IMAX Sydney

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 film The Living Sea.^[4][5]

• 
  The original IMAX Sydney building in 2005
• 
  Entrance to the original building, 2005

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 called The Ribbon that was planned to open in 2019.^[7]

On 11 October 2023, after 4 years of delays, the cinema reopened with a screening of Avatar: 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 in Canberra,^[13] The Gold Coast,^[14] Other locations in Sydney,^[15] Perth^[16] and Melbourne,^[17][18] with more planned.^[19] Only IMAX 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.