SUBMITTED BY Timbo

November 11, 2003 — "The Matrix Revolutions" may be getting a critical drubbing and performing less well than its predecessor "Reloaded", but its success on IMAX screens makes it more likely that other studios will use the tactic themselves.

Imax Corp.'s opening week box office of just over $3 million for "The Matrix Revolutions" hit the top range of expectations and buttresses Imax's case for debuting major movies on its giant screens the same day as in traditional theaters, co-chief executive Rich Gelfond said on Monday.

"When we sat down and thought about how well the movie could do, this was certainly on the high end," Gelfond said. "For the last two years, we have been saying, 'wait until we open contemporaneously (with traditional theaters), then look at that"' box office result.

Gelfond told Reuters Imax is in currently talks with four major film studios for the same type of "day and date" debut as "Revolutions," a science fiction movie about humans led by their hero, Neo, battling for survival against machines.

The film debuted last week in 48 Imax theaters marking the first time a big-budget, franchise film has opened simultaneously on Imax and in traditional theaters.

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