NEW YORK, May 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IMAX (NYSE:
IMAX) raced to a blazing start for the 2021 summer box office
season with the strong international debut of Universal's "F9,"
which delivered $14 million across
800 IMAX screens in China, the
Middle East, Russia, and South
Korea. Despite opening in a limited number of markets, the
latest "Fast & Furious" epic drove IMAX to its biggest opening
weekend for a Hollywood film since
December 2019 and its second biggest
international opening weekend ever in the month of May.
"Summer blockbuster season has arrived with the strong debut of
"F9," and it's clear there is healthy pent-up demand among global
audiences as big, highly anticipated Hollywood movies return to theaters," said
Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX.
"'Universal's bold strategy to launch the release of "F9" in
China and jump start the summer
clearly paid off, and the early success of the film bodes well for
the continued rebound of the global box office."
China led the way with a
$12.4 million opening weekend on IMAX
screens, as Chinese audiences continued to drive the global
resurgence in moviegoing. IMAX delivered 9.2% of "F9"'s weekend
gross in China on only 1% of
overall screens — a franchise-best for IMAX China that edged out
its 8.8% opening weekend share for 2013's "Furious 6." "F9" also
scored the biggest opening day in China for the franchise in IMAX.
"F9" also delivered the biggest opening weekend for IMAX since
2019 in both Saudi Arabia, and the
United Arab Emirates.
IMAX continues to drive strong market share in China in the pandemic era, despite accounting
for only 1% of total screens in the market. The performance of "F9"
continues the resurgence of the Asian box office, including the
number-one and two highest grossing IMAX releases in Japan of all time and the second highest
grossing Chinese New Year holiday for IMAX China.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines
proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create
experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world
you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing
IMAX theaters to connect with audiences in extraordinary
ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most
important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for
major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New
York, Toronto, and Los
Angeles, with additional offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As of March 31,
2021, there were 1,652 IMAX theater systems
(1,567 commercial multiplexes, 12 commercial
destinations, 73 institutional) operating in
84 countries and territories. Shares of IMAX
China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation,
trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code
"1970."
IMAX®, IMAX® Dome,
IMAX® 3D, IMAX® 3D Dome, Experience
It In IMAX®,
The IMAX Experience®,
An IMAX Experience®,
An IMAX 3D Experience®,
IMAX DMR®, DMR®,
IMAX nXos® and Films to the
Fullest®, are trademarks and trade names of the Company
or its subsidiaries that are registered or otherwise protected
under laws of various jurisdictions. More information about
the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with
IMAX on Instagram
(https://www.instagram.com/imax), Facebook
(www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube
(www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
CONTACTS:
Press
Mark Jafar
mjafar@imax.com
212-821-0102
Investors
Brett
Harriss
bharriss@imax.com
212-821-0187
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SOURCE IMAX Corporation