Imax and Wanda Movie, China‘s largest exhibitor, have introduced an enormous enlargement of their longtime strategic partnership there spanning expertise and content material.
The settlement requires Wanda Film to improve 61 of its prime performing areas to state-of-the-art Imax with Laser expertise together with in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Wanda may even renew as much as 37 current Imax areas over 5 years and will add as much as 25 new Imax areas over the subsequent three years. Wanda already has the most important Imax footprint in China.
Imax with Laser is the corporate’s most superior expertise by way of picture and precision audio.
The massive format exhibitor mentioned it should additionally work with Wanda Footage (the conglomerate’s manufacturing and distribution arm) to discover content material and experiences throughout documentaries, music, gaming, and sports activities. Imax’ partnership with Wanda on options contains hit Detective Chinatown 3 (2021).
“For years, primarily based on our core dedication to elevating moviegoers’ viewing expertise, Wanda Movie has been a pioneer in adopting and selling premium projection expertise to create a state-of-the-art movie viewing atmosphere,” mentioned Wanda Movie chair Chen Zhixi. “Alongside our joint efforts in upgrading moviegoing expertise, we are going to work with IMAX to boost projection requirements for a variety of movies, to permit much more moviegoers to find the marvel and pleasure of the immersive expertise in theatres.”
“With a robust, balanced slate of Chinese language and Hollywood blockbusters within the pipeline over the subsequent a number of years, this landmark settlement with Wanda Movie fortifies IMAX’s place in China’s largest circuit at a time of immense alternative,” mentioned Imax CEO Wealthy Gelfond. “By securing a renewed dedication from China’s largest exhibitor, IMAX grows its lead because the dominant platform for immersive, cinematic leisure in China.”
“Underneath the management of Ms. Chen, we’re grateful that Wanda Movie is recommitting to IMAX throughout its top-performing areas,” mentioned Daniel Manwaring, CEO of IMAX China. “We consider the strategic partnership between Ruyi and Tencent can open new doorways for Wanda Movie and IMAX to collaborate throughout blockbuster movies in addition to documentaries and occasions in music, gaming, and sports activities.”
Wanda Movies is partly managed by China Ruyi holding, which is backed by social media and videogame big Tencent
The settlement comes as Imax prepares to unveil a robust summer time slate of Chinese language and Hollywood movies in China, forward of an anticipated strong content material pipeline in 2025 and 2026. The Chinese language summer time slate in 2024 options filmed for Imaxrelease Decoded from longtime Imax filmmaking accomplice Chen Sicheng.
The 2025 world movie slate will see a file 14 filmed for Imax releases, together with a yet-to-be-announced Chinese language tentpole over the important thing Chinese language New 12 months vacation.
Wanda Movie Imax’s greatest exhibition accomplice globally with 381 Imax areas in operation and one other 19 deliberate..
The 2 firms have labored collectively since 2007 when Wanda opened its first Imax location in Dongguan, China.
