4DX effects allow theatergoers to experience all five human senses with rain, wind, fog, strobe lights, smells and vibration while watching films. (image: CJ 4DPLEX)
SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – Chinese moviegoers will now be able to enjoy 4DX effects in theaters as Wanda Cinema has decided to adopt 4DX cinema technology developed by South Korea’s CJ 4DPLEX.
CJ 4DPLEX, the world’s first 4D cinema company for feature films, signed an agreement with Dalian Wanda Group, one of the world’s largest cinema chain operators, to bring its 4DX technology to five Wanda theaters in major cities including Dalian, Shanghai and Changchun starting in February next year.
4DX effects allow theatergoers to experience all five human senses with rain, wind, fog, strobe lights, smells and vibration while watching films. Theaters must be designed for and equipped with the technology, which was developed and commercialized by CJ 4DPLEX, an affiliate of CJ CGV.
CJ 4DPLEX, the world’s first 4D cinema company for feature films, signed an agreement with Dalian Wanda Group. (image: CJ 4DPLEX)
More than 150 Wanda movie theaters founded and managed by Dalian Wanda Group are operated in about 80 cities, with 1,315 screens. Its market share stood at 14.5 percent, ranking first in China. It is expected, therefore, that the number of theaters equipped with the 4DX technology will rapidly increase from the initial five.
“The deal is particularly meaningful to the company, as we have tried our best to accelerate our entrance to the Chinese theater market. With Wanda, we will provide immersive 4DX experiences to Chinese movie lovers,” said Choi Byung-hwan, CEO of the company.
To date, there are 23 4DX theaters run by six theater groups in China, including CGV, UME, Golden Harvest and Womei. CJ 4DPLEX has already signed a deal with AEG to introduce the innovative technology to a movie theater in the United States in March this year. The theater technology company is currently operating 128 special theaters in 28 countries, including South Korea, Japan, India, Poland, Mexico and Brazil. It plans to expand the number to 150 theaters in 30 nations this year, and to about 300 theaters by 2016.
By Veronica Huh (veronicah@koreabizwire.com)
