Imax Expands Partnership With Toho for Six More Locations in Japan

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Imax, longtime partner of the Japanese film titan Toho, has announced a new agreement on Tuesday. This partnership aims to establish six state-of-the-art Imax with Laser cinemas throughout Japan.

According to the deal, Imax is planning to introduce two new venues to Toho Cinemas in Tokyo, as well as expanding into significant urban areas throughout Japan, such as Utsunomiya, Nisshin, Toyama, and Motosu. The venues in Tokyo, Utsunomiya, and Nisshin are scheduled to debut by the end of this year, while the Toyama and Motosu locations are anticipated for the first half of 2026. In addition to these new sites, an existing backlog location previously agreed upon with Toho Cinemas will be upgraded to IMAX with Laser technology. Moreover, Imax will install a second system at Toho Cinemas Hibiya, replacing the current premium large format theater and making it the first complex outside of North America to host two Imax systems simultaneously.

In Japan, which is the third-largest market for cinematic box office revenue worldwide, Toho Cinemas stands as Imax’s most significant exhibition partner. By the close of 2026, it’s expected that Toho will manage a total of sixteen Imax theaters within Japan. Last year, three out of the top four highest-grossing Imax cinemas in the country were run by Toho Cinemas.

Toho Cinemas is Imax’s primary partner for exhibitions in Japan, a market that ranks third globally in terms of box office revenue. By 2026, they plan to operate sixteen Imax theaters across Japan. Last year, Toho managed three out of the top four highest-grossing Imax cinemas in the country.

The Toho Group, a global force in entertainment with top-tier cinemas and the biggest film studio in Japan, is strengthening its relationship with Imax. As stated by Rich Gelfond, CEO of Imax, this partnership is propelling both our expansion and box office success. We’re on track to secure more IMAX system installations in Japan than ever before this year. The continued commitment of a strategic partner like Toho Cinemas emphasizes our robust position in this crucial market.

The partners are optimistic about their partnership’s future in 2025, as the much-awaited sequel to Toho’s popular anime Demon Slayer is set to premiere in the country in July. A re-release of the original movie will come beforehand in May.

In Japan, we’re now creating a multitude of Japanese films and animations for viewing in the IMAX format. For quite some time, our goal has been to share this exceptional visual experience with as many people as we can, and we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve finalized an agreement to set up six brand-new IMAX theaters,” expressed Takayuki Ikeda, CEO of TOHO Cinemas. Notably, Toho Cinemas Hibiya has been given permission to install two IMAX theaters, a rare occurrence in the global cinema scene.

Currently, Imax boasts 53 operational sites within Japan, while another 17 are pending. On a global scale, the company manages a whopping 1,807 Imax facilities across 90 different countries and regions.

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2025-04-08 15:54