LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sony Pictures Animation and IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) today announced that Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: An IMAX 3D Experience will open in 127 IMAX(R) theatres domestically and 11 IMAX theatres internationally starting today. While the film is being released in 3,119 locations, the majority of which are 3-D, the special IMAX(R) 3D release has been digitally re-mastered from Sony Pictures Animation's Stereoscopic 3-D 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 animated motion picture that will play extraordinarily well in all 3-D and 2-D locations and to see it in IMAX 3D is amazing," said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide theatrical distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment.
"This family movie looks and sounds amazing in IMAX 3D, and we believe the 3D storytelling will resonate with IMAX audiences worldwide," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "Our growing commercial theatre network has enabled us to open this film to more IMAX audiences, and we're looking forward to offering another fun and exciting IMAX 3D release from our partners at Sony."
"This is a great way to kick-off our exciting fall lineup and we're thrilled to once again be working with our partners at Sony," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The talented cast and animation artists combined with a wonderful story will transport moviegoers from their seats right into the fantasy world that is Swallow Falls."
Starting Friday, Columbia Pictures' and Sony Pictures Animation's Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs will be the most delicious event since macaroni met cheese. Inspired by the beloved children's book, the film 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.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: An IMAX 3D Experience is scheduled to play day-and-date at the following IMAX theatres beginning September 18th.
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 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 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 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 Jose - AMC Eastridge Mall 15 & IMAX San Francisco - AMC Loews Metreon 16 with 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 Denver - UA Colorado Center Stadium 9 & IMAX 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 Lauderdale - AutoNation(R) IMAX(R) Theater at Museum of Discovery and Science 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 Buford - Regal 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 Illinois Chicago - Navy Pier IMAX Theatre 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 Natick - Verizon IMAX 3D Theater at Jordan's Furniture - Natick Reading - Verizon IMAX 3D Theater at Jordan's Furniture - Reading Michigan Dearborn - The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre Grand Rapids - Celebration! Cinema IMAX Theatre Sterling Heights - AMC Forum 30 & IMAX Minnesota Apple Valley - Great Clips IMAX Theatre 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 Atlantic City - Tropicana IMAX Theatre 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 New York City - AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX New York City - AMC Empire 25 & IMAX Stony Brook - AMC Stony Brook 17 & IMAX West Nyack - IMAX Theatre at Palisades Center 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 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 Rhode Island Providence - Providence Place Cinemas 16 & IMAX Tennessee Knoxville - Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 at Turkey Creek Nashville - Regal Opry Mills 20 & IMAX Texas 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 Virginia Alexandria - AMC Hoffman Center 22 & 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 Seattle - Pacific Science Center Boeing IMAX Theatre Seattle - Regal Thornton Place Stadium 14 & IMAX Tukwila - AMC Southcenter 16 & IMAX Wisconsin Fitchburg - Kerasotes Star 18 & 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 Nova Scotia Halifax - Empire IMAX Theatre Ontario Gloucester - Cineplex SilverCity Gloucester IMAX Theatre Mississauga - Cineplex Coliseum Mississauga IMAX Theatre Vaughan - Cineplex Colossus Woodbridge IMAX Theatre Quebec Quebec City - IMAX des Galeries de la Capitale INTERNATIONAL Argentina Buenos Aires - IMAX Showcase Norte Brazil Curitiba - Palladium Shopping Center IMAX Sao Paolo - Bourbon Shopping Center Espaco Unibanco Pompeia IMAX Bulgaria Sofia - Mtel IMAX Czech Republic Prague - Oskar IMAX Palace Flora Colombia Bogota - IMAX Theatre Centro Commercial Plaza de las Americas Hungary Budapest - Cinema City Arena IMAX Hungary India Mumbai - Big Cinemas IMAX Theatre Japan Kanagawa - 109 Cinemas Kawasaki Minoh - 109 Cinemas Minoh Saitama - 109 Cinemas Shobu Kuwait Kuwait City - 360 Mall IMAX Theatre Mexico Juarez - Cinepolis Las Misiones Cd. Juarez IMAX Theatre Mexico City - Cinepolis Perisur IMAX Theatre Mexico City - Cinepolis Universidad IMAX Theatre Toluca - Cinepolis Galerias Metepec IMAX Theatre Poland Katowice - Orange IMAX Katowice Krakow - Orance IMAX Krakow Lodz - Orange IMAX Manufaktura Poznan - Poznan IMAX Warsaw - Orange IMAX Sabyda Qatar Doha - Villagio Shopping Mall IMAX Theatre Russia Moscow - KinoStar City @ Mega Belaya Dacha Moscow - Nescafe IMAX St. Petersburg - Coca-Cola IMAX Kinostar City South Africa Durban - Gateway IMAX Theatre Pretoria - Menlyn IMAX Theatre Turkey Ankara - Ankara AFM IMAX Istanbul - AFM IMAX Istinye Park UK Greenwich - ODEON Greenwich IMAX London - BFI London IMAX Cinema Wimbledon - ODEON Wimbledon IMAX Ukraine Kiev - Utel IMAX Theatre
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 June 30, 2009, there were 394 IMAX theatres (273 commercial, 121 institutional) operating in 44 countries.
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).
The IMAX Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6469
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.