screenx vs imax which is superior? has recently become a contentious debate point. Both terms refer to cutting-edge theatre technologies that deliver a superior viewing experience.
Regular moviegoers in particular are very worried about cinema technology. because they want to create a unique watch experience.
Nowadays, you only have two choices: ScreenX or IMAX. But how do the two differ from one another? What distinguishes ScreenX from IMAX, and which is the superior choice? Let’s examine the ScreenX vs IMAX comparison in detail, paying close attention to what distinguishes each choice from the others.
Is screenx better than imax? I have been researching various viewpoints and debating both cinematic formats with friends. I supported IMAX because I frequently watch films in this format.
However, because I didn’t visit a ScreenX theatre until last month, the discussion cannot lead to concrete conclusions. I made the decision to check out this theatre myself as a result.
I next put both side by side to compare them. In this piece, I’ll discuss the differences and similarities between these two cinematic technologies.
What is IMAX ?
“Image Maximum” is referred to as IMAX in short. High-end cameras, projectors, and audio systems are used in this technology. The largest screen size and dynamic images are played.
Because of the enormous screen, the audience is completely absorbed in the action. The movies seem to reach out from the screen and touch you. Additionally, a 12-channel surround sound system immerses you in the film.
Seven digital film cameras are currently approved to shoot in IMAX. The 8K Panavision Millennium DXL2 camera, the 8K Red Ranger Monstro and Red V-Raptor cameras, the 6K Sony CineAlta Venice camera, and the 6.5K Arri Alexa 65 IMAX camera are among them. They are also available in 4.5K and Mini LF and 8K resolutions.
We are aware that in order to properly fit IMAX screens, IMAX films are typically shot (at least in part) with IMAX cameras. Similar to that, at some point during the production process, ScreenX films must be formatted for ScreenX screens. This could happen either during the movie’s actual filming or during the editing stage afterward.
What is ScreenX ?
(screen x meaning) what is screenx movie? CJ 4DPLEX, a business that specialises in motion theatre technology, is the company behind ScreenX. Like IMAX, it utilises a sizable screen, but differently.
The screen in a ScreenX theatre is identical to a typical movie theatre screen. It is, however, reflected off of the left and right walls.
The centre screen plays the main image. While the sidewalls receive additional details.
The filmmaker needs to use three cameras to get a wide enough shot in order for the movie to be optimised for ScreenX while it is being made. However, using an IMAX camera while filming is all that is necessary to prepare a movie for IMAX. These cameras are better suited for action scenes because they are louder and larger than a typical 35mm or digital film camera.
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difference between imax and screenx
| Parameter | ScreenX | Imax |
|---|---|---|
| First Introduced in | 2012 | 1967 |
| Developed By | CJ CGV | The IMAX Corporation |
| Screen Size | 270 degrees | 72′ x 50′ |
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1.5-1:2.0 | 1.43:1 or 1.90:1 |
| Screens | 364 screens | 1,700 screens |
| Countries | 37 countries | 80 countries |
| Average Ticket Price | 100-200% more than the cost of general admission | 33% more than the cost of general admission |
| Supported Chains | Cineworld, Regal, B&B | AMC, Marcus, Regal, B&B |
Imax vs screenX : review
You must fully comprehend these two formats before choosing between them. I’ll go over the key characteristics, similarities, and differences of both technologies in this section.
Technology
The technology is the main distinction between ScreenX and IMAX. Different pre- and post-production phases, cameras, and projectors are used in both.
Dual 4K or 8K projectors are used by IMAX. An original effect is produced by combining the horizontal and vertical images.
Additionally, it employs specialised heavy cameras with a 10x larger film format (15/70 mm) than usual.
The movie is shown on 5 projectors by ScreenX. It captures the movie in the unique ScreenX format. For a 270-degree view, hardware tools and software programmes are used together.
Screen Size
The primary distinction between Screen X vs IMAX is the size of the screen. The enormous 270-degree screen that spans three of the auditorium’s four walls serves as ScreenX’s defining feature. It truly creates a panoramic effect.
On the other hand, IMAX is characterised by a screen that is equally tall and wide, never deviating from that one wall. The closest equivalent to ScreenX offered by IMAX is OMNIMAX, which is typically projected on a dome to create a similar wraparound effect to ScreenX screenings.
The massive screen at IMAX is 52 feet tall and 72 feet wide. It reaches from wall to wall and from floor to ceiling. The largest IMAX screen in the world is 117 feet by 97 feet.
The screen is rectangular when viewed from the front. The screen has a dome-like shape thanks to its curvature. This guarantees a 3D, pop-out image.
One of these cinemas magnifies the image and shows it on a single enormous screen, which is the main distinction between these two theatres. The other uses three screens, extends the image, and produces minute details.
Filming Process
A ScreenX film and an IMAX film are made using distinctly different filmmaking techniques. A filmmaker must decide whether to shoot for ScreenX during the shoot or edit the footage in post-production to fit that format.
Three cameras are required for filming for ScreenX. A certified IMAX camera must be used for the IMAX process. Although the process for ScreenX is significantly more difficult than it is for IMAX, neither option is necessarily the most convenient.
Display Quality
The quality of IMAX displays is unmatched. It is ideal that the aspect ratio is 1.90:1. It accurately uses 35 trillion colours. Additionally, the clarity and brightness are astounding.
You desire to view everything in person rather than through a screen. There is no blur and the image is flawless, vivid, and clear.
Additionally, ScreenX has good display quality. However, it cannot rival IMAX. Due to the unique film formats, projectors, cameras, and display features used by IMAX.
The image is larger but presented in a 270-degree format at ScreenX. Sitting in the middle and observing the scenes being played on three sides is a very unusual experience. The sidewalls project images using a top-notch fabric.
Sound quality
The sound system at ScreenX is nothing exceptional. because immersive watch effects are its sole focus. Like a typical movie theatre, the audio is flawless.
But IMAX has unique sound systems. It has a 12-channel sound system installed. To create an immersive effect, the speakers are precisely placed.
Dolby Atmos and DTS: X sound formats are also used in some theatres. The sound systems in many IMAX theatres have recently been updated.
Theater Seats
The seats at IMAX are cosy and padded. They are positioned so that no viewer will be obstructed from seeing the screen because of their height. Despite the theater’s multiple levels, every seat has a clear view. You might not have the best view from the seats on the extreme left or right.
The screen from ScreenX is raised. As a result, the seats are set up in rows in front of one another. Overall, the seats are high-quality and comfortable.
Availability
According to the most recent data, ScreenX is available in over 350 screens across almost 40 countries worldwide. Comparatively, IMAX is available in more than 1,700 theatres across more than 80 nations worldwide. Because of this, IMAX is much more widely available than ScreenX, particularly in America.
Price Per Ticket
Generally speaking, the cost of a ticket varies by state and even by city. However, the cost of a ScreenX movie is typically two to three times that of a regular movie. The regular collaborations between ScreenX and 4DX theatres contribute to this. On the other hand, IMAX costs no more than $5 more than regular admission.
A $20 ticket to an IMAX film is easily accessible. The price of ScreenX is around $30, but it is not available at all places.
Profits
The company with lower profits might not be able to survive as long as the one with higher yearly revenue. With the release of Avatar: The Way of Water, ScreenX’s highest-grossing weekend in America only brought in $1.17 million. In contrast, the opening weekend of The Way of Water brought in $16.5 million at IMAX.
History of ScreenX
Stretching the screen past just one wall distinguishes ScreenX from other large-format theatres. As a matter of fact, ScreenX covered three of the theater’s four walls. This produces a panoramic effect that increases the film projection’s astounding 270-degree range.
ScreenX, dubbed “IMAX, but sideways,” was first introduced in 2012. The founding company is CJ CGV, which is also known for making 4DX theatres, which shake and move in sync with the action of the movie, popular. What was ScreenX’s ultimate objective when it was founded? to offer a cinematic experience that streaming services simply cannot: one that is more immersive and event-like.
The latter is typically the most feasible choice because three cameras would actually be required to shoot a ScreenX movie. Sometimes it makes much more sense for a production to simply use CGI to expand the shot (both financially and practically).
History of Imax
The fact that IMAX existed for 45 years before ScreenX did certainly adds some additional context to the ScreenX vs. IMAX debate. It all started when Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, Robert Kerr, and William C. Shaw realised you could use a projector to run 70mm film, which was twice as large as the then-standard 35mm film.
This not only nearly tripled the size of a vertical 70mm projection, but also increased the size of the projection as a whole more than eight times when compared to a 35mm projection.
Numerous large-format systems had been developed, including CinemaScope, VistaVision, and even Cinerama. However, IMAX has unquestionably been the most successful of the lot, having endured for more than 55 years.
For its projections, IMAX used only 70mm film for more than 40 years. However, the IMAX Corporation made a purchase of the first IMAX digital projector in the late 2000s. Films were still created with 70mm film optimised for IMAX, but they were then projected digitally instead, saving theatres a tonne of money and enabling IMAX theatres to expand even further around the world.
ScreenX vs. IMAX: Pros and Cons
Pros of ScreenX:
- Size of a 270-degree screen
- frequently combined with a 4DX theatre for a more lifelike experience
- A lot of Disney movies are ScreenX-optimized
- and more screens are being added everywhere every day.
Cons of ScreenX:
- more costly ticket
- Compared to IMAX, there are very few ScreenX theatres in the U.S.
- makes a lot less money than IMAX.
- Sometimes having a panoramic experience can be too much or too stimulating.
Pros of IMAX:
- larger than a typical film’s screen
- IMAX-optimized films require special cameras.
- General admission tickets cost little more than that.
- Numerous IMAX theatres across the country
Cons of IMAX:
- A movie must be shot in IMAX to be shown in IMAX.
- Only brief periods of new releases are shown in IMAX theatres before the following new release takes its place.
- Some screens that are marketed as IMAX are not actually IMAX.
- RealD 3D sometimes appears more convincing than IMAX 3D.
conclusion : ScreenX vs IMAX: Which Is Better?
When comparing ScreenX and IMAX, is screen x better than imax? it is obvious that each of these two large-format options has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, they represent two very distinct experiences. The first is a 270-degree immersive panorama, while the second is a taller and wider variation of the standard moviegoing experience.
The winner, however, has to be IMAX due to its more reasonable price, greater availability, and emphasis on greater height rather than wider width. It’s IMAX all day right now, but maybe in a few years after continued growth ScreenX will overtake it.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What’s the difference between ScreenX and SuperScreen DLX?
A 270-degree panoramic moviegoing experience is ScreenX. This format is used by top chains around the world like Regal and B&B theatres. It frequently goes along with a 4DX theatre, enhancing the larger screen with motion and other interactive features.
Marcus Theaters’ exclusive large-format projection system is called SuperScreen DLX. It is similar to their version of IMAX, but instead of projecting onto three walls like ScreenX, it can only do so on one.
Is ScreenX distracting or worth watching?
ScreenX is entertaining to watch, but compared to the main screen, the image quality might seem a little compressed. The pictures might not have a cohesive effect because they are presented in three different sections. Furthermore, it can be a little distracting when certain scenes play normally only on the main screen.
What’s the difference between IMAX and OMNIMAX?
Despite having similar names, IMAX and OMNIMAX are very different from one another. Up to ten times larger than a typical screening, an IMAX projection fills a single vertical screen.
On the other hand, OMNIMAX is typically shown on a sizable dome-shaped screen to produce a panoramic effect. They are two sides of the same fundamental coin because they are both managed and standardised by the IMAX Corporation.
Is IMAX bigger than ScreenX?
ScreenX and IMAX are difficult to compare in terms of size because the former is much wider and the latter is much taller. ScreenX is larger if width is your metric. If you compare them based on height, IMAX is larger.
How to identify LieMax or a Fake IMAX?
Real IMAX always fills your field of vision with a massive screen. The screen spans the entire room, floor to ceiling. LieMax is a rectangular screen that hangs in the centre of the front wall. You can refer to a screen as being a fake IMAX if it is slightly larger than typical movie screens.
