How Did IMAX Change the Film Industry?

Few people at this point can say they haven’t heard of IMAX. It’s in fact an incredibly immersive moviegoing experience. That just about anyone in the U.S. especially has encountered at some point. If you’re not sure what IMAX is, or how it’s altered the way we watch movies? You’re certainly in for a treat the first time you experience it! In fact, IMAX has changed the way we watch movies and how we experience film. But how did IMAX change the film industry?

What is IMAX?

IMAX represents the use of high-resolution cameras and film formats. That are then projected in ultra-high class theaters. Which provide a unique film watching experience. Like nothing else the film industry has ever seen.

Unlike a regular movie theater, IMAX theaters offer a large screen and an even larger auditorium-like experience. The speakers are located behind the screen and the stadium style seats face the screen. Regardless of where the spectator is in the theater.

Film prints, in IMAX, use the highest quality of imagery that is available in the film industry, a 70mm print.

How Did IMAX Change the Film Industry?

So, how did IMAX change the film industry and what have moviegoers seen as a result? This is a common question. Especially among those who are new to IMAX. And for those who have followed the history of filmmaking over the past 100 years.

The use of IMAX projection began in Japan in 1970. Since then, IMAX theaters have become a unique venue for experiencing cinema like no other theater can provide.

IMAX screens are incredible. They average a massive 72 by 53 feet. If you’re not sure just how big that is, it’s several stories high and multiple buildings wide.

IMAX screens are much taller than they are wide. Representing a completely unique aspect ratio of 1.43:1 which isn’t seen in any other film format.

Film Stock

The use of IMAX film stock is also nothing like anything we’ve seen anywhere else in the film industry. Shot vertically, IMAX cameras are large and clunky. They film between 30 seconds and two minutes of ultra-high resolution 12K footage at a time.

In fact, films that were shot on traditional IMAX film stock were always short (under an hour). And rarely provided longer, feature style film experiences.

Digital

Eventually, IMAX would bring the experience to mainstream entertainment. By the 1990s IMAX films would combine with the 3D film-viewing experiences. And ultimately full feature IMAX films would be announced.

With the release of IMAX digital cameras, the filmmaking experience for IMAX would be permanently altered. And IMAX footage would be easier than ever to produce.

Digital IMAX aspect ratio would result in the presentation of several feature films in the IMAX experience. Including Avengers: Infinity War  and Avengers: Endgame representing two of the highest grossing movies of all time.

Summary

IMAX has certainly changed the film industry, resulting in big filmmaking that is known for big ideas, even bigger budgets, and extremely big presentations.

To this day, the IMAX experience continues to draw crowds and to attract cinema buffs to this industry altering, extremely interesting, experience that we all know as – IMAX films.