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Guinness crowns Germany's Traumpalast Leonberg the largest IMAX screen, but 70mm fans disagree

The Traumpalast Leonberg cinema in Baden-Württemberg, Germany holds the Guinness World Record for largest movie screen by surface area, at 127 feet wide and 69 feet tall. But that title applies to IMAX's digital format, which uses a 1.90:1 aspect ratio and is criticized by purists as inferior to the taller, squarer 1.43:1 15/70mm film format that IMAX enthusiasts consider the true premium experience.

engadget.com · 2026-09-14

IMAX theaters use taller screens and unique cameras to reshape films, not just enlarge them

IMAX auditoriums use distinct 1.90:1 or 1.43:1 aspect ratios for digital and film projection, resulting in screens that are notably taller and squarer than standard cinemas, some reaching nearly 60 feet tall for 70mm showings. Filmmakers like Christopher Nolan note that shooting for IMAX means capturing more visual information and carefully planning framing so movies translate across different screen shapes, rather than simply blowing up existing footage.

engadget.com · 2026-09-05