Financing receivable recorded investment current and past due.

No definition available.

Name:	imax_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentCurrentAndPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Financing receivable recorded investment current and past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	imax_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentCurrentAndPastDueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the recorded investment not billed at the balance sheet date, in a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the creditor's statement of financial position. Examples include, but are not limited to, accounts receivable (with terms exceeding one year), notes receivable and receivables relating to lessor's rights to payments from leases other than operating leases that have been recorded as assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	imax_FinancingReceivableRelatedUnbilledRecordedInvestmentAtBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix:	imax_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of allowance for credit loss on financing receivable. Excludes allowance for financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123577603&loc=SL6953423-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(7)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255206&loc=SL82895884-210446

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919249-210447

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919249-210447

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph (a)
-Subparagraph (3)

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph (c)

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph (a)
-Subparagraph (1)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, before allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123577603&loc=SL6953401-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 79
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124267575&loc=SL82922352-210448

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919253-210447

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255206&loc=SL82895884-210446

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919230-210447

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 80
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124267575&loc=SL82922355-210448

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph (a)
-Subparagraph (1)

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph (a)
-Subparagraph (2)

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1404
-Paragraph (a)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable. Excludes financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919230-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124259787&loc=d3e4428-111522

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=us-gaap_FinanceLeasesPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=imax_NetFinancedSalesReceivablesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablesPeriodPastDueAxis=us-gaap_FinancingReceivables1To29DaysPastDueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablesPeriodPastDueAxis=imax_FinancingReceivables30To89DaysPastDueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablesPeriodPastDueAxis=us-gaap_FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Current Expected Credit Losses - Schedule of Aging Analysis for Net Investment in Leases and Financed Sale Receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	$ 15,190		$ 17,116
Unbilled	126,071		122,525
Financed sales receivables, Total	141,261		139,641
Allowance for Credit Losses	(6,059)		(7,831)
Total financing receivables	135,202		131,810
Net Investment in Leases [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	1,246		1,167
Unbilled	21,250		18,804
Financed sales receivables, Total	22,496		19,971
Allowance for Credit Losses	(494)	$ (579)	(557)	$ (504)	$ (459)	$ (155)
Total financing receivables	22,002		19,414
Net Financed Sales Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	13,944		15,949
Unbilled	104,821		103,721
Financed sales receivables, Total	118,765		119,670
Allowance for Credit Losses	(5,565)	$ (7,113)	(7,274)	$ (4,643)	$ (3,709)	$ (915)
Total financing receivables	113,200		112,396
Accrued and Current [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	2,210		3,605
Accrued and Current [Member] \| Net Investment in Leases [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	221		298
Accrued and Current [Member] \| Net Financed Sales Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	1,989		3,307
30 to 89 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	1,897		2,123
30 to 89 Days Past Due [Member] \| Net Investment in Leases [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	149		180
30 to 89 Days Past Due [Member] \| Net Financed Sales Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	1,748		1,943
Equal To Greater Than 90 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	11,083		11,388
Equal To Greater Than 90 Days Past Due [Member] \| Net Investment in Leases [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	876		689
Equal To Greater Than 90 Days Past Due [Member] \| Net Financed Sales Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Current And Past Due [Line Items]
Billed	$ 10,207		$ 10,699