From Pamela McClintock’s Hollywood Reporter interview with IMAX Chairman Greg Foster, a passage about the emerging international film markets after China:
“Hollywood Reporter:
How much does Imax’s future growth depend on international?
Greg Foster:
About 60 percent of our business comes from overseas, including 20 percent from China. Of the 300 theaters we operate overseas, 125 are in China. We just made a deal to build 125 theaters with Chinese exhibitor Wanda. Rich Gelfond had a strong vision about China and is responsible for our business there. In China this year so far, Imax carried four of the five top-grossing movies: Iron Man 3, Pacific Rim and two Chinese movies, Young Detective Dee and Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons.
Hollywood Reporter:
What’s next after China?
Greg Foster:
Southeast Asia is booming, and we want to be a part of that boom. We recently struck a deal to build more than 20 new theaters in Indonesia, further boosting our presence there. Our South Korean presence is also growing, and Gravity recently scored the highest opening average theater gross of any movie in Imax’s history, or $107,900. That’s insane.”
Tags: Greg Foster, Pamela McClintock