Disney+ is giving fans the chance to bring the Imax experience (well, the aspect ratio part of that) into their homes. Starting Friday, 13 Marvel Studios films, including “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” will be available to stream using Imax expanded aspect ratio.
What does that mean? Let us tell you:
Most HD and 4K TVs in the present almost all have a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Most content that was made for television is framed with that aspect ratio to perfectly fit your screen. Imax’s expanded aspect ratio is 1:90:1, meaning that the screen will capture more on the top and the bottom (but will likely have those same black bars on the side that accompanied Zack Snyder’s “Justice League” on HBO Max, which was also filmed using IMAX cameras).
Along with “Shang-Chi,” the other titles are: “Iron Man,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” 1 and 2, “Captain America: Civil War,” “Doctor Strange,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Black Panther,” “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Endgame,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” “Captain Marvel” and “Black Widow.” Its a safe bet that “Eternals,” which came out in theaters Friday, will also be available in this format whenever it debuts on Disney+ in the months ahead.
“For more than a decade, Imax has helped filmmakers take fans across the Marvel Cinematic Universe in theaters and now that epic journey crosses into a new world: the home,” said Rich Gelfond, CEO of Imax . “Imax, Disney, and Marvel Studios are giving the fans what they want: the most immersive viewing experience throughout the life of a Marvel Studios film, from exclusive theatrical release to the library at-home where they can now watch the Avengers assemble with more picture than ever before.”
“Disney, Marvel Studios, and Imax have collaborated for years to bring the world’s most popular films to the big screen, and on Friday we’ll start to bring Imax technology to subscribers with Imax Enhanced viewing in the Disney+ app,” said Michael Paull, president of Disney+ and ESPN+. “We’re thrilled to create new value for Marvel fans and audiences on Disney+, and we’re looking forward to offering even more Imax Enhanced functionality in the future.”