Mumbai: 3D Entertainment Distribution’s latest Imax theatre release Dolphins and Whales 3D: Tribes of the Ocean presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau, crossed the $10 million mark at the worldwide box office this past weekend. Benefiting from a staggered release at Imax 3D theatres, the film was first launched domestically in mid-February before opening in select international territories including Australia, Germany, Poland and Russia.
"This Thanksgiving weekend marked a new milestone in the film’s successful run," said 3D Entertainment Distribution chairman Francois Mantello. "I am thrilled its performance at Imax 3D theatres has proven to be nothing less than solid in these challenging times with an average per screen revenue of close to $300,000 domestically."
For Texas State History Museum director of theatres John Lewis, "3D Entertainment has delivered yet another top performing documentary. Ticket sales have been consistently strong, thanks in great part to their stellar marketing support."
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center head of marketing Linda M. Candler further adds, "It’s in the top three documentary films we’ve had in our 10-year-old Imax theatre. Ninety percent of the audience rated it ‘good’ or ‘excellent,’ and offered comments such as ‘great way to get the message across’."
For Greater Union Filmpalast in Berlin (Germany) director of marketing Daniel Sibbers, "It has been the most successful release in our Imax theatre’s history, thanks to 3D Entertainment Distribution’s unprecedented efforts to launch this film in the German market."
Dolphins and Whales 3D has been described by Peter Schilling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune as ‘a visual feast for adults and children alike.’ "Never have the secret lives of our intelligent fellow mammals been so beautifully depictured," wrote Jason Heck of the Kansas City Star. For the Boston Globe’s Janice Page, "you’re guaranteed the experience you came for: an up-close look so realistic you might actually duck to avoid a passing tail fin."
Over 1.6 million tickets have been sold to date for Dolphins and Whales 3D. In 2009, the film will open in Lehi (UT), Sacramento (CA), Colorado Springs (CO), Pittsburgh (PA) and Galveston (TX), among other locations. Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Mexico and Singapore will also join the growing list of international territories in the coming year.
The film features narration by actress and environmentalist Daryl Hannah. It was produced by 3D Entertainment and McKinney Underwater Productions and released by 3D Entertainment’s distribution unit in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society.
