Redakcja Choose TV
Disney has been rolling out the IMAX Enhanced format on its streaming platform for several years, allowing viewers to watch select films in a taller image. The Disney+ library already includes 26 titles using the expanded 1.90:1 aspect ratio, but the situation is completely different for UHD Blu-ray. Only three films with the expanded aspect ratio have appeared on physical releases so far. For 4K disc collectors this is a significant problem, especially since many films available in IMAX on Disney+ have not received a comparable version on physical media.
Disney+ expands IMAX, but UHD Blu-ray still lags
Disney launched the IMAX Enhanced initiative in partnership with IMAX almost five years ago. One of its key elements is the ability to watch films in a expanded 1.90:1 image format, which in selected scenes gives viewers a larger portion of the image than the standard theatrical format of 2.39:1. On Disney+ this solution has been used in as many as 26 films, including many popular Marvel titles. For a while it seemed that a similar direction would be taken for UHD Blu-ray discs as well. 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, not the start of a wider 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's 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 theaters equipped with 70 mm projectors or dual-laser GT systems. The latter format is significantly taller and appears only in selected productions. For home IMAX Enhanced we are usually talking about the 1.90:1 aspect ratio, which allows a larger portion of the screen to be used.
Why isn't Disney bringing IMAX to 4K discs?
The problem becomes even more apparent when you look at the whole IMAX film market. Although Disney+ and Sony Pictures Core offer productions in the expanded format, many films shot with IMAX in mind still haven't received a proper version on physical media or in streaming. Among those 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 especially 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 additional image area that's missing on the physical release. Interestingly, Disney has a huge library of Marvel productions, many of which use IMAX, so there's definitely no shortage of potential titles for such releases. Currently, UHD Blu-ray releases in the expanded image format include, among others, Tron: Legacy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. That's very few compared with the 26 titles available in IMAX Enhanced on Disney+. For now it's unclear whether Disney plans to change its strategy and start releasing more films in the expanded format on 4K discs as well.
Disney is clearly leaning on IMAX Enhanced in its streaming service, but that doesn’t translate into an equally broad UHD Blu-ray offering. Twenty-six films available in the IMAX Enhanced format on Disney+ versus just three corresponding disc releases highlights a huge disparity. For home theater fans, that means if they want to enjoy the full IMAX frame in many cases they have to choose streaming over a physical release. For now, we’ll have to wait and see whether Disney decides to use IMAX more often on its 4K discs in the future.
source: flatpanelshd
