As someone who grew up in the golden age of IMAX, witnessing the transformation from a novelty to a staple of modern cinema, I can’t help but marvel at the diversity of films that now grace those towering screens. From blockbusters like “Avengers: Endgame” to more unexpected choices, it seems there’s no limit to what we might see on an IMAX screen these days.
In today’s cinema landscape, it’s no longer unusual for a major movie to be filmed with IMAX cameras or premiered in IMAX theaters. Instead, it’s more noteworthy when a significant blockbuster doesn’t have an IMAX release. These films play a crucial role in boosting the box office earnings of modern blockbusters, as audiences often choose to watch new releases like “Avatar” or “Dune” in this format. It has become commonplace for a new film to screen in your local IMAX theater each week. Therefore, hearing that a particular movie received an IMAX theatrical release is usually not surprising – it’s simply a key element of the current cinematic industry.
Since Treasure Planet pioneered the simultaneous release of new films in traditional cinemas and IMAX screens 20 years ago, not every movie that’s had an IMAX launch has achieved the same level of association with the format as blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame or the upcoming Oppenheimer. In truth, there have been numerous films that leave viewers puzzled about how and why they were shown in IMAX theaters. Here’s a look at…a set of movies that appear to contradict the IMAX experience, but managed to play on those screens nonetheless.
The Earliest Inexplicable IMAX Releases
Initially, English-language movies shown in IMAX format were chosen very carefully. Still, even with this preference, “The Ant Bully” managed to play in IMAX 3D cinemas around late July 2006. It was only the second fully animated IMAX 3D movie ever made (following “The Polar Express,” also from Warner Bros.). Unfortunately, it flopped dramatically at the box office during its opening weekend. Today, “The Ant Bully” is largely forgotten, but it remains significant historically as one of the earliest IMAX 3D narrative films.
The movie “The Ant Bully” started a sequence of unexpected films being presented in the IMAX format. These unexpected choices often centered around IMAX cinemas accommodating titles that didn’t typically fall under family films, action blockbusters, or music concerts. Whenever IMAX cinemas veered from these standard categories, it was quite unusual. An early example of this occurred in October 2010 with the film “Paranormal Activity 2“. The focus here is on shaky camcorder footage, which might seem questionable when enlarged to an IMAX screen. Is grainy imagery really something that would shine on such a large scale?
2010 and 2011 saw many anticipated films being shown on IMAX screens. However, in May 2012, it was surprising news that the film “Rock of Ages” would be premiering on IMAX. Since musicals are known for their grand visuals and spectacle, an IMAX experience for a musical movie sounds fitting. Movies like “3 Idiots”, “La La Land”, and “Moulin Rouge!” would look stunning on IMAX due to their elaborate musical sequences. However, unlike these movies, “Rock of Ages” focuses more on smaller-scale bursts of music rather than the grandeur seen in productions like “Wicked”.
Beginning in 2012, IMAX theaters began showing nearly a new movie every week, expanding the perplexing range of films released in this format. For example, the crime film starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie, “Focus,” premiered in IMAX theaters towards the end of February 2015. This type of ground-level movie doesn’t necessarily shine on large IMAX screens.
Have Inexplicable IMAX Movies Continued in Recent Years?
Warner Bros. Pictures has traditionally had a strong bond with IMAX cinemas, often showcasing films that might not initially seem suitable for this format. For instance, after releasing ‘Focus’, they chose to screen another unconventional pick, ‘The Water Diviner’, in IMAX theaters domestically just two months later. Interestingly, ‘The Water Diviner’ didn’t receive a wide release in North America but still managed an impressive IMAX run. Towards the end of summer 2015, ‘The Transporter Refueled’, a EuropaCorp production, found its way onto IMAX screens despite becoming one of the season’s biggest flops.
As a film enthusiast, let me share my experience from December 2017: A unique genre of comedy, not your typical action/comedy, graced the IMAX screens with “The Disaster Artist.” Starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, it was one of the earliest IMAX releases for A24. The iconic line, “oh hai Mark,” resonated through IMAX speakers, as if it were ordained by God himself.
Regardless if I’m a fan or not, it’s evident that as long as IMAX theaters continue to operate and seek fresh content, there’ll always be surprising films premiering in this unique format. For instance, even up until September 2021, the musical “Dear Evan Hansen” ran for a week on IMAX screens, while “Amsterdam” graced IMAX venues in 2022 for reasons that remain unclear. The days when IMAX was synonymous with children’s films like “The Ant Bully” are long gone, as its cultural relevance has significantly expanded. However, the practice of showcasing completely unexpected movies in this format doesn’t seem to be fading away anytime soon.
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2024-12-02 00:09