IMAX vs Blu-Ray | The Dark Knight

Which aspect ratio do you prefer?

This educational video compares the IMAX vs the home release of The Dark Knight.

Did you know that most movies shot with spherical lenses are filmed in a different aspect ratio what we see in theaters or at home? Many cinematographers will crop the original image, called a "matte" which is often described as "black bars" on the top and bottom of the screen. So "open matte" is typically considered any film in its uncropped, original aspect ratio. Open Matte is typically intended for broadcast, streaming and the IMAX "certified" theatrical run.

The opening scene of The Dark Knight is a masterclass in both storytelling and technical filmmaking.

Director Christopher Nolan and cinematographer Wally Pfister shot this scene using IMAX cameras, making The Dark Knight one of the first major films to utilize the format for narrative scenes.

IMAX cameras use a 70mm film format, offering a 1.43:1 aspect ratio, which is significantly taller and more immersive than standard widescreen formats.

However, this differs from the home release on Blu-ray, where the aspect ratio shifts between the IMAX scenes and the standard 2.39:1 widescreen format.

On most home versions, the IMAX scenes are presented in 1.78:1 or 1.90:1, not 1.43:1 as shown in IMAX theaters.

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