Charlie and the Chocolate Factory shatters IMAX box office records with golden opening weekend in IMAX(R) theatres

Film Posts Biggest Three Day Opening for an IMAX Hollywood Simultaneous Release

Strong Debut Helps Break Record for IMAX's Highest Grossing Summer Weekend

The film debuted in a record 65 North American IMAX(R) theatres - the widest domestic IMAX opening to date - grossing an estimated $2.21 million over the three-day period from Friday, July 15 to Sunday, July 17, for a per screen average of more than $34,000.

In addition to establishing a new three-day opening record, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The IMAX Experience also set single day box office records with the biggest opening day, Saturday and Sunday for an IMAX digitally re-mastered release.

Batman Begins: The IMAX Experience continues to draw crowds around the world, and in less than five weeks in IMAX theatres, the film has now grossed approximately $12.5 million worldwide. With the two films combining to gross over $2.5 million, the three-day period was IMAX's highest grossing summer weekend.

"Early research shows that everyone from eight to eighty loves Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at IMAX theatres," said Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "IMAX offers moviegoers a special and unique way to experience our tentpole films, and given the overwhelmingly positive audience response to The IMAX Experience(R), we look forward to strong results for weeks to come. This film and Batman Begins are a great one-two summer punch in IMAX's format, and we've been very impressed with the incremental box office IMAX theatres are contributing."

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The IMAX Experience had a phenomenal all-record breaking opening largely due to its wide audience appeal and the great integrated marketing campaign Warner Bros. Pictures executed to launch the film," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler.

"IMAX continues to gain traction with each successive day-and-date Hollywood release, and we are increasingly pulling people off of their couches to experience today's biggest event films in IMAX's format. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has incredible word of mouth coming out of its first weekend, and Batman Begins continues to show strong legs in IMAX theatres, which has us confident our blockbuster summer film slate will continue generating impressive box office returns throughout the season."

Concluded Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment, "When you see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the IMAX screen, it becomes completely obvious why we set out to offer today's biggest Hollywood films in the most immersive film format in the world. Tim Burton's brilliant telling of the Roald Dahl classic is a feast for the senses in IMAX - you're completely engulfed in the vivid colors, entertaining score and adventure of the film. Warner Bros. Pictures has delivered another picture that is ideally suited for the IMAX canvas, as evidenced by the exceptional consumer response and record breaking debut."

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Zanuck Company / Plan B Production of a Tim Burton Film: Johnny Depp stars in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, based on the book by Roald Dahl, and also starring Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor, Missi Pyle, James Fox, with Deep Roy and Christopher Lee.

Directed by Tim Burton from a screenplay by John August, the film is produced by Brad Grey and Richard D. Zanuck. Patrick McCormick, Felicity Dahl, Michael Siegel, Graham Burke and Bruce Berman executive produce. Director of photography is Philippe Rousselot, A.F.C./A.S.C. Production designed by Alex McDowell. Edited by Chris Lebenzon, A.C.E. Costume designer is Gabriella Pescucci.

Music by Danny Elfman. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be released worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures. This film is rated PG by the MPAA for "quirky situations, action and mild language." www.chocolatefactorymovie.com / AOL: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

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NEW YORK, NY, July 19, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --