Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) Theater	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Provision for current expected credit losses	$ 3,900		$ 15,600
Goodwill	39,027		39,027	$ 39,027
Deferred tax asset, valuation allowance	23,900		23,900	$ 200
IMAX Systems Reporting Unit [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Goodwill	19,000		19,000
Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements Reporting Unit [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Goodwill	13,600		13,600
IMAX Maintenance Reporting Unit [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Goodwill	6,400		6,400
Credit Facility [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Amount drew down in available borrowing capacity			280,000
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Deferred tax asset, valuation allowance	$ 23,700		23,700
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic [Member] | Credit Facility [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Amount drew down in available borrowing capacity		$ 280,000
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Proceeds from government subsidies			4,500
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic [Member] | Costs and Expenses Applicable to Revenues [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Proceeds from government subsidies			600
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic [Member] | Research and Development [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Proceeds from government subsidies			$ 100
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic [Member] | China [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Number of temporarily closed movie theatres | Theater			70,000
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic [Member] | Canada [Member] | Emergency Wage Subsidy Program [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Proceeds from government subsidies			$ 4,500
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic [Member] | United States [Member] | CARES Act [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Proceeds from government subsidies			$ 700
Imax | Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic [Member] | Greater China [Member]
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Line Items]
Number of temporarily closed movie theatres | Theater			700