July 15, 2010--IMAX Corporation and Lumiere Pavilions, one of the fastest-growing private movie exhibition chains in China, today announced an agreement to install three digital IMAX theater systems in the People's Republic of China. Under the terms of the deal, the first system is scheduled to open at the Lumiere Pavilion in the city of Chongqing at the end of 2010. The second system is scheduled to open at the Guangzhou Cultural Centre (Tai Ko Hui) in downtown Guangzhou in August 2011 and the third system is expected to open at a yet-to-be determined location in 2012. This deal brings the total number of IMAX theaters scheduled to be operating in China by 2012 to 57, and the total number of IMAX systems signings announced year-to-date to 95, which compares to 35 systems in all of 2009.
July 14, 2010--IMAX Corporation today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Laser Light Engines, a leading developer and manufacturer of ultra-high brightness, laser-driven light sources. Under the terms of the agreement, IMAX plans to make an equity investment in Laser Light Engines, and Laser Light Engines would develop a custom version of its laser light technology for exclusive use in IMAX digital projection systems. Laser Light Engines would additionally provide outsourced research and development for new features designed to further enhance and distinguish The IMAX Experience for IMAX theater operators, film studios and moviegoers.
July 12, 2010--IMAX Corporation and United Cinemas today announced a joint venture agreement to install up to five digital IMAX theater systems in Japan. Three of the systems are confirmed, with two scheduled to be installed in time for the launch of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this November, and the third scheduled to be installed in either late 2010 or sometime in 2011. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will have an option to install two additional IMAX theater systems in Japan at a later date. The deal brings the total number of confirmed joint-venture IMAX theatrers scheduled to be operating in Japan by the end of 2010 to eight, compared to four at the end of 2009. In addition, this new theater deal brings the total number of announced IMAX systems signed year-to-date to 92, which compares to 35 system signings in all of 2009.
July 9, 2010--IMAX Corporation and 20th Century Fox announced today that James Cameron's blockbuster hit Avatar will be re-released in IMAX 3D on August 27, 2010, for a limited two-week run. The re-release of Avatar will include eight minutes of additional, never-before-seen-footage, providing moviegoers with the opportunity to see the film again or experience it for the first time. Avatar has grossed approximately $235 million in box office revenues in IMAX to date, making it the top-grossing Hollywood IMAX release of all time.
July 7, 2010--Leading the charge to deliver the highest-quality 3D entertainment to home theater audiences, MacGillivray Freeman Films is pleased to announce the German release of Grand Canyon Adventure in 3D Blu-ray, marking the first live-action 3D Blu-ray title available in Europe. The film’s North American 3D Blu-ray release will follow later this year as part of the first wave of 3D Blu-ray discs to come on the market.
July 7, 2010--IMAX Corporation today announced that for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010, IMAX DMR gross box office worldwide was approximately $115.0 million, an approximate 37% increase over last year's second quarter box office of approximately $84.2 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, gross box office from Hollywood DMR titles released to the worldwide IMAX theater network was $347.2 million, compared to $112.2 million in the first six months of 2009. In addition, the company commented that it has announced deals for 89 IMAX systems year-to-date, compared to 35 for all of 2009.
July 7, 2010--IMAX Corporation and SM Prime Holdings, the largest mall operator and exhibitor in the Philippines, today announced an agreement to install five digital IMAX projection systems at SM shopping malls in the cities of Las Piñas City, Fort Bonifacio, Davao City, Angeles City, and Manila. The deal follows the market-leading success of SM's two existing IMAX theaters in Manila and Quezon, with the operator's first IMAX location in Manila ranking as the highest-grossing screen in the country since it opened.
July 6, 2010--IMAX Corporation and Summit Entertainment announced today that The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third film in the studio's Twilight franchise, generated gross box office receipts of approximately $9 million from 193 IMAX theaters domestically from Wednesday, June 30, through Monday, July 5, for a per screen average of approximately $47,000. Internationally, the film opened on 11 IMAX screens, generating an estimated $235,000 from Thursday through Monday.
July 1, 2010--IMAX Corporation and Formula Kino, one of Russia's leading exhibition chains, today announced an agreement to install two digital IMAX theater systems in Russia before the end of 2010. The deal brings the total number of IMAX theaters scheduled to be operating in Russia by 2012 to 12. With this new IMAX theater contract signing, IMAX has signed deals for 84 IMAX systems year-to-date, which compares to 35 system signings in all of 2009.
June 30, 2010--Giant screen theater industry leaders and a team of experts met over three days in Marblehead, Massachusetts, from June 14 to 16, 2010, where they reached consensus on the first draft of specifications for digital giant-screen (GS) theaters in the international museum market. The White Oak Institute convened technical experts, museum leaders, theater managers, film producers, distributors, and an evaluator to resolve the field’s critical questions: How should the GS theaters in museums and science centers manage the transition from film to digital projection? Do museums need a different technical format from multiplex theaters? If so, what are its specifications? And how will the transition work economically? The project’s objective is a digital GS theater format that suits the educational needs of the museum community and creates a sustainable business model with a supply of quality educational shows similar to the experiences in IMAX and other film-based GS theaters now in place in museums and science centers.