According to a press release by IMAX Corporation and Columbia Pictures today, Spider-Man 4 will be released for traditional screens as well as in all IMAX theaters worldwide on May 5, 2011. The fourth installment will be distributed domestically by Columbia Pictures and internationally by Sony Pictures Releasing International.
“The addition of so many new IMAX locations will give even more fans of Spider-Man an opportunity to experience the action and adventure in a unique way,” said Rory Bruer, President of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing. IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond pointed out as well that the IMAX network of theaters has “grown significantly” and that they “continue to roll-out new theaters virtually every week.” All of this sounds very alluring and it’s great to have more films being pushed out on the IMAX network however it’s important to note that this global network of “IMAX” theaters includes the much smaller and nearly irrelevant flavor of IMAX licensed screens that are less than half the size of a true IMAX screen.
I would reluctantly gladly pay a few extra dollars to see Spider-Man 4 on a true IMAX screen but with ticket prices rising and the very underhanded marketing move of selling the larger-than-regular-but-far-smaller-than-IMAX screens as the true “IMAX Experience” really turns me off to the whole thing. My only local IMAX theater is this special smaller licensed IMAX screen. At around $5 to $6 more a ticket, I will enjoy the less crowded regular screens and save that extra money for my alcohol dependency a nice beer after the show.