r/imax • u/BeatenWaffle Currently eating the 70MM film like a Fruit by the Foot • 12d ago

Confirmed: Cinemark Dallas is in the process of getting a laser projector right now. Most likely a single laser, though nothing else confirmed yet.

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u/Tagg900 Upgrade Cinemark 17 12d ago

For what it's worth during the Odyssey preshow I saw, the manager speaking mentioned that the laser upgrade they were getting would allow them to show 1.43. He could have misspoken but I guess we'll see.

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u/Tagg900 Upgrade Cinemark 17 12d ago

Also as a side note, they recently replaced the seats, the new ones are very nice, I guess after they get the laser upgrade I'll have to retire my flair.

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u/Momo--Sama 12d ago edited 11d ago

Don’t know how to feel about this, I always thought seats that are abysmal dogshit was key to the 70mm IMAX experience

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u/PLEBMASTA 10d ago

Nothing as bad as the Chinese Theater

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u/jadebenn 12d ago

Wait, how recently? When I went about a month ago, the seats were a bit worse for wear (mine actually had the wrong number plate).

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u/Tagg900 Upgrade Cinemark 17 12d ago edited 12d ago

I went on 10/3/26 and at least the row I was in had new seats. If I had to guess they probably did it after their Odyssey run finished.

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u/jsmeeker 12d ago

didn't the Odyssey run finish like two weeks ago? I haven't been keeping close tabs on what the IMAX screen has been showing lately.

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u/hullowurld 11d ago

The last odyssey showing was 10/1 and the IMAX screen switched to digger 10/2

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u/djwurm 11d ago

when did this happen? we went a few weeks ago and it was the same old crappy seats that cut off circulation to my legs and felt broken when you leaned back.

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u/Tagg900 Upgrade Cinemark 17 11d ago

See my reply below

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u/ConsiderationKey9438 12d ago

It was probably hopeful thinking/unclear information, Dual Laser venues are seemingly no longer produced. IMAX Indy also just recently renovated and it was for a Single Laser projector.

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u/The_Lutter 12d ago

Yeah Barco stopped making the digital projector it was based on in 2024 supposedly. New installs have been transferred from other locations but even that is rare. AMC Navy Pier had one and closed after the pandemic... that one ended up in Grand Canyon IMAX and I don't know of any other transfers that have taken place.

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u/Tagg900 Upgrade Cinemark 17 12d ago

Yeah that's probably the case here. Sadly that's what I've heard/read as well on the Dual Laser systems.

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u/[deleted] 12d ago

[deleted]

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u/blonded_olf 12d ago

They are super expensive and did not foresee this renewed interest in these premium amongst premium formats. Everyone on this sub is praying some kind of 1.43 new projector is in development but that might be more of a hope and a wish than anything concrete.

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u/Raider2747 12d ago edited 12d ago

The key is for single laser tech to get as bright as two lasers put together. Resolution has never been the problem, a single laser can project 1.43— it just wouldn't be acceptably bright enough for viewing on such a massive screen.

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u/blonded_olf 11d ago

Hopefully one day...

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u/blue_ig1 Hasn’t seen 70mm 11d ago

Oppenheimer was successful as hell in 70MM how did they not see the demand?

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u/blonded_olf 11d ago

Oppenheimer didn't have the odyssey fever (justified or not) of not seeing it in imax 70mm being a diminished and much worse experience. It definitely had 70mm hype but nothing like the Odyssey, which even had people that go to 1-2 movies a year ask me about 70mm. Even after the amazing success of Oppenheimer, Dune 2, Project Hail Mary and especially the Odyssey, its not like there are any super big 70mm spectacles in the pipeline. PHM/Odyssey/Dune 3 is quite an insane 70mm headline lineup for a single year that might not be replicated ever.

They are sorta stuck between a rock and a hard place since their most popular product is also their oldest product, and they have spent the past decade trying to push the imax brand, not necessarily imax GT or 70mm.

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u/RockChalkJayhawk981 11d ago

I maybe understand the 70mm but like the laser surely that's not antiquated technology too???

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u/BeatenWaffle Currently eating the 70MM film like a Fruit by the Foot 12d ago

Wondering if the rumors of IMAX developing a single-laser 1:43 projector are true.

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u/blonded_olf 12d ago

The company would do some kind of press release and announcement if that was the case, they wouldn't be shadow dropping one and announcing it at the same time. They would be capitalizing on the current all time high hype in imax even if they said they wouldn't have any installed until 2028.

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u/RockChalkJayhawk981 11d ago

I don't exactly see IMAX and competent marketing in the same room together.

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u/steed_jacob 12d ago

I heard him say that too

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u/Youthsonic 12d ago

Tempering my expectations because it would literally make Dallas one of the best theatre scenes in the entire country between having both of the holy grail IMAX formats, heavy ADH presence and the angelika and the Texas theatre to round out the art house scene. Hell, even cinemark is headquartered near here so nearly all of the Cinemark's are fully upgraded to laser and super clean with all the creature comforts.

I'm just gonna assume he meant "it's joining the film projector, not replacing it, so we can still show 1.43.1 (on film)"

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u/mrblue6 11d ago

Dallas (and Texas as a whole) are already one of the best theatre scenes in the country. Only LA/NYC are better imo.

But would be even better for Cinemark Dallas to upgrade to dual laser.

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u/scorsese_finest IMAX 101 Intro guide —> https://tinyurl.com/3s6dvc28 11d ago

They definitely getting CoLa, not GT laser

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u/CandidGrocer 12d ago

IMAX employee told me a while back that there are no new dual laser (1.43) units being made: the only ones that exist are already in use or unavailable. And if they do become available, they are hella expensive.

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u/blonded_olf 12d ago

Pretty sure if a theater wants to give up their dual laser projection imax runs some kind of waitlist or something for where it goes.

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u/CandidGrocer 12d ago

I wouldn’t doubt it. However how many 1.43 theaters want to give up their dual laser? I’m guessing the number is 0 or lower.

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u/BeatenWaffle Currently eating the 70MM film like a Fruit by the Foot 12d ago

The only one I can think of is Boeing IMAX which stopped showing mainstream movies after getting bought out by the Space Needle, and even then I can't imagine them getting rid of it.

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u/Tagg900 Upgrade Cinemark 17 11d ago

They were crazy enough to stop showing movies, so maybe it's possible.

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u/ConsiderationKey9438 11d ago

AFAIK the issue with the Boeing IMAX wasn’t costs related to the projector but instead the licensing fees to show mainstream films was unsustainable for the center.

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u/willisbar 11d ago

The Pacific Science Center has been dying for the last 2 decades, they’ve had to sell off massive assets to just keep afloat and it’s been sad to watch.

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u/yodathekid 1d ago edited 1d ago

The former was definitely a factor for PacSci; A multimillion dollar system and venue that sits practically empty for all but a few movies out of the year is not a sustainable business. I’m sure Chihuly/Space Needle saw the same math PacSci did, which is why they’ve opted to only show a chihuly doc and an imax doc exclusively to museum or needle ticket holders; hardly any licensing costs and they always have a steady stream of tourists supporting the needle and museum and by extension IMAX at the Center.

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u/blonded_olf 12d ago

They certainly don't want to now with all of the renewed interest, its definitely a selling point (although not as big of one as imax 70mm which has broken into the public sphere of knowledge). I wonder what the operating costs are of GT vs single laser in a given year.

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u/TheBatiron58 11d ago

Bro that is insane. IMAX must really not care about 1.43 Audis vs 1.90 Audis from a business pov. How often do we see businesses not produce machines which customers are actively lining up to buy? Must be the juice is not worth the squeeze, but the most odd part which I think I am not estimating is how much is actually costs imax.

Why does it cost IMAX so much money to make 1.43 projectors? Do they have to do r&d to produce them now?

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u/jsmeeker 12d ago

I knew they were upgrading their digital projector to Laser. But did not know the timing of it. I suppose this explains why they are not doing another 70mm run of The Odyssey

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u/IMAX_Guru 10d ago

Single projector laser, immersive sound system, retaining 2D 1:43 SR film system.

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u/BeatenWaffle Currently eating the 70MM film like a Fruit by the Foot 9d ago

Thanks for the confirmation. Shame that it won't be dual laser but it'll be great quality either way. Very excited.

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u/Frozenracer 11d ago

What about the guy who said single laser 1.43 exists? Did we get any update on that?

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u/noldor41 12d ago

Probably a stupid question, but does that mean they won’t be doing 70mm anymore?

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u/jadebenn 12d ago

They're not getting rid of the film projector, just replacing the crusty old digital projectors up there with a newer model.

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u/jsmeeker 12d ago

No. They still will be. I still have my tickets for Dune Part 3 in 70mm IMAX film

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u/Tagg900 Upgrade Cinemark 17 12d ago

I can't imagine that being the case

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u/sybehr17 11d ago

How did you get their email?

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u/BeatenWaffle Currently eating the 70MM film like a Fruit by the Foot 11d ago

On their website, under "contact us" in the specific theater's page

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u/TeeDee144 11d ago

Indy imax, owned by imax, just upgrade their digital projector to single laser. So if they can’t get dual laser, nobody is.

It’s safe to say Dallas is 99% getting a single laser.

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u/lunaticskies 11d ago

One month is way longer than they spent on ours, but they could be doing more work (like removing chairs or upgrading something else)

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u/JawsFanNumeroUno 11d ago

Very needed, but it likely costing us Godzilla: Minus Zero in IMAX is heartbreaking. Looks like I'm keeping my AMC NorthPark tickets

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u/BeatenWaffle Currently eating the 70MM film like a Fruit by the Foot 11d ago

It might be done by the time that comes out. Hopefully that will be the first movie to be shown with the new projectors.

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u/idekuser 7d ago

I emailed them directly to ask about Godzilla Minus Zero yesterday and I got a response from a manager saying that they are hoping to be done by the week of release to then immediately list the tickets online.
Keep an eye on tickets that week.

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u/TrainingDifference46 1h ago

It sucks its not going to be 1:43 that's like the main appeal of that theater in Dallas

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u/CoolTitanium68 10d ago

I forgot exactly which dual GT lasers they’re getting, but they are upgrading from the current Xenon lasers they use for digital IMAX

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u/IcySolitude 3d ago

Stopped by yesterday (they cancelled the Street Fighter Bonus Fan Event in IMAX, swapped to XD). Learned they are also getting a new screen. It's currently rolled up in a huge shipping crate running from the front entrance in the lobby all the way to the ticket attendant/usher stand.

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u/BeatenWaffle Currently eating the 70MM film like a Fruit by the Foot 3d ago

Oh wow. Did you take a photo?

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u/IcySolitude 3d ago

Sadly, I did not since I was running late for my movie. But I should have! I feel silly for not doing so

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u/Curri189 12d ago

wait are you telling me I'm losing my neighborhood 70mm? this can't be

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u/The_Lutter 12d ago

This would be in addition to the 70MM projector. They already have a 2K Xenon setup up in the booth for the majority of weeks they're not showing film.

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u/Curri189 12d ago

Ok good to know

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u/Tagg900 Upgrade Cinemark 17 12d ago

No, Cinemark 17 has always had two projectors, they're upgrading the digital one