"The First Slam Dunk," a Japanese animated sports film, quickly climbed to the top of the Chinese daily box office chart upon its debut. With its IMAX format, the movie offers an even more immersive experience for viewers.

An IMAX poster for "The First Slam Dunk." [Image courtesy of IMAX China]

The nostalgia-inducing film is an adaptation of the beloved "Slam Dunk" basketball manga series from the 1990s. It is written and directed by the series' original creator, Takehiko Inoue. The story follows Ryota Miyagi, the point guard of Shohoku High School's basketball team, whose passion for basketball was ignited by his older brother Sota. Together with his teammates Hanamichi Sakuragi, Takenori Akagi, Hisashi Mitsui, and Kaede Rukawa, Ryota takes on the formidable inter-high basketball champions, the Sannoh school. The film is poised to captivate audiences with its charm and distinctive 1990s flair, evoking nostalgia in fans of all generations.

The film earned over 21.5 million yuan ($3.12 million) in midnight preview sales on Wednesday, ahead of its nationwide release on Thursday. This impressive achievement surpassed the midnight preview box office record of "Avatar: The Way of Water" and ranks as the second-highest in the past three years.

It has set a new record for an imported foreign animated feature screened in China, with presales totaling over 120 million yuan. By Friday noon, its box office gross had already reached 165 million yuan. On China's review aggregator website, Douban, the movie has received an exceptionally high score of 9.1 out of 10 from over 53,700 moviegoers.

First introduced to China in 1990, the "Slam Dunk" manga gained even more popularity when its anime was released in the country in 1995. The series has become a collective memory for generations, inspiring a wide range of individuals - from manga enthusiasts and basketball fans to people from all walks of life - to strive for their best.

IMAX China held a special screening on Thursday night to showcase the performance of the animation on the giant screen. With its large screen, high-definition imagery quality, powerful sound, and immersive atmosphere, IMAX has become the preferred choice for movie fans who value a ceremonial experience and quality, enabling them to relive their youthful memories. The "amplifier" effect of IMAX on basketball game scenes is also fully demonstrated, with stunning audio-visual impact that doubles the excitement level. Many audience members were moved to tears seeing their childhood heroes back on the big screen.

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