Segmented Information (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Commission Costs	$ 0.1	$ 0.4	$ 0.8	$ 0.6
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Description of Revenue from External Customers			No single country in the Rest of the World, Western Europe, Rest of Europe or Asia (excluding Greater China) classifications comprises more than 5% of the total revenue.
Percentage of total revenues represented by two largest customers	13.10%	15.40%	11.50%	20.40%
IMAX Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Commission Costs	0.1	0.4	0.8	0.6
Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Advertising, marketing and commission costs	1.8	0.6	2.3	1.2
Production and IMAX DMR [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Marketing Expense	0.7	0.6	1.2	0.8
Distribution [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Marketing Expense	$ 1.4	$ (0.2)	$ 1.6	$ 0.3

Percentage of total revenues represented by two largest customers.

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- Definition

Segment reporting.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	imax
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- Definition

Disclosure about revenues from external customers (1) attributed to the entity's country of domicile and (2) attributed to all foreign countries in total from which the entity derives revenues.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 41
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e9038-108599

+ Details

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- Definition

Expenditures for planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services. Costs of public relations and corporate promotions are typically considered to be marketing costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

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- Definition

Primarily represents commissions incurred in the period based upon the sale by commissioned employees or third parties of the entity's goods or services, and fees for sales assistance or product enhancements performed by third parties (such as a distributor or value added reseller).

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate total amount of expenses directly related to the marketing or selling of products or services.

+ Details

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