As Avatar returns to theaters and fans get ready for the December 16th release of Avatar 2: The Way of Water, many fans are once again considering just how impactful it can be to watch a movie in IMAX. After all, the original was famous for just how well it took advantage of the amazing quality of IMAX movies.
With beautiful visuals that make everything on-screen look brighter, better, and considerably more realistic, IMAX movies provide a completely different experience than ordinary movies. That's why it can be so incredible to watch the best experiences that IMAX has to offer.
Tenet (2020)
A movie fans need to watch more than once to understand the plot, Tenet may have been a confusing movie, but it was incredible as an IMAX picture. Though the plot and its characters may have needed additional polish, it's hard to deny the dynamic and engaging visuals.
"Tenet was my favorite IMAX experience... I would say it is my fav sound design. Must of watched it 5 times," says Reddit user Gurnir. The movie was certainly divisive, thanks to the confusing narrative, but it's hard to come away from the experience without being in awe of its set pieces, tantalizing sound effects, and many action scenes.
Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (2011)
While the plots of the Transformers movies don't tend to be their major draw, the films have always performed incredibly well visually, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon was certainly no exception. Showcasing the best visual effects in the Transformers franchise, each transformation feels incredibly realistic as they play out on a wider screen.
"Transformers 3 was shot specifically for IMAX and was visually amazing," says Reddit user jackpotkid22. Watching a building come tumbling down while metal tentacles cling on should not have been as enthralling as it was, but the visual effects felt entirely real, making it hard to believe it was all CGI.
The Lion King (2019)
While many fans of the original animated version of The Lion King weren't excited to see a live-action animated rendering, fans who saw it in IMAX were sold. "It was worth it for the opening number alone," says Redditor regachoisiah.
Though The Lion King was one of the worst reviewed live-action Disney remakes, the photo-realistic animals looked incredible. Seeing Mufasa's death as a realistic depiction on IMAX made Simba's panic and fears entirely understandable, especially given the immersive sounds that left audiences anxiously awaiting the stampede.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
While certainly not shot for IMAX productions, 2001: A Space Odyssey transfers excellently to the medium, leaving fans surprised by the changes it could afford. The movie was re-released in theaters in 2018 for its 50th anniversary, which was shown in IMAX (via Deadline). Reddit user GohanGlobus "was unprepared for how the scope and sound of the theater enhanced it. Unrivaled power."
A Space Odyssey is one of the best classic sci-fi movies but giving that added space to see the colors truly explode on screen somehow added to the experience. Kubrick's work tended to be larger than life, which is why it is so well suited to a larger-than-life on-screen experience in an IMAX theater.
Gravity (2013)
Space tends to translate well to IMAX movies, which is fitting, given the larger space on the screens. That's why Gravity is another movie that benefited massively from the IMAX experience. The lonely journey of Dr. Stone desperately trying to survive in the vast emptiness of space is perfectly depicted when fans can see exactly how much empty space surrounds her.
"Gravity IMAX 3D was one of my most memorable cinema experiences. I'll never watch the movie again because it will never live up to that," says Redditor Chugbeef. Getting to see the breathtaking visuals quite literally pop off of the screen made seeing the film in 3D and IMAX an absolute necessity and beyond worth it.
Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)
Some films are visually incredible on a typical screen and in IMAX, and Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol happens to be both. "I've never experienced anything like that at the theatres physically. It was fun in hindsight but at the time unsettling," says Reddit user bellsofwar3.
Given actors tended to do their own stunts behind the scenes of Ghost Protocol, it makes sense that the visuals would be incredible and certainly well-suited to a live-action IMAX experience. Each harrowing stunt leaves viewers horrified, as few films have ever appeared more realistic and more impactful, especially as Tom Cruise literally climbing on the Burj Khalifa brought more goosebumps than ever before.
Dunkirk (2017)
A film depicting the horrors of evacuating from the World War II battleground of Dunkirk, Dunkirk is a war movie that relies on suspense to keep fans engaged, and it certainly does. "The ticking noise all throughout the movie was stressing me out," says Reddit user megggers.
From the narrowing vehicles to the immersive quality of the sound experience, Dunkirk is a severely harrowing on-screen experience, especially in IMAX, as each set-piece and action sequence is more breathtaking than the last. For fans of Band of Brothers, there's no better experience than the IMAX Dunkirk experience, as it added a sense of realism to the images of war.
Interstellar (2014)
A movie destined to become a classic, Interstellar depicted a crumbling world and the desperate attempt of scientists to find a solution that might keep humanity alive. The movie portrays incredible visuals that again take advantage of the beauty of the vastness of space, and the IMAX experience only improves it.
"The planet of waves and the black hole too were just mind-blowing," says Reddit user CabeNetCorp. Just getting to watch the photorealistic TARS wandering through each new and stunning landscape was incredible enough, but the colors of the crashing waves and endless icy array were extraordinary.
The Dark Knight (2008)
There are few things better than getting the chance to see the best Joker actor taking on the character, but getting to see it in IMAX certainly improves the experience. In IMAX, "The Dark Knight was quite memorable... it was pretty mind-blowing," says Reddit user kisskissbangbang46.
Often reserving full use of the large screens for the most impactful moments it can, The Dark Knight does an amazing job of keeping fans engaged in both visuals and the narrative at once. While many movies made for IMAX tend to rely on visuals and overlook the story, The Dark Knight never falls into that trap.
Avatar (2009)
A film with groundbreaking special effects, Avatar has become an absolute classic — to the point that it is returning to theaters 13 years after its original release. "Avatar in IMAX was the most immersive movie experience in my 50 years on this Earth," says Reddit user Pearl_krabs even says.
Having claimed the most worldwide lifetime grosses of any movie in history (via Box Office Mojo), Avatar can attribute most of its acclaim to its stunning visuals. There were few things better than getting the chance to see an entirely new world depicted on the widest screen possible, especially to see the beauty and spectacle that was Pandora. Though its story wasn't anything truly new, the special effects on IMAX alone were enough to completely carry the film.