Projector (film)

A movie projector, also known as a film projector, is a device that projects moving images from film onto a screen. A movie projector uses a lens to project successive frames from a film reel (series of photographic images) onto a screen. The film is wound past the lens at a fixed speed, creating the illusion of continuous motion.

The earliest projection of images was shadowgraphy, which dates back to prehistory. The Greek philosopher Euclid and the Han Chinese philosopher Mozi described the phenomenon of light passing through a small aperture, which would later become known as the Camera Obscura.

Types (film and digital)

Video projectors (digital normally): Project images onto a screen, and can be used in boardrooms, auditoriums, and other spaces.
Slide projectors (film): Project still images from film.
Cinema projectors: whilst a small number of film projectors still exist in public theatres, most cinema projectors are now digital.
IMAX Film Theatres: certain IMAX theatres use photographic or film projectors.
Pico projectors (digital normally): Pocket-sized projectors for use in the home.

IMAX System and Theatres

IMAX is a proprietary system of high-resolution cameras, film formats, film projectors, and theaters known for having very large screens with a tall aspect ratio (approximately either 1.43:1 or 1.90:1) and steep stadium seating, with the 1.43:1 ratio format being available only in few selected locations.

The related IMAX dome system, which the San Diego Hall of Science called “Omnimax”, uses photographic films shot with a camera equipped with a fisheye lens that squeezes a highly distorted anamorphic 180° field of view onto the 65 mm IMAX film. The lens is aligned below the center of the frame, and most of the bottom half of the circular field falls beyond the edge of the film. The part of the field that would fall below the edge of the dome is masked. When filming, the camera is aimed upward at an angle that matches the tilt of the dome. When projected through a matching fisheye lens onto a dome, the original panoramic view is recreated.

Omnimax wraps 180° horizontally, 100° above the horizon and 22° below the horizon for a viewer at the center of the dome. Omnimax premiered in 1973, showing Voyage to the Outer Planets (produced by Graphic Films) and Garden Isle (by Roger Tilton Films). Later in the 70s a successful Omnimax center was built at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, and operated in the 1980s and 1990s. IMAX has since renamed its Omnimax system “IMAX Dome”, but some theatres (primarily those opened before the 2000s) continue to call it “Omnimax”.

It is worth noting that (in 2025) some versions of the IMAX system are purely digital systems (camera plus projector) whilst others are film-based or photographic systems (camera plus projector).

IMAX Films (Photographic)

Director Christopher Nolan’s latest film, the Odyssey (2026), will be the first blockbuster movie to be shot entirely on an IMAX film Camera. This represents a significant achievement, as IMAX cameras were previously primarily used only for specific sequences in films. New cameras and production technology were developed by IMAX to accommodate Nolan’s vision of shooting the entire film in IMAX format (and on photographic film).

Here’s why this is a big deal:

First 100% IMAX Film: “The Odyssey” will be the first feature film to be shot entirely in IMAX format.
Nolan’s Vision: Nolan, a long-time proponent of both shooting in IMAX and on film, has pushed the boundaries of IMAX technology.
Technical Advancements: IMAX had to overcome technical hurdles to make this possible.
Epic Scope: The new technology is well-suited for the epic scope of “The Odyssey”.

Nolan’s previous films have used IMAX for specific sequences, but “The Odyssey” marks a significant leap forward by filming the entire movie in IMAX. This reflects Nolan’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of filmmaking and using the most immersive technology available.