LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) and Sony Pictures Releasing today announced that the highly-anticipated motion picture Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT will open in digital IMAX(R) theatres on October 28, 2009. The limited IMAX release will run domestically during evening show times in 96 IMAX digital theatres. In addition, the movie will run a full show schedule in 27 of the Company's international digital locations.
Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT has been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. A key part of the IMAX DMR process includes re-mastering the soundtrack to take advantage of IMAX's 14,000 watt digital audio system. IMAX sound has 10 times more dynamic range than systems in conventional theatres, eliminates distortion and provides a sound quality that feels more immersive, especially with added acoustic paneling that absorbs sound and removes echo. This unparalleled sound experience combined with IMAX's crystal-clear images and customized theatre geometry create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are actually attending a Michael Jackson performance.
"There is already significant buzz surrounding the film and we're so pleased that moviegoers in domestic and international markets will now have the chance to experience it in IMAX," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "Our partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment is growing, as is the IMAX theatre network, and we're looking forward to continued success with Sony as we open more theatres and release more films."
"Moviegoers will be able to hear the talent of Michael Jackson, with the film's digitally re-mastered soundtrack pumping through IMAX's powerful audio system," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The IMAX release cranks up the event status of this unique film even more."
Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this past summer in London's O2 Arena. Covering the months from March through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than 120 hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing numerous songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at Jackson as he has never been seen before. In raw and candid detail, Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT is the last documentation of Michael Jackson in action, capturing the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius, and great artist at work as he and his collaborators move toward their goals of London, the O2, and history. Kenny Ortega, who was both Michael Jackson's creative partner and the director of the stage show, is also directing the film, which is being produced by Randy Phillips, Kenny Ortega and Paul Gongaware. Executive producers are John Branca and John McClain. The film will be distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Releasing. For more information about the film please visit www.thisisit-movie.com.
Michael Jackson's This is It: The IMAX Experience is scheduled to play day-and-date at the following IMAX(R) Theatres beginning October 28th.
UNITED STATES Arizona Mesa - Dickinson Gateway 12 IMAX Theatre Phoenix - AMC Deer Valley 30 with IMAX Arkansas Little Rock - Dickinson Chenal 9 IMAX Theatre California Aliso Viejo - Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20 & IMAX Arcadia - AMC Santa Anita 16 & IMAX Burbank - AMC Burbank 16 & IMAX Camarillo - Edwards Camarillo Palace Stadium 12 & IMAX Covina - AMC Covina 30 with IMAX Cupertino - AMC Cupertino 16 & 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 Long Beach - Edwards Long Beach 26 & IMAX Los Angeles - AMC Century City 15 & IMAX National City - AMC Plaza Bonita 14 & IMAX Rowland Heights - AMC Puente Hills 20 with IMAX San Diego - AMC Palm Promenade 24 & IMAX San Diego - Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 & 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 Torrance - AMC Del Amo 18 & IMAX Woodland Hills - AMC Promenade 16 & IMAX Colorado Highlands Ranch - AMC Highlands Ranch 24 & IMAX Westminster - AMC Orchard 12 & IMAX Westminster - AMC Westminster Promenade 24 & IMAX Florida Altamonte Springs - AMC Altamonte Mall 18 & IMAX Aventura - AMC Aventura 24 & IMAX Fort Myers - Regal Gulf Coast Town Center Stadium 16 & IMAX Jacksonville - AMC Regency 24 & IMAX Orange Park - AMC Orange Park 24 & IMAX Orlando - Regal Waterford Lakes 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 Kennesaw - AMC Barrett Commons 24 & IMAX Morrow - AMC Southlake Pavilion 24 & IMAX Hawaii Honolulu - Regal Dole Cannery 18 & IMAX Illinois Hodgkins - Loews Quarry Cinemas 14 with IMAX South Barrington - AMC Barrington 30 & IMAX Indiana Indianapolis - Kerasotes ShowPlace 16 & IMAX Kansas Olathe - AMC Studio 30 & IMAX Kentucky Newport - AMC Newport On The Levee 20 & IMAX Louisiana Harahan - AMC Elmwood Palace 20 & 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 Michigan Auburn Hills - Star Great Lakes 25 with IMAX Livonia - Livonia 20 with IMAX Sterling Heights - AMC Forum 30 & IMAX Minnesota 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 - Regal Red Rock Stadium 16 & IMAX North Las Vegas - Regal Aliante Stadium 16 & IMAX New Hampshire Hooksett - Cinemagic & IMAX in Hooksett New Jersey Cherry Hill - AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24 & IMAX Hamilton - AMC Hamilton 24 & IMAX New Brunswick - Loews New Brunswick 18 with IMAX New York Albany - Regal Crossgates Mall 18 & IMAX Brooklyn - UA Sheepshead Bay Stadium 14 & IMAX Deer Park - Regal Deer Park Stadium 16 & IMAX New York City - AMC Loews 34th Street 14 & IMAX Stony Brook - AMC Stony Brook 17 & IMAX North Carolina Charlotte - Regal Stonecrest At Piper Glen Stadium 22 & IMAX Concord - AMC Concord Mills 24 & IMAX Ohio Columbus - AMC Easton Town Center 30 & IMAX Columbus - Lennox Town Center 24 with IMAX Oregon Tigard - Regal Bridgeport Village Stadium 18 & IMAX Pennsylvania Bensalem - AMC Neshaminy 24 & IMAX Homestead - AMC Waterfront 22 & IMAX Reading - RC Reading Movies 11 + IMAX South Carolina Charleston - Citadel Mall IMAX Stadium 16 Tennessee Knoxville - Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 at Turkey Creek Texas Frisco - Stonebriar 24 with IMAX Garland - AMC Firewheel 18 & IMAX Houston - AMC Gulf Pointe 30 & IMAX Mesquite - AMC Mesquite 30 & IMAX Sugar Land - AMC First Colony 24 & IMAX Virginia Alexandria - AMC Hoffman Center 22 & IMAX Hampton - Hampton Towne Centre 24 with IMAX 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 - AMC Kent Station & IMAX Lacey - Regal Martin Village Stadium 16 & IMAX Wisconsin Wauwatosa - Mayfair Mall 18 with IMAX INTERNATIONAL Australia Melbourne - Highpoint Hoyts IMAX Perth - Carousel Hoyts IMAX Sydney - Entertainment Quarter Hoyts IMAX 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 China Beijing - Shijingshan Wanda Cinema Changchun - Changchun IMAX Theatre Changsha - Changsha IMAX Theatre Kunming - Kunming Broadway IMAX Theatre India Mumbai - Big Cinemas IMAX Theatre Japan Kanagawa - 109 Cinemas Kawasaki Minoh - 109 Cinemas Minoh Saitama - 109 Cinemas Shobu Korea Gwangju - CGV Gwangju Mexico Juarez-Chihuahua - Cinepolis Las Misiones Ciudad Juarez Toluca - Cinepolis Galerias Metepec IMAX Theatre Philippines Manila - SM City North Edsa Mall IMAX Poland Lodz - Orange IMAX Manufaktura Qatar Doha - Villagio Shopping Mall IMAX Theatre Russia Moscow - KinoStar City @ Mega Belaya Dacha Taiwan Taipei - Vieshow Cinemas Taipei Sun IMAX UK Greenwich - ODEON Greenwich IMAX Wimbledon - ODEON Wimbledon IMAX Ukraine Kiev - Utel IMAX Theatre
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 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(r) 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.
IMAX(R), IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX DMR(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).
The IMAX Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6469
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.