IMAX is a high-resolution cinema system distinguished by its large screens, originally with a tall aspect ratio and steep stadium seating. It encompasses proprietary cameras, film formats, and projectors designed to deliver an immersive cinematic experience. While the original format featured a 1.43:1 aspect ratio, available in select locations, the more common format is now 1.90:1.
In 1940, Walt Disney envisioned the Fantasound system, later influencing the IMAX sound system for Fantasia 2000.
In September 1967, Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, Robert Kerr, and William C. Shaw co-founded Multiscreen Corporation, Ltd., which would later be named IMAX Corporation. The company began developing IMAX theatre projection standards in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In September 1967, the company was incorporated as Multiscreen Corporation. Later the name changed as they could not copyright or trademark 'Multivision'.
On January 16, 1970, a key patent was filed under the original company name, Multiscreen Corporation, Limited.
In 1970, Ernst Leitz Canada, Ltd. (now ELCAN Optical Technologies) secured a contract to develop and produce a fisheye lens projection system optimized for projecting images onto a dome rather than a flat screen.
In May 1971, the first permanent IMAX installation debuted at the Cinesphere theatre at Ontario Place in Toronto, showcasing the film North of Superior.
In 1973, Omnimax debuted, showing Voyage to the Outer Planets (produced by Graphic Films) and Garden Isle (by Roger Tilton Films) on a double bill.
In 1973, the first permanent IMAX Dome installation, the Eugene Heikoff and Marilyn Jacobs Heikoff Dome Theatre, opened at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego's Balboa Park. It also serves as a planetarium theater.
In 1978, a permanent IMAX theater opened in Spokane, after the exposition closed. It was later demolished in 2018.
The film Raiders of the Lost Ark was released in 1981. It was later re-released in IMAX format in 2012 after being digitally remastered.
Wonder Woman 1984, a film released between 2016 and 2021 that was captured with IMAX cameras, is set in 1984.
In 1985, footage from space shuttle mission STS-41-C, which filmed the deployment of the LDEF and the repair of the Solar Max satellite, was included in the IMAX movie The Dream Is Alive.
In 1985, the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung, Taiwan, had its original IMAX Dome 1570 projection system installed.
In 1986, the first full-color IMAX 3D film, Transitions, was produced for Expo 86 in Vancouver.
In 1987, the Omni-Theatre at Science Centre Singapore had its original IMAX Dome 1570 projection system installed.
In 1990, concert footage from The Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels tour was filmed in IMAX.
In 1991, The Rolling Stones: Live at the Max, an 85-minute compilation of concert footage filmed in IMAX during the rock band's 1990 Steel Wheels tour, was released.
In 1992, the IMAX HD system, featuring 48 frames per second, was tested at the Canada Pavilion of the Seville Expo '92 with the film Momentum.
In 1993, the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey installed an IMAX Dome 1570 projection system.
In 1995, French director Jean-Jacques Annaud directed Wings of Courage, the first dramatic picture shot for IMAX.
The film Apollo 13 was released in 1995. It was later re-released in 2002 in IMAX format using DMR technology.
In 1996, IMAX received the Oscar for Scientific and Technical Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its innovations in large-format, wide-angle motion picture filming and exhibition.
In 1998, T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous was released, and More became the first short film produced using the IMAX format, earning an Academy Award nomination.
In 1998, the IMAX SR system was introduced to reduce construction and maintenance costs, making IMAX available to multiplexes and existing theaters. The 1998 SR system featured smaller screens than GT theaters but still in purpose-built auditoriums with a 1.43:1 aspect ratio.
In 1999, The Old Man and the Sea became the first and only IMAX film to win an Academy Award.
In 2000, Disney produced Fantasia 2000, the first full-length animated feature initially released exclusively in the IMAX format.
In 2000, Fantasia 2000 received critical praise for its use of the IMAX format.
On New Year's Day in 2000, Walt Disney Pictures became the first studio to release theatrical films in the IMAX process with Fantasia 2000. The IMAX sound system incorporated a multi-channel and multi-layer stereo system for the orchestrated soundtrack, similar to the Fantasound system Walt Disney had envisioned for the original film in 1940.
In 2001, Haunted Castle was released in 3D.
In 2002, IMAX re-releases of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King were released in select theaters over the winter and Christmas seasons of that year. New digital masters were created from the original Computer Animation Production System (CAPS) production files, and select scenes of animation were cleaned up to make use of the high-resolution IMAX film negatives. Treasure Planet was also released in select IMAX theaters and was the first theatrical film released in regular and IMAX theaters simultaneously.
In 2002, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and an IMAX-format re-release of the 1995 film Apollo 13, were the first official applications of the DMR process. Due to projection limitations, these films were edited to have a shorter playing time.
Since 2002, some feature films have been converted into IMAX format for displaying in IMAX theatres, and some have also been partially shot in IMAX.
After the release of The Lion King in 2003, Hollywood studios paused re-releasing and restoring classic films using the IMAX DMR process until 2012.
In 2003, Warner Bros. Pictures embraced the IMAX format with the two Matrix sequels, Reloaded and Revolutions.
In 2004, the IMAX MPX systems were introduced to reduce costs. The 2004 MPX projectors were solely used to retrofit existing multiplex auditoriums, losing much of the quality of the GT experience.
Since The Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004, Warner Bros. began releasing the Harry Potter film franchise in IMAX to strong financial success. Also in 2004, the studio released Robert Zemeckis' motion-capture film The Polar Express in IMAX 3D.
In July 2005, the BFI IMAX Cinema in London became the first venue to host live music concerts, using a digital non-IMAX projector.
In 2006, the film Roving Mars, which used exclusive data from the Mars Exploration Rovers, was released.
At the end of 2007, there were 300 IMAX screens worldwide.
In July 2008, IMAX introduced a digital projection system designed for multiplex theaters with screens no wider than 21.3 m (70 ft).
In 2008, IMAX Digital 2K was introduced as a purely digital technology suitable for retrofitting existing theaters, though limited in respect to the original 15/70 film's resolution.
In 2008, IMAX debuted a digital projection system for use with 1.90:1 aspect ratio screens, employing two 2K-resolution projectors for 2D or 3D content.
In 2008, IMAX expanded into traditional theaters with IMAX Digital, a lower-cost system using two 2K digital projectors. This system projects onto a 1.90:1 aspect ratio screen.
In 2008, The Dark Knight was released, featuring six sequences (28 minutes) shot using IMAX cameras, marking the "first time ever that a major feature film has been even partially shot using IMAX cameras". The film opened in 94 IMAX venues, all of which were sold out for the opening weekend.
In 2008, the digital cinema IMAX projection system debuted, designed for use with shorter 1.90:1 aspect ratio screens. The system uses two 2K projectors for either 2D or 3D content.
In May 2009, J.J. Abrams's Star Trek was released in IMAX venues for the initial two weeks of its theatrical run and opened to $8.3 million.
On September 30, 2009, the first permanent IMAX 3D theatre, built in Vancouver for Transitions at Expo '86, closed after being in use for many years. It was located at the tip of Canada Place.
In 2010, after years of successful IMAX DMR releases, Warner Bros. signed a deal to release up to 20 feature films in IMAX up to 2013, including educational documentaries that were in production.
On December 16, 2011, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol opened in almost 500 IMAX venues worldwide a week before its wide release. The film included 25 minutes of footage shot using IMAX cameras.
In 2011, IMAX announced a 4K 3D digital camera developed with Vision Research and AbelCine, integrating two Phantom 65 engines. A prototype camera was used for the documentary Born to be Wild, and 10% of the film was shot with it. The company has no intention of replacing film cameras, but it can be used where a lightweight or small 3D camera is needed.
In February 2012, IMAX announced renovations of selected locations to present both 70 mm analog and digital presentations, facilitating inexpensive distribution of IMAX features.
In April 2012, IMAX began testing a new 4K laser projection system, based on patents licensed from Eastman Kodak. It used two projectors and retained the traditional IMAX aspect ratio.
In July 2012, theaters were prepared with a rail system to move projectors in and out for full-frame film prints or digital releases, in time for the release of The Dark Knight Rises.
In August 2012, IMAX and Paramount Pictures announced a one-week exclusive re-release of Raiders of the Lost Ark on September 7, 2012, to promote the release of the Blu-ray collection.
On September 7, 2012, IMAX and Paramount Pictures presented a one-week exclusive re-release of Raiders of the Lost Ark to promote the release of the Blu-ray collection. The film was already restored in 4K with 7.1 surround sound, supervised by Steven Spielberg and Ben Burtt.
In 2012, IMAX announced that they would be switching to Barco as their primary supplier for projectors.
In 2010, after years of successful IMAX DMR releases, Warner Bros. signed a deal to release up to 20 feature films in IMAX up to 2013, including educational documentaries that were in production.
J. J. Abrams's Star Trek Into Darkness was released in 2013 and had sequences filmed with 15/70 IMAX cameras.
On July 9, 2014, Bad Robot confirmed that one sequence in Star Wars: The Force Awakens would be captured with the IMAX 15/70 perf film cameras, in addition to standard 35 mm film cameras.
In December 2014, IMAX began rolling out its new dual 4K laser projector system, dubbed "IMAX with Laser" and known as IMAX GT, with the first installation at the Cineplex Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto.
Francis Lawrence's The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Luc Besson's Lucy, and Christopher Nolan's Interstellar are films that were released in 2014 that had sequences filmed with 15/70 IMAX cameras.
In 2014, IMAX with Laser 4K was introduced. This technology is purely digital and suitable for retrofitting existing theaters, still limited in respect to the original 15/70 film.
In 2014, Jiang Wen's Gone with the Bullets was released. It contained selected scenes captured with IMAX digital cameras.
In 2014, Michael Bay returned to IMAX for the fourth Transformers film, Age of Extinction. It was the first feature film shot using digital IMAX 3D cameras.
In April 2015, Marvel Studios announced that Captain America: Civil War would be the first film to use the new Arri Alexa IMAX 2D digital camera, which was used to shoot approximately 15 minutes of the film.
In May 2015, Marvel Studios announced that its next two Avengers films – Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019) – would be filmed entirely in IMAX, using a modified version of Arri's Alexa 65 digital camera.
In May 2015, the Russo brothers announced that Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, released in 2018 and 2019 respectively, would be the first Hollywood feature films shot entirely in IMAX, using Arri Alexa IMAX cameras.
By the end of 2015, IMAX had grown to over 1,000 screens worldwide due to the lower-cost IMAX Digital system.
In 2015, Adele's music video "Hello" was released, becoming the first music video partially filmed with IMAX cameras.
In 2015, IMAX announced a 2D digital camera developed with Arri, based on Arri Alexa 65 technology. The first production to use the camera was Captain America: Civil War.
In 2015, both the Omni-Theatre at Science Centre Singapore and the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung, Taiwan, replaced their original IMAX Dome 1570 projection systems with Evans & Sutherland Digistar 5 8K digital systems.
In May 2016, IMAX announced the test launch of IMAXShift, a multimedia indoor cycling concept.
On September 2, 2016, IMAX announced plans to incorporate virtual reality (VR) into the IMAX theater experience, opening a new VR center in Los Angeles that would use a new StarVR headset created by Acer.
In 2016, Rihanna's music video "Sledgehammer" was released as the second music video to use the new Arri Alexa IMAX camera.
In 2016, Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Clint Eastwood's Sully were released. These films captured with IMAX cameras.
In 2016, a modified version of Arri's Alexa 65 digital camera was first used to film select sequences in Captain America: Civil War.
In 2016, at the Canadian Museum of History, the standard IMAX screen and dome were replaced with a Barco CINE+ digital theatre system.
In 2016, the world's largest IMAX screen, located in IMAX Sydney in Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia, was demolished. The screen measured 35.72 m × 29.57 m (117.2 ft × 97.0 ft).
On June 4, 2017, IMAX decided to discontinue IMAXShift, a multimedia indoor cycling concept.
As of September 2017, there were 1,302 IMAX theatres located in 75 countries, of which 1,203 were in commercial multiplexes.
On November 3, 2017, the Cinesphere at Ontario Place re-opened after renovations, featuring IMAX 70 mm and IMAX with laser illumination.
December 2017 saw the release of Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi which included sequences shot with 15/70 IMAX cameras.
By late 2017, 1,305 IMAX theatre systems were installed in 1,205 commercial multiplexes, 13 commercial destinations, and 86 institutional settings in 75 countries.
In 2017, the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey, replaced its IMAX Dome 1570 projection system with an Evans & Sutherland Digistar 6 "True8K" digital system.
On April 24, 2018, IMAX announced the rollout of a new single-unit version of their laser projector system, designed to replace the IMAX Xenon digital projection system for 1.90:1 screens.
In November 2018, the Hackworth IMAX dome in The Tech Museum (now The Tech Interactive) replaced its 70 mm IMAX projector with a 4K IMAX Laser projector, becoming the first digital IMAX Laser dome theater in the world.
Avengers: Infinity War was released in 2018. It was the first Hollywood feature film shot entirely in IMAX, using Arri Alexa IMAX cameras.
Before 2018, no full-length feature film was shot entirely using IMAX cameras due to the size and noise of the cameras, as well as the cost of film stock. However, with the advent of digital Arri Alexa IMAX cameras, these issues have been minimized, and in 2018, the first full-length feature film was shot entirely with the camera.
In 2018, Avengers: Infinity War was filmed entirely in IMAX.
In 2018, the Russo brothers solely used the Arri Alexa IMAX on Avengers: Infinity War.
In 2018, the permanent IMAX theater which opened in 1978 was demolished. Due to protests, City of Spokane officials decided to work with the IMAX Corporation to renovate the former US Pavilion into IMAX's first permanent outdoor giant-screen theatre.
Since 2018, the Laser system has been employed to retrofit full dome installations, with limited results due to the large area of a dome screen.
Avengers: Endgame was released in 2019. It was the first Hollywood feature film shot entirely in IMAX, using Arri Alexa IMAX cameras.
In 2019, Avengers: Endgame was filmed entirely in IMAX.
In 2019, the Russo brothers solely used the Arri Alexa IMAX on Avengers: Endgame.
In September 2020, IMAX announced a new program called 'Filmed for IMAX', a collaboration with camera manufacturers to certify digital cameras for the IMAX format. The program includes brands like Arri Alexa, Panavision, Red Digital Cinema, and Sony.
In September 2020, IMAX launched the "Filmed in IMAX" program (later renamed to "Filmed For IMAX"), which certifies high-quality digital cameras for creating IMAX-format films, making it easier for filmmakers to meet projection needs of IMAX giant screen theaters.
Christopher Nolan's 2020 film, Tenet, filmed 76 minutes with 15/70 mm IMAX cameras, the rest of the film was shot with regular 70 mm film cameras from Panavision. The film's six-minute opening sequence was shown before IMAX screenings of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Tenet was shown over 13 theaters globally in 70 mm IMAX.
In 2020, Guan Hu's The Eight Hundred was released. The entirety of the film was captured with IMAX digital cameras.
In 2020, the laser projection system replaces the xenon arc lamp of a traditional digital projector with a laser light source, capable of 60 fps with greater brightness than the Digital Cinema Initiatives spec, a contrast ratio double that of IMAX 15/70 mm film projection, and displaying the full Rec. 2020 color gamut.
As of May 2021, all seven IMAX VR centers have closed.
In 2021 Cary Joji Fukunaga's No Time to Die was released. This film captured with IMAX cameras.
In 2021, Chen Sicheng's Detective Chinatown 3 was released. Almost all of the film was captured with IMAX digital cameras.
In 2021, films such as The Suicide Squad (shot with the Red Ranger Monstro and Komodo), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (shot with the Arri Alexa LF and Mini LF), The Battle at Lake Changjin and Eternals (shot with the Arri Alexa LF and Mini LF), were filmed using IMAX-certified cameras.
In 2021, the world's largest IMAX screen opened in Leonberg near Stuttgart, Germany, measuring 38 by 22 m (125 by 72 ft).
In March 2022, IMAX announced a new initiative in collaboration with Kodak, Panavision, and FotoKem to develop a new fleet of next-generation IMAX film cameras, with the first four units to be deployed in the next two years. Christopher Nolan and Jordan Peele are among the advisors.
In March 2022, IMAX announced plans to develop new 15/70 cameras with input from filmmakers like Jordan Peele and Christopher Nolan, in collaboration with Kodak, Panavision, and FotoKem.
In April 2022, it was announced that Pixar's 'Lightyear' used a virtual IMAX camera in its production, capturing the film in a 1.43:1 aspect ratio. This made it the first animated film shot in this way, with about a third of the movie specifically composed for IMAX viewing. The virtual lenses recreated anamorphic lens effects, influencing the sci-fi aesthetic.
In December 2022, IMAX certified the Red V-Raptor camera, and James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was announced as the first film to utilize it, replacing the Red Ranger Monstro. This marked a technological advancement in IMAX filmmaking.
In 2022, Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Shot with the Panavision Millennium DXL2) and Taika Waititi's Thor: Love and Thunder (shot with Arri Alexa LF and Mini LF) were released. These films were captured with IMAX-certified cameras.
In 2022, The Battle at Lake Changjin II by Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark and Dante Lam was released. The entirety of the film was captured with IMAX-certified Red Ranger Monstro cameras.
In October 2023, IMAX Sydney reopened within The Ribbon building after extensive redevelopment, featuring a 693 square meter screen measuring 31.2 by 22.2 m (102 by 73 ft), making it the world's third-largest screen.
IMAX intends to add at least four new 15/70 cameras to its offing over the next two years, with the first new camera expected to be put into use by late 2023.
In 2023, films such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (shot with the Red V-Raptor), were filmed using IMAX-certified cameras.
In May 2024, it was revealed that four new identical IMAX cameras would be made out of carbon fiber and titanium, and they will feature a five inch color display along with wireless capability. The cameras will be 30% quieter than the existing models.
Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two (shot with Arri Alexa LF and Mini LF) will be released by 2024. The film will be captured with IMAX-certified cameras.
In 2025, 30 minutes of the 137 minutes film Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, was shot with the IMAX MSM 9802 camera using 65 mm film stock.
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