Which Christopher Nolan film was the first to use IMAX cameras for major scenes?

The Dark Knight was the first Christopher Nolan film to use IMAX cameras for major scenes.

Released in 2008, the film used IMAX cameras for approximately 28 minutes of footage, making it a landmark in large-format mainstream filmmaking. Nolan and cinematographer Wally Pfister used the format for selected action sequences and expansive images rather than photographing the entire movie in IMAX.

The approach helped establish Nolan’s long-running preference for large-format photography. Later films expanded the practice: The Dark Knight Rises used more IMAX footage, while Dunkirk, Tenet, and Oppenheimer made extensive use of large-format and IMAX cameras.

Batman Begins did not use IMAX cameras in this way. Inception also used large-format film but is not the film generally identified as Nolan’s first major IMAX production. The Dark Knight therefore marks the beginning of his best-known IMAX filmmaking period.