NEW YORK and SHANGHAI, China, Oct. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) and IMAX China (HKSE: 1970) today announced that the company scored a record-breaking $13 million opening weekend of the National Day Golden Week holiday in China, a historically strong box office period that runs from October 1 to 8 this year. The figure marks IMAX's best-ever opening weekend for the National Holiday, up 25% over last year despite a 75% capacity limitation across the country.
Films playing in the IMAX China network for the holiday include Enlight's "Jiang Ziya: Legend of Deification", Beijing Culture's "My People, My Homeland", Tencent's "Vanguard" and Lian Ray Picture's "Leap". The films will continue to play in IMAX through the holiday for a total of three weeks.
The weekend was highlighted by the stunning debut of "Jiang Ziya: Legend of Deification", which earned $11.5 million in IMAX -- accounting for 7.5% of the overall box office on only 1% of total screens. The animated feature set several new records in IMAX, including biggest opening weekend ever for an animated film in China, best October opening weekend ever for a local language film, and biggest opening weekend for the National Holiday. "Jiang Ziya" also now holds IMAX's second best opening weekend ever for a local language film, behind only 2019's "The Wandering Earth".
"The remarkable strength of the box office recovery in China continues to exceed our expectations, and the country has emerged as an engine of stability for IMAX as uncertainty persists around the Hollywood slate and theatres re-openings elsewhere in the world," said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX Corporation and Chairman of IMAX China. "With our strong balance sheet, IMAX continues to be well-positioned in these challenging times and we are and leaning into our unique global footprint -- with no fewer than ten new local language releases across key markets like China and Japan through the end of the year."
IMAX has now grossed $53.2 million dollars at the box office in China since theatres began to reopen in late July. The company has helped lead the Chinese theatrical industry in its recovery, with 97% its theatre network in China now reopened and average weekly attendance reaching 80% of the level seen in the second half of 2019, despite capacity limitations. Nine of the top ten grossing multiplexes in China since the reopening include IMAX screens.
IMAX's strong rebound in China is led by "The Eight Hundred", the first Asian film shot entirely with IMAX cameras, which earned $17 million dollars for the company and currently stands as the highest grossing film of the year overall. IMAX has drawn exceptionally high market share in China despite accounting for only 1% of screenings, including opening weekend box office share of 18% for "Tenet", 7% for "Mulan", and 6% for "The Eight Hundred".
About IMAX China
IMAX China is a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, and was incorporated as a limited liability company under the laws of Cayman Islands. IMAX China was established by IMAX Corporation specifically to oversee the expansion of IMAX's business throughout Greater China. Shares of IMAX China trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "1970".
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation, 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 theatres 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 Corporation is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with additional offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As of June 30, 2020, there were 1,615 IMAX Theater Systems operating in 81 countries and territories, including 1,527 commercial multiplexes, 13 commercial destinations and 75 institutional locations. On October 8, 2015, shares of IMAX China, a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, began trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "1970".
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