Borrowings - Additional Information (Details) $ / shares in Units, ¥ in Millions				3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		48 Months Ended
	May 25, 2022 USD ($)	Mar. 19, 2021 USD ($)	May 29, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022 CNY (¥)	Sep. 30, 2022 CAD ($)	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2022 CNY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 CNY (¥)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($)	May 29, 2019 CAD ($)
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Credit facility description								On March 25, 2022, the Company entered into a Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent (the "Agent"), and a syndicate of lenders party thereto (the "Credit Agreement"), which extended the maturity date of the credit facility under the Credit Agreement (the "Credit Facility") from June 28, 2023 to March 25, 2027. The Company's obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain of the Company's subsidiaries (the "Guarantors"), and are secured by first-priority security interests in substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Guarantors.
Credit facility maturity date								Mar. 25, 2027
Current borrowing capacity				$ 300,000,000.0				$ 300,000,000.0
Repayment of outstanding indebtedness								$ 3,600,000	$ 300,243,000
Line of credit facility covenant terms								The Credit Agreement requires that the Company maintain a maximum senior secured net leverage ratio of 3.25:1.00, which is tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2022.
Letters of guarantee outstanding				400,000				$ 400,000			¥ 2.8				$ 500,000	¥ 2.8
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes, net									223,675,000
Debt issuance costs paid								2,277,000	$ 474,000
Convertible Notes [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Borrowings				230,000,000				230,000,000							230,000,000
Debt instrument, principal amount		$ 230,000,000.0		$ 230,000,000.0				$ 230,000,000.0
Debt instrument, annual interest rate		0.50%		0.50%				0.50%			0.50%	0.50%
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes, net		$ 223,700,000
Debt issuance costs paid		$ 1,200,000
Debt instrument, frequency of periodic interest payment								semi-annually
Debt instrument, payment terms								The Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and bear interest at a rate of 0.500% per annum on the principal of $230.0 million, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2021.
Debt instrument, date of first required payment								Oct. 01, 2021
Debt instrument, maturity date								Apr. 01, 2026
Debt instrument, convertible, terms of conversion feature								Holders of the Convertible Notes have the right to convert their Convertible Notes in certain circumstances and during specified periods. Before January 1, 2026, holders of the Convertible Notes have the right to convert their Convertible Notes only upon the occurrence of certain events. From and after January 1, 2026, holders of the Convertible Notes may convert their Convertible Notes at any time at their election until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as applicable, cash or a combination of cash (in an amount no less than the principal amount of the Convertible Notes being converted) and common shares, at its election, based on the applicable conversion rates. The initial conversion rate is 34.7766 common shares per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $28.75 per common share, and is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events.
Debt instrument, initial conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount								34.7766
Convertible notes principal amount				$ 1,000				$ 1,000
Debt instrument, initial conversion price | $ / shares				$ 28.75				$ 28.75
Debt instrument, redemption, description								The Convertible Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company's option at any time, and from time to time, on or after April 6, 2024 and on or before the 40th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, but only if the last reported sale price per share of the Company's common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for a specified period of time. In addition, calling any Convertible Notes for redemption will constitute a "make-whole fundamental change" with respect to such notes, in which case the conversion rate applicable to the conversion of such notes will be increased in certain circumstances if such notes are converted after they are called for redemption.
Debt instrument, redemption start date								Apr. 06, 2024
Convertible Notes [Member] | Call Option [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Cap price of capped call transactions | $ / shares				37.2750				37.2750
Percentage of premium of cap price over last reported sale price per common share on March 16, 2021								75.00%
Cost of capped call transactions								$ 19,100,000
Reduction to other equity								$ 19,100,000
Bank of China Facility [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Credit facility description								In June 2022, IMAX (Shanghai) Multimedia Technology Co., Ltd. ("IMAX Shanghai"), one of the Company's majority-owned subsidiaries in China, renewed its unsecured revolving facility with Bank of China for up to 200.0 million Chinese Renminbi ("RMB") ($28.2 million), including RMB 10.0 million ($1.4 million) for letters of guarantee, to fund ongoing working capital requirements (the "Bank of China Facility").
Current borrowing capacity													$ 28,200,000	¥ 200.0
Borrowings				$ 400,000				$ 400,000			¥ 2.6				3,600,000	¥ 23.0
Effective interest rate				3.85%		4.35%		4.15%	4.35%
Line of credit facility expiration period								2023-09
Letters of guarantees borrowing capacity													1,400,000	10.0
Remaining borrowing capacity				$ 26,400,000				$ 26,400,000			187.4
HSBC China Facility [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Current borrowing capacity													$ 28,200,000	¥ 200.0
Borrowings				$ 4,400,000				$ 4,400,000			31.2
Effective interest rate				3.85%				3.95%
Remaining borrowing capacity				$ 23,800,000				$ 23,800,000			168.8
Federal Economic Development Loan Payable [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt instrument, fair value				1,800,000				1,800,000
Federal Economic Development Loan Payable [Member] | SSIMWAVE Inc. [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Loans payable				2,800,000				2,800,000				$ 3,800,000
Debt instrument, annual interest rate			0.00%															0.00%
Contributions repayable months			60 months
Debt instrument repayment beginning month and year			2024-01
Federal Economic Development Loan Payable [Member] | SSIMWAVE Inc. [Member] | Forecast [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of contributions cover eligible and supported costs										35.00%
Foreign Exchange Facility [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Unrealized gain (loss) on outstanding foreign currency forward contracts				(1,600,000)				(1,600,000)							100,000
Notional Amount of arrangements entered into				30,800,000				30,800,000							26,700,000
Credit Facility [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Borrowings				0				0							0
Letters of credit or advance payment guarantees				0				$ 0							0
Line of credit facility covenant terms							The Credit Agreement requires that the Company maintain a maximum senior secured net leverage ratio of 3.25:1.00, which is tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2022. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants that limit indebtedness, liens, asset sales, investments and restricted payments, in each case subject to negotiated exceptions and baskets. The Credit Agreement also contains customary representations, warranties and event of default provisions.
Liquidity covenant minimum	$ 75,000,000.0
Interest rate description								Until the Company delivers the compliance certificate and financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2022, loans under the Credit Facility will bear interest, at the Company's option, at (i) with respect to loans on which interest is payable by reference to the Term SOFR, Eurocurrency Rate or CDOR Rate, such rate plus a margin of 1.75%; or (ii) with respect to loans on which interest is payable by reference to the U.S. base rate or the Canadian prime rate, such rate plus a margin of 0.25%. Following the delivery of the compliance certificate and financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2022, loans under the Credit Facility will bear interest, at the Company's option, at (i) Term SOFR, Eurocurrency Rate or CDOR Rate plus a margin ranging from 1.00% to 1.75% per annum; or (ii) the U.S. base rate or the Canadian prime rate plus a margin ranging from 0.25% to 1.00% per annum, in each case depending on the Company's total leverage ratio. In no event will Term SOFR, Eurocurrency Rate or CDOR Rate be less than 0.00% per annum.
Fees incurred with amendments								$ 1,800,000
Unamortized deferred financing costs expenses					$ 400,000
Credit Facility [Member] | SOFR, Eurocurrency or CDOR Rate [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate margin percentage								1.75%
Interest rate maximum margin percentage								0.00%
Credit Facility [Member] | U.S. Base Rate or Canadian Prime Rate [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate margin percentage								0.25%
Letter of Credit [Member] | Bank of China Facility [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Remaining borrowing capacity				1,000,000.0				$ 1,000,000.0			¥ 7.2
NBC Facility [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Current borrowing capacity																	$ 5,000,000.0
Remaining borrowing capacity				0				0							$ 0
Minimum [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Borrowing capacity under uncommitted accordion feature				$ 440,000,000.0				$ 440,000,000.0
Minimum [Member] | Convertible Notes [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of last reported sale price per common share against conversion price for specific period of time								130.00%
Minimum [Member] | Credit Facility [Member] | SOFR, Eurocurrency or CDOR Rate [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate margin percentage								1.00%
Minimum [Member] | Credit Facility [Member] | U.S. Base Rate or Canadian Prime Rate [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate margin percentage								0.25%
Maximum [Member] | Federal Economic Development Loan Payable [Member] | SSIMWAVE Inc. [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt instrument, principal amount			$ 3,100,000															$ 4,200,000
Maximum [Member] | Credit Facility [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt instrument net leverage ratio								3.25
Maximum [Member] | Credit Facility [Member] | SOFR, Eurocurrency or CDOR Rate [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate margin percentage								1.75%
Maximum [Member] | Credit Facility [Member] | U.S. Base Rate or Canadian Prime Rate [Member]
Borrowings (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate margin percentage								1.00%