IMAX Lasers in on Profitable Q4 Behind Strong Theatrical Revenue

Blockbusters like Disney’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” helped IMAX to a big fourth quarter, as the company reported earnings that topped expectations.

“2016 was an impressive year for IMAX on several strategic fronts: our footprint grew 15 percent, we signed a record 319 new theatre agreements, and we further established IMAX as a leader in the entertainment industry through two key growth initiatives — original content and virtual reality,” IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond said in a statement.

IMAX has also stepped up its pursuit of non-theatrical revenue, recently expanding its footprint in virtual reality with the opening of its first VR arcade in Los Angeles, which allows paying customers without the ability or desire to splash several hundred dollars on high-end VR equipment to try out the technology.