In an attempt to up the exhibition ante, IMAX has arranged for four scenes of Warner Bros. Pictures' THE DARK KNIGHT to be shot with its proprietary 65mm cameras for projection on the enormous 15/70 format, including the introduction of the Joker (played by Heath Ledger). Chris Nolan's sequel to BATMAN BEGINS will open day-and-date July 18, 2008, in conventional and IMAX theaters.
Contributing to SPIDER-MAN 3's record-breaking opening of $151 million was the largest IMAX bow as well. The blockbuster from Columbia Pictures grossed an estimated $6.3 million overall on 84 domestic and 34 international IMAX screens and $4.8 million domestically from May 4-6, marking the largest opening in IMAX's 40-year history. The movie also broke the record for IMAX's largest single-day worldwide total at $2.2 million and posted an impressive domestic opening weekend per-screen average of $57,147.
When SPIDER-MAN 3 hits theaters on May 4, it will open simultaneously in IMAX theaters via THE IMAX EXPERIENCE brand.
"The simultaneous IMAX release of SPIDER-MAN 3 allows us to celebrate one of the most anticipated motion picture events of the year in an exciting event format," said Rory Bruer, president, Domestic Distribution, Sony Pictures Releasing. "SPIDER-MAN 3: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE will give fans of Spider-Man an opportunity to experience the next exhilarating installment of the series in an unforgettably unique and immersive way."
IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that select scenes of the IMAX DMR version of HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX would be digitally converted into An IMAX 3-D Experience. IMAX Corp. plans to use its proprietary 2D to 3D conversion technology to transform approximately 20 minutes at the end of the film. HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX will be released in IMAX theaters and conventional theaters on July 13, 2007, and Warner Bros. Pictures will be the exclusive distributor of the film to IMAX theatres worldwide.
300 added another $2.7M to its record-breaking IMAX gross of $9.1M in its second weekend from 62 domestic IMAX screens.
"The overwhelmingly positive moviegoer response to 300 in IMAX's immersive format is contributing to the overall success of the film," said Dan Fellman, president of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "We are very pleased with the film's performance and look forward to its continued success in both conventional and IMAX theaters in the coming weeks."
300: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE contributed a record-setting $3.6 million of the $70,855,301 that the film grossed at the domestic box office opening weekend. 300: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE played in 62 domestic IMAX theaters, while 300 played in 3,103 locations across the country.
Zack Snyder's highly anticipated adaptation of 300, based on the Frank Miller graphic novel, will be simultaneously released domestically in both IMAX and conventional theaters on March 9.
"Warner Bros. Pictures and the filmmakers are very excited to bring this unique cinematic experience to both conventional and IMAX theaters this spring," said Dan Fellman, president of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "The immersive IMAX Experience will transform this film, offering audiences an alternative way to view this highly-charged picture."
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM had a strong opening in IMAX theaters during the four-day Christmas holiday weekend, according to IMAX Corp. and Twentieth Century Fox, collecting $2.3M at 72 domestic locations, helping contribute to the film's number one bow.
Shortlisted for a Visual Effects Oscar, thanks to the contributions of Rhythm & Hues, Rainmaker, The Orphanage and Weta Digital, among others, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM appears even more immersive in IMAX.
IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that HAPPY FEET: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE has grossed $10.6 million since premiering on Nov. 17. The film animated by Animal Logic opened on 79 domestic IMAX screens and will ultimately play on a total of 28 international IMAX screens. HAPPY FEET has been digitally re-mastered with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The film's total worldwide gross in both conventional and IMAX theaters is now nearly $200 million.
Twentieth Century Fox's NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, an adventure comedy directed by Shawn Levy (THE PINK PANTHER and CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN) and starring Ben Stiller and Robin Williams, will come to life in IMAX's DMR (Digital Re-mastering) format when it opens in 72 IMAX theaters in North America on Dec. 22.
HAPPY FEET: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE carried momentum from its record-breaking opening weekend with a strong performance through the Thanksgiving holiday, posting the highest grossing second weekend ever in IMAX theaters for a DMR release. On 79 IMAX screens, the 3D-animated feature made at Animal Logic contributed an impressive $2.25 million of the film's weekend total of $37 million. The cumulative domestic IMAX total now stands at approximately $6 million, with the film's overall domestic total topping $100 million.
IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that HAPPY FEET: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE contributed $2.4 million of the film's $41.5 million domestic gross on its opening weekend, representing the strongest IMAX opening ever for an animated title. The IMAX gross came from 79 IMAX theaters, posting a three-day per-screen average of approximately $30,000 from Nov.17 through Nov. 19, 2006. HAPPY FEET has been digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology.
IMAX Corp. and Twentieth Century Fox announced that Night at the Museum, directed by Shawn Levy (THE PINK PANTHER and CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN) and starring Ben Stiller and Robin Williams, would be simultaneously released to both IMAX and conventional theaters on Dec. 22. The adventure comedy with vfx from Rhythm & Hues, The Orphanage, Rainmaker and Gentle Giant marks the seventh IMAX DMR film secured for 2006, the largest number of Hollywood blockbusters slated for release to IMAX theaters in a single year.
IMAX Corp. and Sony Pictures Ent. announced that OPEN SEASON: AN IMAX 3-D EXPERIENCE earned estimated grosses of $1.45 million in 66 domestic IMAX theaters, delivering a per-screen average of approximately $22,000 over the three-day period ending Oct. 1. The debut feature from Sony Pictures Animation was directed by Roger Allers (THE LION KING) and Jill Culton (TOY STORY 2, MONSTERS, INC.) and co-directed by Anthony Stacchi (ANTZ),
OPEN SEASON: AN IMAX 3-D EXPERIENCE (opening Sept. 29) marks the second IMAX film with Sony Pictures Ent., following SPIDER-MAN 2: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE in 2004. OPEN SEASON, which also marks the first 3D-animated feature from Sony Pictures Animation, has been digitally converted into IMAX 3-D and IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology, making it a more immersive experience akin to THE POLAR EXPRESS in IMAX 3-D.
The IMAX 3-D release of SUPERMAN RETURNS, which has set multiple IMAX box office records, has now earned $22.7 million on 92 IMAX screens domestically and more than $7.5 million on 36 IMAX screens internationally. The IMAX release from Warner Bros. Pictures has now earned a worldwide total of $30 million through 13 weeks with an impressive per screen average of $229,000.
HAPPY FEET wont be dancing in IMAX 3-D just yet. Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX announced that due to time constraints the animated feature about a tap-dancing penguin from Animal Logic would open in IMAX 2-D rather than 3-D on Nov. 17. There just wasnt sufficient time to deliver the master print and then convert it to 3-D by IMAX.
A spokeswoman for Warner Bros. Pictures noted that a 3-D release of the film was still in the cards at some point.
SUPERMAN RETURNS, which has grossed more than $290 million worldwide to date, is showing strong legs in IMAX theaters through its fourth weekend. The IMAX 3-D release earned approximately $1.4 million on 77 North American IMAX screens and an estimated $625,000 from 27 international IMAX screens between July 21-23 To date, the film has earned $20.7 million in IMAX theaters worldwide, becoming the fastest grossing digitally re-mastered IMAX release in the company's history for an impressive worldwide per screen average of $201,000.
SPIDER-MAN 3 will have a day-and-date release in conventional theaters and on IMAX screens on May 4, 2007. The third installment of the phenomenally successful SPIDER-MAN franchise will be digitally re-mastered as part of The IMAX Experience. To date, the SPIDER-MAN series has surpassed $1.6 billion in worldwide box office receipts.
IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that SUPERMAN RETURNS grossed $108 million at the domestic box office in 4,065 locations over the extended fourth of July weekend, and that SUPERMAN RETURNS: AN IMAX 3-D Experience contributed $6.83 million, representing a record seven-day per-screen average of $89,804. The film shattered every opening week record for an IMAX Hollywood simultaneous release, playing to sell-out crowds and strong audience satisfaction. The film also opened on 11 IMAX screens internationally and will launch on 24 more in coming weeks.
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX -- the third Harry Potter film to be converted into IMAX's format -- will be simultaneously released to both IMAX and conventional theaters on July 13, 2007. There is also the possibility of converting part of THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX into IMAX 3-D for broader appeal, as was done with SUPERMAN RETURNS.
Last year at Comic-Con, director Bryan Singer said he was open to the notion of converting SUPERMAN RETURNS to IMAX 3-D, but wouldve preferred shooting it in true 3-D with multiple cameras. However, after seeing a test of the trailer this year by IMAX, Singer became a quick convert. Although there wasnt sufficient time to convert the entire live-action feature, IMAX has still managed to convert 20 minutes using a proprietary 2-D to 3-D system, which includes technology licensed from Three-Dimensional Media Group Ltd. and invented by David M. Geshwind.
POSEIDON will be released in IMAX theaters worldwide on Friday (May 12, 2006), in addition to conventional theaters. Poseidon is the second IMAX DMR film release from Warner Bros. Pictures in 2006, in a series of five scheduled for the year. It represents the 10th collaboration between IMAX and Warner Bros., including the IMAX original films NASCAR 3D: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE and DEEP SEA 3-D: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE.
IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE: The IMAX Experience has grossed more than $20 million, becoming the first digitally re-mastered 2D IMAX release to reach the milestone. The IMAX release has now grossed a total of $20,033,758 million worldwide for a cumulative per screen average of $188,998. The film has shown strong legs since debuting in IMAX theatres, setting numerous records for a Hollywood simultaneous release, including biggest three-day opening weekend and highest per screen average.
SUPERMAN RETURNS will become the first live-action Hollywood feature to be converted from 2D to IMAX 3-D. IMAX Corp. will use its proprietary 2D to 3-D conversion technology to convert approximately 20 minutes of the film into An IMAX 3-D Experience.
"Releasing select sequences of SUPERMAN RETURNS in IMAX 3-D marks a groundbreaking moment in movies," said Dan Fellman, president of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "This film is going to give fans an opportunity to be immersed in a major live-action motion picture like never before."
