IMAX 70MM vs Laser vs Dolby Cinema | What's The Best Format to Watch in 2025?

Not all IMAX 70mm theaters are created equal, so what's the best IMAX format to watch in 2025? The screen you choose can make or break your movie experience (Christopher Nolan, IMAX's #1 cheerleader, would agree!). So I'm breaking down the formats: IMAX 70mm vs laser vs Dolby Cinema, aspect ratios and more—so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting before you buy a ticket.

In this video, I explain the differences between 70MM IMAX, IMAX Laser (GT & 1.43:1), IMAX with Laser (1.9:1), and digital IMAX (a.k.a. “LieMAX”), plus how to tell which one your local theater actually has. I’ll also share my own IMAX adventures, including driving five hours in the rain for Interstellar (only for the audio system to break 😭) and watching Oppenheimer across four formats: 70MM IMAX, 35MM, Laser, and Dolby Cinema.

▶ What I cover in this video:
IMAX 70MM film vs IMAX Laser vs digital IMAX (LieMAX)
Why GT/Grand Theaters are the “holy grail” of IMAX
The differences in aspect ratios (1.43:1 vs 1.9:1) and why it matters
My experiences with Oppenheimer and Interstellar in multiple formats
Whether Dolby Cinema might actually be the better choice for most movies
How to check theater listings so you don’t waste money on the wrong IMAX

If you’re planning to see upcoming releases like Odyssey or another Nolan re-release, this guide will help you decide if traveling for a true IMAX experience is worth it—or if your local IMAX Laser or Dolby Cinema might be the smarter choice.

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▶ Timestamps ⏱️
Intro | 00:00
IMAX GT 70MM | 00:20
IMAX GT Dual Laser | 01:16
IMAX w/Laser | 01:54
Xenon/"LieMAX" | 02:28
Aspect Ratios | 02:55
Dolby Cinema | 04:09
How to Choose | 04:32
Oppenheimer | 05:33
Difficulties w/IMAX | 06:15
Christopher Nolan | 07:06
Overview | 07:43

▶ Resources for info:
  / imax  
https://lfexaminer.com/theaters/ (hasn't been updated since 2021 so I would cross-reference)
https://imax.com
https://www.imax.com/news/sinners-imax (this includes locations where Sinners was shown in 70MM and although not every 70MM IMAX-capable location is listed, it's a good starting point)
https://www.sprocketschool.org/wiki/L...
Note: If you're looking at theater chains like AMC or Regal, they let you filter by showing type (IMAX w/Laser, Dolby Cinema, etc.). You can also check the IMAX website for listings.

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🌐 Website & Portfolio: http://neelougoodarzi.com

▶ Sources:
https://imax.com
https://apnews.com/article/oppenheime...
https://www.kodak.com/en/motion/page/...
https://dolby.com
https://www.revolt.tv/article/beyond-...
https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/visit...

▶ Disclaimer:
Images and clips in this video are used under fair use for commentary and review. All rights belong to their original copyright holders. I purchased every item shown in this video. All shade/opinions are my own 😉

#imax #imaxexplained #interstellar #christophernolan #cinephile #oppenheimer #odyssey #theodyssey #70mm #film #movies #whattowatch