Los Angeles – Oct. 5, 2011 – IMAX Corporation and Paramount Pictures today announced that Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol will begin previews in IMAX beginning Friday, Dec. 16 and playing through the film’s run at the box office, which begins worldwide on Dec. 21, 2011. This marks the first time a domestic feature release has been released early in IMAX® theatres and reinforces the event nature of this highly-anticipated film. Directed by Academy Award®-winner Brad Bird, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol stars Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Paula Patton.

Coupled with the early window of engagement, the IMAX release of this fourth installment of Mission: Impossible features approximately 30 minutes of scenes shot with IMAX cameras. These specific sequences will expand to fill the entire screen, exclusively in IMAX, and further immerse the audience in the explosive action and vast scope of the film. One featured sequence includes the unbelievable stunt performed by Tom Cruise as he scaled the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai, providing an up-close, you-are-there experience as only IMAX can.

“Brad Bird’s Mission: Impossible will be among the highlights of the holiday movie season and we’re very happy to share the film with audiences early in IMAX,” said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures.

“We believe that the early release of this blockbuster film, shot in part with IMAX cameras, will help generate extra buzz and incremental revenue for both IMAX and the box office overall,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. “Today’s announcement highlights the confidence that both filmmakers and studios have in the ability of the IMAX platform to deliver an unparalleled movie-going experience and generate positive box office results, while showcasing IMAX’s flexibility and scale.”

“Paramount Pictures, Bad Robot and Tom Cruise continue to create innovative, event experiences for moviegoers and we’re ecstatic that IMAX is a featured component of that event strategy by offering fans this IMAX preview of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “The sequences shot with IMAX cameras, coupled with the visionary storytelling of Brad Bird and incredible scope of this film will – mark my words – blow audiences away.”

The IMAX release of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.