IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that HAPPY FEET: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE contributed $2.4 million of the film's $41.5 million domestic gross on its opening weekend, representing the strongest IMAX opening ever for an animated title. The IMAX gross came from 79 IMAX theaters, posting a three-day per-screen average of approximately $30,000 from Nov.17 through Nov. 19, 2006. HAPPY FEET has been digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology.
"We are thrilled with the opening weekend success of HAPPY FEET in both conventional theatres and IMAX theaters," said Dan Fellman, president of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "The IMAX version has been well received by moviegoers of all ages, continuing IMAX's tradition of turning exciting films into events for the entire family."
"The record-setting box office performance of HAPPY FEET: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE demonstrates that the consumer demand for event motion pictures in IMAX theaters continues to be strong," said IMAX co-chairmen and co-ceos Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "IMAX DMR releases have historically performed well during the holidays and with strong advance ticket sales already booked for the next 10 days, we believe HAPPY FEET is poised for continued success in our theaters heading into the long Thanksgiving weekend."
"Warner Bros. Pictures and George Miller have delivered an inspiring and lovable movie that is ideally suited to The IMAX Experience," added Greg Foster, chairman/president, IMAX Filmed Ent. "Audiences of all ages feel like they are actually part of the adventure as the charismatic characters slide their way through a myriad of adventures set against the sweeping ice vistas of the Antarctic on the immersive IMAX screen and the exhilarating soundtrack pumps through 12,000 watts of digital surround sound. We look forward to entertaining even more moviegoers during the upcoming holiday weekend as well as in the ensuing weeks when the film opens in many IMAX theaters internationally."
Founded in 1967, IMAX Corp. (www.imax.com) is one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies and the newest distribution window for Hollywood films. IMAX delivers some of the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX 3-D and IMAX DMR technology. IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) makes it possible for virtually any 35mm film to be transformed into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. As of Sept. 30, 2006, there were 280 IMAX theaters operating in 40 countries.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
