IMAX, 3D, 4DX and other movie formats: What’s the difference

So you’re thinking about buying a movie ticket to see “Dune: Part Two” when it comes out in March. You open the app or check the website of your preferred theater, and you see … a lot of different ways to watch the movie. Depending on where you want to watch it, the options can range from standard to Dolby Cinema, XD, ScreenX, RPX, 4DX and multiple versions of IMAX.

And that’s just one movie at Seattle’s major theater chains (which include AMC, Cinemark and Regal). As you can imagine, it can be a lot to digest. So let us help you better make sense of the various movie theater formats you can find in the Seattle area and when it’s worth your while to splurge.

Standard digital (2D)

Where: Multiple theaters

What to know: This is your typical moviegoing format, the most common option you’ll see on a ticket screen. (It’s almost always the cheapest option, too.) For the vast majority of movies, this is how you’ll see it.

RealD 3D

Where: Multiple theaters

What to know: Simply enough, this is generally how you’ll watch a 3D movie in Seattle. While the glasses have improved, the number of movies shot for 3D has been declining. (Something to keep in mind: Most modern films shown in 3D aren’t actually shot for 3D; they’re converted after the fact. Unless you’re adamant about seeing it in 3D, few films, in my opinion, are worth paying the extra money for it.)

70mm (non-IMAX)

Where: SIFF Cinema Downtown, AMC Pacific Place 

What to know: Compared to most other formats, 70mm boasts far superior resolution, offering brighter, more detailed films. Sadly, in Seattle you can’t watch 70mm IMAX films — the industry’s gold standard. (The closest such theater is in Langley, just outside Vancouver, B.C.) However, with the reopening of the venue formerly known as Cinerama (and its glorious 97-foot-wide curved screen), Seattle once again has two locations to catch screenings of 70mm non-IMAX films. Few films are made in 70mm anymore, but for the ones that are (mostly by Christopher Nolan these days: “Dunkirk,” “Oppenheimer”), there’s no better way to watch them in Seattle.

IMAX

Where: Boeing IMAX at Pacific Science Center

What to know: True IMAX is generally considered to be shot on IMAX cameras using specialized 70mm film (which allows for much higher resolution than for most movies), projected onto an enormous screen with an aspect ratio of 1.43:1 (far larger and more squarish than you’re probably used to). When it comes to those screens, there are only 30 of them in the world. So, if the film and theater don’t meet all of those qualifications (and remember, the vast majority of films are shot digitally), you’re not watching true IMAX. The closest to a true IMAX theater in Seattle is the Boeing IMAX Theater at Pacific Science Center, which has the proper aspect ratio but uses a dual-laser IMAX projection system rather than an IMAX film projector. Most viewers won’t notice the difference. (A typical feature film will cost you $21.)

Branded IMAX (aka “LieMAX”)

Where: Multiple theaters

What to know: Because this wasn’t confusing enough, when you pick an IMAX screening option, it may not mean what you think it does. Chances are, you’re watching what’s bluntly called “LieMAX” by cinephiles. Again, if it doesn’t meet all the metrics listed earlier, it’s not true IMAX — and few films meet all the requirements. Still, these theaters tend to offer superior visuals and audio compared to your standard digital fare. (A tip: Stick to the theaters that use IMAX with Laser, which include AMC Southcenter in Tukwila, AMC Kent Station in Kent and AMC Alderwood in Lynnwood, along with PacSci.) Prices vary, but they’ll generally cost you somewhere between $5 and $7 more than a standard ticket.

Regal’s RPX, Cinemark XD and Dolby Cinema at AMC

Where: Multiple theaters

What to know: RPX, XD and Dolby Cinema serve as the premium large formats for Regal, Cinemark and AMC, respectively. Each is a step up from standard digital visual- and audio-wise, and normally costs a couple of more bucks than a standard ticket (but less than for IMAX). 

ScreenX

Where: Regal Thornton

What to know: What’s better than watching “Dune” on one screen? How about seeing it stretched out across a 270-degree panoramic tri-screen? (If you need a visual: Imagine sticking three PC monitors side by side and watching one movie across all three.) The format used to be mainly for concert footage and other live events, but more mainstream movies are making their way to the screen(s) — including the “Dune” sequel. (You’ll pay more than an RPX ticket but less than IMAX.)

4DX

Where: Regal Meridian

What to know: If you’re looking to amp up your moviegoing experience into something akin to a Universal Studios theme park attraction, 4DX may just be for you. At its core, 4DX pairs movie-watching with physical effects. (Most of the time the movie is in 3D, but not always.) Expect your seat to move and to feel environmental effects such as water and wind. Beware: The tickets are pricey. (“Dune” will set you back $28.) Seattle Times film critic Moira Macdonald had this to say when she experienced 4DX in 2019: “It’s sort of an interesting experiment, but it’s ultimately kind of unpleasant.”