Employees Pension and Postretirement Benefits - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Deferred compensation plan description			The Company maintained a nonqualified deferred compensation benefit plan (the “Retirement Plan”) covering Greg Foster, former CEO of IMAX Entertainment and Senior Executive Vice President of the Company. Under the terms of his Retirement Plan with the Company, the Retirement Plan will vest in full if Mr. Foster incurs a separation from service (as defined therein).
Benefit obligation recorded	$ 3,600,000		$ 3,600,000		$ 3,600,000
Compensation expense recognized	0	$ 200,000	0	$ 600,000
SERP Benefits [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Companies contribution and expenses during the remainder of 2019			0
Expected interest costs in the remainder of the year	100,000		100,000
Benefit Obligation	18,400,000		$ 18,400,000		17,977,000	$ 19,003,000
SERP assumptions			The SERP assumptions are that Mr. Gelfond will receive a lump sum payment six months after retirement at the end of the current term of his employment agreement (December 31, 2019), although Mr. Gelfond has not informed the Company that he intends to retire at that time.
Defined Contribution Plan [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Description Of Defined Contribution Pension And Other Postretirement Plans			The Company also maintains defined contribution plans for its employees, including its executive officers. The Company makes contributions to these plans on behalf of employees in an amount up to 5% of their base salary subject to certain prescribed maximums.
Maximum percentage of base salary contributed to Defined Contribution Pension Plan by Company			5.00%
Canadian Plan [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Companies contribution and expenses during the remainder of 2019	300,000	400,000	$ 900,000	1,000,000.0
Us Internal Revenue Code [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Companies contribution and expenses during the remainder of 2019	100,000	100,000	500,000	400,000
Postretirement Benefits Executives [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Benefit Obligation	700,000		700,000		600,000
Postretirement Benefits Executives [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Maximum amount of Postretirement benefit expensed	100,000	100,000	100,000	100,000
Postretirement Benefits Canadian Employees [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Benefit Obligation	1,500,000		1,500,000		$ 1,500,000
Maximum amount of Postretirement benefit expensed	$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 100,000