Name:	imax_FinancedSaleReceivablesWeightedAverageEffectiveInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Amount of remaining payments, net of unearned finance income, as of the balance sheet date that lessees are obligated to make or can be required to make under direct financing leases, including any guarantee of residual value and executory costs. The amount also includes any guaranteed rental payments by an unrelated third-party provided that are financially capable of making such payments.

No definition available.

Name:	imax_FinancedSalesReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Lease, weighted average interest rates.

No definition available.

Name:	imax_LeaseWeightedAverageInterestRatesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of remaining payments, net of unearned finance income, as of the balance sheet date that lessees are obligated to make or can be required to make under sales-type leases, including any guarantee of residual value and executory costs. The amount also includes any guaranteed rental payments by an unrelated third-party provided that are financially capable of making such payments.

No definition available.

Name:	imax_MinimumLeasePaymentsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Weighted average discount rate for sales-type lease calculated at point in time.

No definition available.

Name:	imax_SalesTypeLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Weighted average remaining lease term for sales-type lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	imax_SalesTypeLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Weighted average remaining lease term.

No definition available.

Name:	imax_WeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTermAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The net amount due within one year of the balance sheet date or the normal operating cycle, if longer, consisting of: (a) minimum lease payments due on direct financing leases, (b) unguaranteed residual value, and (c) any unamortized initial direct costs, less: (i) executory costs, (ii) unearned income, and (iii) the accumulated allowance for uncollectible minimum lease payments.

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesLessorBalanceSheetNetInvestmentInDirectFinancingLeasesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The net amount due after one year of the balance sheet date or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, consisting of: (a) minimum lease payments due on direct financing leases, (b) unguaranteed residual value, and (c) any unamortized initial direct costs; less: (i) executory costs, (ii) unearned income, and (iii) the accumulated allowance for uncollectible minimum lease payments.

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesLessorBalanceSheetNetInvestmentInDirectFinancingLeasesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The lessor's asset under sales type and direct financing leases. The net investment in direct financing and sales-type leases as of the balance sheet date consisting of: (a) minimum lease payments due on direct financing leases, (b) unguaranteed residual value, and (c) any unamortized initial direct costs on direct financing leases; less: (i) estimated executory costs, (ii) unearned income, and (iii) the accumulated allowance for uncollectible minimum lease payments.

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesNetInvestmentInDirectFinancingAndSalesTypeLeases
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesNetInvestmentInDirectFinancingAndSalesTypeLeasesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The net investment in direct financing leases as of the balance sheet date consisting of: (a) minimum lease payments due on direct financing leases, (b) unguaranteed residual value, and (c) any unamortized initial direct costs; less: (i) executory costs, (ii) unearned income, and (iii) the accumulated allowance for uncollectible minimum lease payments.

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesNetInvestmentInDirectFinancingLeases
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The estimate of contractual payments on direct financing leases that are probable of not being collected as of the balance sheet date.

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesNetInvestmentInDirectFinancingLeasesAllowanceForUncollectibleMinimumLeasePayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The remaining (unamortized) difference between the gross investment in a direct financing lease and the cost or carrying amount, if different, of the leased property as of the balance sheet date.

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesNetInvestmentInDirectFinancingLeasesDeferredIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of remaining payments as of the balance sheet date that lessees are obligated to make or can be required to make under direct financing leases, including any guarantee of residual value and executory costs. The amount also includes any guaranteed rental payments by an unrelated third-party provided that are financially capable of making such payments.

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesNetInvestmentInDirectFinancingLeasesMinimumPaymentsToBeReceived
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The net investment in sales type leases as of the balance sheet date consisting of: (a) minimum lease payments on sales type leases and (b) unguaranteed residual value; less: (i) executory costs, (ii) unearned income, and (iii) the accumulated allowance for uncollectible minimum lease payments.

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesNetInvestmentInSalesTypeLeases
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The estimate of minimum payments on sales-type leases that are probable of not being collected as of the balance sheet date.

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesNetInvestmentInSalesTypeLeasesAllowanceForUncollectibleMinimumLeasePayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The remaining (unamortized) difference between the gross investment in a sales-type lease and the cost or carrying amount of the leased property as of the balance sheet date.

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesNetInvestmentInSalesTypeLeasesDeferredIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of remaining payments as of the balance sheet date that lessees are obligated to make or can be required to make under sales-type leases, including any guarantee of residual value and executory costs. The amount also includes any guaranteed rental payments by an unrelated third-party provided that are financially capable of making such payments.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84165051&loc=d3e45377-112738

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77910348&loc=d3e34102-112682