Highlights Include:
- Largest IMAX(R) 3D opening at $5.1 million
- IMAX's 143 screen release contributed nearly 9% of the box office on
less than 2% of the screens
- 18 of the top 20 locations include IMAX screens
- Largest IMAX Saturday at $2.02 million
LAS VEGAS, NV, March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - IMAX Corporation
(NASDAQ:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NASDAQ: DWA) today
announced that Monsters vs. Aliens, the studio's first 3D release which opened
number one at the domestic box office, broke numerous box office records in
IMAX(R) theatres during its opening weekend. The film generated $5.1 million
on 143 IMAX screens domestically for a per screen average of $35,682 from
Friday, March 27, through Sunday March 29, marking the highest-grossing
IMAX(R) 3D opening ever. The domestic IMAX opening contributed nearly 9% of
the film's overall box office gross on less than 2% of its total screens.
The IMAX release also had very strong openings internationally, setting
new records in Russia, Ukraine and the Philippines, with all locations
reporting sold out shows throughout the weekend. The film is scheduled to open
day and date on 51 more international IMAX screens in the days and weeks to
follow.
"Monsters vs. Aliens is off to a spectacular start and moviegoers
definitely showed a willingness and desire to see it in IMAX 3D, an experience
that garnered strong buzz and positive feedback," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO
of DreamWorks Animation.
"We're very pleased with the performance of the film in IMAX theatres and
our strong showing demonstrates that consumers continue to seek out The IMAX
Experience(R)," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and
Bradley J. Wechsler. "The fact that nine percent of the overall box office
came from 143 IMAX screens indicates that families are looking for great
entertainment and are willing to pay a premium for IMAX."
"Monsters vs. Aliens is a hit worldwide, and we're thrilled that the
combination of a great film from DreamWorks Animation and Paramount Pictures
presented in IMAX 3D is resonating with moviegoers," added Greg Foster,
Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "From Moscow to Manila
and from New York to San Diego, audiences filled IMAX theatres over the course
of the weekend. The word of mouth for IMAX is fantastic, which bodes well for
the film's legs during the weeks ahead."
Monsters vs. Aliens is the third of five DreamWorks Animation feature
films previously announced and slated for release in IMAX, and the first to be
presented in IMAX 3D. The film has been digitally re-mastered into the
unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with IMAX DMR(R)
technology.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading entertainment technology
companies, specializing in immersive motion picture technologies. The
worldwide IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical
distribution platforms for major event Hollywood films around the globe, with
IMAX theatres delivering the world's best cinematic presentations using
proprietary IMAX, IMAX 3D, and IMAX DMR technology. IMAX DMR is the Company's
groundbreaking digital re-mastering technology that allows it to digitally
transform virtually any conventional motion picture into the unparalleled
image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. IMAX's renowned projectors
display crystal-clear images on the world's biggest screens, and the IMAX
brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive
entertainment experiences for consumers. As of December 31, 2008, there were
351 IMAX theatres (231 commercial, 120 institutional) operating in 42
countries.
IMAX(R), IMAX(R) Dome, IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX(R) 3D Dome, Experience It In
IMAX(R), The IMAX Experience(R), An IMAX Experience(R), IMAX DMR(R), DMR(R),
IMAX MPX(R), IMAX think big(R) and think big(R) are trademarks and trade names
of the Company. More information about the Company can be found at
www.imax.com.
This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on
management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks
and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from
future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.
Important factors that could affect these statements include ongoing
discussions with the SEC and OSC relating to their ongoing inquiries and the
Company's accounting, the performance of films, the signing of theatre system
agreements, the viability of new technologies, businesses and products, the
timing of theatre system deliveries, the mix of theatre systems shipped, the
timing of the recognition of revenues and expenses on film production and
distribution agreements, risks arising from potential material weaknesses in
internal control over financial reporting and fluctuations in foreign currency
and in the large format, general commercial exhibition and out-of-home
entertainment markets. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are
discussed in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most
recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
About DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation is principally devoted to developing and producing
computer generated, or CG, animated feature films. With world-class creative
talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking
technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high quality CG animated
films meant for a broad movie-going audience. The Company anticipates
releasing its feature films into both conventional and IMAX(R) theatres
worldwide. The Company has theatrically released a total of eighteen animated
feature films, including Shrek, Shrek 2, Shark Tale, Madagascar, Over the
Hedge, Shrek the Third, Bee Movie, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
and Monsters vs. Aliens. All of the Company's feature films are now being
produced in stereoscopic 3D technology.
This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's
plans, prospects, strategies, proposals and our beliefs and expectations
concerning performance of our current and future releases and anticipated
talent, directors and storyline for our upcoming films and other projects,
constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current
expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which
we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not
guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and
assumptions which are difficult to predict. Actual results may vary materially
from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in
economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and
other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the business of
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. These risks and uncertainties include: audience
acceptance of our films, our dependence on the success of a limited number of
releases each year, the increasing cost of producing and marketing feature
films, piracy of motion pictures, the effect of rapid technological change or
alternative forms of entertainment and our need to protect our proprietary
technology and enhance or develop new technology. In addition, due to the
uncertainties and risks involved in the development and production of animated
feature projects, the release dates for the projects described in this
document may be delayed. For a further list and description of such risks and
uncertainties, see the reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most
recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. DreamWorks Animation is under no
obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
SOURCE: IMAX Corporation
- 03/30/2009
CONTACT: Media: IMAX Corporation,
New York, Sarah Gormley, (
212) 821-0155, sgormley@imax.com;
DreamWorks Animation, Jeff Hare, (818) 695-6055,
jeff.hare@dreamworks.com;
Business Media: Sloane & Company, New York,
Whit Clay, (212) 446-1864, wclay@sloanepr.com;
Entertainment Media: Rogers & Cowan,
Los Angeles, Elliot Fischoff, Jason Magner, (310) 854-8128,
jmagner@rogersandcowan.com; Investors: IMAX Corporation,
New York, Heather
Anthony, (212) 821-0121,
hanthony@imax.com;
DreamWorks Animation Corporate
Communications, Shannon Olivas, (818) 695-3658,
shannon.olivas@dreamworks.com
(IMAX IMX.)