IMAX Corporation
Company History
IMAX History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1967 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
When was IMAX founded?
IMAX was founded in 1967 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada by Graeme Ferguson, William Shaw, Roman Kroitor and Robert Kerr, making it 59 years old.
- Founded
- 1967
- Founding place
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Founders
- Graeme Ferguson, William Shaw, Roman Kroitor and Robert Kerr
- Headquarters today
- Mississauga, Ontario and New York, NY
- Milestones documented
- 12 (1967–2026)
- Current CEO
- Rich Gelfond
- Acquisitions
- 5
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1967 | Founding in Montreal |
| 1970 | Debut of Tiger Child at Expo 70 |
| 1971 | First Permanent IMAX Theatre |
| 1994 | First Commercial Theatrical Release |
| 1996 | Bradley J. Wechsler becomes CEO |
| 2002 | Introduction of DMR Process |
| 2008 | The Dark Knight IMAX Sequences |
| 2009 | Rich Gelfond becomes CEO |
| 2012 | Launch of IMAX with Laser |
| 2015 | IMAX China IPO |
| 2025 | FY2025 Revenue and Record Box Office |
| 2026 | The Odyssey and Q2 2026 Results |
- Where was IMAX founded?
- IMAX was founded in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1967. en.wikipedia.org
- Who founded IMAX?
- IMAX was founded by Graeme Ferguson, William Shaw, Roman Kroitor and Robert Kerr.
- When did IMAX start?
- IMAX was founded in 1967.
- How old is IMAX?
- IMAX is 59 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
IMAX grew out of Expo 67 in Montreal, where filmmakers Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, and Robert Kerr saw how fragile multi-projector shows were. With engineer William Shaw they built a single-projector system using 70mm film run horizontally, 15 perforations per frame, and a 'rolling loop' film transport. The first IMAX film, Tiger Child, premiered at Expo 70 in Osaka, and the first permanent IMAX theater opened at Ontario Place's Cinesphere in Toronto in 1971.
Founders
Graeme Ferguson
IMAX possesses a technical, founding story, rooted in the experimental artistic environment of the late 1960s and a foundational obsession with shattering the restrictive limitations of traditional 35mm film projection. The foundational origins of the visual format trace back to Montreal, Canada, surrounding the Expo 67. Three effective Canadian filmmakers and entrepreneurs, Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, and Robert Kerr, were frustrated by the technical difficulties they experienced while attempting to project multi-screen installations at the Expo. They realized that syncing dozens of small projectors was unreliable and complicated. They possessed a foundational vision: instead of using multiple small projectors, they needed a single, projector that could handle large, high-resolution film. They founded the Multiscreen Corporation (which later became IMAX, standing for 'Image Maximum') and heavily recruited William Shaw, an effective engineer, to design the complex camera and projection system. Shaw's foundational key move was the 'Rolling Loop' projector. To project 70mm film (which was heavy and prone to tearing) at high speeds, he invented a complex mechanism that moved the film horizontally in a wave-like motion, stabilizing the image. They debuted the very first IMAX film (*Tiger Child*) at the Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan. For decades IMAX was strictly relegated to niche, institutional settings (science museums and specialized nature documentaries). The lucrative corporate pivot occurred in the early 2000s, when IMAX developed proprietary technology to digitally remaster Hollywood blockbusters (starting with *Apollo 13*), transforming a niche museum novelty into a lucrative pillar of the global commercial blockbuster industry. Graeme Ferguson was born in 1929 in Toronto. Education: University of Toronto.
William Shaw
William Shaw co-founded IMAX Corporation in 1967 in Montreal, Canada, serving as the chief engineer and technical mastermind behind the company's proprietary film transport systems. Recognizing that the existing 35mm and 65mm film formats were entirely inadequate for the screen sizes the team envisioned, Shaw embarked on an engineering challenge to develop a new camera and projection mechanism. His invention of the 'Rolling Loop' technology, which utilized a vacuum to pull the 70mm film into a precise, stationary position behind the lens, frame by frame, was a breakthrough that allowed for the use of 15 perforations per frame, running the film horizontally. This innovation created a level of resolution, brightness, and immersion that had never before been seen, and it remains the foundational technology of the IMAX format. Shaw's engineering skill and problem-solving established the technical DNA of the company, ensuring that the IMAX brand would forever be synonymous with the highest possible standard of visual fidelity and technical excellence. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Roman Kroitor
Roman Kroitor was a National Film Board of Canada filmmaker whose 1960 documentary Universe influenced Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. After co-creating the multi-screen Labyrinth exhibit at Expo 67, he co-founded IMAX with Graeme Ferguson, Robert Kerr, and William Shaw, directed the first IMAX film, Tiger Child (1970), and later helped develop IMAX 3D. He died in 2012. Roman Kroitor was born in 1926 in Yorkton. Education: University of Manitoba. Kroitor was born on December 12, 1926 and died on September 17, 2012. He also created the Sandde hand-drawn stereoscopic 3D animation system, and his work earned two BAFTA Awards, three Cannes Film Festival awards and two Oscar nominations.
Robert Kerr
Robert Kerr was the business partner among IMAX's founders. A former mayor of Galt, Ontario and a friend of Graeme Ferguson, he handled the company's early financing and commercial operations as the founders turned their Expo 67 experience into a single-projector large-format system. Robert Kerr was born in 1929. Robert John Kerr was born on August 28, 1929 and died on April 29, 2010. The owner of a printing business, he was mayor of Galt, Ontario, from 1964 to 1967 and the second mayor of Cambridge, Ontario, in 1975 and 1976.
Key Milestones
Founding in Montreal
Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, Robert Kerr, and William Shaw found the company in Montreal, Canada, initially as Multiscreen, before pivoting to the single-image IMAX format.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgDebut of Tiger Child at Expo 70
The first true IMAX film, Tiger Child, debuts at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the influential 15-perf 70mm format and establishing the standard for large-format documentary cinema.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst Permanent IMAX Theatre
The first permanent IMAX theatre, the Cinesphere at Ontario Place in Toronto, opened in 1971.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst Commercial Theatrical Release
IMAX releases its first commercial theatrical film, demonstrating the format's viability beyond the museum and documentary market and laying the groundwork for future Hollywood partnerships.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgBradley J. Wechsler becomes CEO
Bradley J. Wechsler became CEO of IMAX in 1996. Shared the CEO role with Rich Gelfond until April 2009, when he became chairman.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgIntroduction of DMR Process
IMAX introduces the Digital Media Remastering (DMR) process, allowing standard 35mm Hollywood releases like Apollo 13 to be upscaled and exhibited in the IMAX format, shifting the company's business model toward blockbuster cinema.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe Dark Knight IMAX Sequences
Christopher Nolan shoots over 28 minutes of The Dark Knight using native IMAX 70mm film cameras, marking the first time a major Hollywood blockbuster utilized the format for action sequences, driving box office premiums.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRich Gelfond becomes CEO
Rich Gelfond became CEO of IMAX in 2009. Sole CEO since 2009 after serving as co-CEO from 1996.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLaunch of IMAX with Laser
IMAX unveils its next-generation dual 4K laser projection system, delivering brightness, contrast, and color gamut, while requiring a significantly smaller physical footprint for multiplex installations.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgIMAX China IPO
IMAX China listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in October 2015.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFY2025 Revenue and Record Box Office
IMAX reported $410.212 million in FY2025 company revenue and a record $1.28 billion in IMAX global box office, clarifying the difference between company revenue and network ticket demand.
Source: sec.govThe Odyssey and Q2 2026 Results
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, the first full-length feature filmed entirely with IMAX film cameras, set an IMAX opening-weekend record in like-for-like markets. IMAX reported Q2 2026 revenue of $102.8 million, up 12%.
Source: businesswire.comMajor Acquisitions
SSIMWAVE
2022IMAX acquired Waterloo, Ontario-based SSIMWAVE, a video-quality and compression software company, in 2022 for about $21 million to build a streaming technology business.
SSIMWAVE Inc.
2022AI-driven video quality solutions for streaming.
IMAX China
2023Acquired remaining minority interest for full ownership.
David Keighley Productions
Film remastering process (IMAX DMR).
Sonics Associates
Sound technology.
Keep researching IMAX
IMAX Company History FAQ
What are the historic eras in the evolutionary history of IMAX from 1967 to today?
IMAX's history spans four key eras: Canadian Giant-Screen Pioneer & Expo Documentaries (1967 to 1993), Public Listing & Commercial Multiplex Entry (1994 to 2001), The DMR Digital Revolution & Hollywood Blockbuster Dominance (2002 to 2017), and Global Laser & Streaming Technology Platform (2018, present).
What was the breakthrough launch of IMAX DMR with 'Apollo 13' and 'The Matrix Reloaded' in 2002 to 2003?
In 2002, IMAX launched its proprietary DMR remastering with Ron Howard's 'Apollo 13,' followed by the day-and-date simultaneous release of Warner Bros.' 'The Matrix Reloaded' and 'The Matrix Revolutions' in 2003, proving that Hollywood blockbusters could generate large premium box office in IMAX.
Why was Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight' in 2008 a watershed moment for IMAX?
In 2008, Christopher Nolan made cinematic history by shooting 28 minutes of Warner Bros.' 'The Dark Knight' (including the opening bank heist) with 15/70mm IMAX film cameras. The film grossed a record-breaking $65M+ in IMAX, making IMAX integration the ultimate badge of prestige for Hollywood blockbusters.
How did James Cameron's 'Avatar' in 2009 shatter all IMAX box office records?
In December 2009, James Cameron's 3D sci-fi major 'Avatar' grossed over $250 million across 260 IMAX screens worldwide, generating more than 9% of the film's historic worldwide gross and cementing IMAX 3D as a global cultural phenomenon.
When did IMAX transition from analog film projection to digital and laser systems?
IMAX introduced its first digital dual-xenon projection system in 2008 to accelerate commercial multiplex rollout, followed by the landmark 2014 launch of 'IMAX with Laser,' delivering 4K dual-laser color and contrast that rivaled the sharpness of 70mm film.
What was the historic cultural impact of the 70mm film release of 'Oppenheimer' in 2023?
In summer 2023, the 70mm IMAX release of Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' created a worldwide pop-culture craze: 30 specialized 70mm film theatres sold out 24-hour round-the-clock screenings for months, with fans traveling across state lines to witness the 11-mile-long, 600-pound film print.
How did IMAX expand into live music concert broadcasting with Taylor Swift and Queen?
In 2023 to 2024, IMAX shattered music event records with 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour' concert film (generating $13M+ in IMAX) and digitally remastered classic live concert broadcasts like 'Queen Rock Montreal,' transforming theatres into interactive concert arenas.
What is IMAX's long-term vision for the future of entertainment technology?
IMAX envisions remaining the world's most immersive storytelling destination, expanding giant-screen laser cinema to 2,500+ global screens, streaming pristine IMAX Enhanced media into millions of living rooms, and broadcasting interactive live entertainment across the globe.
How did IMAX start?
IMAX (Image Maximum) was founded in 1967 in Montreal, Canada by Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, Robert Kerr, and William C. Shaw. They were filmmakers frustrated by the incredible difficulty of synchronizing multiple projectors for massive screens at Expo 67. They decided to invent a completely new system using a single, massive projector running 70mm film horizontally, creating the highest resolution images on Earth.
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