The following was sent to us from IMAX:
The Dark Knight Makes Motion Picture History in Imax(R) Theatres on July 18th
Thursday July 10, 7:30 am ET
Director's Groundbreaking Use of IMAX(R) Cameras Generates Anticipation Around the Globe
Excitement Surrounding Film and Early Reviews Drives Record-Setting Advance IMAX Ticket Sales
Worldwide Premiere to be Held at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX on July 14th
LOS ANGELES, July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that the studio's highly anticipated and technologically unprecedented summer movie, The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, and directed by Christopher Nolan, will open in a record 94 IMAX® theatres domestically on July 18th in conjunction with the film's wide release. The film will also open in 15 IMAX theatres day-and-date internationally, with at least 23 additional international locations opening in the coming weeks.
The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience features six sequences filmed with IMAX® cameras, the first time ever that a major feature film has been even partially shot using IMAX cameras, marking a revolutionary integration of the two film formats. The worldwide premiere of the film will be held at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX in New York on July 14th, the first time a Hollywood feature film has premiered in an IMAX theatre.
Advance IMAX ticket sales demonstrate the huge enthusiasm surrounding the
movie:
- Advance IMAX ticket sales have already surpassed $2 million, more than a week prior to opening
- Over 100 shows are already sold out
- 93 domestic IMAX theatres have added midnight screenings
- Many IMAX theatres in the USA are adding 3am shows, and some are screening non-stop for 24 hours to meet the high moviegoer demands
- Chicago's Navy Pier and the Palisades Center (West Nyack, NY) IMAX theatres will run shows non-stop for 72 hours
"The combination of Chris' inimitable vision and IMAX's groundbreaking technology produced a version of 'The Dark Knight' that will blow audiences away in theaters all over the world," said Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Sequences shot in traditional 35mm have been digitally re-mastered into The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® technology. The two formats will be seamlessly integrated and morph between IMAX and IMAX DMR. In other words, scenes shot in 35mm will appear in IMAX DMR (letterbox), while scenes shot with IMAX's cameras on 15/70mm film will expand vertically to fill the entire IMAX screen, which can be up to eight stories tall, for an all-encompassing IMAX Experience.
"Chris Nolan's enthusiasm for IMAX technology has taken Hollywood filmmaking to a new level, and we're thrilled with the results on the screen and by the positive reactions to advance screenings," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "Warner Bros. Pictures, together with Chris Nolan and the entire filmmaking team, have created an unprecedented filmmaking event that can't be missed, and we are honored to be a part of the excitement."
With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.
Christian Bale reprises his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman; Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger ("Brokeback Mountain") stars as arch-villain The Joker, and Aaron Eckhart plays District Attorney Harvey Dent. Maggie Gyllenhaal joins the cast in the role of Rachel Dawes. Returning from "Batman Begins" are Gary Oldman as Lieutenant Jim Gordon; Oscar winner Michael Caine ("The Cider House Rules") as Alfred; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman ("Million Dollar Baby") as Lucius Fox.
The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience is scheduled to play day-and-date at the following IMAX® Theatres beginning July 18th:
UNITED STATES
Alabama
Huntsville - Spacedome IMAX at US Space and Rocket Center
Arizona
Mesa - Gateway 12 IMAX Theatre
Phoenix - AMC Deer Valley 30 with IMAX
Arkansas
Little Rock - Promenade at Chenal
California
Anaheim - The Movie Experience at Anaheim Gardenwalk
Cathedral City - Desert IMAX Theatre
Dublin - Regal Hacienda Crossings IMAX
Fresno - Fresno Stadium Cinema & IMAX
Irvine - Edwards Irvine Spectrum IMAX
Los Angeles - Universal CityWalk IMAX Theatre
Los Angeles - IMAX Theatre at The Bridge: cinema de lux
Ontario - Edwards Ontario Palace IMAX
Sacramento - Esquire IMAX Theatre
San Diego - San Diego IMAX at Mira Mesa 18
San Francisco - AMC Loews IMAX Theatre at Metreon
Colorado
Colorado Springs - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Cinemark Carefree Circle
Denver - UA Colorado Center IMAX
Connecticut
Manchester - IMAX Theatre at Showcase Cinemas Buckland Hills
Florida
Fort Lauderdale - AutoNation® IMAX® Theater at Museum of Discovery
and Science
Jacksonville - World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theatre
Orlando - Pointe Orlando 20 & IMAX
St. Petersburg - Muvico BayWalk 20 & IMAX
Tampa - Channelside Cinemas IMAX
Tampa - IMAX Dome Theatre at MOSI
West Palm Beach - Parisian 20 & IMAX
Georgia
Buford - Regal Mall of Georgia IMAX
Idaho
Boise - Edwards Boise Stadium IMAX
Illinois
Batavia - Randall 15 IMAX
Chicago - Navy Pier IMAX Theatre
Lincolnshire - Regal Lincolnshire IMAX
Woodridge - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Seven Bridges
Indiana
Evansville - Showplace Cinemas IMAX Theatre
Indianapolis - ShowPlace 16 IMAX Theatre
Noblesville - Hamilton Towne Center 16 + IMAX
Portage - Portage 16 IMAX
Iowa
Council Bluffs - Star Cinemas Council Bluffs
Davenport - Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre
Des Moines - Science Center of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theater
Kansas
Olathe - IMAX Theatre at AMC Studio 30
Kentucky
Louisville - Cinema De Lux 20: Stonybrook IMAX Theatre
Massachusetts
Natick - Verizon IMAX 3D Theater at Jordan's Furniture - Natick
Reading - Verizon IMAX 3D Theater at Jordan's Furniture - Reading
Michigan
Dearborn - The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre
Grand Blanc - NGC Trillium IMAX Theatre
Grand Rapids - IMAX Theatre at Celebration! Cinema
Lansing - IMAX Theatre at Celebration! Cinema
Sterling Heights - IMAX Theatre at AMC Forum 30
Ypsilanti - Showcase Cinemas Ann Arbor
Minnesota
Apple Valley - Great Clips IMAX Theatre
St. Michael - CineMagic Metropolitan IMAX Theatre
Missouri
St. Louis - Ronnies 20 Cine IMAX
Nevada
Las Vegas - Brenden Theatres and IMAX at the Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas - Red Rock Stadium 16 & IMAX
New Hampshire
Hooksett - Cinemagic IMAX Theatre
New Jersey
Atlantic City - IMAX Theatre at Tropicana Casino
New York
Garden City - Leroy R. and Rose W. Grumman IMAX Dome Theater
New York City - AMC Loews IMAX Theatre, Lincoln Square
New Rochelle - Regal New Roc City IMAX
Rochester - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Tinseltown USA
West Nyack - IMAX Theatre at Palisades Center
White Plains - IMAX Theatre at City Center: Cinema de lux
Williamsville - Regal Transit Center IMAX
North Carolina
Charlotte - Charlotte Observer IMAX Dome Theatre, Discovery Place
Raleigh - Wachovia IMAX Theatre at Marbles Kids Museum
Ohio
Cincinnati -Cinema De Lux 18: Springdale IMAX Theatre
Columbus - IMAX Theatre at AMC Easton Town Center 30
Oklahoma
Tulsa - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at The Tulsa
Oregon
Tigard - Portland IMAX at Bridgeport Village Stadium 18
Pennsylvania
Harrisburg - Select Medical IMAX Theater at The Whitaker Center
King of Prussia - UA King of Prussia IMAX
Philadelphia - Tuttleman IMAX Theatre, Franklin Institute
Tarentum - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at the Galleria Pittsburgh Mills
Rhode Island