The Dark Knight will set the standard for IMAX

So I think everyone saw this coming. You take a recognized character in Batman, reboot the franchise with a kickass movie and make one of the most anticipated sequels of all time. How could that possibly get any bigger? How about $2 million worth of presales more than one week before the first showing in IMAX theaters? In a recent IMAX press release, the company touts the mammoth success that The Dark Knight is before its even been released to the public. Over 100 shows are already sold out, and many theaters are adding additional showings to meet demand. Chicago's Navy Pier and the Palisades Center (West Nyack, NY) IMAX theatres will even run shows non-stop for 72 hours, just to make sure as many people as possible have a chance to catch the film. And of course we know that Christopher Nolan is a big fan of IMAX, and this will be one of the first features to seamlessly integrate IMAX film and standard film for a movie that will quite possibly be the best movie of the year. "The combination of Chris' inimitable vision and IMAX's groundbreaking technology produced a version of 'The Dark Knight' that will blow audiences away in theaters all over the world," said Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. Full press release is below. The Dark Knight Makes Motion Picture History in Imax(R) Theatres on July 18th Thursday July 10, 7:30 am ET Director's Groundbreaking Use of IMAX(R) Cameras Generates Anticipation Around the Globe Excitement Surrounding Film and Early Reviews Drives Record-Setting Advance IMAX Ticket Sales Worldwide Premiere to be Held at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX on July 14th LOS ANGELES, July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that the studio's highly anticipated and technologically unprecedented summer movie, The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, and directed by Christopher Nolan, will open in a record 94 IMAX® theatres domestically on July 18th in conjunction with the film's wide release. The film will also open in 15 IMAX theatres day-and-date internationally, with at least 23 additional international locations opening in the coming weeks. The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience features six sequences filmed with IMAX® cameras, the first time ever that a major feature film has been even partially shot using IMAX cameras, marking a revolutionary integration of the two film formats. The worldwide premiere of the film will be held at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX in New York on July 14th, the first time a Hollywood feature film has premiered in an IMAX theatre. Advance IMAX ticket sales demonstrate the huge enthusiasm surrounding the movie: - Advance IMAX ticket sales have already surpassed $2 million, more than a week prior to opening - Over 100 shows are already sold out - 93 domestic IMAX theatres have added midnight screenings - Many IMAX theatres in the USA are adding 3am shows, and some are screening non-stop for 24 hours to meet the high moviegoer demands - Chicago's Navy Pier and the Palisades Center (West Nyack, NY) IMAX theatres will run shows non-stop for 72 hours "The combination of Chris' inimitable vision and IMAX's groundbreaking technology produced a version of 'The Dark Knight' that will blow audiences away in theaters all over the world," said Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. Sequences shot in traditional 35mm have been digitally re-mastered into The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® technology. The two formats will be seamlessly integrated and morph between IMAX and IMAX DMR. In other words, scenes shot in 35mm will appear in IMAX DMR (letterbox), while scenes shot with IMAX's cameras on 15/70mm film will expand vertically to fill the entire IMAX screen, which can be up to eight stories tall, for an all-encompassing IMAX Experience. "Chris Nolan's enthusiasm for IMAX technology has taken Hollywood filmmaking to a new level, and we're thrilled with the results on the screen and by the positive reactions to advance screenings," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "Warner Bros. Pictures, together with Chris Nolan and the entire filmmaking team, have created an unprecedented filmmaking event that can't be missed, and we are honored to be a part of the excitement." With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante. Christian Bale reprises his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman; Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger ("Brokeback Mountain") stars as arch-villain The Joker, and Aaron Eckhart plays District Attorney Harvey Dent. Maggie Gyllenhaal joins the cast in the role of Rachel Dawes. Returning from "Batman Begins" are Gary Oldman as Lieutenant Jim Gordon; Oscar winner Michael Caine ("The Cider House Rules") as Alfred; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman ("Million Dollar Baby") as Lucius Fox.