Star Wars: The Force Awakens Powers Into The Chinese Box Office With $8.1 Million Opening Weekend In 270 IMAX® Theatres

SHANGHAI, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 million comes 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 for Hollywood titles in China has resulted in this benchmark IMAX opening; but more importantly, it successfully establishes the Star Wars franchise 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.

About IMAX China

IMAX China is a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, and is incorporated 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. IMAX China trades on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "HK1970."

About IMAX CorporationIMAX, 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 is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing.  As of September 30, 2015, there were 1,008 IMAX theatres (887 commercial multiplexes, 19 commercial destinations and 102 institutions) in 66 countries. On Oct. 8, 2015, shares of IMAX China, a subsidiary of IMAX Corp., began trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "HK1970."

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX nXos® 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/imax) and YouTube

(www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX 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. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in IMAX's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

For additional information please contact:

www.imax.com

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SOURCE IMAX Corporation