LOS ANGELES, CA, May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - IMAX Corporation and Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that Columbia Pictures’ Spider-Man 3 shattered multiple box office records at IMAX® theatres through its opening weekend, contributing a record-setting $4.8 million of the $148 million that the film grossed at the domestic box office, from May 4, through Sunday, May 6. The picture also broke the record for IMAX’s largest single day worldwide total at $2.2 million and posted a remarkable domestic opening weekend per screen average of $57,147. Spider-Man 3 opened on 84 domestic IMAX screens and 34 international IMAX screens, making it the largest opening in IMAX’s 40-year history, with a record-breaking worldwide estimated total of $6.3 million. The film’s overall worldwide debut total was an estimated $375 million.
“We are ecstatic about the opening results in both traditional theatres as well as IMAX venues,” said Rory Bruer, President, Domestic Distribution, Sony Pictures Releasing. “The IMAX release offers fans of Spider-Man another unique and exciting way to experience the film, and we are encouraged by the contribution it has already made to the film’s overall box office performance.”
“The weekend results from Spider-Man 3 didn’t just break our previous opening record, they blew it away,” said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. “Several IMAX theatres were installed to open in time for Spider-Man 3, and we are delighted to see that these theatres are already translating into new IMAX audiences — which means greater box office returns for the studio and exhibitors.”
“You know you have a hit on your hands when theatre operators are adding extra shows and some of our theatres are even staying open 24 hours to keep up with the high consumer demand,” added Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures and the Spider-Man filmmakers have delivered a history-making blockbuster to the IMAX theatre network, and the high advance IMAX tickets sales for next week gives us great confidence that this film is going to continue to be a significant draw at IMAX locations throughout the Spring.”
Spider-Man 3 has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology, creating a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
Spider-Man 3 is directed by Sam Raimi, who also directed the first two blockbuster installments of the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2. The picture reunites the cast led by Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco. To date, the Spider-Man series has surpassed $1.6 billion in worldwide box office receipts.
In Spider-Man 3, based on the legendary Marvel Comics series, Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero. But there is a storm brewing on the horizon. As Spider-Man basks in the public’s adulation for his accomplishments and he is pursued by Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard), who rivals M.J. for his affections, Peter becomes overconfident and starts to neglect the people who care about him most. His newfound self-assuredness is jeopardized when he faces the battle of his life against two of the most feared villains ever (Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace), whose unparalleled power and thirst for retribution threaten Peter and everyone he loves.
Columbia Pictures Presents A Marvel Studios/Laura Ziskin Production Spider-Man® 3 starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons and James Cromwell. The film is directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2). The screenplay is by two-time Oscar® winner Alvin Sargent (Ordinary People, Spider-Man 2) and the screen story by Sam Raimi & Ivan Raimi and based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The producers are Laura Ziskin (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2), Avi Arad (Spider-Man, X-Men) and Grant Curtis (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2). The executive producers are Joseph M. Caracciolo (Spider-Man 2 and Charlie’s Angels®) Kevin Feige (Spider-Man 2, X Men 2) and Stan Lee.
More information on the Company can be found at www.imax.com.
May 7th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
This is a dizzying film but pure excitment when Harry Osborn lights up the screen with that beautiful toothy grin & goes from sweet & innocent to The Villain Goblin, Jr!
Peter Parker is his usual unassuming self as the ‘nerdy kid from Queens’ & that’s what we love about him! MaryJane can’t sing a note but she’s on hand as ‘girl in the middle’ & damsel in distress! Personally, I think this film would have been much better had they left out Sandman & Venom but hey, I’m not Sam Raimi!
Congratulations, guys! You did it again!
- Dianna
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