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IMAX Melbourne

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Coordinates: 37°48′12″S 144°58′14″E / 37.80333°S 144.97056°E / -37.80333; 144.97056
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IMAX Melbourne
IMAX Melbourne main entrance
Map
AddressRathdowne St, Carlton VIC 3053
Melbourne
Australia
Coordinates37°48′12″S 144°58′14″E / 37.80333°S 144.97056°E / -37.80333; 144.97056
OwnerMuseums Victoria
TypeCinema
Opened1998
Website
https://imaxmelbourne.com.au

IMAX Melbourne is an IMAX movie theatre in Carlton, Melbourne, Australia. It is the largest IMAX theatre in the Southern Hemisphere and the second largest in the world by screen size and capacity.[1][2][3][a] It is owned and operated by Museums Victoria and is located eight storeys beneath the Melbourne Museum. It features IMAX's dual laser projector,[7] as well as an IMAX 1570 film projector.[8]

History

[edit]

Initial plans for the theatre were drafted in 1994 as part of the renovation of the Melbourne Museum.[9] Final plans were announced in 1996,[10] with construction scheduled to begin in May of that year.[11][12] After delays, final bids for the project were solicited in September 1996.[13] During construction, more delays were encountered[14] due to contaminated soil and water seepage.[15] The cinema opened in March 1998 with a screening of the film Everest.[16][17] At the time of opening, the screen was 31 m × 23 m (102 ft × 75 ft).[16]

The cinema closed twice in the 2010s. In 2013, the cinema closed in order to receive a new IMAX digital xenon system that was installed alongside the existing 1570 projector, as well as to receive an upgraded screen.[18] Two years later, the cinema was closed again in order to replace said system with a new upgraded IMAX dual laser projection system, as well as an upgraded IMAX 12 Channel sound system.[19] To make room for the new dual laser projectors, the 1570 projector was removed and put into storage.[20]

In 2016, following the closure of IMAX Sydney, IMAX Melbourne became the world's largest IMAX theatre,[21][22] until the opening of the Traumpalast Leonberg Theater in Germany in 2021.[23][24]

In 2017, after negotiations with the IMAX Corporation, the 1570 projector was reinstalled alongside the dual laser projectors for the release of Dunkirk.[25] With the release of Oppenheimer in 2023, IMAX Melbourne was one of only 30 cinemas in the world, and the only location in the Southern Hemisphere able to project the film on 1570.[b]

The cinema is located eight storeys beneath the Melbourne Museum, and is the largest IMAX theatre in the Southern Hemisphere[1][2] and the second largest in the world[3] by screen size, at 32 m × 23 m (105 ft × 75 ft).[30] The cinema seats 461 people, including 25 VIP seats.[31] The cinema features an IMAX 12 Channel Digital sound system as well as one IMAX dual laser projector[19] and one IMAX GT3D 1570 film projector.[20]

Comparison to other IMAX theatres in Australia

[edit]

As of 2023, there is only one other IMAX theatre in Australia, which is the reopened IMAX Sydney. Compared to IMAX Sydney, IMAX Melbourne is larger in size,[32] as its screen is 32 m × 23 m (105 ft × 75 ft),[33] while Sydney's is 29 m × 24 m (95 ft × 79 ft);[34][35] IMAX Melbourne also features a 1570 projector, while IMAX Sydney does not. IMAX currently has plans to open up to 40 more theatres in Australia,[36][37][38][39] with one of those locations planned to be in Canberra.[40][41][42]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The largest theatre in the world is Traumpalast Leonberg Theater, located in Leonberg, Germany.[4][5][6]
  2. ^ Attributed to many sources.[26][27][8][28][29]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Metropolitan Venues". MIFF. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b Radbourne, Lucas (19 December 2023). "IMAX Melbourne are staging a film festival on the southern hemisphere's biggest screen". Beat Magazine. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b Media, Ripefruit. "IMAX Cinemas in Melbourne". www.onlymelbourne.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  4. ^ gscanew (19 October 2021). "Largest IMAX in the World Opens in Germany". Giant Screen Cinema Association. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Largest permanent IMAX screen unveiled in Germany". Guinness World Records. 26 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Strong Builds World's Largest IMAX Screen in Germany". Digital Cinema Report. 4 October 2021. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  7. ^ Har-Even, Benny. "Interview: The Man Keeping IMAX Film Alive Down Under – Part 1". Forbes. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Only two people in Australia know how to show Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer in its full IMAX glory". ABC News. 20 July 2023. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  9. ^ STEVENS, J (1994) 'New museum a big step towards more mature city', Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 2 Jul, p. 17, (online NewsBank).
  10. ^ Gettler, L (1996) 'High and mighty movies, coming to a screen near you', Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 2 Apr, p. 3, (online NewsBank).
  11. ^ BRIEFS. (3 April 1996). Australian Financial Review, The (Australia), p. 44. Available from NewsBank: Access Australia and International News: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.slv.vic.gov.au/apps/news/document-view?p=AUNB&docref=news/18BD4832D5219390.
  12. ^ KIDMAN, M (1996) 'Giant screen cinema company may float', Sydney Morning Herald, The (Australia), 12 Aug, p. 31, (online NewsBank).
  13. ^ Skulley, M (1996) 'Six builders asked to bid for museum', Australian Financial Review, The (Australia), 26 Sep, p. 47, (online NewsBank).
  14. ^ by MATTHEW KIDMAN, E (1997) 'Sharemarket Action', Sydney Morning Herald, The (Australia), 15 Jul, p. 30, (online NewsBank).
  15. ^ COSTA, G (1997) 'Giant-screen cinema delayed by contaminated soil', Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 24 Jul, p. 3, (online NewsBank).
  16. ^ a b Lyon, K (1998) 'Eight storeys of rock-and-roll and snow', Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 14 Mar, p. 8, (online NewsBank).
  17. ^ BOREHAM, G (1998) 'Big picture, tangled plot', Sunday Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 11 Oct, p. 5, (online NewsBank).
  18. ^ Quinn, Karl (10 March 2013). "Biggest screen gets maximum upgrade". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  19. ^ a b "IMAX 4K Laser | IMAX Melbourne". imaxmelbourne.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  20. ^ a b "IMAX 1570 Film | IMAX Melbourne". imaxmelbourne.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  21. ^ "IMAX Melbourne Largest Cinema Screen on Earth! - Impulse Gamer". www.impulsegamer.com. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  22. ^ "IMAX Melbourne". Museums Victoria. 13 December 2024. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  23. ^ "Largest permanent IMAX screen unveiled in Germany". Guinness World Records. 26 January 2023. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  24. ^ Media, Ripefruit. "IMAX Cinemas in Melbourne". www.onlymelbourne.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  25. ^ Quinn, K (2017) 'Astor's Dunkirk ambition shot down', Sunday Age, The (Melbourne, Australia), 16 Jul, p. 14, (online NewsBank).
  26. ^ Larasati, Dyah Ayu (31 July 2023). "Here are the 30 Theaters That Are Showing 'Oppenheimer' in Imax 70mm". Collider. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  27. ^ Burke, Kelly (18 July 2023). "'Precious cargo': the ultra-rare, 18km-long Oppenheimer Imax reel screening in Melbourne". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  28. ^ "IMAX". IMAX. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  29. ^ Guerrasio, Jason. "Only 30 theaters in the world are showing 'Oppenheimer' in Imax 70 mm, the way Christopher Nolan intended people to see it — here they all are". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  30. ^ "IMAX Melbourne". Museums Victoria. 13 December 2024. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  31. ^ "IMAX EVENTS & CINEMA HIRE" (PDF).
  32. ^ Ward, Sarah (9 October 2023). "Literally Huge: Sydney's IMAX Is Finally Reopening with One of the Biggest Cinema Screens in the World". Concrete Playground. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  33. ^ "IMAX Melbourne | Melbourne International Film Festival". tix.miff.com.au. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  34. ^ Woodley, Melissa. "IMAX reopens tomorrow and it's a pretty BIG deal". Time Out Sydney. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  35. ^ "One of the world's biggest cinema screens has opened in Sydney". news. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  36. ^ "IMAX wants 40 screens in Australia by 2029 | ScreenHub Australia - Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data". www.screenhub.com.au. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  37. ^ Keast, Jackie (14 March 2024). "IMAX outlines its ambitious plans for Australia". IF Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  38. ^ Weintraub, Steven; Jones, Tamera (20 May 2024). "IMAX Reveals Their Ambitious 6-Year Plan to Expand Across the Globe". Collider. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  39. ^ James Madden, E (2024) 'IMAX goes for growth with 40-screen goal', Australian, The (Australia), 13 May, p. 20, (online NewsBank).
  40. ^ "Canberra set to get its first IMAX cinema screen". The Canberra Times. 30 July 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  41. ^ Slatter, Sean (31 July 2024). "IMAX to partner with Dendy on new Canberra location". IF Magazine. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  42. ^ "Imax". canberra.dendy.com.au. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
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