LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures today announced that Disney's A Christmas Carol, the spectacular Disney Digital 3D(TM) holiday release from director Robert Zemeckis and starring Jim Carrey, crossed the $20 million mark at IMAX(R) theatres during Thanksgiving weekend. The IMAX release grossed $3.3 million from 182 IMAX theatres domestically during the weekend from November 27 through November 29, 2009 -- a noteworthy 53% increase over the previous weekend -- registering 21% of the film's total domestic fourth-weekend gross of $15.9 million on approximately 3% of the screens. The film's domestic IMAX total is now at $16.5 million.
Internationally, the IMAX release continued to build momentum during its fourth weekend, with an estimated gross of over $1 million, bringing the film's IMAX global cume to $20.8 million.
Commenting on the announcement, Bob Chapek, president, Distribution, The Walt Disney Studios, said, "We have been watching IMAX releases demonstrate strong box office legs over the years and it's great to be a part of it for this wonderful holiday movie."
"The 53 percent increase over last weekend demonstrates how The IMAX Experience(R) can add event status to an already exciting movie," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "It's great to see momentum continue as we head into the final three weeks of the run, and we're pleased that this momentum includes international markets -- particularly Russia, which has grossed an estimated $600,000 on three screens in just ten days."
"This weekend's significant box office increase is encouraging as we head into the final stretch," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "Moviegoers around the world only have three more weeks left to experience the unique and magical combination of Robert Zemeckis, IMAX(R) 3D and Disney."
Disney's A Christmas Carol: An IMAX 3D Experience has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology.
Robert Zemeckis takes the art of performance capture to the next level with Disney's A Christmas Carol. This multi-sensory 3D motion picture captures the fantastical essence of the classic Dickens tale in a groundbreaking motion picture event. Ebeneezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk (Gary Oldman), and his cheery nephew (Colin Firth). But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come (all played by Carrey) take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it's too late.
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 September 30, 2009, there were 403 IMAX theatres (280 commercial, 123 institutional) operating in 44 countries.
IMAX(R), IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX DMR(R), Experience It In IMAX(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).
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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.