IMAX is common on Disney+ but still an exception on UHD Blu-ray

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's 2023 release in IMAX aspect ratio offered hope, but Disney still is not catering to UHD Blu-ray fans – only Disney+ subscribers.

Disney offers 26 films in the expanded IMAX aspect ratio (1.90:1) on its Disney+ streaming service, but only three on UHD Blu-ray.

That is the situation nearly five years after Disney launched its IMAX Enhanced initiative in partnership with IMAX.


The absence of IMAX on UHD Blu-ray
This month, Pocket-Lint highlighted the absence of IMAX aspect ratio from Disney's UHD Blu-ray releases that are supposed to represent the best of the best for both picture and sound.

For a brief moment, it looked like Disney was preparing to release films made in the IMAX aspect ratio on UHD Blu-ray in the expanded format. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was released on UHD Blu-ray in 2023 with an aspect ratio that switches between 2.39:1 and the taller 1.85:1 IMAX Enhanced aspect ratio depending on the scene – just like in many cinemas.

 Also read: List: TV models with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X & IMAX Enhanced

However, it turned out to be a one-time show. More recent Marvel home releases such as The Marvels, Captain America: Brave New World and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are presented on UHD Blu-ray in the standard 2.39:1 widescreen format, even though they switch between 2.39:1 and 1.90:1 on Disney+.

A note here: 1.90:1 is often referred to as digital IMAX, but it is not as tall as the classic 1.43:1 IMAX format found in cinemas equipped for 70mm film or dual-laser GT. Only a small number of films are made in 1.43:1.

 Also read: 'The Odyssey' trailer lets you compare aspect ratios


Why so few IMAX home releases?
Despite IMAX Enhanced initiatives from Disney+ and Sony Pictures, as well as a selection of films in the expanded format on UHD Blu-ray (particularly from Christopher Nolan), there are still many examples of films made for IMAX that have not been released for home viewing in the format, neither on UHD Blu-ray nor streaming.

Notable examples are Dune and Dune: Part Two, 007: No Time to Die, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and F1: The Movie.

Disney is one of the film studios with the largest library so it is a shame that movie collectors cannot enjoy the many Marvel films in IMAX aspect ratio at home, especially because the films are already available in the format on Disney+ – at least when Disney+ does not turn off 4K.

Disney's IMAX Enhanced films
Disney+
Iron Man (2008)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Tron: Legacy (2010)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Doctor Strange (2016)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Black Panther (2018)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
1.90:1 entire film
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Captain Marvel (2019)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
1.90:1 entire film
Black Widow (2021)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Eternals (2021)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Lightyear (2022)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
1.90:1 entire film
The Marvels (2023)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Queen Rock Montreal (2024)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
Tron: Ares (2025)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.90:1
UHD Blu-ray
Tron: Legacy (2010)
2.35:1 ↔ 1.78:1
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.85:1
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)
2.39:1 ↔ 1.78:1
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