LOS ANGELES, Dec. 20, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) announced today the strong performance of the IMAX release of Walt Disney Pictures' TRON: Legacy, a 3D high-tech adventure, which opened number one at the box office this weekend. Domestically, TRON: Legacy generated a total of $44 million in box office, of which $10.45 million was generated in 234 IMAX® theatres. Internationally, the film grossed a total of $23 million, of which approximately $2.2 million was generated in 54 IMAX theatres. The film's overall box office in all theatres and formats around the world was $67 million, of which approximately $12.7 million was generated in IMAX.
An additional 70 international IMAX playdates will open in the weeks ahead, in markets that include China and several Western European markets such as France, Germany and Austria.
"The unique use of IMAX's format has created a special motion picture event that moviegoers are clearly responding well to," said Chuck Viane, president of global distribution for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. "We're looking forward to offering TRON fans this special IMAX release through the holidays and into the new year."
"TRON's strong start in IMAX both domestically and overseas is a reflection of the increasing size and drawing-power of our global theatre network and the unique film going experience we provide consumers," said Richard L. Gelfond, CEO, IMAX Corporation. "The combination of continued consumer demand for IMAX and the significant box office revenue generated in our theatres benefits our studios and exhibitor partners. This is providing us with a platform for further worldwide network expansion."
"Nobody is better at getting behind a franchise than The Disney Company. They, along with director Joe Kosinski, have taken TRON: Legacy and capitalized on the draw that the IMAX brand has amongst our core fan base, and the results from our global network of theatres are groundbreaking," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The combination of TRON: Legacy and IMAX is a powerful one-two punch that is clearly resonating with audiences. We are pleased to be a part of this event film, and look forward to its successful run in IMAX over the holiday season and into January."
About TRON: Legacy:
Walt Disney Pictures' TRON: Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world's leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn's Arcade--a signal that could only come from his father--he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually stunning cyber universe--a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before-imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape. Presented in Disney Digital 3DTM and scored by Grammy® Award-winning electronic music duo Daft Punk, TRON: Legacy hits U.S. theaters on Dec. 17, 2010, in Disney Digital 3DTM, Real D 3D and IMAX® 3D.
TRON: Legacy stars Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett and Michael Sheen.
The film is directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Sean Bailey, Jeffrey Silver and Steven Lisberger with Donald Kushner serving as executive producer. Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz wrote the screenplay. The story is by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz and Brian Klugman & Lee Sternthal, based on characters created by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird.
TRON: Legacy is being distributed worldwide by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. This film has been rated PG for sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language.
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 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®. The IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of September 30, 2010, there were 470 IMAX theatres (348 commercial, 122 institutional) operating in 45 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience® and The IMAX Experience® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/imax ), Twitter ( www.twitter.com/imax ) and YouTube ( www.youtube.com/imaxmovies ).
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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, but are not limited to, general economic, market or business conditions, including the length and severity of the current economic downturn, the opportunities that may be presented to and pursued by the Company, the performance of IMAX DMR films, conditions in the in-home and out-of home entertainment industries, the signing of theatre system agreements, changes and developments in the commercial exhibition industry, the failure to convert theatre system backlog into revenue, new business initiatives, investments and operations in foreign jurisdictions, foreign currency fluctuations and the Company's prior restatements and the related litigation and investigation by the SEC and the ongoing inquiry by the OSC. 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.
CONTACT: IMAX Corporation - Santa Monica Entertainment Media: Christine Tasto 310-255-5547 ctasto@imax.com Principal Communications Group Entertainment Media: Melissa Zukerman melissa@pcommgroup.com Paul Pflug paul@pcommgroup.com 323-658-1555 IMAX Corporation - New York Investors: Heather Anthony 212-821-0121 hanthony@imax.com IMAX Corporation - Toronto Business Media: Jackson Myers 905-403-6414 jmyers@imax.com Sloane & Company - New York Business Media: Whit Clay 212-446-1864 wclay@sloanepr.com