Sword Art Online Hits Cinemas With a Special One-Night Event From the Mega-Hit Light Novel/TV Anime Series

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The wildly popular anime series Sword Art Online is set to make its U.S. cinematic premiere with the English subtitled "Sword Art Online The Movie -Ordinal Scale- A Special Event." At this exclusive event, anime fans will experience an all-new adventure with Kirito, Asuna and their party members as they explore the world of "Ordinal Scale," a new hit game utilizing augmented reality technology.

This one-night event comes to movie theaters on Thursday, March 9 at 8:00 p.m. local time, from Fathom Events, Aniplex of America Inc. and ELEVEN ARTS. In addition to the full-length, English sub-titled feature, the Fathom event will include exclusive content to be announced soon.

Immediately following the Fathom premiere event, "Sword Art Online The Movie -Ordinal Scale-" will kick-off its wide theatrical release.

Tickets for "Sword Art Online The Movie -Ordinal Scale- A Special Event" can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com and www.elevenarts.net/sao or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 500 select movie theaters.

The animated TV series Sword Art Online is based on author Reki Kawahara's light novel of the same name. Since the first volume was published in April 2009, the series has sold more than 12.5 million copies in Japan and 19 million worldwide and spawned two TV anime adaptations, video games, comic books and merchandise.

In "Sword Art Online -Ordinal Scale-" the game's players find the line between the virtual world and reality beginning to blur, and their worst nightmares coming true. As his fellow players find themselves in danger, Kirito, the hero, is called upon once again. Can he save his friends, or is this going to be game over for him?

"Fathom Events is proud to continue to bring the very best in anime to American cinemas with the debut of this title," Fathom Events CEO John Rubey said. "We are pleased to partner again with ELEVEN ARTS and for the first time with Aniplex of America to offer this unique presentation to fans."

For artwork/photos related to "Sword Art Online The Movie -Ordinal Scale- A Special Event" visit the Fathom Events press site.

For more information about the Sword Art Online franchise, visit: www.sao-movie.net/us.

About Fathom Events

Fathom Events is recognized as the leading domestic distributor of event cinema, and ranks as one of the largest overall distributors of content to movie theaters. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. AMC, Cinemark Holdings, Inc. CNK and Regal Entertainment Group RGC (known collectively as AC JV, LLC), Fathom Events offers a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events that include live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, dance and theatre productions such as the Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre Live's Hamlet, sporting events like FS1 Presents USA v Mexico, concerts with Roger Waters and One Direction, the TCM Presents classic film series and faith-based events such as The Drop Box and Four Blood Moons. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes and offers unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events' live digital broadcast network ("DBN") is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 885 locations and 1,348 screens in 181 Designated Market Areas® (including all of the top 50). For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.

About ELEVEN ARTS

ELEVEN ARTS is a Los Angeles based film production/distribution company known for distributing high quality Japanese films, both live-action and animation, to North American audiences. ELEVEN ARTS's major live-action titles include: Japan Academy Awards winner Memories of Tomorrow (starring Ken Watanabe) and Oscar nominated director Yoji Yamada's samurai film Love and Honor. ELEVEN ARTS' anime titles include: Girls und Panzer der Film, Yo-kai Watch: The Movie, DIGIMON ADVENTURE tri. CHAPTER 1: REUNION, the Evangelion franchise, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos, the Puella Magi Madoka Magica franchise, Blue Exorcist: The Movie, Expelled from Paradise, The Last: Naruto the Movie, Boruto: Naruto the Movie, and The Anthem of the Heart.

For additional information, visit: www.elevenarts.net https://www.facebook.com/elevenarts/ https://twitter.com/ELEVEN_ARTS https://www.instagram.com/eleven_arts/

About Aniplex of America Inc.

Aniplex of America Inc. (Santa Monica, California) is a subsidiary of Aniplex Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo, Japan), a group of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. and a leading provider of anime content and music production and distribution in Japan. Aniplex of America has launched fan-favorite Blu-ray and DVD releases including Sword Art Online, KILL la KILL, Bakemonogatari, Fate/Zero, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Blue Exorcist, NISEKOI, OREIMO 2, Magi: The Kingdom of Magic, Expelled From Paradise, The irregular at magic high school, ALDNOAH.ZERO, Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] and DURARARA!!×2. The company's ever-growing line-up of shows includes our most recent titles ERASED, Sword Art Online II, The Asterisk War, OWARIMONOGATARI, Your lie in April, Charlotte, Classroom Crisis, WAGNARIA!!3 and GOD EATER.

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