IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX) and Viacom18 Motion Pictures today announced that Padmaavat set a new opening weekend record for IMAX in India, grossing approximately $461,000 across 12 IMAX® theatres for a stellar $38,400 per-screen average. Directed by celebrated filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Padmaavat is the first Indian local-language title released globally in the IMAX® 3D format.

Padmaavat was also distributed to an additional 42 IMAX theatres in 10 markets outside of India including North America, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and the UK. Globally, the film grossed $1.3 million across a total of 54 IMAX theatres in its opening weekend run for a $24,000 per-screen average. Padmaavat marks the fourth Indian local-language production to be released in IMAX globally.

The film is based on the Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi's epic poem Padmavat. Starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, the film showcases the valor of Rani Padmavati, Maharawal Ratan Singh and the famed Rajput ethos of honor, bravery and sacrifice.

"We would like to congratulate acclaimed director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Viacom18 on this phenomenal achievement. Padmaavat's record-breaking IMAX box office in India underscores the growing demand among local audiences for India's biggest and boldest titles to be presented in our ultra-immersive format," said Greg Foster, CEO of IMAX Entertainment and Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. "We look forward to the film's continued success in India and across our global network."

Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Motion Pictures, said, "We are delighted to be associated with IMAX for the release of our magnum opus, Padmaavat. As producers of Padmaavat, we wanted to give our audience a larger than life cinematic experience and take them through of the journey of the characters. Our association with IMAX has provided us the right platform to achieve what we had set out to do."

The IMAX release of Padmaavat was digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of An IMAX 3D Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.