‘Black Swan’ Dances Back Into Theaters for IMAX Anniversary Screenings

Darren Aronofsky's Best Picture nominee will play IMAX theaters a week before his latest film, "Caught Stealing," opens everywhere.

Darren Aronofsky summer is upon us, as his ninth feature “Caught Stealing” hits theaters August 29. But the week before, his iconic 2010 ballerina-on-the-brink thriller “Black Swan” will return for a special IMAX 15th anniversary engagement on August 21 and 24. Searchlight Pictures will take the Best Picture nominee — and Best Actress winner for Natalie Portman — to more than 200 IMAX screens on August 21 and 24.

Directed by Aronofsky and shot by Matthew Libatique, “Black Swan” has been specially remastered for the IMAX format, joining recent premium retro screenings like the upcoming golden anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” and the 10th anniversary of Robert Eggers’ “The Witch.”

According to Searchlight, more plans to celebrate “Black Swan’s” 15th birthday will be announced throughout the year, and the company has released a brand new trailer (below) to get things started. Portman swept the movie awards season that year for her physically and mentally grueling portrayal of sexually repressed New York City ballerina Nina Sayers, who spirals into madness and delusion when she takes on the dual role of the Swan Queen for a new interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.” Sending her world further into a tailspin are her helicopter mom (a wonderfully creepy Barbara Hershey), lascivious artistic director (Vincent Cassel), and confidante-turned-company-nemesis Lily (Mila Kunis).

“Black Swan” grossed more than $329 million at the global box office off a budget in the low eight figures, with nominations for Picture, Director, Cinematography, and Editing along with Portman’s Best Actress win.

After opening the Venice Film Festival and premiering in theaters later in the fall, “Black Swan” was subject to at least two controversies that ultimately had little impact on its legacy: First, that the film was an uncited reinterpretation of Satoshi Kon’s 1997 anime film “Perfect Blue,” about a former Japanese pop star driven to madness by an obsessive fan.

Another came from American Ballet Theatre dancer Sarah Lane, who served as Portman’s dance double on the film and who allegedly did most of the onscreen dancing attributed to Portman, the actress’ face digitally superimposed on Lane’s body during the most challenging pointe work. Through numerous statements and interviews, the filmmakers resolved the issue, with the technical demands of Portman’s performance ultimately undisputed despite Lane arguably not receiving the credit she felt was due. (Portman had studied ballerina as a child and then spent another year training for the “Black Swan” production.)

Either way, “Black Swan” is still remembered as a delirious mash-up of high art and sleaze, of “The Red Shoes,” “Carrie,” “Showgirls,” and “All About Eve,” a backstage melodrama now understood as one of the best films of the 21st century so far.

IMAX screenings of “Black Swan” will take place in major cities throughout the U.S. and Canada, with tickets for select showings already available.