IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and Twentieth Century Fox announced that Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: The IMAX Experience opened with strong box office results on Memorial Day weekend, posting an estimated $5.4 million from 160 IMAX(R) theatres domestically, for a per screen average of approximately $34, 000. The IMAX release contributed approximately 8% of the films overall domestic gross of $70 million, from less than 2% of the screens. The film also opened well internationally, posting $520, 000 from IMAX theatres.
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: The IMAX Experience has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology.
"We’re very pleased with the overall performance of the film and we’re happy to see so many people choosing to experience it in IMAX, " said Bruce Snyder, President, Domestic Distribution, Twentieth Century Fox. "The powerful image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience has added an extra level of excitement to an already exciting film and we look forward to continued success during the weeks ahead."
"The IMAX Summer film slate is building momentum with this fantastic title, " said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "Twentieth Century Fox has delivered another quality hit to IMAX theatres, and it’s playing well throughout the entire network, in both institutional venues and our new locations."
"Shawn Levy and Twentieth Century Fox have created another wonderful adventure for the whole family, " added Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We’re very happy to have another outstanding film for the IMAX theatre network, giving moviegoers more options than ever before when deciding to Experience it in IMAX. We’re also very pleased to see that the Smithsonian IMAX was the top performer in the country for the weekend."
It’s a new "Night" and "Museum" for Ben Stiller, who is joined by several other stars from the original film, as well as new characters from history — including Amy Adams as famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart, Hank Azaria as villainous Egyptian pharaoh Kahmunrah, Christopher Guest as Russian tyrant Ivan the Terrible and Alain Chabat as Napoleon. Owen Wilson is back as cowboy Jedediah, and Robin Williams again rides into history as Teddy Roosevelt. The centerpiece of the film will be bringing to life the Smithsonian Institution, which houses the world’s largest museum complex with more than 136 million items in its collections, ranging from the plane Amelia Earhart flew on her nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic and Al Capone’s rap sheet and mug shot to Dorothy’s ruby red slippers and Archie Bunker’s lounge chair. No major film has ever shot inside the Smithsonian in Washington…until Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. The "Battle" begins in theaters and IMAX everywhere May 22.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation is one of the world’s leading entertainment technology companies, specializing in digital and film-based 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(R) 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 March 31, 2009, there were 371 IMAX theatres (250 commercial, 121 institutional) operating in 43 countries.
IMAX(R), IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX(R) DMR, The IMAX 3D Experience(R) and The IMAX Experience(R) are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company and IMAX box office results can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.tinyurl.com/facebookimax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imaxnews) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
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