Segment Reporting - Breakdown of Revenue and Gross Margin (Margin Loss) by Category (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Revenues
Revenue		$ 37,256	$ 86,390	$ 81,013	$ 271,385
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	3,829	47,120	1,227	151,813
IMAX DMR [Member]
Revenues
Revenue		6,886	26,665	18,061	93,908
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	3,079	17,866	7,492	61,602
Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements, Contingent Rent [Member]
Revenues
Revenue		4,473	16,605	10,307	60,189
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	(2,491)	9,524	(10,610)	40,777
IMAX Technology Network [Member]
Revenues
Revenue		11,359	43,270	28,368	154,097
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	588	27,390	(3,118)	102,379
Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements, Fixed Fees [Member]
Revenues
Revenue		57	1,438	1,196	6,525
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	(117)	136	110	1,301
IMAX Systems [Member]
Revenues
Revenue	[2]	17,437	20,977	27,674	50,504
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1],[2]	8,671	11,652	14,497	26,723
IMAX Maintenance Segment [Member]
Revenues
Revenue		5,855	13,657	13,225	39,815
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	794	6,125	(355)	17,046
Other Theater Business [Member]
Revenues
Revenue	[3]	307	1,560	1,261	5,766
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1],[3]	31	505	77	1,821
IMAX Technology Sales and Maintenance [Member]
Revenues
Revenue		23,656	37,632	43,356	102,610
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	9,379	18,418	14,329	46,891
New Business Initiatives [Member]
Revenues
Revenue		378	596	1,488	1,908
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	372	541	1,245	1,441
Film Distribution [Member]
Revenues
Revenue	[4]	1,126	1,343	4,453	3,333
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1],[4]	(5,597)	(760)	(9,296)	(1,093)
Post-production [Member]
Revenues
Revenue		739	2,185	3,088	6,458
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	(464)	810	(96)	1,576
Reportable Segments [Member]
Revenues
Revenue		1,865	3,528	7,541	9,791
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	(6,061)	50	(9,392)	483
Reportable Segments
Revenues
Revenue		37,258	85,026	80,753	268,406
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	4,278	46,399	3,064	151,194
Other [Member]
Revenues
Revenue		(2)	1,364	260	2,979
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)
Gross Margin (Margin Loss)	[1]	$ (449)	$ 721	$ (1,837)	$ 619

[1] IMAX DMR gross margin includes marketing costs of $0.4 million and $2.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively (2019 — $4.3 million and $17.7 million, respectively). JRSA gross margin includes advertising, marketing and commission expense of $0.7 million and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively (2019 —$0.8 million and $1.1 million, respectively). IMAX Systems gross margin includes marketing and commission costs of $0.6 million and $1.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, (2019 — $0.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively). Film Distribution segment gross margin includes marketing expense of $0.2 million and $0.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively (2019 — $0.1 million and $0.7 million, respectively).

[2] Includes initial upfront payments and the present value of fixed minimum payments from sales and sales-type lease arrangements of IMAX Theater Systems, and the present value of estimated variable consideration from sales of IMAX Theater Systems. To a lesser extent, also includes finance income associated with these revenue streams.

[3] Principally includes after-market sales of IMAX projection system parts and 3D glasses

[4] During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, Film Distribution segment results were significantly influenced by impairment losses of $5.4 million and $9.9 million, respectively, to write-down the carrying value of certain documentary and alternative content film assets due to a decrease in projected box office totals and related revenues based on management’s regular quarterly recoverability assessments (2019 – $0.2 million and $0.2 million).