July 10, 2008--IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that the studio's highly anticipated and technologically unprecedented summer movie, The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, and directed by Christopher Nolan, will open in a record 94 IMAX theaters domestically on July 18 in conjunction with the film's wide release. The film will also open in 15 IMAX theaters day-and-date internationally, with at least 23 additional international locations opening in the coming weeks.

The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience features six sequences filmed with IMAX cameras, the first time ever that a major feature film has been even partially shot using IMAX cameras, marking a revolutionary integration of the two film formats. The worldwide premiere of the film will be held at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX in New York on July 14, the first time a Hollywood feature film has premiered in an IMAX theater.

Advance IMAX ticket sales demonstrate the huge enthusiasm surrounding the movie:

• Advance IMAX ticket sales have already surpassed $2 million, more than a week prior to opening
• Over 100 shows are already sold out
• 93 domestic IMAX theaters have added midnight screenings
• Many IMAX theaters in the USA are adding 3:0 am shows, and some are screening non-stop for 24 hours to meet the high moviegoer demands
• Chicago's Navy Pier and the Palisades Center (West Nyack, NY) IMAX theaters will run shows non-stop for 72 hours

"The combination of Chris's inimitable vision and IMAX's groundbreaking technology produced a version of The Dark Knight that will blow audiences away in theaters all over the world," said Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Sequences shot in traditional 35mm have been digitally re-mastered into The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR technology. The two formats will be seamlessly integrated and morph between IMAX and IMAX DMR. In other words, scenes shot in 35mm will appear in IMAX DMR (letterbox), while scenes shot with IMAX's cameras on 15/70mm film will expand vertically to fill the entire IMAX screen.

"Chris Nolan's enthusiasm for IMAX technology has taken Hollywood filmmaking to a new level, and we're thrilled with the results on the screen and by the positive reactions to advance screenings," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "Warner Bros. Pictures, together with Chris Nolan and the entire filmmaking team, have created an unprecedented filmmaking event that can't be missed, and we are honored to be a part of the excitement."

With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.

Christian Bale reprises his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain) stars as arch-villain The Joker, and Aaron Eckhart plays District Attorney Harvey Dent. Maggie Gyllenhaal joins the cast in the role of Rachel Dawes. Returning from Batman Begins are Gary Oldman as Lieutenant Jim Gordon, Oscar winner Michael Caine (The Cider House Rules) as Alfred, and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) as Lucius Fox.