IMAX Corporation and Paramount Pictures today announced that Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol The IMAX Experience, earned approximately $14 million at the box office in IMAX theatres worldwide during its opening weekend. Domestically, the film generated $10.5 million on 300 IMAX screens, for an IMAX per-screen average of $35,000. Internationally, it generated $3.4 million on 89 IMAX screens, for an IMAX per-screen average of $38,200. The film surpassed the previous December opening box office records set by Tron: Legacy. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol The IMAX Experience is set to open on 112 additional IMAX theatres in various territories, including China and the UK.
“Paramount leveraged an early release in IMAX as a key component of its marketing strategy for this film and based on this promising start we are enthusiastic that this approach will deliver,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. “Not only were the global IMAX grosses strong, but we were extremely effective in generating positive reviews, word-of-mouth and substantial social media buzz that we expect will continue to build strong demand for the film going into its wide release on Wednesday. We‘re very grateful that we could repay Paramount‘s confidence in IMAX by supporting the overall success of this incredible film and by playing a key strategic role in making this film an event that simply can‘t be missed.”
“The one-two punch of The IMAX Experience coupled with the passionate filmmaking of Brad Bird, JJ Abrams and Tom Cruise is what differentiates this film from the rest of the pack,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “The more than 30 percent uptick in box office from Friday to Saturday points to the growing momentum of the movie heading into its official opening. Given that this film set December records both domestically and globally for IMAX also shows that whether in 2D or 3D, audiences are drawn to a strong movie that features the IMAX DNA.”
The IMAX release of this fourth installment of Mission: Impossible features approximately 30 minutes of scenes filmed with IMAX cameras. Exclusively in IMAX, these sequences expand to fill the entire screen, and further immerse the audience in the explosive action and vast scope of the film. One featured sequence includes the unbelievable stunt performed by Tom Cruise as he scaled the world‘s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai, providing an up-close, you-are-there experience as only IMAX can.
The IMAX release of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol has been 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.