LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX: IMX) today announced that Where the Wild Things Are, directed by Spike Jonze (Adaptation, Being John Malkovich) and produced by Playtone (Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman), opened with strong box office results, generating approximately $3.1 million from 145 IMAX(R) theatres domestically during the opening weekend from Friday, October 16, 2009 through Sunday, October 18. The IMAX release generated over 9% of the film's overall box office of $32.7 million, with an IMAX per screen average of $21,500. The weekend marks the biggest fall opening ever for an IMAX release.

Where the Wild Things Are, which chronicles the timeless adventures of a young boy's imaginary journey to a land of "Wild Things," 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.

Where the Wild Things Are is based on the classic book by Maurice Sendak. Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal for "Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year," the popular adventure tale continues to captivate audiences of every generation after four decades.

"We're delighted with the initial response to the film overall, and we're happy that fans of such a beloved adventure are taking advantage of the chance to experience it in IMAX," said Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. "The picture looks and sounds amazing in IMAX, and we believe this enhanced release will continue to perform well during the days and weeks ahead."

"The growing IMAX theatre network has given us more programming flexibility, enabling us to offer IMAX DMR titles twelve months a year, and because of this we have been able to offer this great film and post our biggest fall opening ever," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "This strong performance demonstrates that consumers continue to seek out IMAX as a premium out of home experience in both 2D and 3D."

"We couldn't be happier with this very healthy opening," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "Spike Jonze, Playtone and Warner Bros. have crafted a magical film that fits perfectly with our goal to provide moviegoers with an out-of-this-world experience they cannot get anywhere else, and clearly the film is resonating with people."

From director Spike Jonze and written by Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers (Away We Go) comes a cinematic twist on one of the most acclaimed adventure stories of all time. Where the Wild Things Are features Catherine Keener, Forest Whitaker, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Max Records, Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper and Catherine O'Hara. Where the Wild Things Are is a co-production with Legendary Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures.

 Where the Wild Things Are: The IMAX Experience is playing in the
 following IMAX theatres:
 UNITED STATES
 Alabama
 Birmingham - IMAX Dome Theatre at McWane Centre
 Arizona
 Mesa - Dickinson Gateway 12 IMAX Theatre
 Phoenix - AMC Deer Valley 30 with IMAX
 Arkansas
 Little Rock - Dickinson Chenal 9 IMAX Theatre
 California
 Aliso Viejo - Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20 & IMAX
 Arcadia - AMC Santa Anita 16 & IMAX
 Burbank - AMC Burbank 16 & IMAX
 Camarillo - Edwards Camarillo Palace Stadium 12 & IMAX
 Covina - AMC Covina 30 & IMAX
 Cupertino - AMC Cupertino 16 & IMAX
 Dublin - Regal Hacienda Crossings Stadium 21 & IMAX
 El Dorado Hills - Regal Cinemas El Dorado Hills Stadium 14 & IMAX
 Emeryville - AMC Bay Street 16 & IMAX
 Escondido - Regal Escondido Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Fairfield - Edwards Fairfield Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Fresno - Edwards Fresno Stadium 21 & IMAX
 Irvine - Edwards Irvine Spectrum IMAX
 Long Beach - Edwards Long Beach 26 & IMAX
 Los Angeles - AMC Century City 15 & IMAX
 Los Angeles - IMAX Theatre at The Bridge: cinema de lux
 Los Angeles - AMC Universal CityWalk Stadium 19 with IMAX
 National City - AMC Plaza Bonita 14 & IMAX
 Rowland Heights - AMC Puente Hills 20 & IMAX
 San Diego - AMC Palm Promenade 24 & IMAX
 San Diego - Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 & IMAX
 San Francisco - AMC Loews Metreon 16 with IMAX
 San Jose - AMC Eastridge Mall 15 & IMAX
 Santa Clara - AMC Mercado 20 & IMAX
 Simi Valley - Regal Civic Center Plaza 16 & IMAX
 South Gate - Edwards South Gate Stadium 20 & IMAX
 Stockton - Regal City Centre Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Torrance - AMC Del Amo 18 & IMAX
 Woodland Hills - AMC Promenade 16 & IMAX
 Colorado
 Colorado Springs - Cinemark Carefree Circle 16 & IMAX
 Denver - UA Colorado Center Stadium 9 & IMAX
 Highlands Ranch - AMC Highlands Ranch 24 & IMAX
 Westminster - AMC Orchard 12 & IMAX
 Westminster - AMC Westminster Promenade 24 & IMAX
 Connecticut
 Manchester - IMAX Theatre at Cinema de Lux Buckland Hills 18
 Florida
 Altamonte Springs - AMC Altamonte Mall 18 & IMAX
 Aventura - AMC Aventura 24 & IMAX
 Fort Myers - Regal Gulf Coast Town Center Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Jacksonville - AMC Regency 24 & IMAX
 Orange Park - AMC Orange Park 24 & IMAX
 Orlando - Regal Pointe Orlando Stadium 20 & IMAX
 Orlando - Regal Waterford Lakes Stadium 20 & IMAX
 South Miami - AMC Sunset Place 24 & IMAX
 St. Augustine - World Golf Village IMAX
 Tallahassee - Tallahassee Mall 20 with IMAX
 Tampa - AMC Veterans 24 & IMAX
 West Palm Beach - Muvico Parisian IMAX
 Georgia
 Augusta - Regal Augusta Exchange Stadium 20 & IMAX
 Buford - Regal Mall of Georgia Stadium 20 & IMAX
 Kennesaw - AMC Barrett Commons 24 & IMAX
 Morrow - AMC Southlake Pavilion 24 & IMAX
 Hawaii
 Honolulu - Regal Dole Cannery 18 & IMAX
 Illinois
 Chicago - Navy Pier IMAX Theatre
 Hodgkins - Loews Quarry Cinemas 14 with IMAX
 South Barrington - AMC Barrington 30 & IMAX
 Woodridge - Cinemark 16 & IMAX
 Indiana
 Indianapolis - Kerasotes ShowPlace 16 & IMAX
 Noblesville - Goodrich Hamilton 16 IMAX
 Portage - Goodrich Portage 16 IMAX
 Iowa
 Council Bluffs - Kerasotes Star Cinemas 16 & IMAX
 Kansas
 Olathe - AMC Studio 30 & IMAX
 Kentucky
 Newport - AMC Newport On The Levee 20 & IMAX
 Louisiana
 Harahan - AMC Elmwood Palace 20 & IMAX
 Maine
 Saco - Cinemagic & IMAX in Saco
 Maryland
 Baltimore - AMC Loews White Marsh 16 & IMAX
 Columbia - AMC Columbia 14 & IMAX
 Massachusetts
 Danvers - AMC Liberty Tree Mall 20 & IMAX
 Methuen - Loews Methuen 20 with IMAX
 Natick - Jordan's Furniture IMAX - Natick
 Reading - Jordan's Furniture IMAX - Reading
 Michigan
 Auburn Hills - Star Great Lakes 25 with IMAX
 Dearborn - Henry Ford IMAX
 Grand Blanc - Trillium Cinema 14 & IMAX, Grand Blanc
 Lansing - Celebration! Cinema & IMAX Theatre - Lansing
 Livonia - Livonia 20 with IMAX
 Sterling Heights - AMC Forum 30 & IMAX
 Minnesota
 Apple Valley - Great Clips IMAX Theatre
 Roseville - AMC Rosedale 14 & IMAX
 Missouri
 Independence - AMC Independence Commons 20 & IMAX
 Kansas City - AMC BarryWoods 24 & IMAX
 Nevada
 Henderson - Regal Sunset Station Stadium 13 & IMAX
 Las Vegas - Regal Red Rock Stadium 16 & IMAX
 North Las Vegas - Regal Aliante Stadium 16 & IMAX
 New Hampshire
 Hooksett - Cinemagic & IMAX in Hooksett
 New Jersey
 Atlantic City - Tropicana Casino & Resort IMAX
 Cherry Hill - AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24 & IMAX
 Hamilton - AMC Hamilton 24 & IMAX
 New Brunswick - Loews New Brunswick 18 with IMAX
 New York
 Albany - Regal Crossgates Mall 18 & IMAX
 Brooklyn - UA Sheepshead Bay Stadium 14 & IMAX
 Deer Park - Regal Deer Park Stadium 16 & IMAX
 New York City - AMC Empire 25 & IMAX
 New York City - AMC Loews 34th Street 14 & IMAX
 New York City - AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX
 Stony Brook - AMC Stony Brook 17 & IMAX
 West Nyack - IMAX Theatre at Palisades Center
 North Carolina
 Charlotte - Regal Stonecrest At Piper Glen Stadium 22 & IMAX
 Concord - AMC Concord Mills 24 & IMAX
 Ohio
 Cincinnati - Showcase Springdale 18 + IMAX
 Columbus - AMC Easton Town Center 30 & IMAX
 Columbus - Lennox Town Center 24 with IMAX
 Oregon
 Tigard - Regal Bridgeport Village Stadium 18 & IMAX
 Pennsylvania
 Bensalem - AMC Neshaminy 24 & IMAX
 Homestead - AMC Waterfront 22 & IMAX
 King of Prussia - UA King of Prussia Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Philadelphia - Tuttleman IMAX - Franklin Institute
 Reading - RC Reading Movies 11 + IMAX
 Rhode Island
 Providence - Providence Place Cinemas 16 & IMAX
 South Carolina
 Charleston - Citadel Mall IMAX Stadium 16
 Tennessee
 Knoxville - Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 at Turkey Creek
 Nashville - Regal Opry Mills 20 & IMAX
 Texas
 Austin - The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum IMAX Theatre
 Dallas - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Cinemark 17
 Frisco - Stonebriar 24 with IMAX
 Garland - AMC Firewheel 18 & IMAX
 Houston - AMC Gulf Pointe 30 & IMAX
 Mesquite - AMC Mesquite 30 & IMAX
 San Antonio - Santikos Palladium 18 IMAX Theatre
 Sugar Land - AMC First Colony 24 & IMAX
 Tomball - Santikos Silverado IMAX Houston
 Utah
 Sandy - Jordan Commons 16 + IMAX
 Virginia
 Alexandria - AMC Hoffman Center 22 & IMAX
 Chantilly - Udvar-Hazy Center IMAX - Airbus
 Hampton - Riverside IMAX Theater at the Virginia Air & Space
 Center
 Midlothian - Regal Commonwealth 20 & IMAX
 Virginia Beach - AMC Lynnhaven 18 & IMAX
 Woodbridge - AMC Potomac Mills 18 & IMAX
 Washington
 Bellevue - Lincoln Square Cinemas IMAX Theatre
 Kent - AMC Kent Station & IMAX
 Lacey - Regal Martin Village Stadium 16 & IMAX
 Seattle - Pacific Science Center Boeing IMAX Theatre
 Seattle - Regal Thornton Place Stadium 14 & IMAX
 Tukwila - AMC Southcenter 16 & IMAX
 Wisconsin
 Fitchburg - Kerasotes Star 18 & IMAX
 Milwaukee - Mayfair Mall 18 with IMAX
 CANADA
 Alberta
 Calgary - Cineplex Scotiabank Chinook IMAX Theatre
 Edmonton - Cineplex Scotiabank West Edmonton Mall IMAX Theatre
 British Columbia
 Richmond - Silvercity Riverport 18 + IMAX
 Ontario
 Gloucester-Ottawa - Silvercity Gloucester + IMAX
 Toronto - Cineplex Scotiabank Toronto IMAX Theatre
 Quebec
 Montreal - Cinema Banque Scotia Montreal + IMAX

Additional theatres will be confirmed. Please check local listings or IMAX.com for final theatre listings, launch dates and showtimes.

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 Hollywood films around the globe, with IMAX theatres delivering the world's best movie 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. The IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of June 30, 2009, there were 394 IMAX theatres (273 commercial, 121 institutional) operating in 44 countries.

The IMAX Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6469

IMAX(R), IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX DMR(R), An IMAX 3D Experience(R) and The IMAX Experience(R) 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/imaxnews) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

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 ongoing discussions with the SEC and OSC relating to their ongoing inquiries and the Company's accounting, the performance of films, the signing of theatre system agreements, the viability of new technologies, businesses and products, the timing of theatre system deliveries, the mix of theatre systems shipped, the timing of the recognition of revenues and expenses on film production and distribution agreements, risks arising from potential material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and fluctuations in foreign currency and in the large format, general commercial exhibition and out-of-home entertainment markets. 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, New York
         Media:
         Sarah Gormley
           212-821-0155
           sgormley@imax.com
         Investors:
         Heather Anthony
           212-821-0121
           hanthony@imax.com
        
         Rogers & Cowan, Los Angeles
         Entertainment Media:
         Jason Magner
         310-854-8128
         jmagner@rogersandcowan.com
        
         Sloane & Company, New York
         Business Media:
         Whit Clay
         212-446-1864
         wclay@sloanepr.com