Trafalgar Releasing and CJ 4DPlex are launching a strategic partnership that will focus on producing, programming, delivering and marketing four K-pop cinema releases globally in 2024. The films will be shown across a combination of premium formats such as ScreenX, 4DX, Ultra 4DX and traditional cinema locations.
Trafalgar Releasing moved into the K-pop market with the 2018 concert film, “BTS: Burn the Stage the Movie.” The company said it has since generated more than $120 million in box office revenue from K-pop releases.
The first project to launch the partnership is “aespa: World Tour” in cinemas, a special cinematic presentation capturing the group’s global tour, which will screen in more than 45 countries on April 24 and 27. The additional three titles will be announced throughout the year.
Trafalgar Releasing and CJ 4DPLEX have worked together on previous global cinema releases since 2021 including the live broadcast of Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres Tour, as well as with numerous K-pop artists such as Blackpink, Seventeen, IU, MonstaX and NCT Dream.
“We are delighted to reaffirm our robust relationship with Trafalgar Releasing,“ stated Jong Kim, CEO of CJ 4DPlex. “CJ 4DPlex’s production expertise, special formats and global network alongside Trafalgar Releasing’s excellence in event cinema distribution, continues to expand the realms of cinema and fan culture alike.”
“Building on our deep and established relationship working alongside CJ 4DPlex on theatrical releases for artists including Coldplay, Blackpink and NCT Nation, we are excited to announce a four-film production and distribution deal in the K-pop genre, starting with the theatrical release of aespa next month,” said Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing. “K-pop has firmly established itself as a dominant force in event cinema, and we are eager to expand opportunities for the genre to flourish. With our commitment to investing in the co-financing of these projects, we aim to fully maximize their long-term prospects.”
Added Jun Bang, COO, Contents, CJ 4DPlex, “Alternative music content is an important strategic pillar for CJ 4DPlexs business and this partnership with Trafalgar Releasing and the four K-pop cinema releases strengthens our position in the global event cinema space and will be a key driver as we grow our company.”
As far as the various screens go, ScreenX boasts a multi-projection cinema system with 270-degree views that surround the audience. To date, there are over 339 ScreenX auditoriums around the world in 43 countries. 4DX is a multi-sensory experience, one that adds motion, vibration, water, wind, snow, lightning, scents, and other special effects to movies. There are over 745 4DX auditoriums around the world, spanning over 71 countries. The company says that Ultra 4DX combines the ScreenX and 4DX technologies in one presentation. There are 47 of these auditoriums installed around the globe.
Trafalgar Releasing distributes several different types of cinema releases, ranging from The Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House, to theatre productions, to concerts from the likes of Billie Eilish, metallica, Louis Tomlinson and Dolly Parton. The company recently handled the distribution of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and “Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce” across Europe, Asia and South America in partnership with AMC Theatres.
