Imax and Pathe Live recently brought the French pop-rock band Indochine to Imax screens. It was the first recorded music event to be released through the Filmed for Imax program and topped the French box office in wide release surpassing Disney/Marvel's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on the same day. Continuing with Imax-exclusive encores throughout the weekend, the concert film was also the top new opener in the market.
In France alone, 120,000 tickets were sold for an overall Box-office total of $2.08 million. Playing widely in the premium-priced Imax screens, this box office gross matches the previous record holder for an event cinema release in France, the concert Mylene Farmer 2019 – The Film, which also scored $2.08 milion and was also distributed by Pathe Live in 2019.
The film Indochine was screened nationwide for one night only on Thursday, November 24 in 477 cinemas. That was the widest ever release for an event cinema program and included 16 Imax screens. Previews were held the night before at those 16 Imax screens, which then continued for five days of exclusive encore screenings.
An additional 10 Imax locations also screened the film exclusively abroad in Belgium, Switzerland, and the cities of London, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Melbourne.
Overall, representing only five percent of all participating locations, the 26 Imax locations welcomed 21,711 fans (17 percent of the 128,296 total) and delivered 22 percent of the total gross box office with $482,000.
Two additional screenings are scheduled for the Scotiabank Theatre in Montréal on December 11 and December 12.
Shot at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon, France in June 2022, the Central Tour was captured with 22 Imax certified digital cameras. The live show featured a 147 feet high (45 meters) central tower and the specially designed biggest LED screen ever used in a live concert: 27,000 square feet with 1,400 LED panels.
"We are beyond thrilled with the incredible performance of Indochine Central Tour in Cinema," said Megan Colligan, president of Imax Entertainment. "As the first ever Filmed for Imax concert and the biggest event cinema box office for a French release, Indochine Central Tour in Cinema further highlights the desire of fans around the world to experience unique and immersive entertainment events in Imax."
"The huge success of Indochine Central Tour in Cinema in post-pandemic times demonstrates that movie theatres remain very attractive to the audience, who is more than ever ready to gather around major and unifying events," said Thierry Fontaine, president of Pathé Live. "The quality of the image and sound of this specially Filmed for Imax historic concert, that celebrated the 40th anniversary of France's most popular band, offers an unparalleled immersive and collective experience."
Imax Corporation www.imax.com