IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) today announced that Star Wars: The Force Awakens, released by The Walt Disney Studios, blasted into the Chinese market with a two-day opening gross of $8.1 million from 270 IMAX®theatres, making it the highest IMAX two-day opening weekend of all time in China, surpassing Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron (with$6.6 million).
Globally, Star Wars: The Force Awakens now has amassed more than $179 million from 940 IMAX theatres, of which $108.7 millioncomes from 391 domestic IMAX sites and $70.3 million from 549 international locations (including China).
In addition to its record two-day opening weekend, Star Wars: The Force Awakens grossed $4.3 million on Saturday, setting a record for that day in IMAX in China. The film beat the previous Saturday record holder, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, with $3.5 million.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens is an unparalleled worldwide phenomenon, having broken records across the board — and now,The Force Awakens continues to thrill fans and make history with this record-setting Chinese debut in IMAX,” said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. “The growth of the Chinese market and appetite forHollywood titles in China has resulted in this benchmark IMAX opening; but more importantly, it successfully establishes the Star Warsfranchise on the mainland, creating a new tradition of event movie-going in the IMAX network for future Chinese audiences.”
The IMAX® 3D release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens was digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
