IMAX Corporation has reached an agreement with Nongken Bona Film Investment Co, a subsidiary of Beijing-based Bona Film Group, to open an IMAX theatre in Tianjin.

The theatre will be located in the Nongken Bona International Cineplex in Tianjin and is scheduled to open in September 2012. Following this agreement, IMAX will have 226 theatres either open to contracted to open in Greater China, of which 92 are currently operating.

Bona and IMAX previously worked together on the IMAX presentation of martial arts epic Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate, which became China’s highest-grossing IMAX release ever on its release in December 2011. Indomina Releasing will distribute the film to select IMAX theatres across North America in September this year. 

“With the incredible success of Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate, we have first-hand experience with IMAX’s ability to transform the movie-going experience, making audiences believe that they’re part of the film,” said Bona founder and chairman Yu Dong. 

“Outside of North America, China is our largest market with our highest per-screen averages worldwide,” said IMAX China CEO Jiande Chen. “The increasing demand for The IMAX Experience among Chinese movie-goers continues to drive our network growth. Our first joint project with Bona resulted in a film that broke box office records in China and we are happy to expand our partnership following this tremendous success.”