LOS ANGELES, June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - IMAX Corporation(NASDAQ:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NYSE:DWA) todayannounced that Kung Fu Panda: The IMAX Experience opened with strong boxoffice results at IMAX(R) theatres over the three-day weekend from Friday June6, through Sunday June 8. The film grossed $2.3 million on 89 domestic IMAXscreens and six international IMAX screens, for a per screen average ofapproximately $24,000. The film will continue to open in internationallocations in the weeks ahead, ultimately playing on 36 international IMAXscreens.
'The strong opening performance of Kung Fu Panda in IMAX theatres is anindicator of the public's appetite for premium out of home entertainment,'said Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation. 'We are delighted tobegin our strategic relationship with IMAX on such a positive note and we lookforward to continued success as this film opens in additional marketsworldwide.'
'We are pleased to inaugurate our five-picture deal with DreamWorksAnimation with a successful opening weekend for Kung Fu Panda,' said IMAXCo-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. 'Theresults from this weekend re-enforce our long-standing belief that DreamWorksAnimation-branded movies are well-suited to IMAX's format. This film has drawnvery positive reviews and delivers the kind of creativity and family humorthat we anticipate will play well throughout the course of its IMAX run.'
'We're thrilled to kick off our summer slate with a box office hit,' saidGreg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. 'DreamWorksAnimation is very talented at creating magic for the big screen, and we'rehappy to be playing a role in bringing that magic to life through The IMAXExperience(R). The combination of a studio firing on all cylinders, a highlyentertaining movie such as Kung Fu Panda and The IMAX Experience continues toresonate very well with audiences.'
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading digital entertainment andtechnology companies. The worldwide IMAX network is among the most importantand successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event Hollywoodfilms around the globe, with IMAX(R) theatres delivering the world's bestcinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX(R) 3D, and IMAX DMR(R)technology.
