Contributed value to be capitalized to finance an ongoing supply of original films.

No definition available.

Name:	imax_FilmFundCapitalContributionPaid
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Intended value to be capitalized to finance an ongoing supply of original films.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	imax_FilmFundExpectedCapitalContribution
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investment in content to expand new business ventures

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of expected original films to be made under the Film Fund.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	imax_NumberOfExpectedOriginalFilms
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in direct negative costs incurred in the physical production of a film. Examples include, but are not limited to, costs of story and scenario, compensation, set construction and postproduction costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 926
-SubTopic 230
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6473203&loc=d3e55336-107963

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInFilmCosts1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of noncontrolling interest which might include background information, terms of the ownership arrangement, and type and terms of equity interest owned by the noncontrolling interest holders.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=imax_OtherNoncontrollingInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=imax_ThirdPartyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=imax_ImaxMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=imax_ImaxChinaNoncontrollingInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Non-Controlling Interests - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Film
Non-controlling Interests
Investment in film assets	$ 15,405	$ 22,240
Other Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Non-controlling Interests
Non-controlling interest description	The Company’s Original Film Fund was established in 2014 to co-finance a portfolio of 10 original large-format films. The initial investment in the Original Film Fund was committed to by a third party in the amount of $25.0 million, with the possibility of contributing additional funds. The Company has contributed $9.0 million to the Original Film Fund since 2014 and has reached its maximum contribution. The Company sees the Original Film Fund as a vehicle designed to generate a continuous, steady flow of high-quality documentary content.
Number Of Expected Original Films \| Film			10
Investment in film assets	$ 22,300
Investment in content	4,000
Other Noncontrolling Interest [Member] \| Third Party [Member]
Non-controlling Interests
Film Fund Expected Capital Contribution			$ 25,000
Other Noncontrolling Interest [Member] \| IMAX [Member]
Non-controlling Interests
Film fund contributions paid	$ 9,000
IMAX China Noncontrolling Interest
Non-controlling Interests
Minority Interest Ownership Percentage By Company	69.74%