IMAX Films at home
IMAX is a film format that uses 70mm film in a unique way — horizontally rather than vertically. Traditionally, 70mm film was reserved for grand, epic blockbusters. However, when used vertically like this, it results in a truly massive picture. Originally, IMAX was designed for special presentations, often found in museums, science centers, and amusement parks, where the format's impressive visuals could be fully appreciated in thrilling shorts or documentaries.
Nowadays, there's a digital counterpart to the traditional IMAX format. Additionally, some modern blockbusters are filmed partially in IMAX, using the format for key scenes to enhance the visual impact. However, these variations are generally outside of the scope of this page.
This page is going to primarily focus on one line of home video releases, but at the end of the page there's a big exhaustive list with more releases.
Slingshot & Escapi
I had seen these around for years, but I only truly noticed them when I was looking into motion simulators. As I understand it, most if not all of these were originally released by a distributor called Slingshot, and then a European distributor named Escapi released them in Europe. Since I happen to live there, and there's already so little information available about these sorts of releases, I will primary focus on the European releases. But if you know any differences in the American selection of titles and the contents thereof, feel free to get in touch with me!
Now, Escapi marketed these as XCQ. What does that mean? Extreme Cinema Quality, apparently. I have no idea why they chose that, but it's possible they couldn't market these directly as being IMAX products.
All of these releases came on a single DVD9 disc (unless differently indicated) and feature 5.1 DTS and Dolby Surround Audio. They're encoded with a 7 MBit/s bitrate.
I've cobbled this page together from Escapi's very incomplete catalog on their archived website, my own collection, and random online listings. It is thus very possible that this list isn't complete.
Overview
Clicking on the titles will allow you to navigate directly to the corresponding entry. The coloring of this table only matters to me: green backgrounds indicate which ones I currently own.
Computer-generated 3D titles
IMAX Large Film
The big list
Alien Adventure (1999)
- Video
- Field-Sequential 3D
ColorCode 3-D - Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Norwegian
- Discs
- DVD9 + DVD5
- Running time
- 85 minutes
- Special Features
- Making Of featurette
Director´s Commentary
Virtual Image Gallery
Electronic Press Kit
Steadfastly moving through the galaxy, a group of aliens head toward planet Earth in hope of establishing a new home for their people. Little do they know, they’re in for the ride of their lives when they land in the middle of "Adventure Planet," a new hi-tech amusement park not yet open to the public…
Like all CG movies on this list, Alien Adventure was created by the Belgian studio nWave Pictures. More information can thus be found on my dedicated nWave page.
Encounter in the Third Dimension (1999)
- Video
- Field-Sequential 3D
ColorCode 3-D - Audio
- English
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Norwegian
- Discs
- DVD9 + DVD5
- Running time
- 40 minutes + 9 minutes of bonus footage
- Special Features
- Making Of featurette
Director´s Commentary
Virtual Image Gallery
Electronic Press Kit
Join Stuart Pankin and Elvira — Mistress of the Dark on a groundbreaking venture into the realm of 3-D filmmaking, where captivating computer generated imagery mixed with live action thrills abound. Encounter early incarnations of the third dimension, from a recreation of one of the earliest 3-D movies ever made to classic clips from Hollywood's 3-D heyday during the 1950s to modern creations such as James Cameron's theme park attraction, Terminator 2: 3-D. Experience the wildest 3-D adventure ever created for the giant screen!
Contrary to the other nWave movies listed here, this one incorporates live-action footage. The star of the show is of course Horror B-Movie hostess Elvira. More information be found on my dedicated nWave page.
Haunted Castle (2001)
- Video
- Field-Sequential 3D
ColorCode 3-D - Audio
- English
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Finnish and Norwegian
- Discs
- DVD9 + DVD5
- Running time
- 40 minutes + 22 minutes of bonus footage
- Special Features
- Director Commentary
Electronic Presskit
A young musician is summoned to his mother’s castle in accordance with her final wishes. Upon his arrival, Johnny quickly discovers that things are not as they appear. The castle begins to come alive as materializing spirits lead him to Mephisto voiced by Harry Shearer (The Simpsons, This Is Spinal Tap), the ghoulish henchman to Mr. D, who makes Johnny a tantalizing offer. The same offer in fact that his mother accepted over twenty years earlier: surrender your soul in exchange for fame and fortune. Experience a whirling visual thrill ride as Johnny explores the underworld of the castle to the explosive climax where Johnny confronts Mr. D and fights to free his mother’s spirit.
This superb 2-disc set offers two different 3D versions of the film, one for use with the incredible new ColorCode 3-D system (glasses provided) and the other with the field-sequential LCD Shutterglass system (available separately). Both versions are designed to work on all standard DVD and PC systems. The bonus disk includes a standard 2D version of the film, plus special features. Viewers can also choose from either Dolby Digital™ 5.1 or DTS® soundtracks.
This pretty unique movie contains plenty of scenes reminiscent of nWave's earlier motion simulator videos. Instead of purely relying on international talent like the previous movie, this one instead opts for some local talent too, featuring music from Belgian bands Arid and Lunascape. More information be found on my dedicated nWave page.
Interlude: recovering the third dimension
These previous three films use some old 3D system that never really took off. But there is a way to play these on modern 3D projectors and whatnot.
If you take the VOB file of the field-sequential 3D version from the DVD, you can load it into Virtual Dub. Then, with the de-interlace filter you can unfold the fields side-by side. With a resize filter you can then make it full-height.
The StereoTools filter might be an even more convenient way of doing this.
Stereoscopic Player is a commercial software to play this type of 3D movie.
Some other movies that were released in this format.
- S.O.S. Planet (IMAX) — An nWave film released by Slingshot, but not by Escapi, probably for reasons explained on my dedicated nWave page.
- Misadventures in 3D (IMAX) — Another nWave film, a sequel to Encounter. More information be found on my dedicated nWave page.
- Transitions (IMAX) — Created for the Canada Pavilion at Expo 86.
- Santa vs. the Snowman (IMAX) — A 2002 IMAX re-release of a 1997 movie, adding new scenes.
- Bugs! in 3D (A Rainforest Adventure: Bugs!) (IMAX) — Later also released on 3D Blu-Ray
- Ultimate G's (IMAX) — Later also released on 3D Blu-Ray
- Apartment 51: Robot Monster & Devil Bat — an obscure series which is apparently a cheap knock-off of MST3K, according to TVTropes. Only the puppets are actually in 3D, the movies they comment on is flat. There is a release of APE in the same vein, tied to a Big Fat Movie Show.
- Spy Kids 3D & The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl — Later also released on 3D Blu-Ray
- Several compilation discs like CGI Animation in Stereoscopic 3D, A 3-D Movie and Video 20 Year Retrospective
- V-World Matrix — Later also released on 3D Blu-Ray
- Zombie Chronicles — Later also released on 3D Blu-Ray
- Camp Blood — Later also released on 3D Blu-Ray
- Hunting Season — Later also released on 3D Blu-Ray
- Jaws 3D — Later also released on 3D Blu-Ray
- The Creeps — Another horror movie, but its Blu-Ray releases seem 2D only.
- Revenge of the Shogun Women — Later also released on 3D Blu-Ray
- Taza, Son of Cochise — Later also released on 3D Blu-Ray
- 2324: The Making of an Underground Rock Album — A documentary.
- A bunch of what seem to essentially be people's self-shot travel videos, which I will not list individually.
Beyond the store linked earlier, a good source seems to be the Illustrated Blu-ray 3D and 3D DVD List.
Africa: The Serengeti (1994)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Africa: The Serengeti takes you on an extraordinary journey to East Africa to view a spectacle few humans have ever witnessed: the great migration. Journey with more than two million wildebeast, zebras and antelope as they travel over 500 miles across the Serengeti plains. Filmed in IMAX format.
Africa: The Serengeti vividly details life and death in an unforgettable film experience. Filmed entirely on location in Kenya and Tanzania, Africa: The Serengeti brings you spectacular vistas and dynamic aerials. It also features Africa’s greatest predators — lions, crocodiles and cheetahs — in deadly pursuit of their migrating prey.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Alaska: Spirit of the Wild (1997)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Ambient Audio
ALASKA… Here, in this vast and spectacularly beautiful land teeming with abundant wildlife, discover the Spirit of the Wild. Experience it in the explosive calving of glaciers, the celestial fires of the Aurora Borealis. Witness it in the thundering stampede of caribou, the beauty of the polar bear and the stealthful, deadly hunt of the wolf pack. Join this epic adventure into the untamed grandeur of Alaska and embrace the Spirit of the Wild.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Amazing Journeys (1999)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes + 65 minutes of bonus footage
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
“Making of” Featurette
Directors Commentary
The Long Journey Home
Experience some of nature’s most incredible spectacles as millions of creatures undertake extraordinary journeys of survival.
Enter a golden blizzard as tens of millions of monarch butterflies fill the sky in the hidden highlands of Mexico. Fly alongside migratory birds navigating by the sun, stars, and instinct. Encounter the affectionate curiosity of majestic Grey whales in the beautiful lagoons of Mexico’s Baja California. Witness the mysterious migration of more than 100 million red crabs on tiny Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Join the sweeping spectacle of thousands of migrating zebras in the vast, wildlife-filled plains of East Africa. Travel back in time among exotic tribes of Africa to explore the roots of human migration.
The life-and-death dramas of these six incredible journeys are powerfully chronicled in Amazing Journeys.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Antarctica: An Adventure of a Different Nature (1991)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Antarctica takes you to a continent beyond imagination. Discover a new world and learn of Antarctica’s wildlife in a way never before possible. Antarctica creates a sensation of truly being there — a remarkable film experience where, through the heartfelt words of Antarctica explorer Robert Scott, you’ll re-live the brutal hardships, wonders and isolation of the first men on this magnificent frontier. Join in the search for scientific clues locked in centuries-old ice, fly a helicopter over towering glacial peaks, dive through a submerged crystalline cavern in Chaos Glacier and join a company of penguins in an underwater ballet.
Made for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Australia: Land Beyond Time (2002)
- Audio
- English
- Subtitles
- English, German, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 64 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Making of
A breathtaking journey through the exotic, surreal and dramatic natural environment of Australia. With its endless coastline and vast expanses of parched, sandy desert, this continent harbors unique inhabitants and striking scenery. From the miles of red, weathered sand dunes that characterize the continent's famed Outback, to the cascading waterfalls and lush wildlife of its scattered rainforest, Australia is a land of extremes. The film explores this landscape and its inhabitants, who represent nature's burning desire to adapt, overcome and even flourish in the most threatening and tumultuous conditions.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Bears (2001)
- Audio
- English, German
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Special Features
- Bear Wars
Wild on the Set
Making of
Alternative Music Track
Discover the world of bears and experience a fascinating encounter with one of nature's most inspiring and misunderstood creatures. From a past steeped in mythology to a future shrouded in uncertainty, this film contains stunning footage of these enterprising omnivores in the full glory of their varied natural habitats. Come closer than ever before to polar bears on the Artic tundra, black bears in Montana and grizzlies in Alaska as they struggle to raise their cubs and, most importantly, to survive in an increasingly human-dominated world. Learn about the specific challenges facing each of these species — and why protecting them benefits wildlife and people everywhere.
A National Wildlife Federation and Science North Presentation of a Primesco Film
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
The Eruption of Mount St. Helens! (1980)
The Eruption of Mount St. Helens! chronicles the cataclysmic events during one of America's most famous natural disasters, capturing the dramatic primary and secondary eruptions that began on Sunday, May 18, 1980 at 8:32 a.m. When the destruction was over, the once beautiful symmetrical cone rising 2946 m above sea level had lost over 6,7 billion cubic meters of ice, rock and dirt, decreasing its height by 396 m.
Originally shot in the IMAX Format, this film includes footage from the rescue helicopters that combed the area looking for survivors after the initial eruption. These amazing scenes reveal an unearthly landscape of mud, ash and steaming craters, which sharply contrasts with the pre-eruption scenery of pristine snow-covered peaks and the crystal waters of Spirit Lake. As the film revisits the area a decade later, it is startling to see the rapid recovery after so much devastation.
The First Emperor of China (1989)
Qin Shihuang conquered six powerful warring states and, in 221 BC, declared himself emperor of all China. During his reign, he introduced sweeping reforms, built a vast network of roads and connected the Great Wall of China which to this day stretches over 2400 kilometers. The film includes the first documentary footage of Qin's life-sized terracotta army, constructed almost 2,200 years ago for his tomb. The imperial system he created has endured for thousands of years, proving to be the world's most durable political structure. From the inner sanctum of Emperor Qin's royal palace to fierce battles with feudal kings, this lavish historical drama re-creates the glory and the terror of the Qin Dynasty.
Genesis: Four Billion Years in the Making (1978)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Explore the evolving continental drifts. The Great Rift Valley in Africa — a 6437 km crack in the earth's crust. It is the result of continental fracturing that began some 20 million years ago. Volcanic eruptions, such as the spectacular eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano featured in Genesis, are the results of powerful tectonic processes which are continually reshaping the Earth's surface.
Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets (1984)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Through the startling reality captured by IMAX® film technology, this spectacular video takes you on a journey spanning 4,000 years of human history, including the dramatic re-creation of the 1869 Powell Expedition. Experience the exhilaration of clinging to a fragile raft as it is swept through what are said to be the most treacherous rapids in the Northern Hemisphere… the thunderous whitewaters of the mighty Colorado River. Savour the quiet solitude of soaring silently through the majestic monoliths towering nearly a mile over the Canyon’s floor in a tiny ultralight aircraft. You will experience the Grand Canyon as never before in this captivating presentation.
This film is apparently still played in the National Geographic Visitor Center.
The Great Barrier Reef (1981)
- Audio
- English, German
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
The Great Barrier Reef unveils the most colourful and diverse undersea world on Earth. Viewers will not only the enchanting beauty of the reef, but also learn about its complex ecosystem, many symbiotic relationships and the extreme fragility of its environment.
Great North: Celebrating Man, Animal and Landscape at the Top of the Globe (2001)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
An iceberg looms, huge and luminous. A river winds through a wide glacial valley, surrounded by stark mountains. A rainbow arches over the rocky terrain.
My name is Adamie Inukpuk,says the Inuit, drinking from the glacial stream.I have lived in this land for over 5,000 years.The grandson of Nanook, who burst onto the screen and into our hearts in 1922's Nanook of the North, Adamie guides you through the land, traditions and culture of the Inuit. Experience a whirling journey of rich landscapes, course over the rugged terrain with a rhythmic energy like that of a herd of migrating caribou, and share the extraordinary plight of the people who have long lived in harmony with the harsh elements of the Artic.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
The Greatest Places (1998)
- Audio
- English, German
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Witness possibly the greatest visual collection of nature's diversity ever produced… The Greatest Places is a large-format film that takes you on a journey to seven of the most geographically dynamic locations on Earth.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Hearst Castle: Building the Dream (1996)
- Audio
- English
- Subtitles
- English, Dutch
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
High above the majestic central California coast rises an enchanted castle, a special place created from the dreams of one man, William Randolph Hearst. His vision was inspired by his many trips to Europe’s finest castles. From this unique blend of European influence rose an architectural masterpiece which Hearst furnished with priceless art treasures from around the world. Hearst Castle: Building the Dream will captivate audiences with Europe’s spectacular architectural wonders, the foundation for the dream that became Hearst Castle.
This was produced for the Hearst Castle Theater, where it is still shown apparently.
Hidden Hawaii (1993)
- Audio
- English, German
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
This DVD takes you on a journey to the most remote locations on the Hawaiian Islands. Fiery volcanic eruptions and rivers of molten lava bring the formation of the islands to life. Descend 4,000 feet beneath the surface to witness the birth of Loihi, Hawaii's newest island. Journey with a Hawaiian naturalist in a kayak expedition along the breathtaking Molokai coast, to save the rare Alula plant which clings to the highest seacliffs in the world. The adventure continues, taking you to the very edge of Maui's 10,000ft-high Haleakala Crater where the spectacular Silversword plant blooms once every decade, then dies. You will experience the beauty and wonder of Hawaii as never before in this captivating presentation.
Lost Worlds: Life in the Balance (2001)
- Audio
- English, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Deep in the jungles of Guatemala, a black jaguar prowls the ruins of Tikal, a Mayan city tat has lain abandoned for a thousand years. What can its fate tell us about our own cities, our own society? To find out, join narrator Harrison Ford on an exploration of the mysteries of our planet's biological diversity. Tunnel into a metropolis of micro-organisms beneath New York, swim through the kelp forests of the Pacific, and climb to the top of the mysterious mountains in Venezuela that inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel, The Lost world. Discover the wondrous relationships of living things, explore humanity's interconnectedness with nature, and gain insight into the puzzle of human survival itself.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Mysteries of Egypt (1998)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes + 19 minutes of bonus footage
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Pharaos & Filmmakers — The Making of Mysteries of Egypt
Experience the magic and majesty of Egypt as never before. Mysteries of Egypt starring Omar Sharif and Kate Maberly (The Secret Garden) reveals the story of this remarkable civilization. Surrounding you with spectacular images of colossal monuments and breathtaking landscapes, "Mysteries of Egypt" transports you over pyramids nearly 50 stones tall, sweeps you through the rising mist of the Nile´s turbulent falls, and brings you to rest in burial chambers hidden deep below the scorching desert floor. Witness brilliant architects, massive work teams and gifted artisans as they create some of the world's greatest wonders. Join the first living souls in thousands of years to unlock the secrets of the Pharaoh's opulent tomb.
Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic (1986)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic is one of the most spectacular large-format adventures of all. From the comfort of your seat, you’ll thrill to the larger-than-life vista of raging waters as you take a heart-pounding ride over the Falls and experience other deathdefying stunts performed there. Created by Academy Award™ winner Kieth Merrill, the film takes you back to the days when the Indians worshipped the Thunder Beings, 2,000 years before the first Europeans discovered the Falls. See the wonders of the Falls up close and travel back in time for a glimpse of its 12,000 year-old history.
Meet the daredevils who challenged the fury of the Falls, the Great Blondin, who completed a death-defying tightrope walk over the river in 1860, and Annie Taylor, a 63 year-old school teacher, who was the first person to go over the Falls in a barrel and live to tell the story.
Ocean Oasis (2000)
- Audio
- English
- Subtitles
- English, Dutch, German, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
“Making of” Featurette
Linblad Expeditions' Beneath the Desert Seas
What powerful geologic forces collided to carve out this unique region? What drives the strong currents that make this ocean so unusually rich in nutrients? How does life thrive in a seemingly barren landscape?
Ocean Oasis mesmerizes us with revealing and memorable scenes that explore these mysteries. Glide side-by-side with a graceful giant manta ray as it arches and swoops through water sparkling under the hot Baja California sun. Witness the pageant of migrating whales, the elaborate tango of courting terns, the battles of lumbering elephant seals. Fly over sweeping vistas of snow-capped mountains, vast deserts, palm oases, and mangrove swamps hen plunge into astonishing underwater sequences of rarely seen marine life.
In the making of this extraordinary film, a team of gifted and dedicated scientists explored unknown territories, sometimes at great personal risk. They trekked, flew, and dove to unveil intriguing secrets of isolated areas on land, in the air, and beneath the sea. Now audiences who would never otherwise see these remote wildernesses can experience their captivating beauty and elusive wildlife.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Ocean Origins (2001)
- Audio
- English
- Subtitles
- English, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Origins of Life invites us to an extraordinary adventure: 4 billion years in the ocean, from the very beginning of life up to this incredible moment when the first vertebrate emerged onto dry land and opened path to the conquest of the continents. With fascinating footage applying micro and macro-cinematography techniques, enhanced by spellbinding music, our stars are sea-creatures that are still alive today.
Also known as Origins of Life.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Ring of Fire (1991)
Originally filmed with IMAX® format cameras, Ring of Fire takes you heartstoppingly close to the great circle of volcanoes and seismic activity that rings the Pacific Ocean. This award-winning film has been seen by millions of people at large-screen IMAX® format theatres worldwide. Ring of Fire is the story of these immense volcanic forces and the half-billion people that coexist with them every dayaround the fiery boundary of the Pacific Rim.
Feel the heat as cameras take you to the birth of a new volcano in Chile. View rare and spectacular images of the infamous 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Stunning computer animation sequences through the center of the earth explain the origin of volcanoes and earthquakes.
This film was created for the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in Texas, the Science Museum of Minnesota in Saint Paul, and the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center in San Diego, California.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Sedona: The Spirit of Wonder (1998)
A breathtaking journey through the history of Native Americans and their culture. Original Indian flute music accompanies the wonderful, visual journey which was originally filmed in the large IMAX format. Viewers travel back in time to witness the evolution of what is now called Sedona.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Search for the Great Sharks (1995)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Search for the Great Sharks takes you on a round-the-globe expedition to reveal some of the world’s largest sharks and to witness them at close range. From the coast of California to the remote reaches of South and Western Australia, the film pursues Blue Sharks, Whale Sharks, and the most notorious of all, the Great White Shark.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Skydance (2002)
Skydance is a modern day fairy tale told with breathtaking visual images on the large format screen. Centered around a fictitious French Air Race the Aero Club de France Cup the viewer is taken on an incredible aerial tour of some of France's most impressive sites including the Alps the White Cliffs of the Channel baroque castles the Plateau of the Auvergne Chenonceau Chambord Mont St. Michel and the azure blue of the Mediterranean.
Solarmax (2000)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Every 11 years the sun's poles reverse with unimaginable violence. The peak of the storm is called a solarmax. The hottest film under the sun, Solarmax is a breathtaking exploration into the awesome vastness and mysterious power of our closest star. Take a unique journey through time and space, and experience the sun's severe force and beauty. Witness a total eclipse and the magnificence of the Aurora Borealis, viewed from both Earth and space. Real images captured by NASA's SOHO satellite provide spectacular footage of the sun as never before seen.
Created for the National Museum of Science and Industry.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Straight Up: Helicopters in Action (2002)
Helicopters save lives every day. These unique machines pick up injured people off roads, save them from sinking ships, pluck them from burning buildings, and pull them out of raging floods. Rotorcraft, including helicopters and tiltrotors, perform widespread critical public-service operations including search and rescue, law enforcement, resource development, and priority transportation. Millions of people owe their lives to the special capabilities of these aircraft.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Tropical Rainforest (1992)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Tropical Rainforest takes you on a 400 million year journey to illustrate the diversity and beauty of life in the forests. This film has been seen by millions of people at IMAX® and OMNIMAX® theaters worldwide and features incredible sound and film images. Featuring the birds and primates of the forest canopy and insects of the forest floor, Tropical Rainforest also shows the adventure of researchers challenged to understand the forests even as they disappear. From Extreme close-ups to tree-top panoramas, the film lets you experience the forest on it’s own terms, to better understand and appreciate the treasures of this environment.
Presented by the Science Museum of Minnesota.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Whales: An Unforgettable Journey (1997)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes + 16 minutes bonus footage
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
“Making of” Featurette
Experience breathtaking close-up encounters with the largest mammal that ever lived on Earth — the Blue Whale. Follow Humpbacks, Orcas, Right Whales and dolphins for a stunning new perspective on these mysterious marine mammoths. Whales resonates in an exploding panorama of colour and excitement. Acclaimed by critics as acan’t miss film,and adazzling poetic experience.
Wolves: Myth, Mystery and Legend (1999)
- Audio
- English, German
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Discover the world of Wolves by plane, helicopter, on foot and through time. Meet the pack and find out what really goes on in the wolf world where family members play, hunt, travel, howl and struggle to survive. Find out why wolf reintroduction is making news in the American West and setting a precedent around the world. Discover the ancient link between buffalo herds and wolves and why Native Americans have referred to the wolf as their spiritual brother for generations.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Yellowstone (1994)
- Audio
- English, German
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Running time
- 40 minutes
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Yellowstone is a land of constant contrast. Lush, flourishing forest standing next to cracked, gasping landscapes. Half-frozen rivers beside boiling patches of earth. Packs of wolves and a group of filmmakers. Enter this amazing land, and follow our crew as they employ groundbreaking film techniques to create a totally unique experience.
From Prehistory to present, Yellowstone offers an unparalleled look at the indescribable beauty of this national park. Whether soaring over a snow-capped mountain, climbing into the heart of a steaming geyser, or standing in the shadow of a twotonne bear, you’ll do things you couldn’t otherwise do. In watching Yellowstone, you’ll see things no tour guide can show you.
Vikings: Journey To New Worlds (2004)
While popular and intriguing characters in world history, Vikings are also greatly misunderstood. Vikings: Journey to New Worlds provides a comprehensive portrait of the Vikings, exploring their historical and cultural impact as well as their technological and scientific achievements, and in the process takes audiences on a cinematic adventure through the lands they settled and explored. The dawn of the Viking Age was a raid on an English monastery in the year 793 A.D. that established their reputation as marauding heathens from the North. But it was shipbuilding skills that truly set the Vikings apart. Propelled by their wondrous ships, the Vikings stormed across Europe and the North Atlantic.
This DVD has been superseded by a Blu-Ray release.
Zion Canyon: Treasure of the Gods (1996)
- Audio
- English, German, French
- Subtitles
- English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish
- Special Features
- Alternative Music Track
Treasure of the Gods makes it possible for viewers to explore the hidden recesses and dizzying heights of the canyon in breathtaking detail. The immense panoramas filling the screen make viewers a part of the journey to discover the real Zion Canyon and its treasures, as well as the treasures of other beautiful canyons of the southwest.
Other IMAX Films
I'm listing the formats in this big table, so I'd like to first contextualize those.
Regular IMAX is fairly straightforward.
OMNIMAX, also known as IMAX Dome, refers to films shot with a fish-eye lens which are projected onto a dome.
There's also Magic Carpet, which in addition to a regular IMAX projection also projects under the audience.
I am not entirely sure of how this set-up worked, so my diagram might not be very accurate.
| Year | Title | Format | 🔗 | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Tiger Child | IMDb | ||
| 1971 | North of Superior | IMDb | ||
| 1973 | Garden Isle | OMNIMAX | IMDb | |
| 1973 | Capture the Sun | OMNIMAX | IMDb | |
| 1973 | Catch the Sun | IMDb | ||
| 1973 | Volcano | |||
| 1973 | Standing Up Country | IMDb | ||
| 1974 | Man Belongs to the Earth | IMDb | ||
| 1974 | Circus World | IMDb | ||
| 1974 | Cosmos | IMDb | ||
| 1974 | Snow Job | IMDb | ||
| 1975 | Energy | IMDb | ||
| 1975 | Viva Baja | IMDb | ||
| 1975 | Voyage to the Outer Planets | OMNIMAX | ||
| 1976 | To Fly! | IMDb | ||
| 1976 | Ontario: Summertide | IMDb | ||
| 1976 | Rivers of North America | IMDb | ||
| 1977 | Ocean | IMDb | ||
| 1977 | Silent Sky | IMDb | ||
| 1978 | Alfa 78 | IMDb | ||
| 1979 | Living Planet | IMDb | ||
| 1979 | Nomads of the Deep | IMDb | ||
| 1980 | Atmos | IMDb | ||
| 1981 | My Strange Uncle | IMDb | ||
| 1981 | An American Adventure | IMDb | ||
| 1981 | World Coaster | IMDb | ||
| 1982 | Hail Columbia! | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD | |
| 1982 | Energy! Energy! | IMDb | ||
| 1982 | Tomorrow in Space | IMDb | ||
| 1982 | Flyers | IMDb | ||
| 1983 | Omnisphere | IMDb | ||
| 1983 | Darwin on the Galapagos | IMDb | ||
| 1983 | Huapango | IMDb | ||
| 1983 | The People of the Sun | IMDb | ||
| 1983 | Behold Hawaii | IMDb | ||
| 1984 | Journey of Discovery | IMDb | ||
| 1984 | Faces of Japan | IMDb | ||
| 1984 | Dance of Life | IMDb | ||
| 1984 | River Journey | IMDb | ||
| 1984 | Speed | IMDb | ||
| 1984 | The Magic Egg | IMDb | ||
| 1985 | The Dream Is Alive | OMNIMAX | IMDb | BD |
| 1985 | A Freedom to Move | OMNIMAX | IMDb | |
| 1985 | Skyward | IMDb | ||
| 1985 | Picture Holland | IMDb | ||
| 1985 | Water and Man | OMNIMAX | IMDb | |
| 1985 | Chronos | IMDb | ||
| 1985 | We Are Born of Stars | OMNIMAX 3D | IMDb | |
| 1985 | Omninews | OMNIMAX | IMDb | |
| 1986 | Dance of the East | IMDb | ||
| 1986 | Sacred Site | IMDb | ||
| 1986 | Transitions | 3D | IMDb | Released on DVD |
| 1986 | Making Transitions | IMDb | Bonus feature of Transitions DVD | |
| 1986 | On the Wing | IMDb | ||
| 1987 | Heart Land | IMDb | ||
| 1987 | Island Child | IMDb | ||
| 1987 | Seasons | IMDb | ||
| 1987 | Primiti Too Taa | IMDb | ||
| 1987 | Weaving Ants | IMDb | ||
| 1988 | Alamo: Price of Freedom | IMDb | ||
| 1988 | Time Concerto | IMDb | ||
| 1988 | Beavers | IMDb | ||
| 1988 | Emergency | IMDb | ||
| 1988 | The Deepest Garden | IMDb | ||
| 1989 | From a Little World | IMDb | ||
| 1989 | Hydro | IMDb | ||
| 1989 | Race the Wind | IMDb | ||
| 1989 | To the Limit | IMDb | ||
| 1989 | Sea Fantasy | IMDb | ||
| 1989 | Only the Earth | IMDb | ||
| 1989 | J'écris dans l'espace (I Write in Space) | IMDb | ||
| 1990 | Echoes of the Sun | 3D | IMDb | |
| 1990 | Blue Planet | IMDb | BD | |
| 1990 | The Philadelphia Anthem | |||
| 1990 | Creatures of the Seasons | IMDb | ||
| 1990 | The Last Buffalo | 3D | IMDb | |
| 1990 | Flowers in the Sky | Magic Carpet | IMDb | |
| 1990 | The Flying Raft | IMDb | ||
| 1990 | The Country Bears Down Under | |||
| 1991 | Rolling Stones: Live at the MAX | IMDb | BD | |
| 1991 | Homeland | |||
| 1991 | Black Widow | IMDb | ||
| 1991 | Praying Mantis | IMDb | ||
| 1991 | Indonesia Indah III | |||
| 1991 | Switzerland | IMDb | ||
| 1991 | Polynesian Odyssey | IMDb | ||
| 1991 | Light & Life | IMDb | ||
| 1992 | Titanica | IMDb | Released on DVD by Buena Vista | |
| 1992 | Mountain Gorilla | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD | |
| 1992 | Fires of Kuwait | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD | |
| 1992 | Taiwan | IMDb | ||
| 1992 | Momentum | IMDb | ||
| 1992 | At Sea | IMDb | ||
| 1992 | To Be an Astronaut | IMDb | ||
| 1992 | Top Chrono | |||
| 1993 | In Search of the Obelisk | IMDb | ||
| 1993 | Imagine: Breaking Through | 3D | IMDb | |
| 1993 | The Discoverers | IMDb | Released on DVD by Umbrella Entertainment | |
| 1993 | The Secret of Life on Earth | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD | |
| 1993 | Journey to the Planets | IMDb | ||
| 1993 | Flight of the Aquanaut | IMDb | ||
| 1993 | Reach for the Sky | IMDb | ||
| 1993 | Lost Animals | IMDb | ||
| 1993 | Welcome to the MAX | IMDb | ||
| 1994 | Into the Deep | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 1994 | Asteroid Adventure | IMDb | ||
| 1994 | Destiny in Space | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD | |
| 1994 | The Journey Inside | IMDb | ||
| 1994 | Neighbors | IMDb | ||
| 1994 | Indonesia Indah IV | |||
| 1994 | Yampa: The Untamed River | IMDb | ||
| 1994 | Endless Summer: The Ride | IMDb | ||
| 1994 | Viva la Blanca Paloma | |||
| 1995 | Ozarks: Legacy & Legend | IMDb | ||
| 1995 | The Living Sea | IMDb | BD | |
| 1995 | Fun House Express | IMDb | ||
| 1995 | The Great American West | IMDb | ||
| 1995 | Mystery of the Maya | IMDb | ||
| 1995 | Wings of Courage | 3D | IMDb | |
| 1995 | Stormchasers | IMDb | Released on DVD by Umbrella Entertainment | |
| 1995 | Across the Sea of Time | 3D | IMDb | |
| 1995 | Valencia Spain | IMDb | ||
| 1995 | The Story of Winds | |||
| 1996 | L5: First City in Space | 3D | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD |
| 1996 | Cosmic Voyage | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD | |
| 1996 | Special Effects: Anything Can Happen | IMDb | Retro webpage | |
| 1996 | Crashendo | IMDb | ||
| 1996 | Imagine Indiana | IMDb | ||
| 1996 | Survival Island | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD | |
| 1996 | Cities of the Wild | IMDb | ||
| 1996 | Making Momentum | IMDb | ||
| 1996 | The Magic of Flight | IMDb | ||
| 1996 | Réunion Magique | IMDb | ||
| 1996 | Dallas: A Unique Place in Time | IMDb | ||
| 1996 | Urushi: The Japanese Beauty | |||
| 1996 | Pilialoha | |||
| 1997 | Paint Misbehavin' | IMDb | ||
| 1997 | The IMAX Nutcracker | 3D | IMDb | |
| 1997 | Mission to Mir | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD | |
| 1997 | The Hidden Dimension | 3D | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD |
| 1997 | Mexico | IMDb | ||
| 1997 | Ocean | |||
| 1997 | Symphony Philadelphia | IMDb | ||
| 1997 | On the Wing | |||
| 1997 | Amazon | IMDb | ||
| 1997 | Super Speedway | IMDb | ||
| 1997 | Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun | IMDb | Released on DVD by Columbia Tri-Star | |
| 1998 | T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous | 3D | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD |
| 1998 | Africa's Elephant Kingdom | IMDb | BD | |
| 1998 | Everest | IMDb | Released on DVD by Miramax | |
| 1998 | Race for Atlantis | IMDb | ||
| 1998 | Shinsyu Symphony | IMDb | Escapi announced this but I was unable to find a record of its existence | |
| 1998 | The Greatest Places | IMDb | ||
| 1998 | The Way to B | |||
| 1998 | Passion for Life | |||
| 1998 | Mark Twain's America | 3D | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD |
| 1999 | Galapagos | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 1999 | Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Box | 3D | IMDb | Released on DVD by Filmworks/Hannover House |
| 1999 | The Old Man and the Sea | IMDb | Release on DVD, distributor unknown. | |
| 1999 | Island of the Sharks | IMDb | Released on DVD by Image | |
| 1999 | Extreme | IMDb | BD | |
| 1999 | Gold Fever | IMDb | ||
| 1999 | Olympic Glory | IMDb | BD | |
| 1999 | La Patrouille de France | IMDb | ||
| 1999 | The Spirit of Silicon Valley | IMDb | ||
| 1999 | The BFI London IMAX Signature Film | IMDb | ||
| 1999 | Chang Jiang: The Great River of China | Escapi announced this but I was unable to find a record of its existence | ||
| 1999 | EastEnd | IMDb | ||
| 1999 | Hemingway: A Portrait | IMDb | ||
| 1999 | Wildfire: Feel the Heat | IMDb | ||
| 1999 | Sydney: A Story of a City | IMDb | ||
| 1999 | Fifty | IMDb | Released on DVD by Shout Factory | |
| 2000 | CyberWorld | IMDb | Partially lost according to LMW | |
| 2000 | Michael Jordan to the Max | IMDb | BD | |
| 2000 | Adventures in Wild California | IMDb | Released on DVD by Image | |
| 2000 | Ultimate G's | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 2000 | The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd | IMDb | Released on DVD by Mail Lite | |
| 2000 | Dolphins | IMDb | BD | |
| 2000 | Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 2000 | Ski to the Max | IMDb | ||
| 2000 | The Legend of Loch Lomond | IMDb | ||
| 2001 | China: The Panda Adventure | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD | |
| 2001 | India on IMAX | |||
| 2001 | Celebrate Detroit! | |||
| 2001 | Pittsburgh's Big Picture | IMDb | ||
| 2001 | NSYNC: Bigger Than Live | IMDb | ||
| 2001 | Journey into Amazing Caves | IMDb | BD | |
| 2001 | The Princess and the Pea | IMDb | ||
| 2001 | Ocean Men: Extreme Dive | IMDb | BD | |
| 2001 | The Human Body | IMDb | ||
| 2002 | Santa vs. the Snowman 3D | 3D | IMDb | Released on DVD by Universal |
| 2002 | Horses: The Story of Equus | IMDb | Released on DVD by PBS | |
| 2002 | Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees | IMDb | Released on DVD by Slingshot | |
| 2002 | Space Station 3D | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 2002 | The Trip | |||
| 2002 | In Five Minutes The Feature | |||
| 2002 | Kilimanjaro: To the Roof of Africa | IMDb | ||
| 2002 | Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West | IMDb | BD | |
| 2002 | Ultimate X: The Movie | IMDb | Released on DVD by Buena Vista | |
| 2002 | India: Kingdom of the Tiger | IMDb | ||
| 2002 | Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey | IMDb | Released on DVD by Kaleidoscope | |
| 2002 | S.O.S. Planet | 3D | IMDb | Released by Slingshot on DVD. |
| 2002 | Home of Freedom | IMDb | ||
| 2003 | Coral Reef Adventure | IMDb | BD | |
| 2003 | Top Speed | IMDb | ||
| 2003 | Misadventures in 3D | 3D | IMDb | Released on DVD, but I can not make out the distributor on the scanned cover. |
| 2003 | Where the Trains Used to Go | IMDb | ||
| 2003 | Country Music: The Spirit of America | IMDb | ||
| 2003 | Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 2003 | Stage Fright | |||
| 2003 | Young Black Stallion | IMDb | Released on DVD by Disney | |
| 2004 | NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience | 3D | IMDb | Ultimate Collection DVD |
| 2004 | Mystic India | IMDb | ||
| 2004 | Forces of Nature | IMDb | BD | |
| 2004 | Texas: The Big Picture | IMDb | ||
| 2004 | Majestic White Horses | IMDb | ||
| 2004 | Hubble: Galaxies Across Space and Time | |||
| 2004 | Voyageurs Du Ciel Et De La Mer | Magic Carpet | IMDb | |
| 2004 | Sacred Planet | IMDb | Released on DVD by Disney | |
| 2004 | Roar: Lions of the Kalahari | IMDb | ||
| 2004 | Adventures in Animation 3D | 3D | IMDb | |
| 2004 | Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag | IMDb | 3DBD | |
| 2005 | Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D | 3D | IMDb | Released on DVD by HBO. |
| 2005 | Mystery of the Nile | IMDb | BD | |
| 2006 | Deep Sea | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 2006 | Roving Mars | IMDb | BD | |
| 2006 | Greece: Secrets of the Past | IMDb | BD | |
| 2006 | Ride Around the World | IMDb | BD | |
| 2006 | Hurricane on the Bayou | IMDb | BD | |
| 2007 | Journey Across India | IMDb | ||
| 2007 | Mummies 3D: Secrets of the Pharaohs | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 2007 | Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 2007 | Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure | 3D | IMDb | BD |
| 2008 | Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD UHD BD |
| 2008 | Mysteries of the Great Lakes | IMDb | ||
| 2009 | Under the Sea | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 2009 | Journey to Mecca | IMDb | BD | |
| 2009 | Van Gogh: Brush with Genius | IMDb | BD | |
| 2010 | Hubble | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 2011 | Rocky Mountain Express | IMDb | BD | |
| 2011 | Tornado Alley | IMDb | UHD BD | |
| 2011 | Rescue | IMDb | 3DBD | |
| 2012 | To the Arctic 3D | 3D | IMDb | BD |
| 2013 | Journey to the South Pacific | 3D | IMDb | BD |
| 2013 | Hidden Universe 3D | 3D | IMDb | UHD BD |
| 2014 | Island of Lemurs: Madagascar | 3D | IMDb | 3DBD |
| 2016 | National Parks Adventure | 3D | IMDb | UHD+3DBD |
| 2017 | Dream Big: Engineering Our World | 3D | IMDb | UHD+3DBD |
| 2018 | America's Musical Journey | 3D | IMDb | |
| 2020 | Asteroid Hunters | IMDb | ||
| 2020 | Into America’s Wild | IMDb | ||
| 2023 | Deep Sky | IMDb |