IMAX Corporation
Entertainment Technology and ExhibitionFounded 1967- Updated June 2026
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Last reviewed: June 2026
CorpDigest
IMAX Corporation
Company History
Founded 1967 in New York, NY
Last reviewed: 2026-06-10 · By Swet Parvadiya
IMAX Corporation generated $1.137 billion in FY2024 revenue, operating as the undisputed global leader in premium large-format exhibition technology with a network of over 1,700 systems across 80 countries. The company’s single most important strategic reality is its successful transition from a niche, 70mm film documentary supplier to a dominant, digitally integrated blockbuster engine that captures roughly 18% of the global box office gross for the top 50 releases, despite representing less than 1% of the world's total screens. This disproportionate revenue capture is driven by the company's dual-revenue model, which combines the upfront capital recognition of hardware leases with the perpetual, near-100% marginal margin residuals derived from global box office ticket sales. The competitive moat is built on the immense switching costs associated with its proprietary Digital Media Remastering (DMR) process, its exclusive studio relationships for expanded aspect ratio capture, and the massive brand equity that allows exhibitors to command a significant ticket price premium. Under the leadership of CEO Rich Gelfond, the enterprise is aggressively deploying its next-generation IMAX with Laser projection systems, which require a significantly smaller physical footprint, enabling the rapid conversion of thousands of standard multiplex screens into premium IMAX venues. This technological and operational transformation is insulating the company's bottom line from the structural decline in overall theatrical attendance, allowing it to thrive exclusively on the high-margin, event-driven blockbuster economy.
Graeme Ferguson co-founded IMAX Corporation in 1967 in Montreal, Canada, alongside Roman Kroitor, Robert Kerr, and William Shaw. A brilliant filmmaker and innovator, Ferguson was deeply frustrated by the technical compromises and visible seams inherent in the multi-projector exhibition formats of the era. He played a pivotal role in the conceptual shift from the Multiscreen experiment to the single-image IMAX format, advocating for a completely new camera and projection system that could capture and display a massive, unified image of unprecedented clarity. Ferguson's artistic vision and relentless pursuit of visual perfection were instrumental in the development of the Rolling Loop technology, which allowed the 70mm film to run horizontally through the camera, creating an image area ten times larger than the standard 35mm format. His leadership and creative direction established the foundational DNA of the company, prioritizing immersive, large-scale visual experiences that would eventually revolutionize the global blockbuster economy.
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 massive screen sizes the team envisioned, Shaw embarked on a massive engineering challenge to develop a completely 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 brilliance and relentless 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.
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.
The first true IMAX film, Tiger Child, debuts at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the revolutionary 15-perf 70mm format and establishing the standard for large-format documentary cinema.
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.
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, fundamentally shifting the company's business model toward blockbuster cinema.
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 massive box office premiums.
IMAX unveils its next-generation dual 4K laser projection system, delivering unprecedented brightness, contrast, and color gamut, while requiring a significantly smaller physical footprint for multiplex installations.
IMAX reports $1.137 billion in FY2024 revenue, capturing roughly 18% of the global box office gross for the top 50 releases, demonstrating the enduring resilience of the premium large-format model.
To establish a highly lucrative joint venture multiplex network in China, securing prime real estate in the most lucrative commercial developments and establishing the IMAX brand as the undisputed standard for premium exhibition in the region.
To acquire specialized technology and operational expertise in theater security and content protection, ensuring the integrity of the IMAX digital cinema pipeline and preventing piracy.