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Disney has been developing the IMAX Enhanced format on its streaming service for several years, allowing viewers to watch selected films in an expanded image format. The Disney+ library now includes 26 titles that use the expanded 1.90:1 aspect ratio, but the situation is completely different for UHD Blu-ray. So far only three films with the expanded image format have appeared on physical releases. For collectors of 4K discs this is a significant problem, especially as many films available in IMAX on Disney+ have not received a similar version on physical media.
Disney+ expands IMAX, but UHD Blu-ray falls behind
Disney launched the IMAX Enhanced initiative in collaboration with IMAX almost five years ago. One of its key features is the ability to watch films in an expanded 1.90:1 image aspect ratio, which during selected scenes gives the viewer a larger portion of the picture than the standard theatrical 2.39:1 aspect ratio. On Disney+ this solution has been used in as many as 26 films, including many popular Marvel productions. For a while it seemed that a similar direction would be taken for UHD Blu-ray discs. A good example was Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which in 2023 received a release that used a change in aspect ratio between the standard format and the taller IMAX frame. However, that was an exception rather than the start of a broader change. Newer releases, such as The Marvels, Captain America: Brave New World and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, were released on UHD Blu-ray in the classic 2.39:1 format, even though on Disney+ they can switch between 2.39:1 and 1.90:1.
It is worth noting that the digital IMAX 1.90:1 format is not the same as the classic 1.43:1 format found in the largest IMAX theatres equipped with 70 mm projectors or dual-laser GT systems. The latter format is considerably taller and appears only in selected productions. For home IMAX Enhanced we're usually referring to the 1.90:1 ratio, which allows more of the screen area to be used.
Why won’t Disney put IMAX on 4K discs?
The problem becomes even more apparent when we look at the IMAX film market as a whole. Although Disney+ and Sony Pictures Core offer productions in the expanded aspect ratio, many films shot with IMAX in mind still haven't received a proper version on physical media or in streaming. Among these titles are “Dune”, “Dune: Part Two”, “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “F1: The Movie”. For UHD Blu-ray collectors this is particularly disappointing, because 4K discs are aimed at people who expect the best possible picture and sound quality. Meanwhile, for some films the Disney+ streaming version offers extra image area that is missing from the physical release. Interestingly, Disney has a huge library of Marvel productions, many of which use IMAX, so there is no shortage of potential titles for such releases. Currently, UHD Blu-rays with an expanded image format include Tron: Legacy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. That is very few compared with 26 films available in IMAX Enhanced on Disney+. It is not yet known whether Disney plans to change its strategy and begin issuing more films in the expanded format on 4K discs as well.
Disney clearly favours IMAX Enhanced on its streaming service, but this does not translate into an equally wide UHD Blu-ray offering. 26 films available in the extended format on Disney+ compared with just three corresponding disc releases highlights a huge disparity. For home cinema fans, this means that, if they want to enjoy the full IMAX frame in many cases they have to choose streaming rather than a physical release. For now, we must wait to see whether Disney will decide in the future to use IMAX more often on its 4K discs as well.
source: flatpanelshd
