LOS ANGELES, July 20, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX), Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures today announced that Inception, written and directed by Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight") and starring multiple Oscar® nominee Leonardo DiCaprio ("Blood Diamond," "The Aviator"), generated gross box office receipts of approximately $7.2 million from 197 IMAX® theatres domestically from Friday, July 16 through Sunday, July 18, for an estimated per screen average of $36,500. The film also opened strong in IMAX theatres internationally, generating approximately $800,000 from 22 screens. The film is still scheduled to open on an additional 46 IMAX screens internationally in the days and weeks ahead.
Inception, a contemporary sci-fi action film that travels around the globe and into the infinite and intimate world of dreams, has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with IMAX DMR® technology.
"Chris Nolan and IMAX have once again proven to be ideally suited to each other," said Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures' president of domestic distribution. "There's great word-of-mouth about this title, and we are delighted that the larger IMAX network is enabling even more fans to experience Inception in this immersive format."
"The initial international openings were a huge success, and we're very happy with the strong contribution made by the IMAX network," said Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President, Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures International. "We're looking forward to continued strong performance in the weeks ahead as we roll out additional territories and open on more IMAX screens."
"IMAX theatres were clearly the premium venue of choice this weekend, where the IMAX per screen average was five times that of conventional screens," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "This strong performance demonstrates the winning combination of Christopher Nolan's creative vision, his passion for IMAX's format, and The IMAX Experience."
"This film has all of the ingredients that make up an ideal IMAX release -- a visionary director, a talented cast led by a phenomenal actor, and an innovative studio that understands the power of the IMAX brand," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "When you have a combination like that, moviegoers tend to choose The IMAX Experience regardless of whether the film is in 2D or 3D."
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 March 31, 2010, there were 438 IMAX theatres (316 commercial, 122 institutional) operating in 47 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, An IMAX 3D Experience® and The IMAX Experience® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at http://www.imax.com/">www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/imax">www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/imaxnews">www.twitter.com/imaxnews) and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/imaxmovies">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.