While the battle at the top of the US box office was interesting for movies targeting different audiences, there was a more intriguing bit of box office news over the weekend with Universal deciding to launch their latest blockbuster Everest on IMAX screens alone prior to a full release next week.
Well, it paid off.
Opening on just 545 IMAX screens around the country, Everest pulled in an impressive $7.5 million, which is an average of $13,ooo per screen. If Universal can achieve a similar result when its opened nationwide next week, it could be another huge money maker for the studio.
There isn’t much to compare this too sadly. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol opened on limited number IMAX screens and pulled in $12.7 million – but that was the fourth entry in a franchise with Tom Cruise in the lead role and was a holiday release. If we can compare it to anything, it would be The Equalizer which pulled in a record $3.1 million from IMAX screens in September last year. So, with that in mind, Everest smashed that record.
Inspired by the incredible events surrounding an attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Everest documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind. Their mettle tested by the harshest elements found on the planet, the climbers will face nearly impossible obstacles as a lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival.
Everest is set out now, with a cast that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, John Hawkes, Keira Knightley, Robin Wright, Emily Watson, Clive Standen, Michael Kelly and Sam Worthington.