A public term, explained neutrally

Is “LieMAX” a fair term?

“LieMAX” is a public nickname for IMAX-branded rooms that feel much smaller or less capable than the giant theatres people expected.

The complaint identifies a real disclosure problem, but the label is too crude to judge a modern room. Projector, screen, film, and seat all matter.

Use technical descriptions for specific venues. Say 1.43:1 dual laser, 1.90:1 single laser, xenon, or IMAX 70mm, then add the screen dimensions. That is more accurate than calling a cinema fake.

Where the name came from

The dispute erupted after comedian Aziz Ansari described paying a premium for a digital IMAX show at AMC Burbank and finding a screen much smaller than the purpose-built theatres he associated with the brand. A crowd-sourced map then helped spread the word “LieMAX.” The surviving evidence supports saying Ansari popularised the complaint, not that he invented the word.

What the original complaint got right

The digital xenon system let IMAX retrofit existing multiplex auditoriums. A measured early sample found a large screen-area gap between those rooms and purpose-built Grand Theatre venues. Customers still saw one famous brand on both tickets, while booking pages rarely stated the projector, screen dimensions, or maximum frame.

These profiles compare a purpose-built room and a multiplex retrofit from the geometry dataset. Some longitudinal values are documented design assumptions, not as-built surveys.

IMAX’s response

IMAX did not argue that every screen had the same dimensions. Its position was that screen size is only one component of an integrated presentation that also includes remastering, projection, sound, acoustics, calibration, and room geometry. Moving a screen closer can preserve a wide field of view even when its raw dimensions are smaller.

That answer is technically meaningful. It still leaves a consumer-information problem: a plain IMAX label does not identify the exact equipment or screen.

What laser changed

Laser projection materially improved many rooms through higher resolution, contrast, brightness, colour capability, and black level compared with the older xenon platform. The upgrade is real. But “IMAX with Laser” covers more than one configuration, and the common single-projector commercial system does not deliver the full 1.43:1 frame.

Bottom line: a smaller laser room can be an excellent place to watch a film. It is still a different product from a purpose-built full-height room. The useful criticism is that the booking flow should disclose that difference.

How to know what you are buying

Open the venue's page in IMAX's theatre finder and look under Amenities for the exact phrase "IMAX with Laser."

A positive label is strong evidence that the venue uses one of IMAX's laser systems rather than its older xenon system.

high reliability verified

It does not distinguish IMAX's two laser configurations and does not prove that the screen is 1.43:1. IMAX lists ODEON Greenwich as IMAX with Laser: https://www.imax.com/theatre/odeon-greenwich-imax . IMAX confirms that it sells two laser configurations: https://investors.imax.com/static-files/acadcc0c-a764-4ad3-a59e-88d04bf2b140

For a film advertised with expanded IMAX imagery, open the film's official IMAX page and look for a venue list explicitly labelled 1.43:1, IMAX 70mm, or both.

This identifies the venues and showings that IMAX says can present the film in that named format.

high reliability verified

Treat the list as film-specific. A theatre able to show 1.43:1 on one release may receive only a 1.90:1 or scope version of another. IMAX's Sinners page separately lists IMAX 70mm and IMAX with Laser locations featuring 1.43:1: https://www.imax.com/news/sinners-imax

Check that the individual showtime, not just the cinema, is explicitly sold as "IMAX 70mm."

It identifies a 15-perforation 70mm IMAX film presentation for that showtime.

high reliability verified

Do not confuse IMAX 70mm with ordinary 5-perforation 70mm. IMAX's 2025 filing describes its proprietary IMAX 70mm system and says film systems can coexist with digital systems in one room: https://investors.imax.com/static-files/acadcc0c-a764-4ad3-a59e-88d04bf2b140

If the booking page says only "IMAX," treat that as incomplete information and check the venue page or ask the venue for the projector and screen aspect ratio.

The show uses the IMAX presentation system, but the label alone does not identify xenon, either laser configuration, film, screen dimensions, or 1.43:1 capability.

low reliability verified

IMAX reports laser, xenon, and film systems in the network and says film may share a room with digital: https://investors.imax.com/static-files/acadcc0c-a764-4ad3-a59e-88d04bf2b140

Search the operator's venue-hire, accessibility, press, and technical pages for screen width and height, then convert both to one unit and compare area and aspect ratio.

Published width and height give the most direct comparison of physical scale and reveal whether the screen is close to 1.43:1 or 1.90:1.

high reliability verified

Prefer the operator or building owner. BFI publishes 20 by 26 metres for BFI IMAX: https://www.bfi.org.uk/venue-hire/hiring-bfi-imax . If two sources disagree, keep both values and ask whether a refurbishment changed the screen. Do not infer the projector from screen shape.

Open seat selection before paying. Count the rows, note the width of the centre block, and look for a balcony, wheelchair row, or a very shallow room.

The map can separate a small multiplex room from a very large auditorium and helps choose a centred seat, but it cannot reliably identify the projector or screen dimensions.

medium reliability reported

Use it as a scale clue, not proof. BFI officially reports 15 rows and about 500 seats: https://www.bfi.org.uk/venue-hire/hiring-bfi-imax . Accessibility surveys can corroborate front and back rows, as at ODEON Greenwich: https://www.accessable.co.uk/odeon/access-guides/odeon-greenwich

If an official IMAX venue page does not say "IMAX with Laser," contact the venue and ask whether the room uses xenon, single-projector laser, dual-projector laser, or 15/70 film.

A written venue answer can resolve an omitted listing, but absence of the laser phrase alone is not proof of xenon.

medium reliability reported

Listings can lag conversions. IMAX says it still supports 1,089 xenon systems and had 131 contracted laser upgrades at the end of 2025: https://investors.imax.com/static-files/acadcc0c-a764-4ad3-a59e-88d04bf2b140

Use a maintained community theatre list to find a claimed screen size or projector, then confirm it against the operator, IMAX, a planning document, or a current accessibility survey.

Community sources are useful leads where operators publish nothing, but the corroborating source determines whether the value is trustworthy.

medium reliability reported

The original 2009 map's creator acknowledged that its classifications were imperfect: https://destroyfakeimax.blogspot.com/2009/05/lets-get-bit-more-specific.html . Record the observation date because conversions can make an old projector entry wrong.

Do not use the size of the surcharge to infer screen size, projector type, or aspect ratio. Compare the specification first and the price second.

Price tells you what the exhibitor charges, not which IMAX configuration is installed.

low reliability verified

IMAX says exhibitors typically charge a premium, while its network contains several system types: https://investors.imax.com/static-files/acadcc0c-a764-4ad3-a59e-88d04bf2b140 . In 2009 similarly priced tickets covered visibly different rooms: https://www.wired.com/2009/05/imax-ceo-screen-size-isnt-everything/

Use a straight-on auditorium photo only as a last-resort clue. Compare visible screen width to height, and do not publish a dimension from the photo unless a known-length object and perspective correction make scaling defensible.

A photo may distinguish a tall 1.43-shaped screen from a wide 1.90-shaped screen, but perspective, masking, curtains, and cropping can mislead.

low reliability estimated

Treat the result as estimated and say why. The stronger alternative is a published width and height, such as BFI's venue specification: https://www.bfi.org.uk/venue-hire/hiring-bfi-imax

Start with the venue database, then check the film's delivered ratio. A room and a movie only reach their potential together.

Is “LieMAX” a fair term?

Where the name came from

What the original complaint got right

IMAX’s response

What laser changed

How to know what you are buying

Open the venue's page in IMAX's theatre finder and look under Amenities for the exact phrase "IMAX with Laser."

For a film advertised with expanded IMAX imagery, open the film's official IMAX page and look for a venue list explicitly labelled 1.43:1, IMAX 70mm, or both.

Check that the individual showtime, not just the cinema, is explicitly sold as "IMAX 70mm."

If the booking page says only "IMAX," treat that as incomplete information and check the venue page or ask the venue for the projector and screen aspect ratio.

Search the operator's venue-hire, accessibility, press, and technical pages for screen width and height, then convert both to one unit and compare area and aspect ratio.

Open seat selection before paying. Count the rows, note the width of the centre block, and look for a balcony, wheelchair row, or a very shallow room.

If an official IMAX venue page does not say "IMAX with Laser," contact the venue and ask whether the room uses xenon, single-projector laser, dual-projector laser, or 15/70 film.

Use a maintained community theatre list to find a claimed screen size or projector, then confirm it against the operator, IMAX, a planning document, or a current accessibility survey.

Do not use the size of the surcharge to infer screen size, projector type, or aspect ratio. Compare the specification first and the price second.

Use a straight-on auditorium photo only as a last-resort clue. Compare visible screen width to height, and do not publish a dimension from the photo unless a known-length object and perspective correction make scaling defensible.

Sources