HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE is now IMAX's highest grossing digitally re-mastered 2-D release. With total grosses of more than $16 million on 89 IMAX screens worldwide, it passes the record set by BATMAN BEGINS: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE, which grossed $15.9 million last year.
"Despite the industry's overall box office decline, IMAX DMR films saw a steady increase in grosses last year. Given the strength of our film slate for 2006, and the growing IMAX theater network, we believe this new record may be short-lived," said IMAX co-chairmen and co-ceos Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler.
"Releasing HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE in IMAX theaters enabled audiences to experience the adventure in a whole different way," added Dan Fellman, president of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "IMAX has established a new distribution platform that generates incremental revenues for event films, and integrating the IMAX release into the entire HARRY POTTER campaign contributed to the continuing excitement and success of the film."
"We're committed to offering moviegoers the most exciting and immersive way to experience Hollywood blockbusters, and we're pleased to see HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE set the new 2-D IMAX DMR box office record," said Greg Foster, chairman and president of IMAX Filmed Ent. "Partnering with the talented marketing and distribution teams at Warner Bros. Pictures has led to unprecedented success, helping IMAX solidify its position as the place to see the biggest Hollywood event films in both our 2-D and IMAX 3-D formats."
Of the seven films that grossed more than $200 million for 2005, three were simultaneously released by Warner Bros. Pictures in IMAX's format: BATMAN BEGINS, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE.
Founded in 1967, IMAX Corp. (www.imax.com) is the newest distribution platform for Hollywood content and one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies. IMAX delivers some of the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX 3-D and IMAX DMR technology. As of Sept. 30, 2005, there were 261 IMAX theaters operating in more than 38 countries.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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