Airbus IMAX Theater

14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway,
Chantilly, VA 20151

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Additional Info

Functions: Movies, Movies (First Run)

Previous Names: Smithsonian Air and Space Museum IMAX Theater, IMAX Theater at the Udvar-Hazy Center

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 202.633.1000
Manager: 703.572.4118

Nearby Theaters

lobby

The Airbus IMAX Theater is a part of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, which opened on December 15th, 2003. In December 2nd, 2008, it was renamed to the Airbus IMAX Theater after a $6 million grant to the center it’s housed in from Airbus Americas, Inc. The theater shows films in 15/70 IMAX 2D and has six-channel digital sound. The screen is six stories tall, and frequently shows IMAX documentaries as well as IMAX DMR films.

Originally the theater had no concessions expect for water, and did not show any trailers before the feature. These two trademarks of the Airbus probably upset some patrons, but overall supported a more healthy moviegoing experience. Admission for adults is $9 for a regular show and $15 for a feature film.

Contributed by Connor Wilson

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

Giles
Giles on October 9, 2014 at 4:53 pm

from an article regarding the conversion from 15/70 to digital projection on the IMAX screen:

“All three of Smithsonian’s IMAX theaters will close from January to March 2015 to convert from film to digital.”

from this online article:

http://www.airspacemag.com/space/Museums-New-Revamped-Planetarium-180952121/?no-ist

from my understanding the conversion means that with the upgrade, this location will finally be able to showcase IMAX 3D features.

Giles
Giles on January 29, 2015 at 8:25 pm

new press release:

Over the next few months the IMAX Theater at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center will be undergoing renovations to upgrade to the first major technological innovation since the advent of digital projection-the new laser digital projection system! The IMAX GT (Grand Theater) Laser Digital Projection System is designed to replace IMAX film projection systems, which have long been the most advanced theater projection systems in use. 3D content will fill the six-story IMAX screen with stunning brightness, clarity, and contrast, and will also contain more brilliant colors than have been possible to date with any theater projection system. Complementing the projection system will be a brand new, multi-channel and multi-dimensional sound system that will allow viewers to hear sounds at specific points in the theater space. During this transition to the laser digital projection the Airbus IMAX Theater is expected to close towards the end of February with completion and re-opening slated for April. The Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater at the National Air and Space Museum and the Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theater at the National Museum of Natural History will be fully operational during this time frame.

Giles
Giles on January 30, 2015 at 6:14 pm

screen dimensions is 85ft by 62ft

Giles
Giles on April 17, 2015 at 4:11 pm

the reopening of the converted screen will debut with the release of ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’, 3D and as the Smithsonian commented: “the first new film to utilize the new 12 channel sound system.”

Giles
Giles on April 30, 2015 at 4:09 pm

tonight’s the debut and reopening of the converted screen for ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’

Giles
Giles on May 13, 2015 at 1:59 pm

saw ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ yesterday and was thoroughly impressed; the laser system had great colors, sharpness, ample light for the 3D to properly work and the discrete 12-channel sound while loud, had tremendous power and aural soundscaping to justify and compete with Dolby Atmos / Auro 11.1

oh and the screen under the conversion also got bumped up a foot in the process – it’s now 86 feet in width.

Giles
Giles on July 19, 2015 at 10:47 pm

movie #6 here: ‘Ant-Man’ continued to show off the system to astounding effect – the laser brought out so much color, brightness and detail – I was actually looking at the suits (and ties) that Michael Douglas and Corey Stoll were wearing, they were extremely tactile. ‘San Andreas’ was a juggernaut in terms of the sound system – ‘Ant-Man’s 3D was truly top drawer!

Giles
Giles on December 18, 2015 at 10:29 am

mentioned in today’s Washington Post’s Weekend section as one of the top three places to see (“experience”) the new Star Wars movie – I agree!

Giles
Giles on March 31, 2016 at 1:42 pm

I never noticed this but with the laser changeover – trailers are presented before the feature … and the theater does have concessions: sodas, popcorn; two things the description of this theater states otherwise.

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