When Warner Bros. Pictures releases HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE on Nov. 18, it will debut in a record 72 IMAX theaters, with an additional 18 to open in the coming weeks. This will eclipse the mark set by CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE this past summer.
Of the 72 IMAX theaters opening day and date, 66 of the locations are domestic, which is significantly more than the 49 domestic IMAX screens that HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE opened in June 2004.
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE has been digitally re-mastered with proprietary IMAX DMR (digital re-mastering) technology. This is the fourth installment in the popular HARRY POTTER franchise, and the second to be remastered with IMAX DMR.
With four days to go before the opening, the film is driving more advanced sales than any other Hollywood blockbuster in IMAXs history. IMAX theaters are reporting numerous sold out shows in markets across the country including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia and Salt Lake City.
We are very excited to bring the suspense, humor, action and drama of HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE to life on the giant IMAX screen, director Mike Newell said. The breathtaking IMAX format brings a whole new perspective to this marvelous story.
There is clearly a real appetite on the part of audiences to see HARRY POTTER on the IMAX screen, added Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures.
In HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) must contend with being mysteriously selected to compete in the prestigious Triwizard Tournament, a thrilling international competition that pits him against older and more experienced students from Hogwarts and two rival European wizarding schools. Meanwhile, supporters of Harrys nemesis, the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), send a shockwave of fear throughout the wizard community when their Dark Mark scorches the sky at the Quidditch World Cup, signaling Voldemorts return to power.
Founded in 1967, IMAX Corp. (www.imax.com) is the newest distribution platform for Hollywood content and one of the worlds leading entertainment technology companies. IMAX delivers the cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX 3D and IMAX DMR technology. IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) makes it possible for virtually any 35mm film to be transformed into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. As of March 31, 2005, there were 250 IMAX theaters operating in more than 35 countries.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
