IMAX vs. RPX: Which is Better?

Quick answer: Select IMAX if you want the biggest screen, the sharpest picture, and the deepest experience — it’s the clear winner for action films, sci-fi, and anything shot with IMAX cameras. Select RPX if you care more about comfort, reclining leather seats, and powerful sound, and want a premium upgrade that works for you anywhere movie genre. The screens come from the same manufacturer, but the two formats are built around different goals: IMAX chases spectacle, RPX chases luxury.

Both formats cost about the same – usually $16–21 each ticket, depending on where you are – so the decision usually depends on what you’re looking at and what you like best.

IMAX vs. RPX at a glance

What is IMAX?

IMAX – short for “Top Image” – large-format cinema technology founded in 1967, with its first projection system launched in Canada. Built from the ground up to feel like you are inside a movie rather than just watching it.

What makes IMAX different is not just the theater. It’s all production pipelines. For the full IMAX experience, films are shot on special IMAX digital and film cameras that capture much more detail than standard formats. True IMAX film records one frame for every 15 perforations along the film line (conventional film uses one frame in five), producing the largest, sharpest image available.

That goes along with the trade-off. IMAX film cameras can only capture about three minutes at a time and run very fast, which is why silent, dialogue-driven movies are often not shot in the format.

IMAX also uses a proprietary process called DMR (Digital Media Remastering)which enhances the image frame by frame for a crystal clear picture on the big screen.

Key features of IMAX:

• Large, often curved screens that fill your peripheral vision (up to about a 70-degree field of view)
• Two 4K laser projectors with bright, high-contrast images
• 12-channel sound system with top and surround speakers positioned for full immersion, reaching nearly an octave below traditional speakers
• Theater seats angle so that all seats face the center of the screen with an unobstructed view

IMAX shines with nature documentaries, space and ocean footage, big-budget action, and any film shot in IMAX. It’s not suited for quiet, character-driven dramas.

What is RPX?

RPX stands for “The Regal Premium Experience,” a premium format by Regal Cinemas launched in April 2010 to compete with other enhanced theater experiences. It sits a step above a standard auditorium but is designed differently than IMAX — emphasis comfort and consistency across the board.

Interestingly, the RPX screens are made by the same company that makes the IMAX screens, so the build quality is comparable. The screens are flat rather than curved and are about 60 feet wide, although they range from about 45 to 75 feet depending on the space. (You can read more about RPX here.)

Key features of RPX:

• Large flat screens capable of 2D and 3D
• 4K digital and laser projection about 33,000 lumens
• Enhanced surround sound – a 7.1 channel system or Dolby Atmos in most US locations – and low frequency transducers built into each seat
• Leather couches with high backs, headrests, extra padding, and generous legroom

Because RPX doesn’t require movies to be shot in a special format, it works equally well with action, comedy, drama, and dialogue-heavy movies, making it versatile for both.

How does IMAX compare to RPX?

Here’s how the two formats stack up on all five of the most important things: comfort, technology, screen size, sound, and overall experience.

Comfort

This is RPX’s home page. The RPX is designed specifically for passenger comfort, with wide leather recliners, headrests, in-seat speakers, and enough room to pass without moving – even with the seats in place.

IMAX seats are also comfortable, with higher backs, more padding, and often leather seats, and all seats are positioned in an unobstructed central screen view. But they are arena-style chairs rather than recliners, and most don’t recline (a few places allow for a slight recline).

Winner: RPX for pure comfort.

Technology

IMAX is the most technically demanding format because the immersion begins in the camera. Films are shot on high-resolution IMAX cameras, remastered frame-by-frame with DMR, and projected using two 4K laser projectors on a curved screen that creates subtle 3D-like depth even in 2D.

RPX keeps rolling out new gear too – 4K digital projectors with nearly 33,000 lasers bring picture quality close to IMAX. The main difference is the flat screen, which is great for widescreen content but doesn’t overwhelm you the way IMAX does.

Winner: IMAX immersion on the verge of immersion; RPX for versatility.

Screen Size

IMAX screens are big – usually 52 to 100 meters wide and more than 50 meters longup to six times larger than a standard screen — and often curved from wall to wall.

The largest IMAX screen in the world is here Traumpalast Leonberg in Germanyapprox 127 by 69 feet (38.8m × 21m) in the upper area about 814.8 square meters. It opens in 2021 and weighs more than 500 pounds. (Note: the second and third largest IMAX screens are in Australia – Melbourne and Sydney.)

RPX screens are smaller, aiming for about 60 feet in diameter and ranging from 45 to 75 feet.

Winner: IMAXby a wide margin.

The sound

IMAX uses a proprietary 12-channel sound system with high-end speakers placed throughout the hall, positioned so that the entire IMAX area delivers the same sound level. The range is different, about an octave deeper than traditional speakers.

RPX uses a 7.1-channel system (or Dolby Atmos in most locations) with low-frequency transducers embedded in each seat, so you can feel the action. Some viewers like the noise of the seats; others find it disturbing. The result feels like your own personal theater, although purists limit it to the high immersion of IMAX.

Winner: IMAX with audiophile-grade immersion; RPX for touch, personal sound.

The Movie experience is complete

IMAX is designed for total immersion. The curved screen, high seats, and surround sound combine to make everything feel like it’s happening right next to you — great if the goal is to feel like you’re diving in the ocean or flying through the air.

RPX is a supercharged version of a great night at the theatre. It’s uplifting anywhere a movie with the best visuals, great sound, and the most comfortable seats in the building, with very few distractions to distract you from what you’re doing.

IMAX vs. RPX: Which Should You Choose?

The easiest way to decide to match the format to what you see and what you value:

Choose IMAX if:

• They are watching a blockbuster, a sci-fi epic, an action film, or a nature documentary
• You want the biggest screen and the sharpest image
• They saw a movie captured by IMAX cameras
• Prioritize immersion and spectacle over luxury

Choose RPX if:

• You want a premium upgrade anywhere genre, including comedies and dramas
• Pay special attention to the luxurious couches and leg room
• Enjoy deep, realistic bass
• You want a comfortable, relaxed movie night

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IMAX or RPX more expensive? They cost about the same, usually $16–$21 per ticket. Prices vary by location, and some theaters charge less for RPX because it’s a new format.

Is RPX as good as IMAX? The RPX is great, but it’s built for a different purpose. IMAX wins for screen size, image clarity, and immersion. The RPX wins in seat comfort and works best for all types of movies.

Are IMAX and RPX screens the same? The screens are made by the same manufacturer, so the build quality is comparable – but IMAX screens are larger and tend to be curved, while RPX screens are flat.

Which is better for 3D movies? Both support 3D. IMAX 3D is usually brighter and clearer thanks to its laser projection, although some viewers find the RPX’s flat screen easier on the eyes.

Which is better in action movies? IMAX, in most cases. The larger curved screen and powerful surround sound make blockbusters and action movies feel bigger and more immersive.

The Bottom Line

IMAX and RPX are both huge improvements over the traditional theater, but they are not interchangeable. Think of it as a ladder: RPX sits above a regular theater for comfort and premium sound, while IMAX sits higher for sheer scale and picture quality.

If you want a luxurious way to enjoy anywhere movie, RPX will not disappoint. But if you want to feel like you’re inside a movie, IMAX is the way to go.