Munich knows how to do cinema—the city on the Isar proves this time and again. Not only with its numerous movie theaters, ranging from multiplexes to alternative venues to open-air screenings, but also with events like the Filmfest and the Filmkunstwochen. You’ll find a wide variety of movie theaters with very different amenities and technical setups. Despite the wide range of options, however, there’s one thing that movie buffs in our city search for in vain: an IMAX theater. But that wasn’t always the case. In fact, the IMAX in Munich was the very first of its kind in Germany. Yet since its closure over 20 years ago, we’ve been waiting in vain for a successor.
The History of IMAX in Munich
In 1928, the cornerstone was laid for what is now the Forum of the Future at the Deutsches Museum on Museum Island. Initially, it was a convention hall, but in 1989 it was privatized and transformed into the Forum of Technology. As part of this transformation, it gained not only a planetarium but also a movie theater with three screens, one of which supported IMAX. In November 1992, the Forum Cinemas opened, marking the debut of Germany’s first IMAX theater.
In Theater 1, you could enjoy 70 mm films on the giant screen, which measured 16×22 meters. Despite the impressive picture quality, the theater couldn’t stay in business. In February 2005, the IMAX in Munich ceased operations due to bankruptcy. Two years later, films were once again shown at the Forum Cinemas, but this time without IMAX technology. Instead, the theaters screened films exclusively in digital format, making them Munich’s first digital cinemas. The screen in Theater 1 was also the largest digitally projected screen in all of Germany. In addition, 3D films were shown here, which you could also watch in large format.
But even this second attempt wasn’t successful, so the Forumkinos had to close for good. The Deutsches Museum bought back the premises and, as part of a renovation, turned them into an entrance area.
IMAX in Munich Today
Since its bankruptcy in 2005, there hasn’t been a new IMAX in Munich. Until 2010, Nuremberg was home to Germany’s largest IMAX and thus served as an alternative—after all, the Franconian city is just over 90 minutes away. Even today, the Cinecitta remains the largest multiplex in the country and is worth a visit if you’re a die-hard movie fan. In Munich itself, the Mathäser, with its Dolby Cinema, offers an alternative to IMAX. Dolby Cinema is IMAX’s biggest competitor and is currently available in only five theaters throughout Germany. Here, too, Munich was a pioneer and was the first city in Germany to adopt the technology.
If you’re still determined to see a movie in an IMAX theater, your best bet is to head to Leonberg. The city is located near Stuttgart and is therefore not too far from Munich. At the local Traumpalast, you’ll find the world’s largest IMAX screen, measuring a whopping 44×23 meters. If Leonberg is too far away or that size is too overwhelming for you, you can alternatively visit the Dietrich Theater in Neu-Ulm.
