IMAX uses two distinct labels to describe how movies are made for its theaters, and they are not the same. “Shot with IMAX” means the filmmakers used IMAX’s large-format film cameras, which capture a 1.43:1 image on 65mm film. “Filmed for IMAX,” however, is a broader production program that can include digital cameras certified by IMAX, as long as the movie is composed for IMAX’s taller aspect ratios during filming and post-production.
The difference matters because the labels don’t guarantee the same experience in every theater. A movie shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, like *The Odyssey*, may still only play in the full 1.43:1 format in select IMAX 70mm or IMAX with Laser auditoriums. Other films, such as *Dune*, used IMAX-certified digital cameras and expanded only certain scenes to the taller ratio, leaving the rest in a wider format.
For moviegoers, the labels alone aren’t enough to pick the best screening. Always check the theater’s capabilities—look for IMAX 70mm or confirmation that an IMAX with Laser auditorium supports the 1.43:1 presentation before buying tickets.
