IMAX And AMC Entertainment Expand Joint Revenue Sharing Partnership

IMAX and AMC Entertainment Inc. today announced an expansion of the companies’ existing joint revenue sharing arrangement to include the installation of eight confirmed and up to 18 IMAX® theatres in the United States. The deal also includes the conversion of two existing AMC IMAX theatres from a sale to a joint revenue sharing structure. Today’s agreement brings AMC’s total IMAX commitment to 138 theatres with the potential to expand to 148. The company currently has 125 IMAX theatres in operation.

The eight confirmed locations are expected to be in both existing and untapped IMAX markets, including Charlotte, N.C.; Monmouth, N.J.; Dearborn, Mich.; Niles and Crestwood, Ill.; and San Francisco, Redondo Beach and Anaheim, Calif. At least three are expected to open by the end of 2012.

“We’re in the business of making smiles happen and what we’ve found is our guests love seeing movies in an IMAX theatre,” said Gerry Lopez, CEO and president of AMC. “To build on our 12-year partnership with IMAX certainly helps us further our strategic initiative of premium sight and sound experiences but more importantly, it allows us to provide an amazing experience for guests at even more locations.”

“The IMAX footprint still has runway for growth in the U.S. and we are pleased to expand into these new markets with our biggest and long-time partner, AMC,” said Richard L. Gelfond, CEO, IMAX Corporation. “The expansion of such key strategic partnerships positions IMAX for long-term growth and brings The IMAX Experience® to more audiences across the U.S.”