Harkins Theatres has acquired the IMAX theater at Arizona Mills mall in Tempe.
The Valley-based theater chain made the announcement about 5 p.m. Thursday on its Facebook page, followed by a press release.
The new Harkins Arizona Mills IMAX will open at midnight Dec. 17 with James Cameron’s 3-D epic Avatar. An overhaul to make the venue better reflect the Harkins brand is planned for late next month.
Harkins’ press release says the acquisition will allow the company to show first-run films in IMAX format on the same day the film opens in other theatres across the Valley.