Draft:IMAX Melbourne

IMAX Melbourne is an IMAX movie theatre in Carlton, Melbourne, Australia. It is the largest IMAX theatre in the southern hemisphere, and the second largest in the world. It is owned and operated by Museums Victoria and is located eight-storeys beneath the Melbourne Museum. It features IMAX's dual laser projector, as well as an IMAX 15/70 film projector.

History
Initial plans for the theatre were drafted in 1994 as part of the renovation of the Melbourne Museum. Final plans for the theatre were announced in 1996 with construction scheduled to begin in May of that year. After delays, final bids for the project were solicited in September of 1996. during construction more delays were encountered due to contaminated soil and water seepage.

The cinema opened in March of 1998 with the screening of the film Everest. At the time of opening, the screen was 31mx23m.

In 2013, the cinema closed in order to receive a new IMAX digital Xenon system that was installed alongside the existing 15/70 projector, as well as to receive an upgraded screen.

In 2015, the cinema was closed yet again in order to replace the IMAX digital Xenon system with a new upgraded IMAX dual laser projection system, as well as an upgraded IMAX 12 Channel sound system. In order to make room for the new dual laser projectors, the 15/70 projector was removed and put into storage. In 2017, after negotiations with the IMAX Corporation, the 15/70 projector was reinstalled alongside the dual laser projectors for the release of Dunkirk.

With the release of Oppenheimer in 2023, IMAX Melbourne was one of only 30 cinemas in the world, and the only location in the southern hemisphere able to project the film on 15/70.

The cinema is located eight-storeys beneath the Melbourne Museum, its screen is currently the largest in Australia, and the second largest in the world (32mx23m). The cinema seats 461 people, including 25 VIP seats. The cinema features an IMAX 12 Channel Digital sound system as well as one IMAX dual laser projector and one IMAX GT3D 15/70 film projector.

Comparison to other IMAX theatres in Australia
Currently, there is only one other IMAX theatre in Australia, which is IMAX Sydney. Compared to IMAX Sydney, IMAX Melbourne is larger in size, while also featuring a 15/70 projector, unlike IMAX Sydney. IMAX currently has plans to open up to 40 more theatres in Australia.