Movies Up to the Ceiling... CGV Opens Era of 4-Sided ScreenX

Global Box Office No. 1 Last Year, Up 22% Year-on-Year
Enhancing Production Capabilities
"Considering VR Content Production"

Oh Yoon-dong, head of Studio at CJ 4DPLEX, attended a press conference held on the 23rd at the CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall SCREENX theater. Photo by CGV

CJ CGV subsidiary CJ 4DPLEX has pioneered the world’s first ‘4-sided SCREENX theater,’ expanding the screen to the ceiling, ushering in the SCREENX 3.0 era.

On the 23rd, Oh Yoon-dong, head of CJ 4DPLEX Studio, explained at a press conference held at CGV Yongsan SCREENX theater, “We first introduced the SCREENX theater in Korea in 2013, released the first commercial film in 2015, and entered the global market the same year. In 2017, we produced a Hollywood film in SCREENX for the first time.” He continued, “In 2020, we broadcast the LOL matches live in 3-sided SCREENX for the first time, and last year, we live-streamed professional baseball games in SCREENX, contributing to the spread of sports viewing culture.”

CJ 4DPLEX has continued its steady investment. The number of contents produced in SCREENX was only six in 2015, but last year, a total of 42 films were released, growing sevenfold in ten years. The number of SCREENX theaters has increased from 59 in its first year, 2015, to 423 screens operating in 46 countries by the end of last year. This year, the number is planned to increase to about 540, and to around 700 next year.

Oh emphasized, “Through the 4-sided SCREENX theater, we will offer customers a differentiated experience and continue to devote ourselves to enhancing the value of content through technology.”

Last year, the SCREENX global box office recorded an all-time high of $94 million (approximately 135 billion KRW). SCREENX showed notable achievements in key strategic markets such as North America, Japan, and Europe. The SCREENX box office in the North American market grew by 51% compared to the previous year, thanks to the strong performance of releases like Deadpool, Wolverine, and Alien: Romulus. The SCREENX box office in the Japanese market grew by 11% year-on-year. The SCREENX theater opened last year at Toho Ikebukuro in Japan was differentiated as a Dolby combined theater. The SCREENX box office in the European market recorded a 38% growth compared to the previous year.

4-sided SCREENX theater view. Provided by CGV

The number of SCREENX contents increased by 13 compared to last year. Among the top 20 global box office films last year, 17 titles, including Dune: Part 2 and Venom: Let There Be Carnage, were screened in SCREENX. This also included original live performance content produced and distributed by CJ 4DPLEX.

Efforts are also being made to enhance production capabilities, such as internalizing visual effects (VFX) production. Production personnel were dispatched to local production companies to establish a VFX pipeline. Collaborations with global animation studios such as DreamWorks and Illumination involved participation in the main production process, resulting in the release of Kung Fu Panda 4, Despicable Me 4, and The Wild Robot in SCREENX. They worked with directors and producers from the film planning stage through to the main VFX, and are currently considering producing VR (virtual reality) content for SCREENX beyond the 4-sided SCREENX.

Oh said, “While the global film market decreased by 10% compared to the previous year, SCREENX showed a 22% increase in performance,” adding, “Based on the quantitative and qualitative growth of SCREENX, we will present more works this year and enhance the value of content through various technological evolutions.”