Disney+ is releasing 13 Marvel movies in IMAX Enhanced format
Two years after the launch of its streaming service, Disney has announced a major collaboration with IMAX that will benefit all users of the online streaming platform. Starting November 12, Disney+ subscribers will be able to watch several Marvel movies in IMAX Enhanced format for the first time.
This makes Disney Plus the first streaming service to offer these IMAX Enhanced features at home, if you don’t count the Bravia Core service available only to owners of a Sony 2021 TV with XR processor.
Which movies are available in IMAX Enhanced on Disney+?
In order for viewers to be able to fully experience the benefits of the IMAX format, it will initially be available on live action movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The 8 films available in France in the IMAX Enhanced format are the following:
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Captain America: Civil War
- Doctor Strange
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
Some of the IMAX Enhanced movies will ony be available in the United States:
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Iron Man
- Avengers: Endgame
- Captain Marvel
- Black Widow.
What is the benefit of the IMAX Enhanced format?
While IMAX typically uses a near 4:3 format with a 1.43:1 ratio, IMAX Enhanced offers a 1.90:1 aspect ratio, which is relatively close to the 16:9 format of televisions. The benefit to viewers is significant, as they see up to 26% more of the picture compared to standard cinema formats. In the scenes shot in IMAX, “more of the action is visible on screen, exactly as the filmmakers intended”.
Black Widow, for example, contains 22 minutes of footage shot in IMAX Expanded format. This means that these scenes take up more of the TV screen when viewed on Disney+. In other words, the black bars are narrower. Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, meanwhile, were shot entirely in this format. Note that the standard versions of Marvel movies will also be available on the streaming service.
By integrating this IMAX Enhanced format, Disney+ is setting itself apart from competitors like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. According to both companies, in the future this collaboration between Disney Plus and IMAX will allow for additional audio and visual enhancements, including immersive surround sound from DTS.
How to enjoy Disney+
The Disney+ (Disney Plus) streaming service is available on most Connected TVs, connected projectors and TV set-top boxes or AV network players equipped with Android TV (Sony, Philips, TCL, Xiaomi…), on Samsung Smart TVs (Tizen OS), on LG Smart TVs (webOS) and on theApple TV.
How to find IMAX Enhanced compatible movies on Disney+
To quickly access the movies available in IMAX on Disney+, just type “IMAX” in the search bar or use the “IMAX Enhanced” filter on the page listing all the movies available on the platform.
Note that the movies available in IMAX have a “Versions” tab that allows you to access the IMAX Enhanced version and the standard version in order to play the movie of your choice.
How to enjoy IMAX Enhanced movies at home
To enjoy films shot in IMAX or mastered in IMAX Enhanced in the best possible conditions, all you need is IMAX Enhanced certified equipment.
IMAX Enhanced certification distinguishes products that are optimized to work together to deliver an audio and video experience consistent with the director’s vision for all IMAX Enhanced certified films and video content. This certification is promoted by IMAX and DTS, in association with major electronics brands such as Sony, Denon, Marantz, Arcam, Elite, Integra, Lexicon by Harman, Onkyo, Pioneer, TCLand Trinnov, with the support of production studios such as Sony Pictures and Paramount.
- Discover a selection of the best IMAX Enhanced certified devices on Son-Vidéo.com.
