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Everybody loves Imax movies. Unless you're sitting in the front row for one. Whether you're scoping out a 3D simulation of what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the earth or seeing your dreams come to fruition with The Dark Knight, everybody loves Imax movies. Seeing how films are setting record box office numbers for Imax releases (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) and how more film sequences are being shot in 70mm Imax format (previously mentioned Dark Knight), Regal Cinemas, owned by Regal Entertainment, has announced a deal with Imax to build 31 more Imax theaters by 2010.

By the time the theaters are completed, Regal will operate 52 Imax theaters with Imax having more than 300 worldwide. Theaters to be built include the Regal Long Beach Stadium 26 in Long Beach, the Regal Sheepshead Bay Stadium 14 in New York, as well as theaters in Anchorage, Honolulu, and Syracuse. Variety reports:

"Rollout of new theaters comes as Imax is upping the number of studio pics it releases on its screens in the 2-D and 3-D formats. Its digital projection system will enable it to unspool up to 12 pics per year vs. the six it now plays annually."

Upcoming films to be screened in Imax include Shine a Light, Speed Racer, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Shrek Goes Fourth. Le's all be honest with ourselves though: Regal could've announced the deal was strictly motivated by the upcoming release of The Dark Knight and nobody would blame.