If you’re ever sitting at a movie theater watching the previews, you might notice a lot of the big blockbuster movies say things like Filmed for IMAX or Shot with IMAX, or even Experience in IMAX. While these all sound similar on the surface, there are some key differences here. To address the elephant in the room — all of these options are fine ways to watch a movie.
Where they differ is how they were filmed. If something was shot with IMAX film cameras, it literally means what it says. This means the movie was filmed with those massive IMAX cameras, as in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. This is the real deal IMAX, and if you’re looking for something to watch on those limited 70mm IMAX screens, this is what you want to be on the lookout for. The other formats aren’t bad, but they feel a little more deceptive than they should.
- Release Date
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July 15, 2026
- Runtime
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173 minutes
- Director
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Christopher Nolan
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Robert Pattinson
Antinous
Don’t fall for the IMAX branding
It doesn’t all mean the same thing
While Shot with IMAX Film Cameras is pretty straightforward, Filmed for IMAX muddies the waters a little bit. While it’s just a simple change of two words, it means something radically different. What this means is the movie was filmed using cameras that are certified for IMAX screens, and that typically means a 1:90:1 aspect ratio instead of the 1:43:1 you see with actual IMAX cameras. You can get a better idea of the difference by checking out The Odyssey’s website, which showcases the different aspect ratios.
This covers several summer blockbusters, and it explains how movies like Dune and its sequel can look so good on the big screen. Dune: Part Two used the ARRI Alexa 65 and ARRI Alexa Mini LF cameras for filming, which are some of the highest quality digital cameras available today. However, they aren’t actual IMAX cameras, so the movie can’t use the Shot with IMAX Film Cameras marketing.
Some movies include something along the lines of Experience it in IMAX at the end of the trailer, and that’s a situation where you should start scratching your head. This means that the movie is essentially just being shown on an IMAX screen. It doesn’t mean it was filmed with IMAX cameras; it just means it’s been formatted to fit on the screen. There’s nothing wrong with this, and as somebody with AMC A-List, it doesn’t cost anything extra to see a movie in IMAX. However, if you’re paying extra for an IMAX screening for something with this labeling, you might be disappointed. You’ll get the aspect ratio you get on any other screen, and the only benefit is that it’s simply on a bigger screen.
It feels like everybody wants a piece of the IMAX pie, even if they don’t go through the hurdles to really deserve it. I would generally agree that any movie benefits from the largest format possible, so if it’s available, then you should go for it. However, I also have to note that going to a movie theater isn’t exactly the cheapest thing in the world anymore, so paying extra for a premium format, even if there’s nothing premium on display, doesn’t feel very good. Then again, it’s your money, so do with it as you please.
Bigger is better, but within reason
It’s all a good experience
On top of IMAX, there’s also Infinity Vision. That’s a special Disney branding for Marvel movies that aren’t getting IMAX screens. As you might’ve heard, Avengers: Doomsday comes out the same day as Dune: Part Three, and the latter is getting the premium IMAX screens. Disney came up with this branding to ensure people are still getting a good viewing experience, but it sounds like they’re capitalizing on this Experience it in IMAX terminology. What it’s ultimately doing is ensuring that the format you watch Avengers in will be premium, but it won’t be IMAX.
While I think it’s cool to get into the weeds and find out the difference between these formats, a lot of people don’t want to put in the work. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve had to tell people the difference between 70mm and 70mm IMAX. When I tell people I saw The Odyssey in 70mm, most of them get confused between that and the IMAX format. I have to tell them that 70mm is just a bump in quality and not screen size. While it makes sense to me, it’s obviously confusing to other people.
I imagine that a lot of people see the word IMAX and think that it’s going to be some massive spectacle. I’m sure that’s what the moviemakers are going for as well, so you could consider it to be a successful marketing campaign from that point of view. At the end of the day, seeing something on an IMAX screen is still a treat, and I think your theater’s specific IMAX screen is far more important. My theater has a larger Dolby Cinema screen with recliners that almost always provides a better experience than IMAX. If I had a 70mm screen closer than three hours away, perhaps I’d change my tune, but Dolby beats IMAX for right now.
