Benzinga | Mar 14, 2021 01:35PM EDT

"Avatar" Re-Release in China Earnsed $6.2M at IMAX Theaters this Weekend; Avatar Remains Highest Grossing Imax Film of All Time

A new generation of Chinese moviegoers flocked to Pandora this weekend, as IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX) delivered $6.2 million in box office with the re-release of James Cameron's sci-fi epic "Avatar." Remarkably, IMAX theaters captured 30% of the film's weekend box office, despite accounting for only 1% of screens in the market. The strong performance helped "Avatar" regain its crown as the highest grossing theatrical release of all time. IMAX has now earned a lifetime box office of $249.5 million with the groundbreaking film, which remains the highest grossing IMAX film of all time as well.

"'Avatar' changed everything for IMAX catapulting our brand into the stratosphere and putting us on the map in China and we're grateful to help James, Jon, and this watershed film further cement their place in cinematic history," said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX. "Yet again, Chinese moviegoers are demonstrating the pent-up demand for theatrical blockbusters that awaits cinemas around the world as they reopen, and IMAX continues help lead the recovery of the global movie business."

The 2010 IMAX 3D release of "Avatar" in China was a phenomenon, earning $24 million on only 14 IMAX screens a per screen average of $1.7 million and playing to round-the-clock sold out shows. The film began IMAX's ascent to become one of the most recognized entertainment brands in China. The following year, IMAX signed a 75-theater deal with Wanda at the time the company's biggest international theater deal ever and established IMAX China as its own wholly owned subsidiary of the company. Today, China is IMAX's biggest market in terms of theaters with more than 700, and the market accounts for approximately one-third of IMAX's annual global box office.

Nine out of the top ten of the highest performing Chinese cinemas showing "Avatar" over the weekend were IMAX locations, and the film is the highest grossing re-release in IMAX since Chinese cinemas reopened in July.

With this weekend's re-release, "Avatar" reclaimed the box office crown it relinquished to "Avengers: Endgame" in 2019. IMAX holds a piece of the storied history of both films. "Avengers: Endgame" continues to hold the record for the biggest opening weekend of any IMAX film ever with $91.5 million worldwide, and was the second Hollywood film ever to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras.

The second and third installments of the "Avatar" saga are currently slated for December of 2022 and 2024, respectively.