View Filing Data

Amortization of lease assets

Operating lease cost

$ 102

^[1]

$ 1,240

$ 565

^[1]

$ 3,677

667

1,863

Interest on lease liabilities

265

807

Total lease cost

$ 1,034

$ 1,240

$ 3,235

$ 3,677

[1]	Includes short-term leases and variable lease costs, which are not significant for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Lease Arrangements And Financing Receivables - Supplemental Cash Flow Information Related to Leases (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities	$ 2,732

Lease Arrangements And Financing Receivables - Lessee Operating Lease Balance Sheet Amounts and Lines (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

Sep. 30, 2019

Jan. 01, 2019

Operating Lease liability

$ 18,093

$ 20,000

Property, plant and equipment [Member]

Accrued and other liabilities [Member]

Operating lease asset

15,877

17,462

Operating Lease liability

$ 18,391

$ 19,960

^[1]

[1]

Lease Arrangements And Financing Receivables - Lessee Operating Lease Weighted Averages Table (Details)	Sep. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019
Lease Cost [Abstract]
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)	7 years 9 months 18 days	8 years 3 months 18 days
Weighted-average discount rate	5.90%	5.80%

Lease Arrangements And Financing Receivables - Lessee Operating Lease, Maturity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019
Operating Lease Liabilities Payments Due [Abstract]
2019 (three months remaining)	$ 831
2020	3,451
2021	3,047
2022	2,283
2023	2,175
Thereafter	11,312
Total lease payments	23,099
Less: interest expense	(5,006)
Present value of lease liabilities	$ 18,093	$ 20,000

Lease Arrangements And Financing Receivables - Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Operating Lease Liabilities Payments Due [Abstract]
2019	$ 3,847
2020	2,790
2021	2,491
2022	1,843
2023	1,759
Thereafter	9,657
Total lease payments	$ 22,387

Inventories - Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Inventories
Raw materials	$ 31,461	$ 29,705
Work-in-process	5,864	4,733
Finished goods	20,850	10,122
Total	$ 58,175	$ 44,560

Inventories - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Inventories (Textuals) [Abstract]
Finished goods inventory with title passed to customer	$ 2,300		$ 2,300		$ 1,900
Write-downs for excess and obsolete inventory	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements - Additional Information (Details) ¥ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 28, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 CNY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 CNY (¥)	Jul. 05, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 05, 2018 CNY (¥)	Mar. 03, 2015 USD ($)
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Credit Facility Description			On June 28, 2018, the Company entered into a Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”), as agent, and a syndicate of lenders party thereto. The Credit Agreement expands the Company’s revolving borrowing capacity from $200.0 million to $300.0 million, and contains an uncommitted accordion feature allowing the Company to further expand its borrowing capacity to $440.0 million or greater, depending on the mix of revolving and term loans comprising the incremental facility. The facility (the “Credit Facility”) matures on June 28, 2023.
Credit Facility Maturity Date			Jun. 28, 2023
Line of credit facility covenant terms			The Credit Agreement provides that the Company is required to maintain a Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of no greater than 3.25:1.00. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants for a transaction of this type, including covenants that limit indebtedness, liens, capital expenditures, asset sales, investments and restricted payments, in each case subject to negotiated exceptions and baskets. The Credit Agreement also contains representations, warranties and event of default provisions customary for a transaction of this type.
Remaining Borrowing Capacity	$ 280,000,000.0		$ 280,000,000.0				$ 260,000,000.0
Effective interest rate	3.34%	3.28%	3.50%	3.28%
Working Capital Loan [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Current borrowing capacity									$ 30,000,000.0	¥ 200.0
Credit Facility Description			On July 5, 2018, IMAX (Shanghai) Multimedia Technology Co., Ltd. (“IMAX Shanghai”), one of the Company’s majority-owned subsidiaries in China, entered into an unsecured revolving facility for up to 200.0 million Renminbi (approximately $30.0 million U.S. Dollars) to fund ongoing working capital requirements.
Amounts Drawn	$ 0		$ 0			¥ 0.0	0	¥ 0.0
Remaining Borrowing Capacity	30,000,000.0		30,000,000.0			¥ 200.0	30,000,000.0	¥ 200.0
Minimum [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Borrowing capacity under uncommitted accordion feature	440,000,000.0		440,000,000.0
Maximum [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Current borrowing capacity	300,000,000.0		$ 300,000,000.0
Prior Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Current borrowing capacity											$ 200,000,000.0
Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate description			Loans under the Credit Facility will bear interest, at the Company’s option, at (i) LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 1.00% to 1.75% per annum; or (ii) the U.S. base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.25% to 1.00% per annum, in each case depending on the Company’s Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement).
Compliance with covenants			The Company was in compliance with all of its requirements at September 30, 2019.
Amounts Drawn	20,000,000.0		$ 20,000,000.0				40,000,000.0
Letters of credit and advance payment guarantees	0		$ 0				0
Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate margin percentage			1.00%
Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate margin percentage			0.25%
Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt instrument net leverage ratio			3.25
Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate margin percentage			1.75%
Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate margin percentage			1.00%
Wells Fargo Foreign Exchange Facility [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Settlement risk on its foreign currency forward contracts	400,000		$ 400,000				1,200,000
Notional Amount of arrangements entered into	38,800,000		$ 38,800,000				50,800,000
Bank of Montreal Facility [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Credit Facility Maturity Date			Sep. 30, 2019
Remaining Borrowing Capacity	10,000,000.0		$ 10,000,000.0				10,000,000.0
Letters of credit and advance payment guarantees	$ 0		$ 0				$ 0
NBC Facility [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements (Textual) [Abstract]
Current borrowing capacity					$ 5,000,000.0

Credit Facility and Other Financing Arrangements - Bank Indebtedness (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Credit Facility	$ 20,000	$ 40,000
Deferred charges on debt financing	(1,897)	(2,247)
Total bank indebtedness	$ 18,103	$ 37,753

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References + Details

Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended	25 Months Ended	51 Months Ended	95 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 14, 2015	Mar. 27, 2008	Dec. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2018
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Final Award in favor of company			amount of $11.3 million, consisting of past and future rents owed to the Company, plus interest and costs, as well as an additional $2,512 each day in interest from October 1, 2007 until the date the award is paid	$30,000 to cover the costs of the application
Final Award amount issued			$ 11,300,000
Final Award additional interest			$ 2,512
Final Award settlement cost				$ 30,000
Damages sought		$ 10,400,000
Financial Guarantees	$ 0
Product Warranty Accrual	200,000				$ 200,000
Indemnification of its directors/officers	0				$ 0
Other Indemnification	$ 0
Minimum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Counterclaim sought		$ 24,000,000.0

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Supplemental Information - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) exhibitor Theater Film	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) exhibitor Theater Film	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) Film	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Selling Expenses
Deferred direct selling costs and direct advertising and marketing included in costs and expenses applicable to revenues-equipment and product sales	$ 600	$ 800	$ 1,500	$ 2,000
Direct advertising and marketing costs included in costs and expenses applicable to revenues-rentals	500	500	1,400	1,200
Film exploitation costs, including advertising and marketing included in costs and expenses applicable to revenues-services	4,300	3,100	18,400	15,700
Foreign Exchange
Foreign exchange translation gain (Ioss)	$ (700)	400	$ (1,100)	(700)
Collaborative Arrangements
Total number of exhibitors under joint revenue sharing agreements \| exhibitor	39		39
Total number of theater systems under joint revenue sharing agreements \| Theater	1,243		1,243
Total number of operating theaters under joint revenue sharing agreement \| Theater	841		841
Amounts attributable to transactions arising between the company and its customers under joint revenue sharing arrangements	$ 17,900	17,000	$ 66,100	$ 60,600
Average percentage of the box-office receipts of the film for recovering digital re-mastering cost	12.50%		12.50%
IMAX DMR films exhibited in the period \| Film			59	58
Amounts attributable to transactions arising between the company and its customers under IMAX DMR arrangements	$ 26,700	22,400	$ 93,900	$ 85,600
Number of significant co-produced film arrangement \| Film	2		2
Number of other co-produced film arrangements \| Film	3		3
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Total Assets	$ 11,331		$ 11,331		$ 12,203
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Total Liabilities	15,556		15,556		$ 11,573
Amounts attributable to transactions between the company and other parties involved in the production of films included in cost and expense	100	200	300	400
Co-produced television collaborative arrangement revenue	0	0	0	400
Co-produced television collaborative arrangement costs and expenses	0	0	$ 0	500
Minimum [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements
Non-cancellable term of joint revenue sharing arrangements			10 years
Maximum [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements
Non-cancellable term of joint revenue sharing arrangements			or longer
Rental [Member]
Selling Expenses
Deferred direct selling costs and direct advertising and marketing included in costs and expenses applicable to revenues-equipment and product sales	$ 300	$ 400	$ 300	$ 1,000

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Information - Summary of Depreciation and Amortization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Summary of Depreciation and amortization
Film assets	$ 13,015	$ 11,166
Property, plant and equipment
Joint revenue sharing arrangements	17,179	15,293
Other property, plant and equipment	9,100	9,753
Other intangible assets	4,568	3,871
Other assets	1,262	925
Deferred financing costs	376	976
Depreciation and amortization	$ 45,500	$ 41,984

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Information - Write-downs, Net of Recoveries (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Sep. 30, 2018

Write-downs, net of recoveries

Accounts receivable

$ 1,957

$ 1,567

Joint revenue sharing arrangements

^[1]

748

354

Film assets

^[2]

179

Property, plant and equipment

^[1]

482

Other intangible assets

Financing receivables

100

Write-downs, net of recoveries

$ 2,984

$ 2,541

[1]

[2]

The Company discontinued production of a certain film asset in 2019, resulting in a write down of costs incurred totalling $0.2 million (2018 —$nil).

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Information - Write-downs, Net of Recoveries (Parenthetical) (Details) - USD ($)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Sep. 30, 2018

Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]

Property plant and equipment write downs no longer in use

$ 100,000

$ 800,000

Theater system components written off in Cost of Sales

200,000

Theater system components written off in Revenue

100,000

Write down costs incurred in certain film asset

^[1]

$ 179,000

$ 0

[1]	The Company discontinued production of a certain film asset in 2019, resulting in a write down of costs incurred totalling $0.2 million (2018 —$nil).

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Information - Significant Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities - (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Net accruals related to:
Investment in joint revenue sharing arrangements	$ 2,040	$ (200)
Acquisition of other intangible assets	6	(189)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(432)	634
Net accruals	$ 1,614	$ 245

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Change in Company's estimates of the recoverability of its deferred tax assets	$ 0
Deferred income tax asset after valuation allowance	29,700		$ 29,700		$ 31,300
Gross deferred income tax asset	29,900		29,900		31,500
Valuation allowance	200		200		200
Provision for income taxes	3,030	$ 1,452	11,986	$ 9,540
Tax provision related to uncertain tax positions	700
Tax provision related to employee stock compensation plans	0
Impact of changes due to U.S. Tax Act					0
Cash held outside of North America	84,200		84,200		121,900
Withholding tax estimate on repatriation of funds	10,200		10,200		8,400
Republic of China [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Cash held/undistributed earnings intended to be permanently reinvested	$ 63,500		$ 63,500		$ 54,700

Income Taxes - Income Tax (Expense) Benefit Included in the Company's Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Unrealized change in cash flow hedging instruments	$ (84)	$ (132)	$ (266)	$ 309
Realized change in cash flow hedging instruments upon settlement	138	12	42	99
Income tax effect on other comprehensive income	$ 54	$ (120)	$ (224)	$ 408

Capital Stock - Additional Information (Details)		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
Capital Stock - Additional Information (Details)	Jun. 12, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) shares	Jun. 06, 2019 shares	May 03, 2018 shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation costs recorded for the period \| $		$ 5,500,000		$ 5,600,000	$ 16,900,000		$ 17,100,000
Stock-based compensation expense \| $		$ 5,527,000		$ 5,562,000	$ 16,916,000		$ 17,146,000
Common shares purchased in open market by trustee in connection with RSUs		45,000		0	445,000		300,000
Weighted average price of common shares purchased in open market by trustee in connection with RSUs \| $ / shares		$ 21.52		$ 0.00	$ 22.83		$ 20.55
Number of treasury shares held in trust for future settlement of share based awards					71,664			44,579
Value of treasury shares held in trust for future settlement of share based awards \| $		$ 1,572,000	$ 1,572,000		$ 1,572,000	$ 1,572,000		$ 916,000
Antidilutive shares issuable upon exercise of stock options and restricted share units		5,289,172		5,732,840	5,902,208		5,735,717
Parent [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Details of the share repurchase program					In 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new $200.0 million share repurchase program for shares of the Company’s common shares. The share repurchase program expires on June 30, 2020. The repurchases may be made either in the open market or through private transactions, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other relevant factors. The Company has no obligation to repurchase shares and the share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued by the Company at any time.
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount \| $	$ 200,000,000.0
Stock Repurchase Program Expiration Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period, Shares		46,615		0	134,384		2,154,689
Stock Acquired, Average Cost per Share \| $ / shares		$ 20.35		$ 0.00	$ 19.76		$ 21.54
Non-controlling Interests [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Details of the share repurchase program					In 2018, IMAX China announced that its shareholders granted its Board of Directors a general mandate authorizing the Board, subject to applicable laws, to repurchase shares of IMAX China in an amount not to exceed 10% of the total number of issued shares of IMAX China as at May 3, 2018 (35,818,112 shares). The share repurchase program expired on June 6, 2019. In 2019, IMAX China announced that its shareholders granted its Board of Directors a general mandate authorizing the Board, subject to applicable laws, to repurchase shares of IMAX China in an amount not to exceed 10% of the total number of issued shares of IMAX China as at June 6, 2019 (35,605,560 shares). The share repurchase program expires on the date of the 2020 annual general meeting of IMAX China. The repurchases may be made in the open market or through other means permitted by applicable laws. IMAX China has no obligation to repurchase its shares and the share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued by IMAX China at any time.
Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period, Shares		1,025,800		0	8,051,500		0
Stock Acquired, Average Cost per Share \| (per share)		$ 2.29	$ 17.90		$ 2.38	$ 18.63
Stock Repurchase Program, maximum percentage of shares to be repurchased									10.00%	10.00%
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized number of shares									35,605,560	35,818,112
Restricted Share Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense \| $		$ 2,933,000		$ 3,772,000	$ 9,175,000		$ 11,792,000
RSU awards, Granted					649,389		658,353
RSU awards, Vested and settled					367,020		392,066
Antidilutive shares issuable upon exercise of stock options and restricted share units		71,321		299,859	161,378		302,736
Restricted Share Units [Member] \| Certain Advisor [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense \| $				$ 0			$ 0
RSU awards, Granted					12,580
RSU awards, Vested and settled					12,580
Restricted Share Units [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Certain Advisor [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense \| $		$ 100,000			$ 100,000
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense \| $		$ 2,145,000		$ 1,489,000	$ 6,228,000		$ 4,239,000
Antidilutive shares issuable upon exercise of stock options and restricted share units		5,217,851		5,432,981	5,740,830		5,432,981

Capital Stock - Stock Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 5,527	$ 5,562	$ 16,916	$ 17,146
Cost and Expenses Applicable to Revenues [Member]
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	448	587	1,268	1,319
Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member]
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	4,983	4,840	15,371	15,499
Research and Development [Member]
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	96	135	277	347
Exit Costs, Restructuring Charges and Associated Impairments [Member]
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (19)

Capital Stock - Stock-based Compensation by Plan Type (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense by plan type	$ 5,527	$ 5,562	$ 16,916	$ 17,146
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense by plan type	2,145	1,489	6,228	4,239
Restricted Share Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense by plan type	2,933	3,772	9,175	11,792
China Long Term Incentive Plan Restricted Share Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense by plan type	363	241	1,283	961
China Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense by plan type	$ 86	$ 60	$ 230	$ 154

Capital Stock - Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity (Details) - Employee Stock Option [Member] - $ / shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options outstanding, beginning of period	5,465,046	5,082,100
Granted	1,016,882	1,081,120
Exercised	(86,337)	(12,750)
Forfeited	(329,346)	(51,238)
Expired	(299,134)	(490,042)
Cancelled	(26,281)	(100,596)
Options outstanding, end of period	5,740,830	5,508,594
Options exercisable, end of period	4,511,208	3,902,341
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price per share, beginning of period	$ 27.63	$ 29.31
Granted, weighted average exercise price per share	20.66	21.96
Exercised, weighted average exercise price per share	20.15	17.08
Forfeited, weighted average exercise price per share	23.60	31.14
Expired, weighted average exercise price per share	25.82	31.61
Cancelled, weighted average exercise price per share	31.08	30.32
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price per share, end of period	26.82	27.66
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price per share, end of period	$ 27.76	$ 28.58

Capital Stock - Restricted Stock Units Activity under the IMAX LTIP (Details) - Restricted Share Units [Member] - $ / shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
RSUs outstanding, beginning of period	1,033,871	995,329
Granted	649,389	658,353
Vested and settled	(367,020)	(392,066)
Forfeited	(206,593)	(63,621)
RSUs outstanding, end of period	1,109,647	1,197,995
RSUs outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value per share, beginning of period	$ 25.70	$ 32.68
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value per share	22.33	20.99
Vested and settled, weighted average grant date fair value per share	26.66	30.87
Forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value per share	23.77	30.34
RSUs outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value per share, end of period	$ 23.77	$ 26.97

Capital Stock - Basic and Diluted Per-share Computations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
Net income applicable to common shareholders	$ 9,033	$ 5,020	$ 28,695	$ 21,150
Weighted average number of common shares (000's):
Issued and outstanding, beginning of period	61,290,617		61,290,617		61,331,000	61,433,589	62,522,000	64,696,000
Weighted average number of shares repurchased, net of shares issued during the period	(27,000)	29,000	(97,000)	(1,230,000)
Weighted average number of shares used in computing basic income per share	61,304,000	62,551,000	61,337,000	63,466,000
Assumed exercise of stock options and RSUs, net of shares assumed repurchased	175,000	242,000	172,000	114,000
Weighted average number of shares used in computing diluted income per share	61,479,000	62,793,000	61,509,000	63,580,000

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]
Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation	$ 15.5	$ 15.5	$ 21.9
Variable consideration adjustment, modification of existing arrangement	$ 0.6	$ 2.5

Segmented Information - Additional Information (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) Segment	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of Primary Groups \| Segment			4
Description of products and services from which each reportable segment derives its revenues			The Company’s reportable segments are organized under four primary groups identified by nature of product sold or service provided: (1) Network Business, representing variable revenue generated by box office results and which includes the reportable segment of IMAX DMR and contingent rent from the joint revenue sharing arrangements and IMAX systems segments (hybrid joint revenue sharing arrangements, which take the form of a sale are reflected under the IMAX systems segment of Theater Business); (2) Theater Business, representing revenue generated by the sale and installation of theater systems and maintenance services, primarily related to the IMAX Systems and Theater System Maintenance reportable segments, and also includes hybrid (fixed and contingent) revenues and upfront installation costs from sales arrangements previously reported in the joint revenue sharing arrangements segment and after-market sales of projection system parts and 3D glasses from the other segment; (3) New Business, which includes home entertainment, and other new business initiatives that are in the development, start-up and/or wind-up phases, and (4) Other; which includes the film post-production and distribution segments, certain IMAX theaters that the Company owns and operates, camera rentals and other miscellaneous items.
Description of the basis of accounting for transactions between reportable segments			Refer to Item 2 of the Company’s Form 10-Q for additional information regarding the four primary groups mentioned above
Percentage of total revenues represented by largest customer	16.60%	15.50%	18.90%	18.40%
Marketing and commission costs	$ 0.6	$ 0.8	$ 1.5	$ 2.0
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Description of Revenue from External Customers			No single country in the Rest of the World, Western Europe, Latin America and Asia (excluding Greater China) classifications comprises more than 10% of the total revenue.
IMAX DMR [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textual) [Abstract]
Marketing costs (recovery)	4.3	3.1	$ 17.7	13.7
Joint revenue sharing arrangements [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textual) [Abstract]
Advertising, marketing and commission costs (recovery)	0.8	1.0	1.1	2.2
IMAX systems [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textual) [Abstract]
Advertising, marketing and commission costs (recovery)	0.6	0.8	1.5	2.0
Film Distribution [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textual) [Abstract]
Marketing costs (recovery)		$ 0.1	$ 0.7	$ 2.0
Film Distribution [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textual) [Abstract]
Marketing costs (recovery)	$ 0.1

Segmented Information - Inter-Segment Revenue (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Sep. 30, 2018

Sep. 30, 2019

Sep. 30, 2018

Revenues

$ 86,390

$ 82,108

$ 271,385

$ 265,437

47,120

42,191

151,813

153,287

IMAX DMR [Member]

Revenues

26,665

22,372

93,908

85,586

Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements – Contingent Rent [Member]

^[1]

17,866

14,461

61,602

57,523

Revenues

^[2]

16,546

14,327

59,704

56,919

IMAX systems – Contingent Rent [Member]

^[1]

9,514

8,081

40,437

39,441

Revenues

^[2]

189

Network Business Total [Member]

189

Revenues

^[2]

43,243

36,699

153,801

142,505

27,412

22,542

102,228

96,964

IMAX Systems [Member]

Revenues

^[2]

21,003

23,398

50,800

59,527

Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements – Fixed Fees [Member]

^[1]

11,630

13,064

26,874

37,487

Revenues

^[2]

1,438

2,798

6,525

3,821

Theater System Maintenance [Member]

^[1]

136

529

1,301

776

Revenues

^[2]

13,657

12,415

39,815

37,462

6,125

5,996

17,046

17,289

Other Theater [Member]

Revenues

^[2]

1,560

2,076

5,766

5,707

Theater Network Total [Member]

505

581

1,821

1,099

Revenues

^[2]

37,658

40,687

102,906

106,517

18,396

20,170

47,042

56,651

New Business [Member]

Revenues

^[2]

596

1,275

1,908

4,999

Film Post-production [Member]

541

(298)

1,441

139

Revenues

^[2]

2,185

2,262

6,458

6,512

Film Distribution [Member]

810

737

1,576

2,272

Revenues

^[2]

1,343

800

3,333

2,644

^[1]

(760)

(477)

(1,093)

(1,952)

Other [Member]

Revenues

^[2]

1,365

385

2,979

2,260

721

(483)

619

(787)

Others Total [Member]

Revenues

^[2]

4,893

3,447

12,770

11,416

$ 771

$ (223)

$ 1,102

$ (467)

[1]

[2]

The Company’s largest customer represented 16.6% and 18.9%, respectively, of total revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively (2018 —15.5% and 18.4%, respectively).

Segmented Information - Geographic Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Geographical Information
Revenues, total	$ 86,390	$ 82,108	$ 271,385	$ 265,437
Greater China [Member]
Geographical Information
Revenues, total	26,557	30,480	85,813	81,967
United States [Member]
Geographical Information
Revenues, total	24,316	20,763	84,553	86,476
Asia (excluding Greater China) [Member]
Geographical Information
Revenues, total	13,534	13,909	32,287	34,510
Western Europe [Member]
Geographical Information
Revenues, total	8,433	6,879	28,809	26,191
Latin America [Member]
Geographical Information
Revenues, total	2,912	2,469	7,725	8,804
Canada [Member]
Geographical Information
Revenues, total	1,993	2,106	6,485	8,116
Russia & the CIS [Member]
Geographical Information
Revenues, total	2,909	3,142	10,216	7,478
Rest of the World [Member]
Geographical Information
Revenues, total	$ 5,736	$ 2,360	$ 15,497	$ 11,895

Employee's Pension and Postretirement Benefits - Amounts Accrued (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Amounts Accrued
Interest cost	$ 141	$ 105	$ 423	$ 316
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Amounts Accrued
Obligation, beginning of period			17,977	$ 19,003	$ 19,003
Interest cost			423		422
Actuarial gain			0		(1,448)
Obligation, end of period and unfunded status	$ 18,400		$ 18,400		$ 17,977

Employee's Pension and Postretirement Benefits - Pension Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Pension Expense
Interest cost	$ 141	$ 105	$ 423	$ 316

Employees Pension and Postretirement Benefits - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Deferred compensation plan description			The Company maintained a nonqualified deferred compensation benefit plan (the “Retirement Plan”) covering Greg Foster, former CEO of IMAX Entertainment and Senior Executive Vice President of the Company. Under the terms of his Retirement Plan with the Company, the Retirement Plan will vest in full if Mr. Foster incurs a separation from service (as defined therein).
Benefit obligation recorded	$ 3,600,000		$ 3,600,000		$ 3,600,000
Compensation expense recognized	0	$ 200,000	0	$ 600,000
SERP Benefits [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Companies contribution and expenses during the remainder of 2019			0
Expected interest costs in the remainder of the year	100,000		100,000
Benefit Obligation	18,400,000		$ 18,400,000		17,977,000	$ 19,003,000
SERP assumptions			The SERP assumptions are that Mr. Gelfond will receive a lump sum payment six months after retirement at the end of the current term of his employment agreement (December 31, 2019), although Mr. Gelfond has not informed the Company that he intends to retire at that time.
Defined Contribution Plan [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Description Of Defined Contribution Pension And Other Postretirement Plans			The Company also maintains defined contribution plans for its employees, including its executive officers. The Company makes contributions to these plans on behalf of employees in an amount up to 5% of their base salary subject to certain prescribed maximums.
Maximum percentage of base salary contributed to Defined Contribution Pension Plan by Company			5.00%
Canadian Plan [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Companies contribution and expenses during the remainder of 2019	300,000	400,000	$ 900,000	1,000,000.0
Us Internal Revenue Code [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Companies contribution and expenses during the remainder of 2019	100,000	100,000	500,000	400,000
Postretirement Benefits Executives [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Benefit Obligation	700,000		700,000		600,000
Postretirement Benefits Executives [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Maximum amount of Postretirement benefit expensed	100,000	100,000	100,000	100,000
Postretirement Benefits Canadian Employees [Member]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense (Textual) [Abstract]
Benefit Obligation	1,500,000		1,500,000		$ 1,500,000
Maximum amount of Postretirement benefit expensed	$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 100,000

Financial Instruments - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

Sep. 30, 2019

Dec. 31, 2018

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 102,548

$ 141,590

Net financed sales receivables

13,659

1,022

109,844

117,990

Net investment in sales-type leases

11,496

9,442

Convertible loan receivable

1,500

Foreign exchange contracts — designated forwards

350

1,202

Borrowings under the Credit Facility

(20,000)

(40,000)

Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]

Cash and cash equivalents

^[1]

102,548

141,590

Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]

^[2]

13,660

1,022

Net financed sales receivables

^[1]

1,000

^[3]

109,844

117,990

Net investment in sales-type leases

^[3]

11,496

9,442

Convertible loan receivable

^[3]

1,500

Borrowings under the Credit Facility

^[1]

(20,000)

(40,000)

Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]

Foreign exchange contracts — designated forwards

^[2]

(350)

(1,202)

Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]

Cash and cash equivalents

^[1]

102,548

141,590

Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]

^[2]

13,660

1,022

Net financed sales receivables

^[1]

1,000

^[3]

108,993

117,428

Net investment in sales-type leases

^[3]

11,526

9,529

Convertible loan receivable

^[3]

1,500

Borrowings under the Credit Facility

^[1]

(20,000)

(40,000)

Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]