IMAX shares jump as Piper Jaffray sees growth

Shares of IMAX Corp. jumped in Thursday trading after Piper Jaffray put its highest rating on the company, saying more theaters are likely to install its big screens as film distribution costs drop.

Improving digital technology is a boon to IMAX, analyst James Marsh said in a note to investors Thursday. He initiated coverage with an "Overweight" rating and $14 price target.

IMAX shares rose 89 cents, or 9.1 percent, to $10.68 in afternoon trading.

'China: The Panda Adventure' at IMAX

Running out of things to do indoors because of all the rain? Here's a chance to experience the world of the rare and magnificent giant panda on the biggest screen in South Florida. China: The Panda Adventure was inspired by the true-life story of widowed New York socialite Ruth Harkness, who dared to take up her late husband's expedition, journeying deep into the forests of China, following his passionate quest of showing the world the true, gentle nature of the giant panda. Harkness, above, sets out to observe the animals for herself and encounters some extraordinary scenes, which are beautifully captured in this film.

For show times, call 954-463-IMAX (4629) or visit www.mods.org . Admission for IMAX only is $9 adults, $8 seniors, $7 children 2-12. The Museum's AutoNation IMAX Theater, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale, is open every day. Shows may sell out and admission cannot be guaranteed. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling 954-713-0930.

A look ahead at the week in movies and TV

BIG SCREEN

Monsters vs. Aliens (PG) -- Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Kiefer Sutherland and Stephen Colbert are among the actors in the all-star voice cast of this computer-animated feature about a group of government-controlled monsters that battle extra-terrestrials who want to conquer our planet. Available in your choice of IMAX, 3-D, IMAX 3-D or plain ol' 2-D.

Sunshine Cleaning (R) -- A struggling single mom (Amy Adams) starts up a most unusual business to pay for her son's schooling: A biohazard cleaning service.

IMAX theater serves viewings of `Meatballs'

Michael Gagne said rainy days are best for hanging out with his children at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale.

``We love the playland inside, the bubbles, the exhibits. It's all wonderful,'' said Gagne of Fort Lauderdale.

But on Sept. 20, with blue skies overhead, Gagne and sons Joshuah, 3, and Yulian, 2, passed up dinosaurs, rocket ships and robots to sit in the museum's IMAX theater for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs .

Regal posts 3Q loss but sees improvement ahead

Movie theater operator Regal Entertainment Group said Thursday it swung to a loss in the third quarter as sales dropped by a double-digit percentage and it made bigger interest payments.

The company, based in Knoxville, Tenn., lost $1.8 million, or a penny per share, in the quarter that ended Oct. 1. That compares to with profit of $31 million, or 20 cents per share, a year earlier.

Adjusted profit of 5 cents per share fell short of a 7-cent-per-share consensus estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters.