IMAX Sydney

IMAX Sydney

Interactive map of IMAX Sydney
Former names	Panasonic IMAX
Address	35 Wheat Road Sydney Australia
Coordinates	33°52′40″S151°11′58″E / 33.877898°S 151.199573°E / -33.877898; 151.199573
Construction
Opened	1996
Closed	2016
Reopened	2023
Website
https://www.eventcinemas.com.au/Cinema/IMAX-Sydney

IMAX Sydney is an IMAX movie theatre in Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia. It is the second largest IMAX theatre in the Southern Hemisphere, ^[a] and the third largest in the world. ^[b] It is operated by Event Cinemas and is located within The Ribbon. It features IMAX's dual laser projector. ^[1]

History

In 1995, after 18 months of negotiations with the Darling Harbour Authority, Cinema Plus Pty Ltd received approval to construct an IMAX theatre in Sydney. The cinema featured a Grand Theatre screen with the capacity to seat 540 people, and its construction cost $18 million AUD. ^[2]

IMAX Sydney opened on 26 September 1996. ^{[3] [4]} At the time of opening, it featured a 40m x 30m ^[5] screen, as well as an IMAX 15/70 projector. The cinema opened with a party that was attended by 700 guests who viewed a screening of the film The Living Sea . ^{[4] [5]}

In 2012, a new 29.7m x 35.7m screen was installed at a cost of $250,000. ^[6]

On 25 September 2016, the cinema was demolished in order to make way for a new complex called The Ribbon that was planned to open in 2019. ^[7]

On 11 October 2023, after 4 years of delays, the cinema reopened with a screening of Avatar: The Way of Water . ^{[8] [1]} After its reopening, the cinema featured 325 seats and IMAX dual laser projection system, as well as a 12 Channel sound system and a 29m x 24m screen. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

Other IMAX theatres in Australia

Currently, there are four other IMAX theatres in Australia:

• IMAX Melbourne
• Canberra,
• Pacific Fair Gold Coast, QLD
• Innaloo, WA
• Hoyts locations in Melbourne Central, Chadstone (both Victoria), Carousel (Western Australia), and Blacktown (New South Wales) have been announced to support IMAX projection by the end of 2025. ^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}

Notes

1. The largest IMAX theatre in the Southern Hemisphere is IMAX Melbourne in Victoria, Australia.
2. The largest IMAX theatre in the world is located in Leonberg, Germany.

References

1. Maddox, Garry (9 October 2023). "After seven years, Sydney's IMAX is reopening, just in time for Taylor Swift". Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 24 June 2024.
2. Eight-storey cinema for Darling Harbour Australian Financial Review 29 August 1995 page 39
3. Apps, Jamie (6 June 2023). "IMAX Sydney Set To Reopen". Neighbourhood Media. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
4. Larger than life Australian Financial Review 4 October 1996 page 14
5. World's largest screen gives cinemagoers B-I-G picture Sydney Morning Herald 11 September 1996 page 7
6. "World's biggest movie screen - 29.7m high and 35.7m wide - installed at Sydney Imax". 10 February 2012.
7. Maddox, Garry (24 August 2016). "Sydney IMAX cinema at Darling Harbour to be demolished". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
8. 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. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
9. Woodley, Melissa. "The IMAX has reopened in Sydney – with the third largest movie screen in the world".
10. Bucklow, Andrew. "IMAX Sydney has one of the world's biggest cinema screens".
11. "Sydney IMAX theatre finally reopening after seven-year renovation". Nine News . 10 October 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
12. Ward, Sarah (17 July 2025). "Hoyts Is Launching Four New IMAX Screens in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney Before 2026". Concrete Playground. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
13. "5 new IMAX screens opening in Australia in time for Avatar: Fire and Ash | ScreenHub: Film, TV, Streaming and Games". 17 July 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
14. "IMAX announces up to five new Australian locations in HOYTS partnership - Mediaweek". www.mediaweek.com.au. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
15. Leong, Matthew (25 September 2025). "Hoyts to open four new IMAX with Laser locations across Australia". Mumbrella . Retrieved 6 October 2025.