Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk was shot partly in the IMAX 70 mm format for its 2017 release.
Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema used IMAX 65 mm cameras extensively, including for scenes involving aircraft, ships, and large-scale landscapes. The finished film was released in several formats, including conventional 70 mm, IMAX 70 mm, and digital presentations.
Using large-format film helped create a broad, immersive image suited to Dunkirk’s beaches, sea, and sky. The production also faced practical difficulties because IMAX cameras are large, noisy, and less convenient for cramped locations or fast-moving work.
Dunkirk was not Nolan’s first film to use IMAX cameras; The Dark Knight had already used them for major sequences. The distinction here is that Dunkirk was photographed extensively on large-format film, making the format especially central to its visual presentation.