Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Abstract]
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic	2. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic In late-January 2020, in response to the public health risks associated with the novel coronavirus and the disease that it causes (“COVID-19”), the Chinese government directed exhibitors in China to temporarily close more than 70,000 movie theaters, including all of the approximately 700 IMAX theaters in mainland China. On March 11, 2020, due to the worsening public health crisis associated with the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and in the following weeks, local, state and national governments instituted stay-at-home orders and restrictions on large public gatherings which caused movie theaters in countries around the world to temporarily close, including substantially all of the IMAX theaters in those countries. As a result of the theater closures, Hollywood and Chinese movie studios postponed the theatrical release of multiple films, including many scheduled to be shown in IMAX theaters, while certain other films have been released directly to streaming platforms. More recently, stay-at-home orders have been lifted in many countries and movie theaters throughout the IMAX network gradually reopened in the third quarter of 2020 with reduced capacities, physical distancing requirements, and other safety measures. During the third quarter of 2020, a significant number of the theaters in the IMAX commercial multiplex network reopened, including substantially all of the theaters in Greater China and the majority of the theaters in Domestic (i.e., United States and Canada) locations and Rest of World markets. In many parts of Asia, audiences have returned to theaters, particularly IMAX theaters, in numbers consistent with pre-pandemic attendance. However, ticket sales have been significantly lower than normal levels in theaters outside of Asia and, in recent weeks, Hollywood movie studios further delayed a number of films due to be released in the fourth quarter of 2020. As a result, certain theater chains have recently closed again or have reduced their operating hours. In addition, theaters in major markets such as New York City and Los Angeles continue to remain temporarily closed. The repercussions of the COVID-19 global pandemic have resulted in a significant decrease in the Company’s revenues, earnings and operating cash flows during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 as gross box office (“GBO”) results declined significantly, the installations of certain theater systems were delayed, and maintenance services were generally suspended for theaters that were closed. During time periods in which there is a lack of new films released by movie studios and a significant number of theaters in the IMAX network are closed, the Company has and will continue to experience a significant decline in earnings and operating cash flows as it is generating significantly lower than normal levels of GBO-based revenue from its joint revenue sharing arrangements and digital remastering services, it is unable to provide normal maintenance services to any of the theaters that remain closed, and while some installation activity is continuing, certain theater system installations have, and may continue to be delayed. In addition, the Company has experienced and is likely to continue to experience delays in collecting payments due under existing theater sale or lease arrangements from its exhibitor partners who are now facing financial difficulties as a result of the theater closures. In response, the Company has provided temporary relief to exhibitor partners by waiving maintenance fees during periods when theaters are closed and, in certain situations, by providing extended payment terms on annual minimum payment obligations in exchange for a corresponding extension of the term of the underlying sale or lease arrangement. As discussed in Note 4, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company increased its provision for current expected credit losses by $3.9 million and $15.6 million, respectively, principally reflecting a reduction in the credit quality of its theater related accounts receivable, financing receivables and variable consideration receivables. The Company may continue to be significantly impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic even after a significant portion or all theaters are reopened. The global economic impact of COVID-19 has led to record levels of unemployment in certain countries, which has led to, and may continue to result in lower consumer spending. The timing and extent of a recovery of consumer behavior and willingness to spend discretionary income on movie-going may delay the Company’s ability to generate significant GBO-based revenue until such time as consumer behavior normalizes and consumer spending recovers. In response to uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Company has taken and is continuing to take significant steps to preserve cash by eliminating non-essential costs, placing certain employees on a temporary furlough for at least the remainder of the current fiscal year, reducing the working hours of other employees and deferring all non-essential capital expenditures to minimum levels. The Company has also implemented an active cash management process, which, among other things, requires senior management approval of all outgoing payments. In addition, in the first quarter of 2020, the Company drew down the $280.0 million in remaining available borrowing capacity under its credit facility, which was then amended in June 2020 to, among other things, suspend the senior secured net leverage ratio financial covenant in the underlying credit agreement through the first quarter of 2021 and substitute quarterly EBITDA from the third and fourth quarters of 2019 in lieu of the EBITDA for the corresponding quarters of 2020 to meet the original senior secured net leverage ratio financial covenant (see Note 7). Furthermore, the Company has applied for wage subsidies, tax credits and other financial support under the enacted COVID-19 relief legislation in the countries in which it operates. During 2020, the Company recognized $4.5 million under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”) program and $0.7 million under the U.S. CARES Act, as reductions to Selling, General and Administrative Expenses ($4.5 million), Costs and Expenses Applicable to Revenues ($0.6 million) and Research and Development ($0.1 million) in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The CEWS program has been extended to June 2021. The Company will continue to review and apply for additional subsidies and credits for the remaining terms of these programs, where applicable. Consistent with the first and second quarters of 2020, the Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment test considering the latest available information and determined that its goodwill was not impaired as of September 30, 2020. As of that date, the Company’s total Goodwill was $39.0 million, of which $19.0 million relates to the IMAX Systems reporting unit, $13.6 million relates to the Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangement reporting unit, and $6.4 million relates to the IMAX Maintenance reporting unit. The impairment test was performed on a reporting unit level by comparing each unit’s carrying value, including goodwill, to its fair value. The fair value of each reporting unit was assessed using a discounted cash flow model based on management’s estimated long-term projections, against which various sensitivity analyses were performed. These estimates and the likelihood of future changes in these estimates depend on a number of underlying variables and a range of possible outcomes. Actual results may materially differ from management’s estimates, especially due to the uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (see Note 1). In the third quarter of 2020, the Company also updated its recoverability tests of the carrying values of the theater system equipment supporting its joint revenue sharing arrangements, which are recorded within Property, Plant and Equipment. In performing its reviews of recoverability, the Company estimated the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and determined that there was no impairment as of September 30, 2020. The cash flow estimates used in these tests are consistent with management’s estimated long-term projections, against which various sensitivity analyses were performed. These estimates are highly uncertain due to the COVID-19 global pandemic; therefore, management’s estimated cash flows factor in a number of underlying variables and ranges of possible cash flow scenarios. Actual results may materially differ from management’s estimates, especially due to the uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (see Note 1). In the third quarter of 2020, the Company also assessed the recoverability of its deferred tax assets due to losses recognized in the period associated with the COVID-19 global pandemic. The utilization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is dependent on having sufficient future tax benefits, such as taxable income in each of the jurisdictions to which the deferred tax assets relate. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a $23.7 million valuation allowance to reduce the value of deferred tax assets in certain jurisdictions where the Company incurs corporate leadership and administrative costs and where management could not reliably estimate future taxable income in those jurisdictions due to uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 global pandemic. At the point in time when the uncertainties of COVID-19 resolve and the Company is able to reliably forecast sufficient future taxable income in the impacted jurisdictions, the $23.7 million valuation allowance recorded in the third quarter of 2020 may be reversed. Despite this valuation allowance, the Company remains entitled to benefit from tax attributes which currently have a valuation allowance applied (see Note 11). If business conditions deteriorate further, or should they remain depressed for a prolonged period of time, management’s estimates of operating results and future cash flows for the IMAX Systems and Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements reporting units may be insufficient to support the goodwill assigned to them, thus requiring impairment charges. The Company will continue to evaluate the recoverability of goodwill at the reporting unit level on an annual basis as of the beginning of its fourth fiscal quarter and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate there may be a potential impairment. In addition, estimates related to future expected credit losses (Note 4) and the recoverability of deferred tax assets (Note 11) could also be further materially impacted by changes in estimates in the future (see Note 1).

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Impact Of Coronavirus Nineteen Pandemic [Abstract]

2. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

In late-January 2020, in response to the public health risks associated with the novel coronavirus and the disease that it causes (“COVID-19”), the Chinese government directed exhibitors in China to temporarily close more than 70,000 movie theaters, including all of the approximately 700 IMAX theaters in mainland China. On March 11, 2020, due to the worsening public health crisis associated with the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and in the following weeks, local, state and national governments instituted stay-at-home orders and restrictions on large public gatherings which caused movie theaters in countries around the world to temporarily close, including substantially all of the IMAX theaters in those countries. As a result of the theater closures, Hollywood and Chinese movie studios postponed the theatrical release of multiple films, including many scheduled to be shown in IMAX theaters, while certain other films have been released directly to streaming platforms. More recently, stay-at-home orders have been lifted in many countries and movie theaters throughout the IMAX network gradually reopened in the third quarter of 2020 with reduced capacities, physical distancing requirements, and other safety measures. During the third quarter of 2020, a significant number of the theaters in the IMAX commercial multiplex network reopened, including substantially all of the theaters in Greater China and the majority of the theaters in Domestic (i.e., United States and Canada) locations and Rest of World markets. In many parts of Asia, audiences have returned to theaters, particularly IMAX theaters, in numbers consistent with pre-pandemic attendance. However, ticket sales have been significantly lower than normal levels in theaters outside of Asia and, in recent weeks, Hollywood movie studios further delayed a number of films due to be released in the fourth quarter of 2020. As a result, certain theater chains have recently closed again or have reduced their operating hours. In addition, theaters in major markets such as New York City and Los Angeles continue to remain temporarily closed.

The repercussions of the COVID-19 global pandemic have resulted in a significant decrease in the Company’s revenues, earnings and operating cash flows during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 as gross box office (“GBO”) results declined significantly, the installations of certain theater systems were delayed, and maintenance services were generally suspended for theaters that were closed. During time periods in which there is a lack of new films released by movie studios and a significant number of theaters in the IMAX network are closed, the Company has and will continue to experience a significant decline in earnings and operating cash flows as it is generating significantly lower than normal levels of GBO-based revenue from its joint revenue sharing arrangements and digital remastering services, it is unable to provide normal maintenance services to any of the theaters that remain closed, and while some installation activity is continuing, certain theater system installations have, and may continue to be delayed. In addition, the Company has experienced and is likely to continue to experience delays in collecting payments due under existing theater sale or lease arrangements from its exhibitor partners who are now facing financial difficulties as a result of the theater closures. In response, the Company has provided temporary relief to exhibitor partners by waiving maintenance fees during periods when theaters are closed and, in certain situations, by providing extended payment terms on annual minimum payment obligations in exchange for a corresponding extension of the term of the underlying sale or lease arrangement. As discussed in Note 4, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company increased its provision for current expected credit losses by $3.9 million and $15.6 million, respectively, principally reflecting a reduction in the credit quality of its theater related accounts receivable, financing receivables and variable consideration receivables.

The Company may continue to be significantly impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic even after a significant portion or all theaters are reopened. The global economic impact of COVID-19 has led to record levels of unemployment in certain countries, which has led to, and may continue to result in lower consumer spending. The timing and extent of a recovery of consumer behavior and willingness to spend discretionary income on movie-going may delay the Company’s ability to generate significant GBO-based revenue until such time as consumer behavior normalizes and consumer spending recovers.

In response to uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Company has taken and is continuing to take significant steps to preserve cash by eliminating non-essential costs, placing certain employees on a temporary furlough for at least the remainder of the current fiscal year, reducing the working hours of other employees and deferring all non-essential capital expenditures to minimum levels. The Company has also implemented an active cash management process, which, among other things, requires senior management approval of all outgoing payments. In addition, in the first quarter of 2020, the Company drew down the $280.0 million in remaining available borrowing capacity under its credit facility, which was then amended in June 2020 to, among other things, suspend the senior secured net leverage ratio financial covenant in the underlying credit agreement through the first quarter of 2021 and substitute quarterly EBITDA from the third and fourth quarters of 2019 in lieu of the EBITDA for the corresponding quarters of 2020 to meet the original senior secured net leverage ratio financial covenant (see Note 7). Furthermore, the Company has applied for wage subsidies, tax credits and other financial support under the enacted COVID-19 relief legislation in the countries in which it operates. During 2020, the Company recognized $4.5 million under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”) program and $0.7 million under the U.S. CARES Act, as reductions to Selling, General and Administrative Expenses ($4.5 million), Costs and Expenses Applicable to Revenues ($0.6 million) and Research and Development ($0.1 million) in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The CEWS program has been extended to June 2021. The Company will continue to review and apply for additional subsidies and credits for the remaining terms of these programs, where applicable.

Consistent with the first and second quarters of 2020, the Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment test considering the latest available information and determined that its goodwill was not impaired as of September 30, 2020. As of that date, the Company’s total Goodwill was $39.0 million, of which $19.0 million relates to the IMAX Systems reporting unit, $13.6 million relates to the Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangement reporting unit, and $6.4 million relates to the IMAX Maintenance reporting unit. The impairment test was performed on a reporting unit level by comparing each unit’s carrying value, including goodwill, to its fair value. The fair value of each reporting unit was assessed using a discounted cash flow model based on management’s estimated long-term projections, against which various sensitivity analyses were performed. These estimates and the likelihood of future changes in these estimates depend on a number of underlying variables and a range of possible outcomes. Actual results may materially differ from management’s estimates, especially due to the uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (see Note 1).

In the third quarter of 2020, the Company also updated its recoverability tests of the carrying values of the theater system equipment supporting its joint revenue sharing arrangements, which are recorded within Property, Plant and Equipment. In performing its reviews of recoverability, the Company estimated the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and determined that there was no impairment as of September 30, 2020. The cash flow estimates used in these tests are consistent with management’s estimated long-term projections, against which various sensitivity analyses were performed. These estimates are highly uncertain due to the COVID-19 global pandemic; therefore, management’s estimated cash flows factor in a number of underlying variables and ranges of possible cash flow scenarios. Actual results may materially differ from management’s estimates, especially due to the uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (see Note 1).

In the third quarter of 2020, the Company also assessed the recoverability of its deferred tax assets due to losses recognized in the period associated with the COVID-19 global pandemic. The utilization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is dependent on having sufficient future tax benefits, such as taxable income in each of the jurisdictions to which the deferred tax assets relate. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a $23.7 million valuation allowance to reduce the value of deferred tax assets in certain jurisdictions where the Company incurs corporate leadership and administrative costs and where management could not reliably estimate future taxable income in those jurisdictions due to uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 global pandemic. At the point in time when the uncertainties of COVID-19 resolve and the Company is able to reliably forecast sufficient future taxable income in the impacted jurisdictions, the $23.7 million valuation allowance recorded in the third quarter of 2020 may be reversed. Despite this valuation allowance, the Company remains entitled to benefit from tax attributes which currently have a valuation allowance applied (see Note 11).

If business conditions deteriorate further, or should they remain depressed for a prolonged period of time, management’s estimates of operating results and future cash flows for the IMAX Systems and Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements reporting units may be insufficient to support the goodwill assigned to them, thus requiring impairment charges. The Company will continue to evaluate the recoverability of goodwill at the reporting unit level on an annual basis as of the beginning of its fourth fiscal quarter and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate there may be a potential impairment. In addition, estimates related to future expected credit losses (Note 4) and the recoverability of deferred tax assets (Note 11) could also be further materially impacted by changes in estimates in the future (see Note 1).