IMAX was born from a lunch meeting and a desire for maximum image impact.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Originally named Multiscreen, the company behind the world's most immersive cinema experience was founded in Canada in 1967. To solve the problem of generic branding, the founders brainstormed on a restaurant placemat, eventually settling on a name that promised the ultimate visual scale: IMAX, a contraction of maximum image.

The core of the IMAX experience is a proprietary system designed to overwhelm the viewer's field of vision. Unlike standard cinema, which uses vertical film movement, the IMAX 15/70 format runs 65 mm film stock horizontally through the camera and projector. This method uses fifteen sprocket perforations per frame, compared to the four used in conventional 35 mm systems. To manage this, the company utilizes a unique 'rolling loop' technology, which allows the film to move in a 'stutter' pattern, pausing momentarily for each frame to be illuminated. This mechanical complexity is necessary because the film is too large to be moved by sprockets alone at the required speed.

The physical demands of this format are immense. A 2.5-hour feature film on 15/70 print can reach 16 kilometers in length and weigh 250 kilograms, requiring specialized forklifts for transport. Projectionists must work in booths kept at precise temperatures and humidity levels to prevent the film from shrinking or swelling, as the pin-registration system tolerates almost no variation. The projectors themselves are massive, weighing up to 1.8 tonnes, and use high-pressure xenon lamps that require projectionists to wear protective body armor during handling due to the risk of exploding quartz shards.

Over the decades, the brand has evolved from its roots in purpose-built giant-screen theaters to include digital retrofits. The introduction of IMAX Digital in 2008 allowed the company to expand from 300 screens in 2007 to over 1,000 by 2015. However, this transition sparked controversy; critics dubbed smaller, lower-resolution digital installations 'LieMAX' because they lacked the massive scale and high resolution of the original 70 mm film format. Today, the company balances its legacy with 'IMAX with Laser' systems, which use dual 4K projectors to bridge the gap between digital convenience and the immersive quality of the original giant-screen experience.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How a Canadian engineering project transformed from Expo 67 into a global cinematic giant
• Cinerama used three synchronized projectors to wrap audiences in a 146-degree panoramic view.
• Cinema screens went wide because Hollywood feared losing audiences to television
• Projected movies arrived decades after motion toys
• The first commercial movie house charged a quarter in 1894
• The world's oldest hereditary monarchy relies on a remarkably narrow and fragile lineage
• How a government infrastructure lender became a retail banking powerhouse
• How a Swedish metal band evolved from death metal pioneers to global chart-toppers
• Is the Identitarian movement a new political force or a repackaged extremist ideology?
• How a diplomat-turned-prime minister attempted to reshape India's regional influence through non-reciprocity
• Europe's westernmost country began with a 874 land-take
• The world's largest population fills its seventh-largest country

More in Countries and other regions · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics