TOKYO and NEW YORK, Oct. 27,
2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TOHO CO., LTD. (TYO: 9602) and
IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) today announced a landmark slate
agreement to release five current and forthcoming TOHO films in
IMAX® theatres — significantly expanding the companies'
longstanding partnership across distribution and exhibition.
The new agreement marks IMAX's biggest slate deal to date with a
film studio outside Hollywood and
includes, as of October 19, the
number-one film in the world "Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train"
(distributed by TOHO and Aniplex) — which topped the Japanese box
office last weekend with $44 million
3-day gross, including $2.3 million
in IMAX from 38 screens. "Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train" now
holds the all-time IMAX opening weekend box office record in
Japan despite seating capacity
restrictions. The agreement also includes the highly anticipated
"STAND BY ME Doraemon 2" (TOHO) arriving in theatres on
November 20. The term of the
agreement spans at least through 2021 and includes three
forthcoming films to be announced. Additional terms were not
disclosed.
"We have been deepening our relationship with IMAX
since 2016's Shin-Godzilla release, and I am
confident to say that our partnership has been further
strengthened with the release of Demon Slayer The Movie:
Mugen Train released on Friday,
October 16," said Yoshishige
Shimatani, President of TOHO. "Japanese movies continue
evolving, and have achieved the quality suitable for IMAX theatres
as seen in Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train and
upcoming STAND BY ME Doraemon 2. We are very
pleased to be able to provide our customers with new, exciting ways
to experience our movies in IMAX through this slate deal."
"IMAX and TOHO partnered to bring their first IMAX theatre to
Japan in 2014, and we are honored
to further our longstanding relationship with the company and its
executives through this multi-picture film agreement," said
Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX.
"Japan continues to grow as a
successful market for IMAX, as local language hits like TOHO's
'Demon Slayer" deliver strong box office returns and offset the
current lack of Hollywood films in
the market,"
The new agreement builds on the longstanding successful
distribution partnership between IMAX and TOHO, the
highest-grossing distributor and the largest film production
company in Japan. In 2019, IMAX and TOHO partnered on the
animated blockbuster "Weathering With You," which went on to become
the highest grossing Japanese language film in IMAX, earning
$7.7 million. Additionally, IMAX
and TOHO partnered on the 2016 release of "Shin-Godzilla" (2016),
which saw $5.7 million.
TOHO's exhibition arm, TOHO Cinemas has also worked with IMAX
for years to bring immersive, otherworldly experiences to
moviegoers, starting when the two companies announced the first
IMAX theatre ever to Shinjuku, Tokyo in 2014. This September, TOHO Cinemas
opened its latest IMAX theatre in Tachikawa, Tokyo, bringing the total number of TOHO
Cinemas IMAX theatres in Japan to
8.
As its vibrant film industry expands, Japan continues to grow as a key market for
IMAX. In 2019, IMAX set a new yearly record at the Japanese box
office with $62 million – highlighted
by the record-breaking performance of "Weathering With You" and
Fox's "Bohemian Rhapsody," IMAX's highest grossing release ever in
Japan with $14 million. Recently, Japan saw the highest 4-day opening weekend
for Christopher Nolan's "Tenet"
while IMAX has captured an unprecedented 27% of box office for
the film across the country.
"Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train" is an adaptation of the
incredibly popular Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by
Koyoharu Gotōge (original comics sold over 100 million copies) and
with animation production by ufotable. In theatres now in
Japan, "Demon Slayer The Movie:
Mugen Train" follows Tanjiro Kamado and his friends from the Demon
Slayer corps. as they join Kyōjurō Rengoku, the Flame Hashira, to
investigate a mysterious series of disappearances occurring inside
a train. To date, the film has grossed $102.5 million (JPY
10.75B), including $5.7
million (JPY 596m) from 38
IMAX theatres.
"STAND BY ME Doraemon 2" is a sequel to the 2014 CG anime film
STAND BY ME Doraemon. The film follows Doraemon, a cat-shaped robot
from the 22nd century and Nobita Nobi, a young boy. One day, Nobita
finds a teddy bear that was repaired by his grandmother when he was
little. Recalling his beloved grandmother, Nobita convinces
Doraemon to go back in time to see her on the condition that they
return immediately without meeting in person. Earlier this month,
its theme song by Masaki Suda was
also announced by the two companies.
About TOHO CO., LTD.
TOHO Company, Limited, is a Japanese entertainment studio
focused on the development, production, exhibition, and
distribution of powerful content for motion pictures, television
and theatre. Founded in 1932, it remains a prominent force in
bringing brands and original storytelling with versatile talents to
audiences worldwide. Its subsidiaries include Toho Cinemas, the
leading exhibition company in Japan.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, 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 additional offices
in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As
of June 30, 2020, there were 1,615 IMAX theatre systems (1,527
commercial multiplexes, 13 commercial destinations, 75
institutional) operating in 81 countries and territories. Shares of
IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation,
trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock
code "HK.1970."
IMAX®, IMAX® Dome, IMAX® 3D, IMAX® 3D Dome, Experience It In
IMAX®, The IMAX Experience®, An IMAX Experience®, An IMAX 3D
Experience®, IMAX DMR®, DMR®, IMAX nXos® and Films to the
Fullest®, are trademarks and trade names of the Company
or its subsidiaries that are registered or otherwise protected
under laws of various jurisdictions. More information about
the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect
with IMAX on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/imax), Facebook
(www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube
(www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
IMAX CONTACT:
Investors:
IMAX Corporation, New
York
Brett
Harriss
212-821-0187
bharriss@imax.com
|
Media:
IMAX Corporation, New
York
Ed
Skowronek
860-951-8256
eskowronek@imax.com
|
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SOURCE IMAX Corporation