According to IMAX IR decks, almost every movie was shot (or is being shot) with IMAX film cameras. However, till 2026 there are no such movies (as we know). IMAX has started to define IMAX-certified digital cameras as ‘IMAX cameras’, and that’s far from being accurate. Hence, IMAX should clarify it in its presentations.
IMAX presentation: Almost every movie shot on IMAX cameras
There seems to be a bit of confusion when exploring the IMAX IR deck. In the Upcoming Expected [Year] Hollywood Slate sections, you can see the titles and small film camera icon underneath. According to the presentation, the film camera icon symbolizes Filmed for IMAX/Film Cameras title. If we look at the titles from 2024-2026, we can count about 50 titles (=movies). This icon is located underneath 21 titles. Hence, according to IMAX presentation, almost half of these movies are being shot with IMAX cameras. But according to what we know, none of them are being shot with real IMAX film 65mm cameras. Therefore, IMAX treats IMAX 65mm as IMAX-certified digital cameras. But what does it mean IMAX certified? Well, almost every high-end and middle-end digital camera can be defined as IMAX certified. Although only top digital cinema cameras are included in the ‘Filmed for IMAX’ program, there’s a foggy definition of that, since almost every digital camera can be IMAX-ed (for instance, The Creator that was shot on the Sony FX3). If so, IMAX should mark every movie with the camera icon. Sounds confusing? Because it is. Thats’s the reason that IMAX should mark the titles that are being shot with ‘Filmed for IMAX’ cameras, IMAX 65mm film cameras, and IMAX-certified cameras. And not just throwing a film camera icon underneath the title, since it indicated that the movie was shot on 65mm film.
According to IMAX presentation, almost half of these movies are being shot with IMAX cameras. But according to what we know, none of them are being shot with real IMAX film 65mm cameras. Therefore, IMAX treats IMAX 65mm as IMAX-certified digital cameras. But what does it mean IMAX certified? Well, almost every high-end and middle-end digital camera can be defined as IMAX certified. Although only top digital cinema cameras are included in the ‘Filmed for IMAX’ program, there’s a foggy definition of that, since almost every digital camera can be IMAX-ed.
The Foggy Future of IMAX Film Cameras
In our previous article, we try to explain why we think there’s a foggy future for IMAX 65mm film cameras. Moreover, it derived from the thesis that IMAX thinks that as well, and the IR deck is a good reference for that. Movies that were shot on IMAX 65mm should be treated as the holy grail. IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond mentioned that during 2025-2026, only one to two movies will be shot using IMAX film cameras, although there are 9 operational IMAX cameras. In the IR deck, it states: “Movies shot with IMAX certified digital and IMAX Film cameras maximize IMAX DNA throughout the entire production process. Delivers expanded aspect ratio with up to 26% more image”. Thus, between the lines we can assume that IMAX counts more on digital cameras and AI to fill its huge canvas, rather than on a true 65mm celluloid. The thought behind that is logical, which is maximizing revenue. However, this approach minimizes the idea being pure IMAX filmmaking. That leads to the fact that only very certain IMAX directors use real IMAX cameras to shoot their masterpieces (Christopher Nolan). Let’s hope more filmmakers will use REAL IMAX cameras when the Nex-Gen beasts are released.
