TOHO Cinemas And IMAX® Expand Partnership With Six New IMAX With Laser Locations Across Japan
IMAX (NYSE: IMAX) and TOHO Cinemas have announced an expansion of their partnership with six new IMAX With Laser systems across Japan. The agreement includes two new locations in Tokyo and expansions into suburban areas including Utsunomiya, Nisshin, Toyama, and Motosu.
Four locations will open by end of 2025, with Toyama and Motosu following in first half of 2026. Notably, TOHO Cinemas Hibiya will become the first location outside North America to house two IMAX systems. This expansion makes TOHO Cinemas IMAX's largest exhibition partner in Japan, with 9 current locations and 7 more planned by 2026.
The partnership has shown strong performance, with TOHO Cinemas operating three of Japan's four highest-grossing IMAX locations in 2024. Japan ranks as IMAX's third-highest-grossing market globally, with 53 current locations and 17 in backlog.
IMAX (NYSE: IMAX) e TOHO Cinemas hanno annunciato un'espansione della loro partnership con sei nuovi sistemi IMAX With Laser in Giappone. L'accordo include due nuove sedi a Tokyo e espansioni nelle aree suburbane, tra cui Utsunomiya, Nisshin, Toyama e Motosu.
Quattro sedi apriranno entro la fine del 2025, con Toyama e Motosu che seguiranno nella prima metà del 2026. In particolare, TOHO Cinemas Hibiya diventerà la prima sede al di fuori del Nord America a ospitare due sistemi IMAX. Questa espansione rende TOHO Cinemas il più grande partner di esposizione di IMAX in Giappone, con 9 sedi attuali e altre 7 pianificate entro il 2026.
La partnership ha mostrato forti performance, con TOHO Cinemas che gestisce tre delle quattro sedi IMAX di maggior successo in Giappone nel 2024. Il Giappone si colloca come il terzo mercato di IMAX per incassi a livello globale, con 53 sedi attuali e 17 in backlog.
IMAX (NYSE: IMAX) y TOHO Cinemas han anunciado una expansión de su asociación con seis nuevos sistemas IMAX With Laser en Japón. El acuerdo incluye dos nuevas ubicaciones en Tokio y expansiones en áreas suburbanas como Utsunomiya, Nisshin, Toyama y Motosu.
Cuatro ubicaciones abrirán para finales de 2025, con Toyama y Motosu siguiendo en la primera mitad de 2026. Notablemente, TOHO Cinemas Hibiya se convertirá en la primera ubicación fuera de América del Norte en albergar dos sistemas IMAX. Esta expansión convierte a TOHO Cinemas en el mayor socio de exhibición de IMAX en Japón, con 9 ubicaciones actuales y 7 más planificadas para 2026.
La asociación ha mostrado un fuerte rendimiento, con TOHO Cinemas operando tres de las cuatro ubicaciones IMAX de mayores ingresos en Japón en 2024. Japón ocupa el tercer lugar como el mercado de IMAX con mayores ingresos a nivel mundial, con 53 ubicaciones actuales y 17 en backlog.
IMAX (NYSE: IMAX)와 TOHO Cinemas가 일본 전역에 걸쳐 6개의 새로운 IMAX With Laser 시스템을 추가하는 파트너십 확장을 발표했습니다. 이 계약에는 도쿄의 두 개 새로운 위치와 우츠노미야, 니시신, 도야마 및 모토수와 같은 교외 지역으로의 확장이 포함됩니다.
2025년 말까지 네 개의 위치가 열릴 예정이며, 도야마와 모토수는 2026년 상반기에 오픈할 예정입니다. 특히 TOHO Cinemas Hibiya는 북미 이외의 지역에서 두 개의 IMAX 시스템을 갖춘 첫 번째 장소가 됩니다. 이번 확장은 TOHO Cinemas를 일본에서 IMAX의 가장 큰 전시 파트너로 만들며, 현재 9개의 위치와 2026년까지 추가로 7개가 계획되어 있습니다.
파트너십은 강력한 성과를 보여주었으며, TOHO Cinemas는 2024년 일본에서 가장 높은 수익을 올리는 4개의 IMAX 위치 중 3개를 운영하고 있습니다. 일본은 IMAX의 전 세계에서 세 번째로 높은 수익 시장으로, 현재 53개의 위치와 17개의 대기 중인 위치가 있습니다.
IMAX (NYSE: IMAX) et TOHO Cinemas ont annoncé une expansion de leur partenariat avec six nouveaux systèmes IMAX With Laser à travers le Japon. L'accord comprend deux nouveaux emplacements à Tokyo et des extensions dans des zones suburbaines, y compris Utsunomiya, Nisshin, Toyama et Motosu.
Quatre emplacements ouvriront d'ici la fin de 2025, Toyama et Motosu suivront au premier semestre de 2026. Notamment, TOHO Cinemas Hibiya deviendra le premier emplacement en dehors de l'Amérique du Nord à accueillir deux systèmes IMAX. Cette expansion fait de TOHO Cinemas le plus grand partenaire d'exposition d'IMAX au Japon, avec 9 emplacements actuels et 7 de plus prévus d'ici 2026.
Le partenariat a montré de solides performances, TOHO Cinemas exploitant trois des quatre emplacements IMAX les plus rentables au Japon en 2024. Le Japon se classe au troisième rang des marchés IMAX les plus rentables au monde, avec 53 emplacements actuels et 17 en attente.
IMAX (NYSE: IMAX) und TOHO Cinemas haben eine Erweiterung ihrer Partnerschaft mit sechs neuen IMAX With Laser-Systemen in Japan angekündigt. Die Vereinbarung umfasst zwei neue Standorte in Tokio sowie Erweiterungen in Vororten wie Utsunomiya, Nisshin, Toyama und Motosu.
Vier Standorte werden bis Ende 2025 eröffnet, wobei Toyama und Motosu in der ersten Hälfte von 2026 folgen werden. Besonders bemerkenswert ist, dass TOHO Cinemas Hibiya der erste Standort außerhalb Nordamerikas wird, der zwei IMAX-Systeme beherbergt. Diese Expansion macht TOHO Cinemas zum größten Ausstellungspartner von IMAX in Japan, mit derzeit 9 Standorten und weiteren 7, die bis 2026 geplant sind.
Die Partnerschaft hat eine starke Leistung gezeigt, da TOHO Cinemas drei der vier umsatzstärksten IMAX-Standorte in Japan im Jahr 2024 betreibt. Japan belegt den dritten Platz als IMAXs umsatzstärkster Markt weltweit, mit derzeit 53 Standorten und 17 in der Warteschlange.
- Expansion with 6 new IMAX With Laser systems across strategic locations
- First location outside North America to house dual IMAX systems
- TOHO Cinemas operates 3 of 4 highest-grossing IMAX locations in Japan
- Japan is IMAX's third highest-grossing market globally
- Strong content pipeline with upcoming Demon Slayer sequel
- None.
Insights
The agreement between TOHO Cinemas and IMAX to install six new IMAX with Laser systems represents significant expansion within Japan, IMAX's third highest-grossing global market. This deal strategically penetrates both Tokyo and key suburban areas like Utsunomiya, Nisshin, Toyama, and Motosu, with most locations opening by end-2025.
Most notable is the addition of a second IMAX system at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya, replacing an existing premium large format theater – marking the first dual-IMAX complex outside North America. This demonstrates exceptional performance metrics at this location and suggests potential for this model's expansion globally.
The strengthened partnership makes TOHO Cinemas IMAX's largest exhibition partner in Japan, with 9 currently operating locations and 7 more contracted to open by 2026. The partnership's strength is validated by TOHO Cinemas operating three of Japan's four highest-grossing IMAX locations in 2024.
With 11 new agreements signed year-to-date, IMAX is on pace to exceed its previous record of 12 new locations in 2023, signaling accelerating adoption in this market. The company now operates 53 locations across Japan with 17 in backlog.
Beyond location growth, the partnership leverages TOHO's robust content pipeline, including the upcoming "Demon Slayer" sequel. This combination of premium technology deployment and local content partnerships creates a compelling growth narrative in a key global market.
This expanded partnership represents a strategic acceleration of IMAX's premium format penetration in Japan through its most successful exhibition partner. TOHO Cinemas – operating three of Japan's four highest-grossing IMAX venues – has demonstrated exceptional ability to monetize the IMAX experience, making them the ideal vehicle for expansion.
The upgrade to IMAX with Laser technology across these six locations is particularly significant. This premium system commands higher ticket prices while delivering superior presentation quality, driving both increased revenue per patron and higher utilization rates compared to standard formats.
The unprecedented dual-IMAX installation at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya represents a breakthrough moment. By replacing an existing premium large format screen with a second IMAX system, TOHO is explicitly acknowledging superior financial returns from IMAX versus competing premium formats – a powerful market signal that could influence other exhibitors globally.
The content partnership with TOHO Co. (parent company) creates a virtuous cycle where Japanese blockbusters like "Demon Slayer" and Studio Ghibli films receive IMAX treatment domestically before generating additional revenue internationally. The $4.1 million North American opening for the IMAX re-release of "Princess Mononoke" demonstrates how this partnership extends beyond hardware into content monetization.
With Japan serving as IMAX's third-largest global market, this accelerated deployment strategy in partnership with the country's leading exhibitor suggests confidence in continued premium format adoption and higher per-location revenue potential.
New Agreement Spans Tokyo and Key Suburban Areas, as IMAX Drives Strong Network Growth Across Japan
The
Inclusive of this agreement, TOHO Cinemas is now IMAX’s largest exhibition partner in
“In Japan, we are currently producing a large number of Japanese films and animation to be seen in the IMAX format. We have been looking for a long time to bring this premier visual experience to as huge an audience as possible, and we are pleased to have signed the agreement to install six new IMAX theaters,” said Takayuki Ikeda, CEO of TOHO Cinemas. ”Especially, we are proud that TOHO CINEMAS Hibiya has been approved to install two IMAX theaters, which is almost unheard of in the world. We will continue to deliver the best cinema experience to movie fans throughout
“TOHO Group is a global entertainment powerhouse — with world-class cinemas and the largest film studio in
Year to date, IMAX has now signed agreements for eleven new and upgraded locations in
Toho Co., Ltd., the parent company of TOHO Cinemas, has produced or distributed seventeen of IMAX’s top twenty highest-grossing Japanese-language titles, including the anime powerhouses “Demon Slayer” (2021), “Suzume” (2022) and “The Boy and The Heron” (2023), all of which went on to deliver strong results in markets outside of
The six new TOHO Cinemas locations in
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture, and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX systems to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, making IMAX's network among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, Experience It In IMAX®, The IMAX Experience®, DMR®, Filmed For IMAX®, IMAX LIVE™, and IMAX Enhanced® are trademarks and trade names of IMAX Corporation or its subsidiaries that are registered or otherwise protected under laws of various jurisdictions. For more information, visit www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Instagram (www.instagram.com/imax), Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/imax), X (www.twitter.com/imax), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
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Source: IMAX Corporation
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