How IMAX Was Born in Canada and Changed the Way the World Watches Movies

When audiences settle into a towering IMAX auditorium and feel the picture wrap around them, few realize they are experiencing a Canadian invention. The giant-screen format that has become a global symbol of spectacular cinema was dreamed up by a small group of Canadians in the late 1960s. From a world's fair in Montreal to a dome in Toronto, IMAX grew into a worldwide phenomenon. In this article we trace its origins and impact, drawing on publicly available information and published sources.

The birth of the giant screen

The story of IMAX begins with a bold Canadian vision for cinema. According to available information, the IMAX system was created by four co-founders who established the company in September 1967: Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, Robert Kerr and William C. Shaw. This group of filmmakers and engineers developed the first IMAX theatre projection standards in the late 1960s and early 1970s in Canada. Their goal was nothing less than to reinvent how audiences experience the moving image, on a scale never seen before.

From many screens to one

The original concept behind IMAX was actually quite different from what emerged. According to available information, the founders initially called their venture Multiscreen Corporation, but they abandoned the multi-screen approach after discovering that a single, large-screen image had more impact than multiple smaller ones. This realization became the guiding principle of IMAX. The company was later renamed, with Ferguson recalling that they worked out the name on a placemat at a Hungarian restaurant in Montreal, focusing on the idea of the maximum image.

The technology that made it possible

Turning the vision into reality required a major technical breakthrough. According to available information, William Shaw designed the core innovation known as the Rolling Loop film-transport technology, adapted from an Australian patent, which enabled the film to feed horizontally rather than vertically. This allowed IMAX to use a much larger frame than conventional cinema. The format runs 65mm film stock horizontally with 15 sprocket perforations per frame, compared with just 5 on standard 65mm film, producing far greater image resolution and clarity.

A format built for detail

The sheer size of the IMAX frame is what gives it such striking quality. According to available information, the format produces roughly three times the theoretical horizontal resolution of standard 35mm film. To achieve this, film moves through IMAX cameras far faster than in conventional systems, and each frame is dramatically larger. This enormous negative captures extraordinary detail, allowing images to be projected onto massive screens without losing sharpness, which is central to the immersive experience the format is famous for delivering.

Debut on the world stage

IMAX made its first public impression at a major international event. According to available information, the first IMAX film, titled Tiger Child, was demonstrated at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan. Showcasing the format at a world's fair placed it in front of a huge global audience and signaled its ambition from the very beginning. This early demonstration proved that the concept worked in practice and set the stage for the permanent installations that would soon follow, starting back home in Canada.

The Cinesphere in Toronto

Canada was home to a landmark moment in IMAX history. According to available information, in 1971 Ontario Place in Toronto became the site of the world's first permanent IMAX theatre, the Cinesphere. It debuted in May 1971 with the film North of Superior, and over 1.1 million people viewed the film during the Ontario Place season of that year. The projector installed there, known as IMAX number one, remained in service for forty years, making it the longest serving IMAX projector anywhere.

Expanding into new spaces

After its Canadian debut, IMAX quickly pushed the boundaries of what a cinema could be. According to available information, the first dome theatre opened in San Diego in 1973, bringing the format to a curved, wraparound screen. At Expo 74 in Spokane, a screen measuring 27 by 20 metres became the largest movie screen in the world at that time. These early venues demonstrated the format's versatility and its appetite for scale, cementing IMAX as the go-to name for larger-than-life cinema experiences.

Screens of staggering scale

The defining feature of IMAX has always been the sheer size of its screens. According to available information, traditional IMAX screens using the taller aspect ratio can measure up to around 18 by 24 metres. The screens have only grown more ambitious over time, and as of 2021 the world's largest operating IMAX screen, located in Leonberg, Germany, measured 38 by 22 metres. Standing before a screen of that size, viewers are enveloped by the image in a way that ordinary cinemas simply cannot replicate.

The digital revolution

A major turning point came when IMAX embraced digital technology. According to available information, in 2008 the company introduced digital projection using dual projectors on a slightly different screen shape, a cost-effective strategy that dramatically expanded its reach. This shift helped grow IMAX from around 300 screens worldwide at the end of 2007 to over 1,000 screens by 2015. The transition did spark debate, as some critics argued that smaller digital installations offered lower resolution than the traditional large-format film.

A global cinema standard

From its Canadian roots, IMAX has become a fixture in cinemas around the world. According to available information, by 2017 IMAX operated more than 1,300 cinemas across 75 countries, with the vast majority located in commercial multiplexes. Today the format spans well over 1,500 theatres in around 80 countries. What began as an experiment by a handful of Canadians has grown into a globally recognized brand, synonymous with premium, immersive movie-going for audiences everywhere.

Conclusion

In summary, IMAX stands as one of Canada's most influential contributions to global cinema. According to available information, it was invented by four Canadians in 1967, debuted at Expo 70, and found its first permanent home at Toronto's Cinesphere in 1971 before spreading across the world. Through bold engineering and an unwavering focus on the maximum image, IMAX transformed how films are experienced. Its story is a reminder that a single big idea, born in Canada, can reshape entertainment for audiences everywhere.