Chimps and Polar Bears will be battling each other this spring in movie theaters around the country. But don’t worry, it’ll be safe for your kids to see.
For the first time ever the annual Earth Day nature documentaries will be released on the same day. IMAX’s “To the Arctic” (narrated by Meryl Streep) and Disneynature’s “Chimpanzee” (narrator TBA) are both schedule to open on April 20. Last year “Born to Be Wild 3D” (IMAX) opened two weeks before Disneynature’s “African Cats”.
“Chimpanzee” will likely win the battle because it will be on a larger number of screens, but since IMAX movies stay out longer (some for years), and their ticket prices are higher, the bears should catch-up to the chimps eventually. “BTBW” has already surpassed “African”‘s total ($15.8M to $15.4M).
“Chimpanzee” will be Disneynature’s fourth Earth Day doc to be released in theaters. Their previous three films have combined to make over $65M domestically.