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DreamWorks Animation's Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa opens number one at the box office, shows strong results at IMAX(R) theatres

 
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    LOS ANGELES, Nov 10, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ ----IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NYSE:DWA) today announced that Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, which opened number one at the domestic box office, generated an estimated $63.1 million with $3.5 million contributed from 129 IMAX(R) theatres from Friday November 7, through Sunday November 9. The release marks the highest grossing 2D-animated IMAX opening ever, recording an IMAX per screen average of $27,000. Included in the weekend's performance were 34 locations equipped with IMAX's digital projection technology. The film also had a strong limited international opening, and it will ultimately play on 30 international IMAX screens.

    "We're thrilled that Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa succeeded in providing a good time for the whole family at the movies this weekend," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation. "Its particularly strong results from IMAX theatres illustrate that moviegoers have a real appetite to experience the film in a premium way, and we're looking forward to its continued performance in theaters throughout the holiday season."

    "Consumers are paying a premium price for a premium experience, and given the current state of the economy, this is a significant testament to the appeal of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and the strength of The IMAX Experience(R)," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "We're pleased that our 34 new digital locations performed well, especially given our commitment to our joint venture partners and a transition to digital projection."

    "DreamWorks Animation once again made a fantastic film, has done an excellent job marketing this movie to IMAX audiences, and this strong opening box office performance demonstrates the great potential of our partnership," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The combination of a DreamWorks Animation-branded movie and The IMAX Experience continues to resonate with moviegoers and we look forward to entertaining even more of our collective fans in the weeks ahead."

    Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa joins four other DreamWorks Animation movies previously announced and slated for release in IMAX's format, including Kung Fu Panda, as well as the studio's first three 3D titles, Monster vs. Aliens (March 2009), How to Train Your Dragon (March 2010) and Shrek Goes Fourth (May 2010).

    About IMAX Corporation

    IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies, specializing in digital and film-based motion picture technologies. The worldwide IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event Hollywood films around the globe, with IMAX theatres delivering the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX(R) 3D, and IMAX DMR(R) technology. IMAX DMR is the Company's groundbreaking digital re-mastering technology that allows it to digitally transform virtually any conventional motion picture into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. IMAX's renowned projectors display crystal-clear images on the world's biggest screens, and the IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of September 30, 2008, there were 320 IMAX theatres operating in 42 countries.

    IMAX(R), IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX DMR(R), IMAX(R) MPX(R), and The IMAX Experience(R) are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information on the Company can be found at www.imax.com.

    About DreamWorks Animation SKG

    DreamWorks Animation is principally devoted to developing and producing computer generated, or CG, animated feature films. With world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high quality CG animated films meant for a broad movie-going audience. The Company anticipates releasing its feature films into both conventional and IMAX(R) theatres worldwide. The Company has theatrically released a total of seventeen animated feature films, including Shrek, Shrek 2, Shark Tale, Madagascar, Over the Hedge, Shrek the Third, Bee Movie, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Monsters vs. Aliens opens in theaters on March 27, 2009. Beginning in 2009, all of the Company's feature films will be produced in stereoscopic 3D technology.

    This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Important factors that could affect these statements include ongoing discussions with the SEC and OSC relating to their ongoing inquiries and the Company's accounting, the performance of films, the signing of theatre system agreements, the viability of new technologies, businesses and products, the timing of theatre system deliveries, the mix of theatre systems shipped, the timing of the recognition of revenues and expenses on film production and distribution agreements, risks arising from potential material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and fluctuations in foreign currency and in the large format, general commercial exhibition and out-of-home entertainment markets. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

    SOURCE IMAX Corporation

    Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
       
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       As of Thursday, 11-06-2008 23:59, the latest Comtex SmarTrend� Alert, 
       an automated pattern recognition system, indicated an UPTREND on 
       10-21-2008 for DWA @ $29.64.
       
       As of Thursday, 11-06-2008 23:59, the latest Comtex SmarTrend Alert, 
       an automated pattern recognition system, indicated a DOWNTREND on 
       09-29-2008 for IMAX @ $5.98.
       
       For more information on SmarTrend, contact your market data
       provider or go to www.mysmartrend.com
       
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