'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Plans Major IMAX Release; Will Episode 7 Break Box Office Records?
It may take place in a galaxy far, far away, but, thanks to IMAX, fans will be able to see "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" up close and larger than life. The highly anticipated seventh film in the popular sci-fi franchise has reached a deal with IMAX to be the only film playing on the world's biggest movie screens when "The Force Awakens" premieres in December.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, "The Force Awakens" has exclusively reserved every IMAX large-format screen in North America for the first four weeks of the movie's release. The J.J. Abrams-directed sequel will also be playing on the majority of foreign IMAX screens as well. No film or film franchise has earned a deal with IMAX of this magnitude since "The Hobbit" franchise agreed to similar terms over four years ago. Competing blockbuster franchises, such as the "Hunger Games," and the "James Bond" series, which each have their next installments due to release in November, are planning their IMAX releases with the understanding that once "Star Wars" lands it will corner the market.
The big release will give "The Force Awakens" the chance to break the IMAX records recently set by the release of "Jurassic World." The "Jurassic Park" sequel starring Chris Pratt, which premiered in June, nabbed the highest IMAX box office totals yet. The film raked in over $28.8 million domestically and over $44.2 million worldwide, according to CNBC. However, "Jurassic World" made its mark while showing on only 363 screens domestically. The even wider release of "Star Wars" will put "The Force Awakens" on over 400 IMAX screens. That fact, combined with the extraordinary amount of hype for the J.J. Abrams revivial of the iconic franchise, could result in the biggest IMAX numbers ever.
Watch the trailer for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" below:
Will episode 7 break the IMAX box office records? Only time will tell, but the force sure seems strong with this one. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will premiere on Dec. 18.
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