Warner Bros.’ Sci-Fi Saga Breaks IMAX Pandemic-Era Records in Ten Global Markets, Delivers Overall Per Screen Average of $25,000
IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) stormed to a blazing start with the international debut of Warner Bros.’ “Dune,” which earned $3.6 million in a limited release across only 142 screens throughout Europe and Asia — good for nearly 10% of the film’s opening weekend box office.
Filmed for IMAX with more than an hour of IMAX-exclusive expanded aspect ratio, “Dune” posted eye-popping numbers in 21 diverse markets throughout the world, breaking records for biggest pandemic-era opening weekend in Russia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and Ukraine, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore. The film commanded a $25,000 per screen average across IMAX locations, with Denmark, Norway, and Sweden reaching $80,000 per screen.
“Audiences are definitely getting the message that Denis Villeneuve and his brilliant cast sent loud and clear: “Dune” must be experienced in IMAX,” said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX Corporation. “The outsized market share we’ve captured with “Dune” underscores how synonymous the IMAX brand is with scale and spectacle, and we look forward to building on our strong start as this stunning piece of filmmaking continues its global rollout.”“Dune” will continue to open worldwide over the next month, ultimately landing in North America and China on October 22. The debut follows triumphant appearances at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals — the latter of which hosted the global IMAX premiere at the company’s iconic Cinesphere Theatre at Ontario Place.
