• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechGoogle

IMAX May Bring Virtual Reality to a Movie Theater Near You This Year

By
Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 20, 2016, 7:25 PM ET
Paris Games Week 2015  At Porte de Versailles In Paris
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 27: A gamer plays a game with the virtual reality head-mounted display 'Playstation VR' during the 'Paris Games week' at Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles on October 27, 2015 in Paris, France. The display transfers the eye movements to the game in real time. 'Paris Games week' takes place from October 28, 2015 until November 01, 2015. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)Photograph by Chesnot — Getty Images

IMAX wants to bring virtual reality into the mainstream.

The cinema company, known for its giant movie screens and high-end cameras, said on Friday that it would create virtual reality entertainment hubs for movie theaters, shopping malls, and tourist spots across the United States.

IMAX said it would work with a Stockholm-based entertainment technology company, Starbreeze, on the project. Starbreeze will provide its StarVR VR headsets, VR video games, and films as part of the initiative.

Earlier this week, Starbreeze said that it and hardware maker Acer had formed a joint venture to help manufacture and commercialize its virtual reality headset.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

IMAX plans to open six virtual reality hubs worldwide this year. The first will be built in Los Angeles, according to the Wall Street Journal, but no date was given about when it would open.

IMAX (IMAX) chief executive Richard Gelfond told the Journal that the so-called “VR experiences” will last 10 minutes and cost $7 to $10. Presumably, these “VR experiences” will include video games created by Starbreeze or interactive short films presented in 360 degrees.

The cinema company also said that it wants to eventually provide “premium content” created from a new 360-degree camera that it will build in partnership with Google (GOOG). IMAX will also look to Hollywood studios and filmmakers to provide virtual reality movies for its six hubs, and, in its announcement, listed Hollywood director Michael Bay and Paramount Pictures as possible contributors.

“As a filmmaker, IMAX’s location-based VR offering presents an exciting opportunity to transport audiences even further into the worlds we create,” Bay said in a statement. “We are in advanced discussions with IMAX now on some fun VR concepts and I look forward to test-driving their new technology.”

Although virtual reality is hot with technology analysts who see it as a potentially huge future business, the reality is that the technology is still in its infancy. Expensive virtual reality headsets like Facebook’s (FB) Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive have only been available for a few months and they require powerful computers that put the cost out of reach of the average consumer.

However, those that have tried on the headsets seem to be pleased, and the reviews of both devices have generally been positive.

For more about virtual reality, watch:

IMAX’s new virtual reality hubs could create a new audience for virtual reality that otherwise wouldn’t have access because of the cost or access.

Earlier this month, Facebook-owned Oculus said it would let people try demos of its Oculus headset at 48 U.S. Best Buy (BBY) stores.

About the Author
By Jonathan Vanian
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Jonathan Vanian is a former Fortune reporter. He covered business technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data privacy, and other topics.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

three men in suits, one gesturing
AIBrainstorm AI
The fastest athletes in the world can botch a baton pass if trust isn’t there—and the same is true of AI, Blackbaud exec says
By Amanda GerutDecember 12, 2025
4 minutes ago
Brainstorm AI panel
AIBrainstorm AI
Creative workers won’t be replaced by AI—but their roles will change to become ‘directors’ managing AI agents, executives say
By Beatrice NolanDecember 12, 2025
24 minutes ago
Fei-Fei Li, the "Godmother of AI," says she values AI skills more than college degrees when hiring software engineers for her tech startup.
AITech
‘Godmother of AI’ says degrees are less important in hiring than ‘how quickly can you superpower yourself’ with new tools
By Nino PaoliDecember 12, 2025
3 hours ago
C-SuiteFortune 500 Power Moves
Fortune 500 Power Moves: Which executives gained and lost power this week
By Fortune EditorsDecember 12, 2025
3 hours ago
BLM
Cybersecurityfraud
Black Lives Matter leader in Oklahoma City indicted on claims she used funds for vacations, groceries and real estate
By Sean Murphy and The Associated PressDecember 12, 2025
4 hours ago
broker
BankingData centers
AI data center boom sparks fears of glut amid lending frenzy
By Neil Callanan, Paula Seligson and BloombergDecember 12, 2025
4 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Success
At 18, doctors gave him three hours to live. He played video games from his hospital bed—and now, he’s built a $10 million-a-year video game studio
By Preston ForeDecember 10, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Palantir cofounder calls elite college undergrads a ‘loser generation’ as data reveals rise in students seeking support for disabilities, like ADHD
By Preston ForeDecember 11, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Investing
Baby boomers have now 'gobbled up' nearly one-third of America's wealth share, and they're leaving Gen Z and millennials behind
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 8, 2025
4 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Tariffs are taxes and they were used to finance the federal government until the 1913 income tax. A top economist breaks it down
By Kent JonesDecember 12, 2025
9 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
‘We have not seen this rosy picture’: ADP’s chief economist warns the real economy is pretty different from Wall Street’s bullish outlook
By Eleanor PringleDecember 11, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Uncategorized
Transforming customer support through intelligent AI operations
By Lauren ChomiukNovember 26, 2025
16 days ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.