The I to X IMAX: a beginner’s guide

How many times have you enjoyed IMAX at Cineworld? Are you yet to take your first steps into this astonishing and all-encompassing viewing format? If it's been a while since your last IMAX movie or you need a primer on what the experience entails, keep on reading to find out more.

This is the I to X of IMAX, exploring how the format looks, feels and sounds as it transfigures the biggest blockbusters into visceral rollercoasters beyond what you thought possible. 

 

I is for Intense

IMAX deploys visual scope and sonic dynamism for a remarkable and immersive cinematic experience.  IMAX combines specific high-resolution cameras with state-of-the-art projectors and a uniquely optimised auditorium to engulf you in the world of the biggest new releases.

To watch a movie in IMAX is to stop being a passive spectator. Instead, you feel like an active participant in the story that's playing out in front of you. IMAX auditoriums are designed to give you full panoramic scope, which extends the movie out to the edges of one's peripheral vision.

 


M is for Massive

When you witness a movie in IMAX, you'll be awed at how larger-than-usual screens, stretching from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, seamlessly combine with a unique remastering process. Screens are also curved so one never misses out on the action.

The IMAX remastering process helps ensure every frame glistens with added levels of contrast and sharpness. This lends greater veracity and depth to every scene. Projection therefore feels crystal clear and unlike anything seen in a standard widescreen presentation. IMAX fully transforms every frame of a film to produce the best possible version of a filmmaker’s vision.

Earlier this year, we invited Christopher Nolan super-fan Jack Howard and the UK's leading film critic Mark Kermode to Cineworld to explain how IMAX transforms Nolan's Oppenheimer into a radiant and breathtaking experience. Watch the following video to discover their thoughts.

 


A is for Awe-inspiring

IMAX auditoriums are also equipped with a perfectly tuned integrated sound and speaker system for heart-pounding audio that will truly blow you away. Speakers are placed in specific areas around the auditorium to deliver unparalleled preciseness that enhances the level of immersion. The frequency response of IMAX audio also enhances both higher notes and bass levels, meaning you can practically feel the impact of the sound from your seat.

Did you know there's more than one way to experience an IMAX blockbuster? IMAX with Laser is a groundbreaking, next-generation 4K laser projection and 12-channel sound system and is available at selected Cineworld cinemas. Click here to discover the list of participating IMAX with Laser cinemas and find out more about IMAX with Laser at Cineworld Leicester Square in the video below.

 

X is for X-citing

You might be wondering how the IMAX remastering process works. An IMAX advocate like Christopher Nolan, for example, will shoot using IMAX cameras and later optimise his movie for the IMAX experience.

The latter phase, which occurs during an extensive post-production period, is known as IMAX Digital Media Remastering, or DMR for short. Filmmakers like Nolan spend months tweaking the visual and aural nuances of a given movie to get it ready for IMAX presentation.

Tom Cruise blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick was also shot with IMAX cameras. In the following behind-the-scenes extract, director Joseph Kosinski explains how the dimensions and properties of IMAX make the aerial sequences and pummelling G-Force feel even more tangible. 

 

 

 

What are the new IMAX movie releases at Cineworld?

The Marvels

Brie Larson's Captain Marvel finds herself swapping powers with Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) in the latest action-packed instalment of MCU Phase Five.

BOOK THE MARVELS TICKETS


Tiger 3

One of India’s biggest superstars, Salman Khan, is back to reprise his much-loved role as super agent Tiger aka Avinash Singh Rathore in Yash Raj Films’ Tiger 3.

BOOK TIGER 3 TICKETS


Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro make a formidable trio in this Oscars frontrunner, a sweeping and impactful story of the Osage Nation tragedy that's adapted from David Grann's bestselling book.

BOOK KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON TICKETS


What IMAX movies are coming soon to Cineworld?

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (released November 17th)

Some 60 years before Katniss Everdeen appeared on the scene, we get the dramatic origin story of President Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and his complex relationship with tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler).

BOOK TICKETS FOR THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES


Napoleon (released November 22nd)

Ridley Scott is the master of the historical epic, and he now reunites with Gladiator's Joaquin Phoenix to bring us the true story of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French commander turned Emperor who reshaped the face of Europe.

BOOK NAPOLEON TICKETS

 

Elf 20th anniversary (released December 1st)

Jon Favreau's heartwarming festive classic gets a special IMAX presentation to mark its 20th birthday. Journey with Will Ferrell's endearing Buddy, a human raised as an elf who sets out to New York to discover his real father.

BOOK ELF TICKETS


Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé (released December 1st)

Renaissance invites you to enjoy an intimate and unparalleled look at one of the world's biggest artists. The movie was captured during Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour, which followed the release of her acclaimed 2022 Renaissance album and ran from May to October 2023, spanning Sweden to Missouri.

BOOK RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCE TICKETS


Wonka (released December 8th)

Timothée Chalamet portrays the world's most famous chocolatier Willy Wonka in this Roald Dahl-adjacent origin story. Paddington director Paul King steers this sweet-natured and whimsical story that explores how struggling inventor Wonka went on to build the greatest chocolate factory the world has ever seen. Olivia Colman and Rowan Atkinson are among the big names in support.

BOOK WONKA TICKETS


Can Unlimited members enjoy IMAX movies at Cineworld?

Of course you can! By simply paying a small uplift, Unlimited members can experience all IMAX has to offer. And if you're not part of Unlimited, then it's high time you signed up! Click the link below to join today.

JOIN CINEWORLD UNLIMITED

 

Does Cineworld host its own IMAX Film Festival?

Yes, it does. The Cineworld 2023 IMAX Film Festival was held back in April and customers were able to enjoy major releases, including Avatar: The Way of Water and the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, in IMAX for just £5 a ticket. Stay tuned for details of the 2024 Cineworld IMAX Film Festival.