Aggregate sum of statutory surplus reserve to its registered capital,percent.

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Percentage of statutory net profits to statutory surplus reserve to be appropriated.

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The weighted average of per share prices paid for shares purchased on the open market for issuance to employees under the plan.

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Statutory surplus reserve to its subsidiaries registered capital percent.

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The maximum percentage of issues shares outstanding that can be repurchased under the program.

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Amount of expense for award under share-based payment arrangement. Excludes amount capitalized.

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury.

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Amount of paid and unpaid common stock dividends declared with the form of settlement in cash, stock and payment-in-kind (PIK).

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Amount of noncash expense for share-based payment arrangement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Number of shares purchased for issuance under share-based payment arrangement.

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The amount of statutory capital and surplus (stockholders' equity) as of the balance sheet date using prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices (rather than GAAP, if different) of the state or country.

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Amount of stock repurchase plan authorized.

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Expiration date for the purchase of an entity's own shares under a stock repurchase plan, in the YYYY-MM-DD format.

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The number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

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Number of shares that have been repurchased and retired during the period.

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Total cost of shares repurchased divided by the total number of shares repurchased.

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Description of share repurchase program, including accounting treatment.

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Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury.

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The amount allocated to treasury stock. Treasury stock is common and preferred shares of an entity that were issued, repurchased by the entity, and are held in its treasury.

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Capital Stock and Reserves - Additional Information (Details) $ / shares in Units, ¥ in Millions	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2021 CNY (¥) shares	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2020 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2021 CNY (¥) shares	Apr. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 11, 2020 shares	Jul. 01, 2017 USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation costs recorded for the period	$ 6,100,000			$ 5,300,000	$ 18,200,000		$ 16,000,000.0
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 6,109,000			$ 5,310,000	$ 18,211,000		$ 15,969,000
Maximum number of shares of common stock may be issued for outstanding PSU \| shares	59,082,275		59,082,275		59,082,275	59,082,275			58,921,731	59,082,275
Common shares purchased in open market by trustee in connection with RSUs \| shares	0	0			0		200,000
Weighted average price of common shares purchased in open market by trustee in connection with RSUs \| $ / shares							$ 15.43
Number of treasury shares held in trust for future settlement of share based awards \| shares					276				723
Value of treasury shares held in trust for future settlement of RSUs and stock options	$ 4,000		$ 4,000		$ 4,000	$ 4,000			$ 11,000
Antidilutive shares issuable upon exercise of stock options, restricted share units and performance stock units \| shares	6,115,389	6,115,389		6,959,515	6,115,389		6,959,515
Percentage of statutory net profits to statutory surplus reserve to be appropriated.	10.00%		10.00%		10.00%	10.00%				10.00%
Discontinuation of contribution, Aggregate sum of statutory surplus reserve more than its registered capital,percent.	50.00%		50.00%		50.00%	50.00%				50.00%
Statutory surplus reserve appropriated	$ 5,600,000		$ 5,600,000		$ 5,600,000	$ 5,600,000				¥ 36.4
Dividends declared and paid	$ 20,400,000	¥ 131.6
Statutory surplus reserve to its subsidiaries registered capital percent	50.00%		50.00%		50.00%	50.00%				50.00%
IMAX China
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Details of the share repurchase program					In 2021, IMAX China announced that its shareholders granted its Board of Directors a general mandate authorizing the Board, subject to applicable laws, to repurchase of shares of IMAX China not to exceed 10% of the total number of issued shares as of May 6, 2021 (34,835,824 shares). This program will be valid until the 2022 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 Repurchase Program Expiration Date					May 06, 2021
Repurchase of common shares \| shares	3,569,000	3,569,000			3,569,000		906,400
Stock Acquired, Average Cost per Share \| (per share)	$ 1.40		$ 10.90		$ 1.40	$ 10.90	$ 1.69	$ 13.13
Stock Repurchase Program, maximum percentage of shares to be repurchased												10.00%
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized number of shares \| shares												34,835,824
Parent [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Details of the share repurchase program					In April 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 12-month extension to its share repurchase program through June 30, 2022. The extension authorized the Company to repurchase up to approximately $89.4 million worth of common shares, the remaining amount available of the original $200.0 million initially authorized under the share repurchase program when it commenced on July 1, 2017. The repurchases may be made either in the open market or through private transactions, including repurchases made pursuant a plan intended to comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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, 2022
Repurchase of common shares \| shares	316,812	316,812			316,812		2,484,123
Stock Acquired, Average Cost per Share \| $ / shares	$ 14.53				$ 14.53		$ 14.72
Statutory surplus reserve appropriated	$ 3,900		$ 3,900		$ 3,900	$ 3,900
Non-controlling Interests [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Statutory surplus reserve appropriated	1,700		1,700		1,700	1,700
Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Value of treasury shares held in trust for future settlement of RSUs and stock options	100,000		$ 100,000		100,000	$ 100,000			$ 100,000
Maximum [Member] \| Parent [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount											$ 89,400,000
Restricted Share Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 3,900,000			$ 3,430,000	$ 11,524,000		$ 10,866,000
Antidilutive shares issuable upon exercise of stock options, restricted share units and performance stock units \| shares	1,592,965	1,592,965		1,674,348	1,592,965		1,674,348
Restricted Share Units [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Certain Advisor [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense							$ 100,000
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 253,000			$ 433,000	$ 808,000		$ 1,449,000
Antidilutive shares issuable upon exercise of stock options, restricted share units and performance stock units \| shares	3,738,504	3,738,504		4,917,428	3,738,504		4,917,428
Performance Stock Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 1,183,000			$ 483,000	$ 3,169,000		$ 1,229,000
Antidilutive shares issuable upon exercise of stock options, restricted share units and performance stock units \| shares	783,920	783,920		367,739	783,920		367,739
Performance Stock Units [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| EBITDA
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum number of shares of common stock may be issued for outstanding PSU \| shares	1,079,372		1,079,372		1,079,372	1,079,372				1,079,372