LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) and Twentieth Century Fox today announced that James Cameron's Avatar will open in 178 IMAX(R) theatres domestically on December 18, 2009, simultaneously with the motion picture's premiere in conventional theatres. The IMAX(R) 3D release will also open in 83 IMAX theatres internationally starting on December 16th, for a total of 261 theatres, making this the Company's widest release to date.
Avatar is directed and written by Academy Award Winner James Cameron and stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver. Avatar has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R).
"Our goal with Avatar is to revolutionize live-action 3D moviemaking, and it looks and sounds incredible in IMAX 3D," said director James Cameron. "The larger field of view and powerful surround sound of an IMAX theatre will immerse the audience in a way that cannot be experienced anywhere else."
"This movie represents the essence of The IMAX Experience, which is to transport people to places they normally couldn't go," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "Moviegoers can experience this movie in IMAX 3D in more theatres than ever before, and we're already seeing strong pre-sales and sold out shows beyond opening weekend."
"James Cameron is a genius filmmaker. His vision and 3D expertise has made Avatar a natural fit for IMAX," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "Every aspect of this film was meticulously designed for 3D, so when audiences experience this revolutionary film in an IMAX 3D theatre, they will feel as if they are actually IN the movie."
Avatar is the story of an ex-Marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people. More than ten years in the making, Avatar marks Cameron's return to feature directing since helming 1997's Titanic, the highest grossing film of all time and winner of eleven Oscars(r) including Best Picture. WETA Digital, renowned for its work in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and King Kong, will incorporate new intuitive CGI technologies to transform the environments and characters into photorealistic 3D imagery that will transport the audience into the alien world rich with imaginative vistas, creatures and characters.
Avatar: An IMAX 3D Experience is scheduled to play day-and-date at the following IMAX(R) Theatres beginning December 18th.
UNITED STATES Arizona Mesa - Dickinson Gateway 12 IMAX Theatre Phoenix - AMC Deer Valley 30 with IMAX Phoenix - AMC Desert Ridge 18 with IMAX Tempe - Harkins IMAX at Arizona Mills Arkansas Little Rock - Dickinson Chenal 9 IMAX Theatre California Alhambra - Edwards Renaissance Stadium 14 + IMAX Aliso Viejo - Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20 & IMAX Anaheim - CinemaFusion 14 + IMAX Arcadia - AMC Santa Anita 16 & IMAX Burbank - AMC Burbank 30 & IMAX Camarillo - Edwards Camarillo Palace Stadium 12 & IMAX Cathedral City - Desert IMAX Theatre Covina - AMC Covina 30 with IMAX Cupertino - AMC Cupertino 16 & IMAX Dublin - Regal Hacienda Crossings Stadium 21 & 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 Fresno - Fresno Stadium 21 + IMAX Irvine - Edwards Irvine Spectrum IMAX Long Beach - Edwards Long Beach 26 & IMAX Los Angeles - AMC Century City 15 & IMAX Los Angeles - IMAX Theatre at The Bridge: cinema de lux Los Angeles - AMC Universal CityWalk Stadium 19 with IMAX National City - AMC Plaza Bonita 14 & IMAX Ontario - Edwards Ontario Palace 22 & IMAX Riverside - AMC Tyler Galleria 16 with IMAX Rowland Heights - AMC Puente Hills 20 with IMAX Sacramento - Esquire IMAX San Diego - AMC Palm Promenade 24 & IMAX San Diego - Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 & IMAX San Francisco - AMC Loews Metreon 16 with 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 Temecula - Temecula Stadium15 Torrance - AMC Del Amo 18 & IMAX Woodland Hills - AMC Promenade 16 & IMAX Colorado Colorado Springs - Carefree Circle 16 + IMAX Denver - UA Colorado Center Stadium 8 & IMAX Highlands Ranch - AMC Highlands Ranch 24 & IMAX Westminster - AMC Orchard 12 & IMAX Westminster - AMC Westminster Promenade 24 & IMAX Connecticut Manchester - IMAX Theatre at Cinema de Lux Buckland Hills 18 Florida Altamonte Springs - AMC Altamonte Mall 18 & IMAX Aventura - AMC Aventura 24 & IMAX Fort Myers - Regal Gulf Coast Town Center Stadium 16 & IMAX Ft. Lauderdale - AutoNation IMAX - MODS Jacksonville - AMC Regency 24 & IMAX Oldsmar - Woodlands Square 20 with IMAX Orange Park - AMC Orange Park 24 & IMAX Orlando - AMC Loews Universal Cineplex 20 & IMAX Orlando - Regal Waterford Lakes Stadium 20 & IMAX Orlando - Pointe Orlando 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 Buford - Mall Of Georgia Stadium 20 + IMAX Kennesaw - AMC Barrett Commons 24 & IMAX Morrow - AMC Southlake Pavilion 24 & IMAX Hawaii Honolulu - Regal Dole Cannery 18 & IMAX Idaho Boise - Edwards Boise Stadium 22 & IMAX Illinois Batava - Randall 14 + IMAX Chicago - Navy Pier IMAX Theatre Hodgkins - Loews Quarry Cinemas 14 with IMAX Lincolnshire - Lincolnshire Stadium 20 + IMAX South Barrington - AMC Barrington 30 & IMAX Woodridge - Cinemark 16 + IMAX Indiana Evansville - Showplace East 18 + IMAX Indianapolis - Showplace 16 + IMAX Noblesville - Hamilton 16 IMAX Portage - Portage 15 + IMAX Iowa Council Bluffs - Kerasotes Star Cinemas 16 & IMAX Kansas Olathe - AMC Studio 30 & IMAX Kentucky Newport - Newport Levee 20 with IMAX Louisiana Harahan - Elmwood Palace 20 with 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 Natick - Jordan's Furniture IMAX - Natick Reading - IMAX 3D Theatre in Reading - Jordan's Furn Michigan Auburn Hills -Lakes 25 with IMAX Grand Blanc - NCG Trillium Cinema + IMAX Grand Rapids - Celebration! Cinema IMAX Theatre Livonia - Livonia 20 Sterling Heights - AMC Forum 30 & IMAX Ypsilanti - National Amusement Showcase Ann Arbor & IMAX Minnesota Apple Valley - Great Clips Imation IMAX Edina - Southdale 16 with IMAX 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 - Brenden Palms 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 Atlantic City - IMAX & the Tropicana Cherry Hill - AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24 & IMAX Elizabeth - Jersey Gardens 20 Hamilton - AMC Hamilton 24 & IMAX New Brunswick - Loews New Brunswick 18 with IMAX Paramus - Garden State 16 Rockaway - Rockaway 16 with IMAX New York Albany - Regal Crossgates Mall 18 & IMAX Brooklyn - Sheepshead Bay 14 with IMAX Deer Park - Deer Park Stadium 16 and IMAX New Rochelle - New Roc City Stadium 18 + IMAX New York City - Empire 25 & IMAX New York City - AMC Loews 34th Street 14 & IMAX New York City - AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX Rochester - Tinseltown 16 + IMAX Stony Brook - AMC Stony Brook 17 & IMAX West Nyack - IMAX Theatre at Palisades Center White Plains - City Center 15 IMAX Williamsville - Transit Center Stadium 18 + IMAX North Carolina Charlotte - Regal Stonecrest At Piper Glen Stadium 22 & IMAX Concord - AMC Concord Mills 24 & IMAX Raleigh - Wachovia IMAX Theatre Ohio Columbus - Easton Town Center 30 & IMAX Columbus - Lennox Town Center 24 with IMAX Oklahoma Oklahoma City - Quail Springs 24 Tulsa - Cinemark 17 + IMAX Oregon Tigard - Regal Bridgeport Village Stadium 18 & IMAX Pennsylvania Bensalem - AMC Neshaminy 24 & IMAX Homestead - AMC Waterfront 22 & IMAX King of Prussia - UA King of Prussia Stadium 16 & IMAX Reading - RC Reading Movies 11 + IMAX Tarentum - Pittsburgh Mills Mall 17 + IMAX Rhode Island Providence - Providence Place Cinemas 16 & IMAX South Carolina Charleston - Southeast Cinemas Tennessee Knoxville - Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 at Turkey Creek Nashville - Regal Opry Mills 20 & IMAX Texas Austin - IMAX Theater Austin - Bob Bullock Colleyville - Colleyville Cinema Grille & IMAX Dallas - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Cinemark 17 Frisco - Stonebriar 24 with IMAX Garland - AMC Firewheel 18 & IMAX Houston - AMC Gulf Pointe 30 & IMAX Houston - Edwards Houston Marq*e 23 & IMAX Mesquite - AMC Mesquite 30 & IMAX San Antonio - Santikos Palladium 18 IMAX Theatre Sugar Land - AMC First Colony 24 & IMAX Tomball - Silverado 19 IMAX Utah Sandy - Jordan Commons 16 + IMAX Virginia Alexandria - AMC Hoffman Center 22 & IMAX Hampton - Hampton Towne Centre 24 with IMAX Hampton - VASC IMAX Theatre 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 - Kent Station 14 with IMAX Lacey - Regal Martin Village Stadium 16 & IMAX Seattle - Boeing IMAX - Pacific Science Center Seattle - Regal Thornton Place Stadium 14 & IMAX Spokane - River Park Square 20 with IMAX Tukwila - AMC Southcenter 16 & IMAX Wisconsin Fitchburg - Kerasotes Star 18 & IMAX Wauwatosa - Mayfair Mall 18 with IMAX CANADA Alberta Calgary - Cineplex Scotiabank Theatre Chinook IMAX Theatre Edmonton - Cineplex Scotiabank West Edmonton Mall IMAX Theatre British Columbia Langley - Cineplex Colossus Langley IMAX Theatre Richmond - Cineplex SilverCity Riverport IMAX Theatre Nova Scotia Halifax - Empire 17 & IMAX Theatre Ontario Gloucester - Cineplex SilverCity Gloucester IMAX Theatre Mississauga - Cineplex Coliseum Mississauga IMAX Theatre Toronto - Scotiabank Theatre Toronto & IMAX Woodbridge - Cineplex Colossus Woodbridge IMAX Theatre Quebec Montreal - Cineplex Scotiabank Theatre Montreal IMAX Theatre Quebec City - IMAX Le Theatre At Quebec INTERNATIONAL Argentina Buenos Aires - IMAX Showcase Norte* Australia Melbourne - Highpoint Hoyts IMAX^ Melbourne - Melbourne Museum IMAX^ Perth - Carousel Hoyts IMAX^ Sydney - Entertainment Quarter Hoyts IMAX^ Sydney - LG IMAX Theatre Sydney^ 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 Bulgaria Sofia - Mtel IMAX China Beijing - Beijing UME Huaxing Cineplex* Beijing - Shijingshan Wanda Cinema* Beijing - China National Film Museum* Changchun - Changchun IMAX Theatre* Changsha - Changsha IMAX Theatre* Dongguan - Dongguan Wanda Theatre* Kunming - Kunming Broadway IMAX Theatre* Shanghai - Shanghai Peace IMAX* Tianjin - China Film Cinema IMAX Theatre* Wuhan - Studio City Wuhan* Wuxi - SUC Wuxi IMAX* Colombia Bogota - Centro Commercial Plaza de las Americas Costa Rica San Jose - Centro Comercial Avenida Escazu Cine IMAX Czech Republic Prague - Oskar IMAX Palace Flora^ France Paris - Gaumont Disney Village^ Germany Berlin - CineStar Potsdamer Platz IMAX 3D^ Guatemala Guatemala City - Pradera Concepcion Hong Kong Kowloon - UA MegaBox IMAX Theatre^ Hong Kong SAR - I Square - Lark Intl. Multimedia Ltd.^ Hungary Budapest - Cinema City Arena IMAX Hungary^ India Hyderabad - Prasad IMAX Theatre* Mumbai - Big Cinemas IMAX Theatre* Japan Kanagawa - 109 Cinemas Kawasaki* Minoh - 109 Cinemas Minoh* Nagoya - 109 Cinemas Nagoya* Saitama - 109 Cinemas Shobu* Korea Daegu - CGV Daegu^ Gwangju - CGV Gwangju^ Ilsan - CGV Ilsan^ Seoul - CGV Wangsipni^ Seoul - CGV Yongsan^ Kuwait Safat - 360 Shopping Mall - Kuwait National Cinema Company^ Mexico Guadalajara - Cinepolis Galerias^ Juarez - Cinepolis Las Misiones Cd. Juarez IMAX Theatre^ Mexico City - Cinepolis Perisur IMAX Theatre^ Mexico City - Cinepolis Universidad IMAX Theatre^ Monterrey - Galerias Valle Oriente^ Toluca - Cinepolis Galerias Metepec IMAX Theatre^ Netherlands Amsterdam - Pathe Arena^ Rotterdam - Pathe Schouwburgplein^ New Zealand Auckland - SKYCITY IMAX Queen Street^ Philippines Manila - San Miguel Coca-Cola IMAX^ Manila - SM City North Edsa Mall IMAX^ Poland Katowice - Orange IMAX Katowice* Krakow - Orance IMAX Krakow* Lodz - Orange IMAX Manufaktura* Poznan - Poznan IMAX* Warsaw - Orange IMAX Sabyda* Qatar Doha - Villagio Shipping Mall IMAX^ Romania Bucharest - Cinema City IMAX Bucharest^ Russia Moscow - KinoStar City @ Mega Belaya Dacha^ Moscow - Nescafe IMAX^ Perm - Kristall IMAX^ St. Petersburg - Coca-Cola IMAX Kinostar City^ Ufa - ZAO Kompaniya Perspektiva Ufa IMAX Theatre^ South Africa Durban - Gateway IMAX Pretoria - Menlyn IMAX Taiwan Taipei - Samsung IMAX Theatre Miramar Cinema Taipei - Viewshow Thailand Bangkok - KrungSri IMAX Siam Paragon^ Turkey Istanbul - AFM IMAX Istinye Park UK Birmingham - Birmingham IMAX Millennium Point^ Bradford - National Media Museum IMAX Bradford^ Cardiff - Cardiff^ Gateshead - Metrocentre^ Glasgow - Glasgow Science Centre IMAX Cinema^ Greenwich - ODEON Greenwich IMAX^ London - BFI London IMAX Cinema^ Manchester - Manchester IMAX @ The Printworks^ Wimbledon - ODEON Wimbledon IMAX^ Ukraine Kiev - Utel IMAX Theatre^ United Arab Emirates Dubai - Grand Megaplex 21 & IMAX^ ^ denotes earlier launch *denotes later launch
Additional theatres will be confirmed. Please check local listings or IMAX.com for final theatre listings, launch dates and showtimes.
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.
The IMAX Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6469
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).
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.