IMAX movies limited to 2 hours?

April 25, 2007 2:08 PM

Are IMAX movies still limited to 120 minutes / two hours?

This has been said on Metafilter here, here, and here. I ask because Spiderman 3 is being released and Fandango claims a 140 minute runtime for the IMAX version. Does anyone have any reliable, verifiable information on this?

posted by exhilaration to media & arts (7 comments total)

I'd hazard a guess and say yes. Though, I'd go to the forums here for a fuller answer.
posted by popcassady at 2:17 PM on April 25, 2007

Wikipedia says "Current IMAX platters allow a run length of up to 150 minutes."
posted by grouse at 2:18 PM on April 25, 2007

I saw both matrix sequels on IMAX and they both have running times of more than 120 minutes.
posted by damn dirty ape at 2:25 PM on April 25, 2007

I saw Fellowship Of the Rings on IMAX and that's 178 minutes.
posted by yeti at 2:31 PM on April 25, 2007

I saw 300 on IMAX and it was pretty intense.
And I'm pretty sure over two hours.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 5:42 PM on April 25, 2007

Whoops.
IMDB says it was 117 minutes, so scratch that.
However, it was still a pretty awesome experience.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 5:43 PM on April 25, 2007

I'm a former IMAX projectionist and film projectionist since 1982.

It all depends on the system the theatre is running and the size of the platters allowed on the QTRU.

Any 2D presentation can be extended indefinitely provided it is running on a system built for 3D and can alternate projectors.

Most shows are 'built' to accomodate the audio and theatre cues for 1-2 hours, but if you have larger platters, or more platter space available, anything is possible. It's just a matter of being able to shuffle things around while housing up to 3 other shows or more.
posted by squidfartz at 7:15 PM on April 25, 2007