What Makes IMAX So Expensive? | WSJ Tech Behind

IMAX is playing an increasingly large role in the film industry with the success of major movie releases like Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” Behind the giant screens, high color detail and custom theaters is a huge amount of technology.

From innovative projectors to custom processing tools — and soon, a new film camera, WSJ explores the tech that goes into creating IMAX’s immersive movie experience.

Chapters:
0:00 IMAX movies
0:35 Projectors
1:45 The camera
4:46 Theaters

Tech Behind
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#IMAX #Tech #WSJ

[ElbowShouldersen]

The IMAX brand is so confusing... Only a small number of the theaters give the full IMAX experience, but the company doesn't seem to want us to know what level of IMAX experience is being offered at each "IMAX" labeled theater... It's kinda lame that they treat us that way....

Edit: I noticed another commenter is using the term "LIEmax"... which does seem apropos...

[jamesthemaniac]

I like how they barely hint at the difference they try to hide between real IMAX and Liemax

[teryyy]

Jesus Christ! For decades I thought IMAX was simply the style of theatre screen! And how the filmed-movies translate to the screen with the use of technology, expertise and magic! I never ever knew it involved practically its own cameras, film-format, tech-support ecosystem .. the WORKS!!! Thank you WSJ! NOW - what else don’t I know about this great big world 😂

[gingersmedia]

Really hope that the modernized 65mm camera means we will potentially see better maintenance for the existing 70mm projectors, and possibly even more implementations of the dual laser system in venues that have a 1.43 aspect ratio screen

[kylekimberlin]

Real Imax is great but most theaters really just have lieMax and it sucks. Need to actually standardize all Imax to at least high end laser 4k.

[heybigchris]

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire transition was actually a good decision to symbolize the entrance to the arena. As opposed to the constant cutting from different aspect ratios within various scenes in other films.

[sembalo]

New IMAX camera!?!? That's awesome

[chillinJohnny]

There are digital IMAX theatres with full aspect ratio, it's just that there is few of them.
Because cinemas can slap on IMAX branding way cheaper, with smaller screens and projectors

[mando]

How they transitioned from regular to Imax on Catching Fire is as of today my favorite!!

[EyesOfByes]

They're actually making a new film-camera? There is hope in the galaxy

[LPMaxytb]

I did an analog cinema workshop here in Vienna, where the projector operator told me that IMAX appearantly also guarantees that a technician can be send to your location within just a few hours, which probably also plays into the high cost.

[GouravSharma-wptq]

Okay. Now i need a full atleast 1 hour documentary about IMAX shot on IMAX.

[thecorpooration]

Used to work at the Mississauga HQ in the mid-90's when they just started playing with film-to-digital transfer. Jazz musicians, mad scientists, and film arts guys = good times.

[luancalegari]

Awesome video!!! Thanks WSJ for showing these details about the IMAX cameras!

[josh]

Will never forget my IMAX experiences whilst watching Blade Runner 2049, Mad Max Fury Road, Oppenheimer and Dune Part 1 and 2 absolutely staggering achievements of filmmaking the effort that goes into making and showing the films on IMAX is well worth it it's just so immersive.

[luisescamadonhamue]

WSJ you are heading the right way. Tech, ideas, business, future... this is all we need. Fresh news of possibilities. Not just death, fear and terror.

[uriituw]

It's great that there are people who are still passionate about film—and especially about large formats like this!

[oyuyuy]

$2, 000/minute sounds like an absolutely trivial amount of money for that industry

[WillMurdockUSA]

Now only if they'd invest in their GT screen equiped theaters and upgrade them all with AT LEAST Dual Laser. Dallas' IMAX has had a broken 15/70mm IMAX projector for too long.

[hoodmuhammad]

Greatest documentaries are made in IMAX...