IMAX Sydney is anIMAXmovie theatre inDarling 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 byEvent Cinemas and is located withinThe Ribbon. It features IMAX's dual laser projector.[1]
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 filmThe 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 calledThe Ribbon that was planned to open in 2019.[7]
On 11 October 2023, after 4 years of delays, the cinema reopened with a screening ofAvatar: The Way of Water.[8][1] After its reopening, the cinema featured 430 seats with an IMAX dual laser projection system, as well as a 12 Channel sound system and a 29m x 24m screen.[9][10][11][12]
Australia currently has 9 other IMAX theatre locations, including cinemas inCanberra,[13]The Gold Coast,[14] Other locations in Sydney,[15]Perth[16] andMelbourne,[17][18] with more planned.[19] OnlyIMAX Melbourne is a comparable GT location as all other locations are limited to 1.90:1 Laser Projection. When compared to IMAX Melbourne, IMAX Sydney is smaller as its screen is 29 m × 24 m (95 ft × 79 ft) while IMAX Melbourne's is 32 m × 23 m (105 ft × 75 ft),[20] IMAX Melbourne also features a 1570 projector,[21] while IMAX Sydney does not, furthermore IMAX Melbourne has seating for 461 people,[22] while IMAX Sydney has enough for 430.
