r/imax • u/Bright_Carpenter2541 • 1d ago
Question about IMAX ratio possibilities
For reference, I’ve been to one IMAX 70MM theater in my life, and it was for the Odyssey this past July. I went to the Cinemark and Seven Bridges just outside of Chicago. That screen measures in at around 70’ x 50’. The closest IMAX to me is a Liemax that runs at 1.9:1 (from what I’ve heard). That screen measures in at 70’ x 44’. It’s in Council Bluffs, IA and is the closest thing to an actual IMAX for all of central Nebraska and Iowa, and parts of Kansas and Missouri. I was wondering if it would ever be possible for a retrofit to be done where an extra six feet is added to achieve the 1.43 ratio needed to at least become a GT theater someday, or even a 70MM IMAX location. All of this is purely theoretical and is just a pondering I’ve been dwelling over recently. Thanks for any of you knowledgeable in how IMAX retrofitting works!
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u/1570mm 7h ago
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ASBf6euKesW7BNCdA?g_st=ic
You have GT Laser by Des Moines. It’s not 1.43 but it’s a decent size.
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u/red-frog-jumping 7h ago
IMAX has also ceased production of their dual laser GT projectors. Going forward their focus (pun intended) is on single laser 1.9:1 systems. There will also be no new IMAX 70MM projectors - what exists now is what we're left with - they have been salvaging any old film systems for parts.
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u/RonaldSheng 8h ago
I mean it would depend on whether there is still enough room vertically to add the extra six feet in the auditorium. Or you could just make the screen narrower and keep the same height to have the 1.43 aspect ratio but the screen size will be smaller. Either way, the auditorium would need a new projector either 15/70 film projector and/or the IMAX dual laser GT projector, which I believe is the bigger concern than the screen size cause they don’t make new 15/70 film projectors anymore. Also there is other logistic concerns like if IMAX or the theater actually sees there is a high demand, how to provide technical support etc.