talent of Neil Patrick Harris.
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, 2009, there were 394 IMAX theatres (273 commercial, 121 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, IMAXDMR(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/imaxnews) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
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 100 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.
About Sony Pictures Animation
Sony Pictures Animation exemplifies the next generation of CGI storytelling to produce a variety of animated entertainment for audiences around the world. Sony Pictures Animation is developing a full slate of films including the mouth-watering 3D comedy Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs now in production for a September 2009 release, in pre-production on Hotel Transylvania and in pre-production in association with Columbia Pictures on The Smurfs Movie. In 2007, Surf's Up, was nominated for an Academy Award(R) for Best Animated Feature and won two Annie Awards. The company's first film, Open Season, was a box office success and the #2 DVD title of the year for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Its sequel, Open Season 2, released in 2009, was an international family hit. Sony Pictures Animation is an operating unit of Sony Pictures Digital Productions.
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.