IMAX Corporation Reports First Quarter 2022 Results

IMAX Corporation has reported financial results for the first quarter of 2022 demonstrating its continued industry-leading momentum and strong market position
New York, NY ( April 28, 2022 ) -

IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2022 demonstrating its continued industry-leading momentum and strong market position as a long-awaited slate of tentpole releases arrive in the global marketplace beginning next week.

  • Strong Year-Over-Year Growth in Key Metrics Underscore Company’s Position as a Premier Global Technology Platform for Entertainment and Events
  • Global Box Office of $173.2 Million (+57% YoY) Driven by Strong Performances of “The Batman” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home”
  • IMAX Continues Strong Market Share Gains of 2021, Capturing 4.7% of Domestic Box Office — a Record for the First Quarter (Q1)
  • Network Deal Activity Beginning to Accelerate, including Recently Completed Agreements in Growth Markets such as Japan and Thailand
  • IMAX China Network Approximately 65% Open — up from 52% on March 31 — Following Recent COVID Lockdowns
  • 2022 Blockbuster Slate Kicks into High Gear with Highly Anticipated Releases “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, “Top Gun: Maverick”, “Jurassic World: Dominion” and More Arriving in Theaters Next Week

The Company continued to drive solid year-over-year improvement across key metrics in the first quarter. Total Gross Box Office increased to $173.2 million from $110.2 million in the first quarter of 2021. Revenue increased to $60.0 million from $38.8 million and Gross Margin increased to $31.8 million from $17.3 million in the year ago period.

During the quarter, the Company recorded a net non-cash provision of $6.9 million, or $0.12 per share due to an increase in reserves given the uncertainty of collecting receivables in Russia. This provision was taken in an exercise of caution due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and covers substantially all of the Company’s net receivable exposure in the Russian market. Including this provision, the net loss attributable to common shareholders and Adjusted Net Loss attributable to common shareholders (1) was ($13.6) million, or ($0.23) per share, and ($8.2) million, or ($0.14) per share, respectively. Excluding the impact of this provision, net loss attributable to common shareholders (1) was ($6.7) million, or ($0.11) per share, compared to ($14.8) million, or ($0.25) per share, last year and Adjusted Net Loss attributable to common shareholders (1) was ($1.3) million, or ($0.02) per share, compared to ($14.8) million, or ($0.25) per share, last year. Over the past 5 years, Russia has represented on average approximately 3% of IMAX’s annual global box office.

Adjusted EBITDA per the Company’s Credit Facility(1) of $14.8 million was up from $2.8 million in the first quarter of 2021.

(1) Non-GAAP Financial Measure. See the discussion at the end of this earnings release for a description of Adjusted Net Loss attributable to common shareholders and Adjusted Net Loss attributable to common shareholders per share, as well as reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP amounts including a reconciliation of Net Loss attributable to common shareholders to Adjust Net Loss attributable to common shareholders.

“IMAX continues to grow its standing as a global destination for fandom of all kinds, as demonstrated by our solid financial results in the first quarter. We are extremely well positioned to build on our success with a promising blockbuster slate that kicks into high gear next week and continues throughout 2022, beginning with Filmed For IMAX releases including ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’, ‘Lightyear’, and many more highly anticipated releases, including ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ in December,” said Richard L. Gelfond, CEO of IMAX Corporation.

“Even in a quarter expectedly light on new global releases, IMAX drove strong double-digit growth across Global Box Office, Revenue, Gross Margin, and Adjusted EBITDA — demonstrating the success of our content strategy, the inherent advantages in our asset-lite model, and our ability to quickly capitalize as more and more tentpole content arrives in market. We are also encouraged by an increase in deal activity across our network — including recent signings in Japan and Thailand — and we expect that trend to continue in the months ahead.”

“Recent consumer trends reaffirm the irreplaceable value of a theatrical release, with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and ‘The Batman’ driving strong performances on digital platforms following impressive runs at the box office. Intensifying competitive pressures and renewed questions around the economic model for streaming business could provide an additional tailwind for theatrical releases, given their proven ability to create value throughout the chain.”

“As we grow market share and put our technology behind an increasing number of blockbuster productions around the world, IMAX continues to assert the power of our brand and create new opportunities to expand the IMAX Experience — across new live and interactive events in theaters and the IMAX Enhanced experience in home.”

For the full results, please visit here.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX is a premier global technology platform for entertainment and events. Through its proprietary software, theater architecture, patented intellectual property, and specialized equipment, IMAX offers a unique end-to-end solution to create superior, immersive content experiences for which the IMAX brand is globally renown. Top filmmakers, movie studios, artists, and creators utilize the cutting-edge visual and sound technology of IMAX to connect with audiences in innovative ways. As a result, IMAX is among the most important and successful global distribution platforms for domestic and international tentpole films and, increasingly, exclusive experiences ranging from live performances to interactive events with leading artists and creators.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, with additional offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As of March 31, 2022, there were 1,690 IMAX theater systems (1,606 commercial multiplexes, 12 commercial destinations, 72 institutional) operating in 87 countries and territories. Shares of IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code “HK.1970.”

IMAX, IMAX Dome, IMAX 3D, IMAX 3D Dome, Experience It In IMAX, The IMAX Experience, An IMAX Experience, An IMAX 3D Experience, IMAX DMR, DMR, IMAX Enhanced, IMAX nXos and Films to the Fullest, are trademarks and trade names of the Company or its subsidiaries that are registered or otherwise protected under laws of various jurisdictions. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com.