Segmented Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenue
Revenue	$ 57,232	$ 55,598	$ 102,392	$ 128,381
Gross margins
Gross margins	26,302	27,040	46,948	75,339
Assets
Total assets	372,132		372,132		349,088
IMAX Systems [Member]
Revenue
Revenue	20,470	17,329	42,729	28,282
Gross margins
Gross margins	11,440	9,918	23,175	14,418
Assets
Total assets	126,571		126,571		119,708
Theater System Maintenance [Member]
Revenue
Revenue	6,127	5,102	11,922	10,068
Gross margins
Gross margins	2,381	2,051	4,968	4,360
Assets
Total assets	14,800		14,800		13,548
Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements [Member]
Revenue
Revenue	8,347	8,494	12,387	27,430
Gross margins
Gross margins	4,881	6,501	7,059	23,313
Assets
Total assets	99,523		99,523		81,376
Theater Operations [Member]
Revenue
Revenue	1,918	2,954	2,899	8,903
Gross margins
Gross margins	(242)	152	(1,005)	1,810
Assets
Total assets	552		552		582
Others [Member]
Revenue
Revenue	1,634	983	2,220	3,646
Gross margins
Gross margins	587	39	422	762
Assets
Total assets	2,525		2,525		1,785
Corporate And Other Non-Segment Specific Assets [Member]
Assets
Total assets	98,567		98,567		106,670
Production and IMAX DMR [Member]
Revenue
Revenue	12,422	14,540	19,680	37,992
Gross margins
Gross margins	6,461	6,823	9,220	26,324
Assets
Total assets	18,166		18,166		17,229
Distribution [Member]
Revenue
Revenue	5,275	3,870	7,892	7,142
Gross margins
Gross margins	487	719	1,113	1,461
Assets
Total assets	7,776		7,776		5,313
Post-production [Member]
Revenue
Revenue	1,039	2,326	2,663	4,918
Gross margins
Gross margins	307	837	1,996	2,891
Assets
Total assets	$ 3,652		$ 3,652		$ 2,877