Skip to main content
TechRadar TechRadar the technology experts
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
RSS
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Phones
    • Popular Phone Brands
      • iPhone
      • Samsung Galaxy
      • Google Pixel
      • Nothing
      • Motorola
      • OnePlus
      • Xiaomi
      • Honor
      • Oppo
      • Huawei
    • Operating Systems
      • Android
      • iOS
    • More from Phones
      • Network Carriers
      • Phone Accessories
      • Phone Reviews
      • Phone Buying Guides
      • Phone Deals
      • Phone Coupons
      • Phone News
  • Computing
    • Laptops
      • Chromebooks
      • MacBooks
      • Windows Laptops
      • Gaming Laptops
    • PCs
      • Desktop PCs
      • Macs
      • Gaming PCs
    • Software
      • Windows
      • macOS
    • Components
      • CPUs
      • GPUs
      • Storage
      • Nvidia
      • Intel
    • Internet
      • Websites & Apps
      • Wi-Fi & Broadband
      • Social Media
      • Wordle
    • Security
      • Antivirus
      • Cyber Security
    • Tablets
      • eReaders
      • iPad
    • VR & AR
    • Peripherals
      • Monitors
      • Keyboards
      • Webcams
      • Mice
    • Popular Computing Brands
      • Dell
      • HP
      • Lenovo
      • Acer
    • More from Computing
      • Computing Reviews
      • Computing Buying Guides
      • Computing Deals
      • Computing Coupons
      • Computing News
  • AI
    • AI Platforms & Assistants
    • OpenAI
    • ChatGPT
    • Gemini
    • Apple Intelligence
    • Claude
  • TVs
    • TV Insights
      • TV Reviews
      • TV Buying Guides
      • TV Deals
      • TV News
    • More for your TV
      • Home Theatre
      • Soundbars
      • Streaming Devices
      • Projectors
      • Blu-ray
  • Streaming
    • Entertainment
    • Netflix
    • Prime Video
    • Disney+
    • Apple TV+
    • HBO Max
    • Hulu
    • Paramount+
    • How to Watch
  • Fitness
    • Fitness
      • Smartwatches
      • Fitness Trackers
      • Exercise Equipment
      • Fitness Headphones
      • Fitness Apps
      • Smart Rings
    • Watch Brands
      • Apple Watch
      • Fitbit
      • Garmin
      • Google Pixel Watch
      • Samsung Galaxy Watch
    • Wellbeing
      • Sleep
      • Oral Health
    • More from Fitness
      • Fitness News
      • Fitness Reviews
      • Fitness Buying Guides
      • Fitness Deals
  • Audio
    • Headphones
      • Earbuds & AirPods
      • Wireless Headphones
    • Speakers
      • Wireless Speakers
      • Sonos
    • Hi-Fi
      • Turntables
      • Portable Players
      • DACs
    • Audio Streaming
      • Spotify
      • Apple Music
    • More from Audio
      • Audio News
      • Audio Reviews
      • Audio Buying Guides
      • Audio Deals
  • VPN
    • VPN Services
    • VPN Security
    • ExpressVPN
    • NordVPN
  • Cameras
    • Camera Types
      • Mirrorless
      • DSLRs
      • Compact
      • Action
      • Video
      • Drones
      • 360 Cameras
      • Dash Cams
    • Camera Brands
      • Canon
      • DJI
      • Fujifilm
      • Nikon
      • GoPro
      • Insta360
    • More from Cameras
      • Camera Accessories
      • Camera Lenses
      • Camera Reviews
      • Camera Buying Guides
      • Camera Deals
      • Camera News
      • Photography
  • Home
    • Smart Home
      • Home Security
      • Smart Speakers
      • Smart Lights
      • Smart Scales
      • Smart Thermostats
      • Amazon Echo
    • Small Appliances
      • Air Fryers
      • Air Quality
      • Coffee Machines
      • Hair Care
      • Vacuums
      • Robot Vacuums
    • Home Brands
      • Dyson
      • Philips Hue
      • Ring
      • Shark
      • Ninja
    • More from Home
      • Home Reviews
      • Home Buying Guides
      • Home Deals
      • Home News
  • EVs
  • Browse
    • By Type
      • News
      • Best
      • Reviews
      • Deals
      • Versus
      • How To
      • Opinion
      • Coupons
    • Popular Brands
      • Samsung
      • Sony
      • Microsoft
      • Apple
Tech Radar Pro Tech Radar Gaming
  • Phones
    • View Phones
      • iPhone
      • Samsung Galaxy
      • Google Pixel
      • Nothing
      • Motorola
      • OnePlus
      • Xiaomi
      • Honor
      • Oppo
      • Huawei
      • Android
      • iOS
      • Network Carriers
      • Phone Accessories
      • Phone Reviews
      • Phone Buying Guides
      • Phone Deals
      • Phone Coupons
      • Phone News
  • Computing
    • View Computing
    • Laptops
      • View Laptops
      • Chromebooks
      • MacBooks
      • Windows Laptops
      • Gaming Laptops
      • Desktop PCs
      • Macs
      • Gaming PCs
    • Software
      • View Software
      • Windows
      • macOS
    • Components
      • View Components
      • CPUs
      • GPUs
      • Storage
      • Nvidia
      • Intel
    • Internet
      • View Internet
      • Websites & Apps
      • Wi-Fi & Broadband
      • Social Media
      • Wordle
    • Security
      • View Security
      • Antivirus
      • Cyber Security
    • Tablets
      • View Tablets
      • eReaders
      • iPad
    • VR & AR
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Monitors
      • Keyboards
      • Webcams
      • Mice
      • Dell
      • HP
      • Lenovo
      • Acer
      • Computing Reviews
      • Computing Buying Guides
      • Computing Deals
      • Computing Coupons
      • Computing News
  • AI
    • View AI
    • AI Platforms & Assistants
    • OpenAI
    • ChatGPT
    • Gemini
    • Apple Intelligence
    • Claude
  • TVs
    • View TVs
      • TV Reviews
      • TV Buying Guides
      • TV Deals
      • TV News
      • Home Theatre
      • Soundbars
      • Streaming Devices
      • Projectors
      • Blu-ray
  • Streaming
    • View Streaming
    • Entertainment
    • Netflix
    • Prime Video
    • Disney+
    • Apple TV+
    • HBO Max
    • Hulu
    • Paramount+
    • How to Watch
  • Fitness
    • View Fitness
      • Smartwatches
      • Fitness Trackers
      • Exercise Equipment
      • Fitness Headphones
      • Fitness Apps
      • Smart Rings
      • Apple Watch
      • Fitbit
      • Garmin
      • Google Pixel Watch
      • Samsung Galaxy Watch
      • Sleep
      • Oral Health
      • Fitness News
      • Fitness Reviews
      • Fitness Buying Guides
      • Fitness Deals
  • Audio
    • View Audio
    • Headphones
      • View Headphones
      • Earbuds & AirPods
      • Wireless Headphones
    • Speakers
      • View Speakers
      • Wireless Speakers
      • Sonos
    • Hi-Fi
      • View Hi-Fi
      • Turntables
      • Portable Players
      • DACs
    • Audio Streaming
      • View Audio Streaming
      • Spotify
      • Apple Music
      • Audio News
      • Audio Reviews
      • Audio Buying Guides
      • Audio Deals
  • VPN
    • View VPN
    • VPN Services
    • VPN Security
    • ExpressVPN
    • NordVPN
  • Cameras
    • View Cameras
      • Mirrorless
      • DSLRs
      • Compact
      • Action
      • Video
      • Drones
      • 360 Cameras
      • Dash Cams
      • Canon
      • DJI
      • Fujifilm
      • Nikon
      • GoPro
      • Insta360
      • Camera Accessories
      • Camera Lenses
      • Camera Reviews
      • Camera Buying Guides
      • Camera Deals
      • Camera News
      • Photography
  • Home
    • View Home
    • Smart Home
      • View Smart Home
      • Home Security
      • Smart Speakers
      • Smart Lights
      • Smart Scales
      • Smart Thermostats
      • Amazon Echo
    • Small Appliances
      • View Small Appliances
      • Air Fryers
      • Air Quality
      • Coffee Machines
      • Hair Care
      • Vacuums
      • Robot Vacuums
      • Dyson
      • Philips Hue
      • Ring
      • Shark
      • Ninja
      • Home Reviews
      • Home Buying Guides
      • Home Deals
      • Home News
  • EVs
  • Browse
    • View Browse
      • News
      • Best
      • Reviews
      • Deals
      • Versus
      • How To
      • Opinion
      • Coupons
      • Samsung
      • Sony
      • Microsoft
      • Apple
Tech Radar Pro Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Windows 10 end of life
  • iPhone 17 Pro Max review
  • Best laptop
  • iPhone 17 review
  • Best VPN
  • ChatGPT
  • Best web hosting
  • NYT Wordle today
Don't miss these
Brinno TLC Timelapse Camera
Cameras The best timelapse cameras 2025, based on in-depth testing
Best 4K projector buying guide banner
Projectors The best 4K projector: top home theater beamers
Blu-ray Bounty September 2025 hero image with Master and Commander 4K Blu-ray on screen of LG G5
Blu-ray 7 new 4K Blu-rays to add to your collection from September 2025
Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player on a colourful background with the TechRadar logo
Blu-ray The best 4K Blu-ray players: Ultra HD marvels chosen by our experts
4K Blu-ray deals image big savings on orange background
Blu-ray 4K Blu-ray fans, get over to Amazon now! There's an early Prime Day sale on, and I've got my top 5 discs already picked
Michael B Jordan as Smoke and Stack in the movie Sinners, with a logo saying Home Theater Week
Home Theater 10 Dolby Atmos movies released in 2025 that will show off your home theater system to its fullest
best netflix movies - et
Netflix I'm adding these 5 new Netflix movies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes to my watchlist in September – and I think you should too
Toni Collette in Hereditary, one of the best new HBO Max movies
HBO Max New HBO Max movies: all of the new films to stream in October 2025
Eve, Ares, and Seth standing in a room in Tron: Ares
Entertainment New movies: the most exciting films coming to theaters in October 2025 and beyond
Nosferatu 4K Blu-ray with Nicolas Hoult on Panasonic MZ1500
Blu-ray 3 stunning Dolby Atmos movies to treat your home theater with this Halloween, and they sound best on 4K Blu-ray
home theater seating with green floor lighting
Home Theater 5 awesome home theater installations you won't believe
Pulp Fiction
Amazon Prime Video 5 new Prime Video movies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes I recommend streaming in August 2025
Xgimi Horizon 20 projector
Projectors This new 4K laser projector is so bright, it really could replace a TV – and it has both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support
Jim Carey looks in the mirror while being broadcast on TV in The Truman Show
Paramount Plus 5 new Paramount+ movies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes I think you should stream in August 2025
Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Streaming 5 of the best free movies to stream on Tubi, Samsung TV Plus, Pluto TV, and more this week (September 1)
  1. Cameras

Cinema to the IMAX: the 12 best IMAX-sequence movies

News
By Stephen Lambrechts published 25 August 2015

IMAXimum entertainment

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

IMAX: The best way to experience cinema

IMAX: The best way to experience cinema

Going out to the movies is one of the world's favourite pastimes, but with home theatre setups getting more impressive by the day as huge TV displays and ear-shattering sound systems become more affordable, it takes a special kind of cinema presentation to lure people away from their sofas.

Nowadays, studios need to turn their films into big events in order to draw in big box office, and what better way to do so than to show them on the biggest screens in the world? We're talking, of course, about IMAX.

IMAX uses the highest-resolution cameras in the world, capturing images so large and detailed that they can be projected onto screens so huge, they don't even fit within your field of view. The world's largest IMAX screen is located in Sydney, Australia, and measures a whopping 35.7 x 29.7 meters (117.1 x 97.4 feet).

In celebration of this eye-popping format, we're giving you a rundown of all the major motion pictures that have utilised IMAX cameras, and how they used the format to give audiences an experience unlike any other. So sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy!

  • IMAX cinemas getting laser projection and better sound
Page 1 of 12
Page 1 of 12
1. The Dark Knight

1. The Dark Knight

The first ever studio movie to be partially shot in the IMAX format, Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight employed IMAX cameras to film specific set pieces and city shots, using 28 minutes of IMAX footage in total. Standout scenes include The Joker's opening bank robbery, Batman's extraction of a businessman from Hong Kong, and the mid-film truck chase.

Page 2 of 12
Page 2 of 12
2. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

2. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Director Brad Bird felt that the only way to capture the true scope of Tom Cruise's fearless attitude to stuntwork was to shoot Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol's biggest sequences with IMAX cameras. In the film's standout IMAX moment, Cruise (really) climbs along the side of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, giving audiences an actual feeling of vertigo as they watched in terror. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol features a total of 25 minutes of IMAX footage.

Page 3 of 12
Page 3 of 12
3. Interstellar

3. Interstellar

What better way to capture the hugeness of space than in the IMAX format? Christopher Nolan used 70mm IMAX cameras to capture 66 minutes of IMAX footage, giving audiences the world over a real sense of wonder as they gazed into outer space. The film's standout moment involves a trip through a wormhole that has to be seen on the biggest screen in the world to be truly appreciated.

Page 4 of 12
Page 4 of 12
4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The second entry in the hugely successful Hunger Games franchise used IMAX cameras to lend an appropriate sense of scale to the film's 'Games' segment. The film has a total of 48 minutes of IMAX footage, with the enormous turning clock arena scene being the standout.

Page 5 of 12
Page 5 of 12
5. The Dark Knight Rises

5. The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises is the Christopher Nolan film containing the most IMAX footage, with 72 minutes of eye-popping cinematography in total. The film's standout scenes include the opening plane hijacking, the stadium collapse, and the climactic cops vs criminals battle.

Page 6 of 12
Page 6 of 12
6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

While a Transformers movie should have been the ultimate showcase for what IMAX can do, Michael Bay's scattershot approach to shooting Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen saw only random shots captured in the full IMAX format, instead of complete set-pieces. Only nine minutes of IMAX footage in total appear in the film, with the standout scene being Devastator's reveal.

Page 7 of 12
Page 7 of 12
7. Transformers: Age of Extinction

7. Transformers: Age of Extinction

An enormous improvement in terms of its IMAX approach, Transformers: Age of Extinction features a whopping 94 minutes of digital IMAX 3D footage in total. It also has the butt-numbing honour of being the longest IMAX movie ever. The film's standout sequence is its enormous Hong Kong rumble, which sees Optimus Prime riding on the back of Grimlock.

Page 8 of 12
Page 8 of 12
8. Captain America: Civil War

8. Captain America: Civil War

The upcoming Captain America: Civil War is the first film to be partially shot with digital IMAX 2D cameras, which is strange because the film will eventually be released with a post-converted 3D presentation. Director duo the Russo brothers liked shooting in IMAX so much that they've already announced that their follow-up films, Avengers: Infinity War 1 & 2, will also shoot in the format.

Page 9 of 12
Page 9 of 12
9. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

9. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is confirmed to be shooting in the IMAX format, although we don't yet know how much IMAX footage will eventually appear in the film. Considering the hugeness of the two titans in the film's title, we expect it to be packed with enormous IMAX action.

Page 10 of 12
Page 10 of 12
10. Avengers: Infinity War 1 & 2

10. Avengers: Infinity War 1 & 2

As mentioned earlier, the Russo brothers will be taking what they learned from shooting in the IMAX format on Captain America: Civil War and going further than any other movie has before. Avengers: Infinity Wars 1 & 2 will be the first mainstream films to be shot entirely in the IMAX format. That's right, no partial scenes here, just a whole lot of huge-scale superhero action.

Page 11 of 12
Page 11 of 12
11. Flight Crew

11. Flight Crew

While this feature has been focused on Hollywood movies up until this point, we should also mention that Russia has an epic disaster movie on the way titled Flight Crew, which will be the first Russian movie to shoot with digital IMAX 3D cameras. Expect it to make a splash all over the world when it arrives next year.

  • TechRadar's Movie Week is our celebration of the art of cinema, and the technology that makes it all possible.
Page 12 of 12
Page 12 of 12
Stephen Lambrechts
Stephen Lambrechts
Social Links Navigation
Senior Journalist, Phones and Entertainment

Stephen primarily covers phones and entertainment for TechRadar's Australian team, and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming in both print and online for over a decade. He's obsessed with smartphones, televisions, consoles and gaming PCs, and has a deep-seated desire to consume all forms of media at the highest quality possible. 


He's also likely to talk a person’s ear off at the mere mention of Android, cats, retro sneaker releases, travelling and physical media, such as vinyl and boutique Blu-ray releases. Right now, he's most excited about QD-OLED technology, The Batman and Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga.

See more News about Cameras
Read more
Michael B Jordan as Smoke and Stack in the movie Sinners, with a logo saying Home Theater Week
10 Dolby Atmos movies released in 2025 that will show off your home theater system to its fullest
 
 
best netflix movies - et
I'm adding these 5 new Netflix movies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes to my watchlist in September – and I think you should too
 
 
Toni Collette in Hereditary, one of the best new HBO Max movies
New HBO Max movies: all of the new films to stream in October 2025
 
 
Eve, Ares, and Seth standing in a room in Tron: Ares
New movies: the most exciting films coming to theaters in October 2025 and beyond
 
 
Nosferatu 4K Blu-ray with Nicolas Hoult on Panasonic MZ1500
3 stunning Dolby Atmos movies to treat your home theater with this Halloween, and they sound best on 4K Blu-ray
 
 
home theater seating with green floor lighting
5 awesome home theater installations you won't believe
 
 
Latest in Cameras
A ricoh GR compact camera alongside a Realme smartphone, on a green concrete plynth
The Ricoh GR III is my favorite compact camera – and Realme's just announced an exciting smartphone equivalent
 
 
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
The highly-rated DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro drops to a record-low price on Amazon
 
 
Analogue aF-1 point-and-shoot film camera on a grey block
This new point-and-shoot film compact with autofocus reminds me of my classic Olympus Mju – and I’m totally in for the pre-orders
 
 
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
DJI Osmo Pocket 4 leaks hint at major redesign with dual cameras – plus the arrival of some big competition
 
 
Fujifilm X-T30 II from above on a dark gray surface with low key lighting
Fujifilm could soon launch the perfect travel combo for beginner photographers with its rumored X-T30 III and kit lens
 
 
OM System OM-5 II
OM System OM-5 II review: a dream travel camera
 
 
Latest in News
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
The latest Samsung Galaxy tri-fold rumor suggests it may be sold globally after all
 
 
Sora 2 for Android
A Sora 2 launch on Android looks to be imminent – it just showed up on the Google Play Store
 
 
Mark Grayson smiling and pointing at himself in the teaser for Invincible season 4
Invincible season 4 trailer reveals early 2026 release window as Thragg voice actor confirmed for hit Prime Video show's next chapter
 
 
Row of Samsung Galaxy S25 phones
Half of the Samsung Galaxy S26 models may use Exynos rather than Snapdragon chipsets, new leak says
 
 
M4 Mac mini on a desk
The Apple Mac roadmap for 2025 and 2026 may have leaked – through macOS Tahoe 26
 
 
Microsoft Copilot Connectors
Microsoft Copilot assistant can now access your Google account—if you let it
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    Is this the Rolls-Royce of eGPU docks? Impossibly thin and wood-adorned Humbird has a 500W GaN PSU, an LCD screen, an SSD slot, card readers - and even a quintet of USB ports
  2. 2
    Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter scratched my JRPG itch in the best way, and is easily one of 2025’s greatest remakes
  3. 3
    This is the weirdest docking station I've ever seen - Bygital Mac Mini winged dock promises to make your beloved device disappear behind your monitor or under your desk - but that's not its biggest feature
  4. 4
    Walmart's anti-Prime Day sale ends today – here are 31 deals I'd buy ahead of Black Friday
  5. 5
    New 20,000mAh rugged smartphone claims to triple onboard system memory to 48GB of RAM using a special trick - Oscal and others need to come clean with their hardware acts

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...