| Document and Entity Information | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2022 | |
| Cover [Abstract] | |
| Document Type | PRE 14A |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Entity Registrant Name | IMAX CORPORATION |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000921582 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended | ||
| Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Pay vs Performance [Table Text Block] | The following table summarizes compensation values reported in the Summary Compensation Table for our Chief Executive Officer, also known as principal executive officer ("PEO"), and the average of our other NEOs as compared to "compensation actually paid" during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020. In determining the "compensation actually paid" to our NEOs, we are required to make various adjustments to amounts that have been previously reported in the Summary Compensation Table in previous years, as the SEC's valuation methods for this section differ from those that are required to be applied in the Summary Compensation Table. Year Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (1) Compensation Actually Paid ("CAP") to PEO (2)(3) Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs (1) Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs (2)(3) Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: Net Income (millions) (5) Adjusted EBITDA (millions) (6) TSR Peer Group TSR (4) 2022 $ 8,038,004 $ 5,845,194 $ 2,065,369 $ 1,578,025 $ 71.76 $ 119.49 ($ 22.80 ) $ 84.40 2021 $ 9,081,442 $ 9,581,484 $ 2,623,371 $ 1,838,719 $ 87.32 $ 145.37 ($ 22.30 ) $ 68.60 2020 $ 6,922,439 $ 7,069,638 $ 2,250,134 $ 2,516,577 $ 88.20 $ 110.56 ($ 143.80 ) ($ 13.10 ) (1) The PEO for the covered years is Richard L. Gelfond . Our non-PEO NEOs for the covered years are as follows: 2020 2021 2022 Patrick McClymont Patrick McClymont Natasha Fernandes Megan Colligan Joseph Sparacio Joseph Sparacio Robert D. Lister Megan Colligan Megan Colligan Mark Welton Robert D. Lister Robert D. Lister Mark Welton Mark Welton (2) The following adjustments relating to equity awards were made to total compensation for each year to determine CAP: Year Value of Equity Awards Disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table Year End Value of Equity Awards Granted During the Covered Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Fair Value of Awards Granted and Vesting in the Same Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted in Prior Years Vesting During the Covered Year Value of Awards Granted in Prior Years that Fail to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During the Covered Year Total Equity Award Adjustments 2022 PEO $ ( 5,499,961 ) $ 5,431,528 $ ( 2,234,773 ) $ 0 $ 110,396 $ 0 $ ( 2,192,810.0 ) NEO $ ( 1,059,982 ) $ 893,778 $ ( 344,955 ) $ 15,655 $ 8,160 $ 0 $ ( 487,344.0 ) 2021 PEO $ ( 5,899,985 ) $ 7,028,781 $ ( 628,754 ) $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 500,042.0 NEO $ ( 1,574,116 ) $ 953,443 $ ( 136,280 ) $ 106,187 $ 379,737 $ ( 513,623 ) $ ( 784,652.0 ) 2020 PEO $ ( 5,499,962 ) $ 5,810,650 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 310,688.0 NEO $ ( 1,437,492 ) $ 2,038,667 $ ( 100,016 ) $ 0 $ ( 234,716 ) $ 0 $ 266,443.0 Fair values of equity awards set forth in the table above are computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 as of the end of the respective fiscal year, other than fair values of equity awards that vest in the covered year, which are valued as of the applicable vesting date. (3) The following adjustments relating to defined benefit and pension plans (as applicable) were made to total compensation for each year to determine CAP: Reported Values Deducted Calculated Values Added Year PEO Non-PEO NEOs PEO Non-PEO NEOs 2022 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 2021 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 2020 $ 163,489 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 (4) Represents the total cumulative shareholder return for $100 invested on December 31, 2019 (assuming that all dividends were reinvested) in common shares of the Company against the cumulative total return of the IMAX Peer Group to the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. IMAX's 2022 peer group consisted of Ambarella, Inc., Avid Technologies, Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc., Cineplex Inc., Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Harmonic Inc., Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., The Marcus Corporation, and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (the "2022 Peer Group"). IMAX's 2021 peer group consisted of the 2022 Peer Group and Zynga Inc. IMAX's 2020 peer group consisted of the 2022 Peer Group, Glu Mobile Inc. and Zynga Inc. Glu Mobile Inc. and Zynga Inc. were excluded from the peer group list, as applicable, because they were acquired in 2021 and 2022, respectively. (5) The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of net income attributable to common shareholders reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable year (U.S. GAAP Net Income). (6) Based on the Company assessment, Adjusted EBITDA is the financial performance measure most closely linked to the calculation of CAP. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP Financial Measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" on page 90 for a reconciliation of all non-GAAP measurements to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure and a description of how the non-GAAP numbers are calculated from our audited financial statements. | ||
| Company Selected Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA | ||
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote [Text Block] | (1) The PEO for the covered years is Richard L. Gelfond . Our non-PEO NEOs for the covered years are as follows: 2020 2021 2022 Patrick McClymont Patrick McClymont Natasha Fernandes Megan Colligan Joseph Sparacio Joseph Sparacio Robert D. Lister Megan Colligan Megan Colligan Mark Welton Robert D. Lister Robert D. Lister Mark Welton Mark Welton | ||
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote [Text Block] | (4) Represents the total cumulative shareholder return for $100 invested on December 31, 2019 (assuming that all dividends were reinvested) in common shares of the Company against the cumulative total return of the IMAX Peer Group to the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. IMAX's 2022 peer group consisted of Ambarella, Inc., Avid Technologies, Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc., Cineplex Inc., Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Harmonic Inc., Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., The Marcus Corporation, and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (the "2022 Peer Group"). IMAX's 2021 peer group consisted of the 2022 Peer Group and Zynga Inc. IMAX's 2020 peer group consisted of the 2022 Peer Group, Glu Mobile Inc. and Zynga Inc. Glu Mobile Inc. and Zynga Inc. were excluded from the peer group list, as applicable, because they were acquired in 2021 and 2022, respectively. | ||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 8,038,004 | $ 9,081,442 | $ 6,922,439 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 5,845,194 | 9,581,484 | 7,069,638 |
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote [Text Block] | (2) The following adjustments relating to equity awards were made to total compensation for each year to determine CAP: Year Value of Equity Awards Disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table Year End Value of Equity Awards Granted During the Covered Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Fair Value of Awards Granted and Vesting in the Same Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted in Prior Years Vesting During the Covered Year Value of Awards Granted in Prior Years that Fail to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During the Covered Year Total Equity Award Adjustments 2022 PEO $ ( 5,499,961 ) $ 5,431,528 $ ( 2,234,773 ) $ 0 $ 110,396 $ 0 $ ( 2,192,810.0 ) NEO $ ( 1,059,982 ) $ 893,778 $ ( 344,955 ) $ 15,655 $ 8,160 $ 0 $ ( 487,344.0 ) 2021 PEO $ ( 5,899,985 ) $ 7,028,781 $ ( 628,754 ) $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 500,042.0 NEO $ ( 1,574,116 ) $ 953,443 $ ( 136,280 ) $ 106,187 $ 379,737 $ ( 513,623 ) $ ( 784,652.0 ) 2020 PEO $ ( 5,499,962 ) $ 5,810,650 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 310,688.0 NEO $ ( 1,437,492 ) $ 2,038,667 $ ( 100,016 ) $ 0 $ ( 234,716 ) $ 0 $ 266,443.0 Fair values of equity awards set forth in the table above are computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 as of the end of the respective fiscal year, other than fair values of equity awards that vest in the covered year, which are valued as of the applicable vesting date. (3) The following adjustments relating to defined benefit and pension plans (as applicable) were made to total compensation for each year to determine CAP: Reported Values Deducted Calculated Values Added Year PEO Non-PEO NEOs PEO Non-PEO NEOs 2022 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 2021 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 2020 $ 163,489 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 | ||
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 2,065,369 | 2,623,371 | 2,250,134 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 1,578,025 | 1,838,719 | 2,516,577 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote [Text Block] | (2) The following adjustments relating to equity awards were made to total compensation for each year to determine CAP: Year Value of Equity Awards Disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table Year End Value of Equity Awards Granted During the Covered Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Fair Value of Awards Granted and Vesting in the Same Year Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted in Prior Years Vesting During the Covered Year Value of Awards Granted in Prior Years that Fail to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During the Covered Year Total Equity Award Adjustments 2022 PEO $ ( 5,499,961 ) $ 5,431,528 $ ( 2,234,773 ) $ 0 $ 110,396 $ 0 $ ( 2,192,810.0 ) NEO $ ( 1,059,982 ) $ 893,778 $ ( 344,955 ) $ 15,655 $ 8,160 $ 0 $ ( 487,344.0 ) 2021 PEO $ ( 5,899,985 ) $ 7,028,781 $ ( 628,754 ) $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 500,042.0 NEO $ ( 1,574,116 ) $ 953,443 $ ( 136,280 ) $ 106,187 $ 379,737 $ ( 513,623 ) $ ( 784,652.0 ) 2020 PEO $ ( 5,499,962 ) $ 5,810,650 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 310,688.0 NEO $ ( 1,437,492 ) $ 2,038,667 $ ( 100,016 ) $ 0 $ ( 234,716 ) $ 0 $ 266,443.0 Fair values of equity awards set forth in the table above are computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 as of the end of the respective fiscal year, other than fair values of equity awards that vest in the covered year, which are valued as of the applicable vesting date. (3) The following adjustments relating to defined benefit and pension plans (as applicable) were made to total compensation for each year to determine CAP: Reported Values Deducted Calculated Values Added Year PEO Non-PEO NEOs PEO Non-PEO NEOs 2022 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 2021 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 2020 $ 163,489 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 | ||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block] | TSR | ||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income [Text Block] | me | ||
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 71.76 | 87.32 | 88.20 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 119.49 | 145.37 | 110.56 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ (22,800,000) | $ (22,300,000) | $ (143,800,000) |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 84,400,000 | 68,600,000 | (13,100,000) |
| PEO Name | Richard L. Gelfond | Richard L. Gelfond | Richard L. Gelfond |
| Measure [Axis]: 1 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA | ||
| Non-GAAP Measure Description [Text Block] | (6) Based on the Company assessment, Adjusted EBITDA is the financial performance measure most closely linked to the calculation of CAP. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP Financial Measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" on page 90 for a reconciliation of all non-GAAP measurements to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure and a description of how the non-GAAP numbers are calculated from our audited financial statements. | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 2 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Adjusted EPS | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 3 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Connected Systems | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 4 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Global Box Office | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 5 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Liquidity | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 6 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Relative TSR | ||
| Defined Benefit and Pension Plans Calculated Values Added [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| PEO [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (2,192,810) | 500,042 | 310,688 |
| PEO [Member] | Value of Equity Awards Disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (5,499,961) | (5,899,985) | (5,499,962) |
| PEO [Member] | Year End Value of Equity Awards Granted During the Covered Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 5,431,528 | 7,028,781 | 5,810,650 |
| PEO [Member] | Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (2,234,773) | (628,754) | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Fair Value of Awards Granted and Vesting in the Same Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted in Prior Years Vesting During the Covered Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 110,396 | 0 | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Value of Awards Granted in Prior Years that Fail to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During the Covered Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Defined Benefit and Pension Plans Reported Values Deducted [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | 163,489 |
| PEO [Member] | Defined Benefit and Pension Plans Calculated Values Added [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (487,344) | (784,652) | 266,443 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Value of Equity Awards Disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (1,059,982) | (1,574,116) | (1,437,492) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Year End Value of Equity Awards Granted During the Covered Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 893,778 | 953,443 | 2,038,667 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (344,955) | (136,280) | (100,016) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Fair Value of Awards Granted and Vesting in the Same Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 15,655 | 106,187 | 0 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Change in Fair Value of Awards Granted in Prior Years Vesting During the Covered Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 8,160 | 379,737 | (234,716) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Value of Awards Granted in Prior Years that Fail to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During the Covered Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | (513,623) | 0 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Defined Benefit and Pension Plans Reported Values Deducted [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
