It’s one thing to watch a movie, but quite another to become completely absorbed in it. IMAX isn’t just about a bigger screen; it’s a full-on sensory experience that reminds us why theaters matter. Some films haven’t just used IMAX, they’ve redefined it. Countdown to find the top 10 most groundbreaking IMAX films that changed the cinematic experience forever.
10. Avengers: Endgame – Marvel’s Epic IMAX Farewell
Marvel always loves IMAX, but Endgame made it an art form. The Russo brothers shot the movie using IMAX-certified ARRI Alexa cameras, letting every quiet moment and all-out battle fill the 1.90:1 frame. The scale and immersion made the Infinity Saga’s finale feel truly monumental, giving fans the ultimate goodbye to an era of superheroes.
9. Gravity – Space Like You’ve Never Felt
Alfonso Cuarón made space impossibly intimate with Gravity. Not filmed on IMAX cameras, the digital IMAX 3D presentation nonetheless made the opening 13-minute sequence and the zero-gravity scenes mind-searing. Paired with Steven Price’s Oscar-winning score and Framestore’s dazzling effects, audiences felt every weightless twist and perilous drift above Earth.
8. Dune – Arrakis in Jaw-Dropping Scale
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune took IMAX to some highly impressive new heights. Shot on both Arri Alexa LF and Mini LF cameras, key sequences expanded to 1.43:1, revealing up to 40% more of the world of Arrakis. The immersive visuals, combined with Hans Zimmer’s thunderous score, made the desert planet feel vast, tangible, and alive-even for those new to Herbert’s universe.
7. The Dark Knight Trilogy – Nolan’s IMAX Revolution
Christopher Nolan didn’t just use IMAX; he reimagined it. The Dark Knight featured 28 minutes shot on IMAX 70mm, expanding the frame for key sequences such as the bank heist and Hong Kong scenes. The Dark Knight Rises doubled down with over an hour of IMAX footage. Nolan took the format from gimmick to a genuinely powerful storytelling medium, giving Gotham a realism and scale unparalleled in superhero cinema.
6. Top Gun: Maverick – Speed, Thrills, and IMAX Cockpits
Top Gun: Maverick made audiences feel the G-forces of real flight. Using Sony CineAlta VENICE cameras, select sequences expanded to 1.90:1 IMAX. Six IMAX-quality cameras captured in-flight stunts inside real F/A-18 jets, delivering heart-pounding action that turned theaters into fighter cockpits and made Maverick a massive box office success.
5. Oppenheimer – History in Monumental Form
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer proved that IMAX works wonders for historical storytelling. Shot entirely on IMAX 65mm, including black-and-white sequences, the film’s practical effects recreated the Trinity nuclear test with jaw-dropping impact. From silence to explosion, the IMAX format amplified every emotional and historical beat, turning a biopic into an epic cinematic experience.
4. Avatar Series – Pandora Like Never Before
James Cameron’s Avatar was not shot in IMAX, but its remastering for IMAX 3D changed the game. With performance capture and custom 3D rigs, Pandora felt truly alive for the first time. The Way of Water pushed the envelope further with its high frame rate and underwater sequences to help the film gross over $215 million in IMAX alone, setting the benchmark for immersive 3D experiences.
3. Tenet – Mind-Bending Scale and Clarity
Tenet is pure Nolan spectacle: shot with precision and creativity, its IMAX sequences-especially those of time inversion-offer unparalleled clarity and immersion. A pounding score from Ludwig Göransson, combined with large-format visuals, makes this a film you feel as much as you watch, demanding the biggest and boldest of screens.
2. Interstellar – Emotion, Science, and Cosmic Wonder
Interstellar fuses the cosmic scale with intimate personal stakes. More than an hour of it was shot in IMAX 70mm space and, specifically, alien-planet sequences. The realistic wormholes, Hans Zimmer’s organ-driven score, and vast IMAX visuals combine to make the universe feel gigantic but also tell the intimate story of a father’s love, proving that it can capture grandeur and emotion.
1. Sinners – IMAX at Its Purest
Topping the list is Sinners, a cult favorite built for IMAX from day one. Ryan Coogler and cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw used both IMAX 15-perf 70mm and Ultra Panavision 70, creating a hybrid visual style that shifts seamlessly between towering verticals and ultra-wide vistas. Sinners didn’t just use IMAX; it made the format part of its DNA, redefining how scale, intimacy, and visual storytelling coexist.
These films didn’t just play on big screens; they reinvented what going to the movies feels like. To these directors, IMAX is a canvas; for audiences, it’s an unforgettable experience that reminds us why theaters are magical.