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Yes: AMC IMAX is a licensed IMAX presentation, but “AMC IMAX” does not describe one uniform screen or projection system. An AMC show may use 15/70 IMAX film, dual-projector GT Laser capable of a 1.43:1 image, single-projector digital or laser systems typically associated with 1.90:1, or another location-specific setup. To know what you will see, check the format and auditorium for the specific showtime—not just the IMAX label.
What “true IMAX” can mean
People use “true IMAX” to mean different things: the historic large-format film system, the full-height 1.43:1 image, or simply a premium IMAX-branded presentation. Those are related, but not interchangeable. 15/70 film is the traditional IMAX film format; equipped GT Laser auditoriums can also present a full-height 1.43:1 image digitally. Meanwhile, many IMAX shows use a wider 1.90:1 image.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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IMAX: Born To Be Wild (Blu-ray 3D) | $19.21 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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IMAX: Under the Sea | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![IMAX: Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk [Blu-ray 3D]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61gNrACm3ML._SL160_.jpg)
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IMAX: Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk [Blu-ray 3D] | $35.24 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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IMAX: Space Station (Single Disc Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray Combo) | $46.58 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Journey to Space - 4K UHD + 3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray | $14.55 | Buy on Amazon |
AMC’s own filing describes IMAX as a premium-large-format partnership, not a single standardized auditorium design. AMC reported 184 U.S. and 36 international IMAX screens as of December 31, 2024, but did not break those screens down by film, GT Laser, single-projector laser, or xenon. The IMAX brand therefore confirms the presentation partnership, not the exact equipment or image ratio at a particular theater. AMC’s 2024 filing
How the main IMAX formats differ
| Format or system | What it tells you | What it does not establish by itself |
|---|---|---|
| 15/70 IMAX film | Traditional IMAX film: 15 perforations per frame, transported horizontally; the full frame is approximately 1.43:1. | That every theater advertising IMAX—or even 70mm—can project it. |
| Standard 70mm (5/70) | A separate film format with five perforations per frame, normally presented at 2.20:1. | That the screening is IMAX 70mm. |
| GT Laser, dual projector | At equipped locations, digital projection capable of presenting 1.43:1. | That every IMAX with Laser auditorium uses GT Laser or shows a 1.43:1 version. |
| Single-projector IMAX systems, including CoLa and XT | Associated with the wider 1.90:1 presentation. | That the screen itself is small or that the show lacks the IMAX brand. |
| IMAX without a more specific listing | An IMAX-branded presentation at that location. | Projector type, screen dimensions, film capability, or aspect ratio. |
The 15/70 frame is substantially larger than a standard 5/70 frame. The terms “70mm” and “IMAX 70mm” are consequently not interchangeable: a ticket that says only “70mm” can describe standard 5/70 projection. Find Big Screens’ format guide and The Odyssey’s official format guide explain the distinction.
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What 1.43:1 and 1.90:1 mean on screen
Aspect ratio compares an image’s width with its height. A 1.43:1 image is taller than a 1.90:1 image. Most commercial IMAX presentations use 1.90:1: that can reveal more vertical picture than conventional 2.39:1 widescreen, but it is not the full-height 1.43:1 frame.
A screen’s shape and a movie’s delivered image are separate facts. A theater may have a tall 1.43-shaped screen yet show a 1.90:1 or 2.39:1 version, depending on the movie’s digital cinema package, projector, masking, and booking. A tall screen—or the words “IMAX with Laser”—does not prove a screening is 1.43:1. Look for the specific format listed for that screening. Find Big Screens
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- Blu-ray
- Blu-ray, AC-3, Color
- English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
- 1
- 135
Movies shot with IMAX cameras may also use more than one presentation ratio. Filmmakers compose for different theater formats, and a version shown outside a 1.43-capable presentation may crop the top and bottom relative to the largest IMAX image. That does not make the other version an ordinary non-IMAX screening; it means the framing differs. Associated Press’ viewing guide
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How to verify an AMC show before buying
- Check the exact showtime’s format label. “IMAX” alone does not establish 15/70 film or 1.43:1. Look for an explicit “IMAX 70mm” or 1.43:1 designation if that is what you want.
- Distinguish film from digital laser. “IMAX 70mm” means the 15/70 film presentation; “70mm” alone may mean standard 5/70. “IMAX with Laser” means laser projection, not necessarily GT Laser or 1.43:1.
- Confirm the auditorium’s projection capability. For digital 1.43:1, the relevant system is dual-projector GT Laser at an equipped location. Single-projector laser systems should not be assumed to support 1.43:1.
- Verify the movie version for that booking. The same auditorium can host different formats or versions, so a theater’s equipment alone cannot confirm the image ratio for a particular showtime.
For The Odyssey’s 2026 70mm release, the verified AMC U.S. 15/70 locations listed were Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk Hollywood & IMAX, AMC Metreon 16 & IMAX in San Francisco, and AMC Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX in New York. That is a film-specific list, not a standing list of AMC 15/70 theaters for every title. The film’s official site describes its 15-perforation horizontal film presentation and 1.43:1 expanded image; digital 1.43:1 is a separate GT Laser route, not a film screening. Official film format details; The reported AMC locations and digital distinction
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Does “Laser at AMC” mean “IMAX with Laser”?
No. AMC describes “Laser at AMC” as a Barco-based projector upgrade across its auditoriums. It is not another name for IMAX with Laser: an AMC auditorium can have AMC laser projection without being IMAX, while an IMAX auditorium may be specifically advertised as IMAX with Laser. AMC’s filing said 2,125 Laser at AMC installations were complete as of December 31, 2024, and projected at least 3,500 U.S. auditoriums by 2026. Those are rollout figures for AMC’s broader laser program, not proof that every AMC IMAX auditorium had laser projection by August 7, 2026. AMC filing; AMC’s Laser at AMC overview
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the 1.43:1 version always the best choice?
It offers more visible vertical image when the movie has a 1.43:1 version and the auditorium can present it. But aspect ratio alone does not determine the quality of a screening: screen size, projection quality, sound, seating position, calibration, and maintenance also matter. A well-presented wider-format screening may suit a viewer better than a poorly presented taller one. The useful question is not simply whether a screen is tall, but what version is being shown and how the auditorium presents it.
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- Factory sealed DVD
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