Imax Company and Wanda Movie, China’s largest film exhibitor, are deepening their longstanding partnership with a brand new deal to improve expertise and collaborate on future occasions and experiences. Wanda Movie is already Imax’s largest exhibition associate on the earth, with 381 Imax places in operation throughout China — and one other 19 already on the best way. The deal was introduced Tuesday, halfway by means of the Shanghai Worldwide Movie Pageant.
The brand new deal builds on the connection by committing Wanda to improve 61 of its top-performing places to the large display screen firm’s state-of-the-art “Imax with Laser expertise,” together with top-grossing places in China’s tier-one cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Moreover, Wanda Movie will renew as much as 37 present Imax places for one more 5 years and, topic to mutual understanding between the companions, add as much as 25 new Imax places over the subsequent three years.
The companions moreover agreed to discover “discover alternatives to collaborate on unique awe-inspiring content material and experiences throughout documentaries, music, gaming, and sports activities.” Imax has beforehand partnered with Wanda’s movie manufacturing and distribution arm, Wanda Photos, on content material creation, such because the 2021 blockbuster Detective Chinatown 3, which was filmed with Imax cameras.
“With a powerful, 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 Wealthy Gelfond, CEO of Imax. “By securing a renewed dedication from China’s largest exhibitor, Imax grows its lead because the dominant platform for immersive, cinematic leisure in China.”
A spotlight of China’s summer time blockbuster season in 2024 is the big-budget spy thriller Decoded, which was filmed in Imax and is directed by Detective Chinatown filmmaker Chen Sicheng. Imax says its 2025 international movie slate will function a document 14 releases filmed for Imax, together with a yet-to-be-announced Chinese language tentpole in the course of the profitable Chinese language New 12 months vacation.
“For years, based mostly 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 setting,” mentioned Chen Zhixi, chair of Wanda Movie. “We efficiently ensured the long-term collaboration with Imax, a serious associate. Alongside our joint efforts in upgrading moviegoing expertise, we’ll work with Imax to reinforce projection requirements for a variety of movies, to permit much more moviegoers to find the marvel and pleasure of the immersive expertise in theaters.”
The brand new pact is the primary deal between the Wanda and Imax manufacturers since Chinese language billionaire Wang Jianlin, chairman of actual property conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group, offered off his controlling stake in Wanda Movie to the Tencent-backed media and leisure firm China Ruyi Holdings. The sale got here as Dalian Wanda Group contends with a deepening actual property disaster in China and a longrunning liquidity crunch. A agency with multi-faceted leisure ambitions, Ruri’s movie investments have included current comedy hit Submit Fact and the Detective Chinatown franchise, in addition to TV titles like Nirvana In Fireplace.
Added Daniel Manwaring, CEO of Imax China: “Beneath the management of Ms. Chen, we’re grateful that Wanda Movie is recommitting to Imax throughout its top-performing places. We imagine 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.”