IMAX theaters offer a more immersive movie experience compared to traditional theaters through larger screens, advanced sound systems, and superior image quality. Designed to envelop viewers in the action, IMAX screens are proportionally taller and wider than standard screens, with digital formats using an aspect ratio of 1:90:1 and film formats using 1:43:1. These screens are crafted to extend beyond the natural field of human vision, enhancing the feeling of being inside the story. For example, 70mm film screenings can be as large as 59 feet in height and 79 feet in width, creating an expansive visual experience. Filming for IMAX presents unique challenges for directors and cinematographers. Christopher Nolan, who directed The Odyssey, noted that shooting in IMAX requires meticulous planning to ensure the film works well across different formats. Filmmakers must adjust lenses, lighting, and sound to optimize the footage for both IMAX and regular theaters. When a film is labeled "Filmed for IMAX," it means the production team worked closely with IMAX throughout the process, using specialized software and digital tools to enhance the final product for IMAX screens. IMAX offers multiple formats to accommodate different theaters. IMAX Digital, often found in screens retrofitted from brands like AMC and Dolby, uses dual xenon lamp projectors and provides a 1:90:1 aspect ratio. More advanced IMAX Laser projectors, like the Laser GT, use two 4K laser projectors to achieve floor-to-ceiling visuals. However, not all IMAX laser theaters support these larger formats. Single laser systems, which are more common, only support the 1:90:1 ratio but offer better brightness and contrast than xenon projectors. The most premium format is IMAX 70mm film, known for its exceptional clarity and resolution. This format, used in iconic films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, involves running the film horizontally and increasing the number of perforations on the film from five to fifteen. The reels for The Odyssey are over 10 miles long, weigh around 500 pounds, and pass through the projector at hundreds of miles per hour. Each 70mm print costs approximately $80,000, and director Christopher Nolan praised its "unparalleled" sharpness, stating it represents the "best that celluloid film ever got." Despite challenges like rising ticket prices and limited availability, IMAX has seen strong growth in recent years. In 2025, while overall box office sales stagnated, IMAX reported a 40 percent increase in sales compared to the previous year. In 2026, big-budget films like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey are helping drive the American box office toward its best year since 2019. However, accessing the premium IMAX experience can be difficult, as only about 1800 IMAX screens exist worldwide, with just 32 in North America and 41 globally supporting the rare 70mm format. Some fans must travel hundreds of miles to see films in this format. The scarcity of 70mm projectors, with only 90 people in the world able to operate them, has also limited expansion. Despite these challenges, IMAX provides an online tool to help moviegoers locate the nearest IMAX theaters and check their available formats.