Prince‘s 1987 live film Sign O’ the Times is returning to the big screen. The biggest screen. IMAX, Mercury Studios and FilmRise announced on Monday morning (July 22) that the late rock icon’s beloved companion movie to the album of the same name will be released in IMAX theaters globally for one week only beginning on Aug. 29.
The movie, directed, scored by and starring Prince features the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer surrounded by what was then his new backing band after he’d fired his longtime group the Revolution before the release of his ninth studio album. In addition to Prince and his close musical confidants Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, as well as percussionist Sheila E., Revolution keyboardist Dr. Fink and drummer Bobby Z. appear in the movie, along with singer and Prince collaborator Sheena Easton.
The movie is a mix of live footage and scripted scenes that has been spruced up for its IMAX run, with a release promising that, “enhanced with IMAX’s precision surround sound audio, customized theatre geometry, and crystal-clear images, Prince’s virtuoso performance is set to mesmerize fans old and new in the most epic format available.”
The film features runs through some of Prince’s beloved singles from the album — which was critically acclaimed but, compared to his previous three classic LPs, a relative sales disappointment — including the Hot 100-charting title track (#3), the Easton collab “U Got the Look” (#2), “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man” (#10) and “If I Was Your Girlfriend” (#67).
Those songs all appear in the film, along with a mash-up of “Little Red Corvette” and the LP’s “Housequake,” as well as “Play in the Sunshine,” “Slow Love,” “Hot Thing,” “Forever in My Life,” “It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night” and “The Cross,” and a band cover of Charlie Parker’s “Now’s the Time.”
IMAX will distribute the movie in the U.S., with Pathé handling distribution in other territories worldwide. Click here for a complete list of where the PG-13 film will be playing near you. There will also be information forthcoming on private screenings and other invite-only events in New York, Los Angeles and Minneapolis in August.