Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Capital Stock [Member]	Other Equity [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Non-controlling Interests [Member]
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 421,539	$ 179,595	$ (85,385)	$ (3,588)
Movement of Shareholders' Equity
Change in shares held in treasury		(656)
Employee stock options exercised		1,740
Amortization of share-based payment expense - stock options			6,719
Amortization of share-based payment expense - restricted share units			10,770
Restricted share units vested			(8,713)
Cash received from the issuance of common shares in excess of par value			651
Fair value of stock options exercised at the grant date		100	(100)
Common shares repurchased and retired		(925)		(1,734)
Common shares repurchased, IMAX China			(19,157)
Stock options exercised from treasury shares			(1,561)
Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests	$ 28,695			28,695
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(1,041)				(534)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2019		421,798	168,204	(58,424)	(4,122)
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018						$ 80,757
Movement of Shareholders' Equity
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	8,524					9,309
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(507)
Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders						(4,384)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2019						85,175
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2019		422,101	166,232	(66,828)	(2,926)
Movement of Shareholders' Equity
Change in shares held in treasury		3
Employee stock options exercised		12
Amortization of share-based payment expense - stock options			2,231
Amortization of share-based payment expense - restricted share units			3,517
Restricted share units vested			(1,419)
Fair value of stock options exercised at the grant date		3	(3)
Common shares repurchased and retired		(321)		(629)
Common shares repurchased, IMAX China			(2,344)
Stock options exercised from treasury shares			(10)
Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests	9,033			9,033
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(1,649)				(1,196)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2019		421,798	168,204	(58,424)	(4,122)
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2019						85,472
Movement of Shareholders' Equity
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	1,863					2,274
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(453)
Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders						(2,118)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2019						85,175
Movement of Shareholders' Equity
Total shareholders' equity	612,631
Total shareholders' equity	637,187
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019	547,694	419,348	171,789	(40,253)	(3,190)
Movement of Shareholders' Equity
Change in shares held in treasury		3,767
Amortization of share-based payment expense - stock options			2,137
Amortization of share-based payment expense - restricted share units			11,099
Amortization of share-based payment expense - performance stock units			1,307
Restricted share units vested			(7,688)
Common shares repurchased and retired		(17,803)		(18,821)
Common shares repurchased, IMAX China			(1,534)
Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests	(122,530)			(122,530)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	1,742				1,206
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2020	398,834	405,312	177,110	(181,604)	(1,984)
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019	89,493					89,493
Movement of Shareholders' Equity
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	(15,412)					(10,280)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	536
Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders						(4,214)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2020	75,535					75,535
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2020		405,254	172,690	(134,395)	(4,180)
Movement of Shareholders' Equity
Change in shares held in treasury		58
Amortization of share-based payment expense - stock options			1,034
Amortization of share-based payment expense - restricted share units			3,337
Amortization of share-based payment expense - performance stock units			514
Restricted share units vested			(463)
Common shares repurchased, IMAX China			(2)
Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests	(47,209)			(47,209)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	2,918				2,196
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2020	398,834	$ 405,312	$ 177,110	$ (181,604)	$ (1,984)
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2020						74,723
Movement of Shareholders' Equity
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,275)					2,186
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	722
Dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders						(2,096)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2020	75,535					$ 75,535
Movement of Shareholders' Equity
Total shareholders' equity	$ 474,369