National Geographic Film Mysteries of Egypt Dominates U.S. Box Office

Leading Documentary Producer Scores Big With First Large Format Feature Film Project

National Geographic’s first foray into large format feature film production, Mysteries of Egypt, is dominating the box office for films of its size. The film was ranked as the highest grossing film per screen worldwide for large format or standard features for the week of April 9-15, according to Variety’s box office chart.

Mysteries of Egypt—which generated an average of U.S. $24,847 per theater for the week—has outperformed IMAX’s own blockbuster T-Rex and more than doubled the per-theater earnings of Discovery’s large format film, Africa’s Elephant Kingdom. And despite playing in only 17 theaters worldwide, Mysteries of Egypt has also surpassed the weekly gross earnings of Everest, the popular large format film which has been playing on some 54 screens worldwide. Mysteries of Egypt continues to move up the charts and is now ranked 26th among all films in weekly gross earnings.

“With 60 additional theaters committed to screening the film over the next two years, Mysteries of Egypt is on its way to becoming one of the most successful large format films in history,” said Rick Allen, president of National Geographic Ventures.

Omar Sharif stars in Mysteries of Egypt. The legendary actor leads audiences on an enchanting journey through the tombs, treasures, and tales of Egypt as a grandfather traveling through the country with his young granddaughter. During the journey, Sharif spins stories of the 5,000-year-old empire, a civilization that continues to captivate the world’s imagination and curiosity. Mysteries of Egypt tells the triumphant and tragic story of the British archaeologists who discovered King Tut’s tomb while interweaving fascinating tales of the amazing accomplishments of ancient Egyptian civilization.

Thanks to its striking, oversized format, Mysteries of Egypt captures the grandeur of the great pyramids of Giza, the sweeping expanse of the Nile (the world’s longest river), the deathly quiet of the Valley of Kings, and the eerie calm of chambers deep within sacred tombs.

Mysteries of Egypt is the first large-format film co-produced by National Geographic Films and Destination Cinema in association with NOVA/WGBH Boston, the Museum of Science and Industry—Chicago, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and Centex Investment Limited. The film was released in 1998. Based on the 77 locations that have booked the film, “Mysteries of Egypt” ranks among the top three most successful large format film launches in the industry.

Visit National Geographic Online’s At the Tomb of Tutankhamen (www.nationalgeographic.com/egypt) Web Site for Mysteries of Egypt film highlights and a list of IMAX theaters now screening the film.