Universal’s “Fast Five” was so strong in its opening weekend that the $8.3 million in IMAX grosses alone would have ranked the film fifth biggest of any movie. (Cast teaser for IMAX Fast Five below.)
Overall, “Fast Five” grossed a whopping $83.6 mil. on the final weekend in April, the biggest opening this year, the biggest opening of any movie since “Harry Potter 7″ last November, and the biggest opening in the franchise’s history, according to Hollywood.com Box Office.
IMAX opened the movie on 245 screens domestically for one week only before “Thor” is presented in IMAX 3D Friday (May 6) at IMAX digital locations.

Meanwhile, the 3D “Rio” was a distant second but was in its third weekend and collected another $14.4 mil. to cross the $100 million mark at $103.6 mil. Another 3D animated movie, “Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil,” ranked sixth in its debut with $4.1 mil.

The IMAX presentation of “Sucker Punch” last weekend set a record percentage of the overall sales for a 2D movie.

IMAX Corporationtoday announced that its release of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Sucker Punch,” grossed $4 million on 229 domestic IMAX screens, or 21% of the movie’s overall $19 million take, which is the biggest percentage ever for an IMAX 2D movie, according to Hollywood.com Box Office.

“Zack Snyder’s visual thrill ride is perfectly suited for the IMAX Experience, and we are particularly pleased with the large market share, which is a record for a 2D title,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, Filmed Entertainment.

Internationally, IMAX estimated cumulative gross box office of approximately $315,000 on 23 IMAX screens in markets like Holland and Brazil, among others. The movie is expected to open on approximately 80 additional international screens in coming months.

– By Scott Hettrick

Four new digital IMAX theater systems will be installed in the People’s Republic of China as the result of an agreement with Jiangsu Eudemonia Blue Ocean Cinema Development Co., Ltd.

Blue Ocean will build an IMAX digital theatre system into Suzhou Xinsu Tiandi International’s Cineplex at Xinsu Plaza in August of this year. The remaining three theatre systems are at new construction locations scheduled to open in early 2014: the Kunming Eudemonia Blue Ocean International Cineplex in Kunming; the Eudemonia Blue Ocean International Cineplex in Taizhou; and the Central Eudemonia Blue Ocean International Cineplex in Xuzhou. Jiangsu Province is on the country’s east coast and has a population of 77 million.

“The IMAX brand represents the world’s premiere cinema experience, and it is very much in demand with audiences in China, where IMAX screens significantly outperform conventional screens,” said Mr. Jiang Wenbo, GM of Jiangsu Eudemonia Blue Ocean.

Blue Ocean was established by the state-owned Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation specifically to develop cinemas, yet another example of how the nation’s exhibition industry is poised to continue its significant expansion over the coming years,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond.

A unit under Eudemonia Blue Ocean TV & Movie Group Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation (JSBC), Jiangsu Eudemonia Blue Ocean Cinema Development Co., Ltd.was founded especially to develop and operate cinemas. Eudemonia Blue Ocean TV & Movie Group Ltd owns several either wholly-owned or share-holding subsidiaries, covering a wide range of businesses including film production, film research, film presentation, movie and television bases, etc.

IMAX is getting Tangled up with the Disney 3D animated movie in Asia.
“Tangled” will be released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in IMAX Corp theaters next month (February) in Korea, the Philippines, Japan and Thailand, with other Asian countries to follow soon thereafter.

“One of the best ways to celebrate the arrival of a movie in any given market, in any part of the world, is to include an IMAX release,” said Chuck Viane, President of Global Distribution for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
“Having witnessed the great success of ‘Tangled’ so far, we believe it will be a welcome addition to our robust 2011 international film slate,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond.
“Our partnership with Disney has been outstanding and we are excited for the opportunity to offer another iconic and beloved Disney adventure to IMAX moviegoers in these key territories,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment.

– By Scott Hettrick

IMAX is getting an exclusive four-day jump on the exhibition of Disney’s “Tron: Legacy” in France this week prior to the nationwide release of the film on Feb. 9.
The movie will open Feb. 5 and continue play in France’s five commercial IMAX theatres for the duration of the nationwide run in conventional theatres:

• Lyon — Pathe Carre de Soie
• Paris — Cinema Pathe Quai d’Ivry
• Paris — Gaumont Disney Village
• Rouen — Gaumont Rouen Grand Quevilly
• Toulouse — Gaumont Toulouse Labege

More than 43 minutes of “Tron: Legacy” footage across seven scenes was specifically customized for IMAX presentation.
“With a four-day exclusive IMAX run prior to the nationwide release, Disney has done an outstanding job of ensuring French fans can celebrate the arrival of TRON: Legacy in the way it was meant to be experienced,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment.

– By Scott Hettrick

IMAX Corp. will ring the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange Feb. 11 as the company starts transfering its common stock from the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ) to  NYSE that day under its current ticker symbol “IMAX.”
The Company’s trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol “IMX,” will remain unchanged.
“Given the global nature and expansion of our brand, the New York Stock Exchange offers an ideal platform for the continued growth of our Company,” said IMAX CEO, Richard L. Gelfond. “Our affiliation with the NYSE will provide us access to the markets we intend to reach and puts us in good company with other members of our industry.”
“We are delighted that IMAX has chosen to list on the New York Stock Exchange,” said Duncan L. Niederauer, CEO, NYSE Euronext. “IMAX is one of the world’s leading entertainment technology companies. Its global network is among the most innovative, highly visible platforms in the world.”

– By Scott Hettrick

First the pyramids, now an IMAX theater in Egypt.
IMAX Corp. announced Tuesday (Jan. 25) that the company has signed an agreement with the leading Egyptian film company Misr International Films, created in 1972 by world renowned Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine, to install the first commercial digital IMAX theatre in Cairo.
It will be part of a new 18-screen multiplex in the City Stars Katamia, which is expected to be East Cairo’s premier shopping and entertainment destination upon completion.
The deal will bring the total number of IMAX theatres scheduled to be operating in Europe, Middle East and Africa (the EMEA region) to 115 by 2014.
“We are committed to leading the exhibition business in Egypt with theatres that offer the best quality presentations, and as such, this IMAX location is what we hope to be one of several IMAX locations for us in Egypt,” said Gabriel Khoury, Managing Director of Misr International Films.
“Misr International Films has a strong connection with moviegoers in Egypt, and we believe that connection, combined with their extensive knowledge of the market, is the perfect way to introduce The IMAX Experience to new audiences in the country,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond.
MIF is a partner in Allied Film Distribution (AFD) which distributes Columbia Pictures, Buena Vista (Walt Disney) and Italia Film.

– By Scott Hettrick