logo
Which Format Should You Choose To See ‘Superman' In The Cinema?

Which Format Should You Choose To See ‘Superman' In The Cinema?

Forbes11-07-2025
A movie and about a man and his dog. Only in cinemas.
If I close my eyes, I can recall the green exercise book in which I'd written my review for English homework of the greatest film I'd ever seen in the cinema. It was the summer of 1981 and the movie was Superman II. Of course, having just turned seven years old, my cinematic repertoire wasn't extensive, but I think I can give my young self some credit for the enthusiasm – the movie still holds up.
Of course, Superman is one of the iconic characters in cinema, and after months of buzz and anticipation, James Gunn's version, the fourth iteration of the Man of Steel on the big screen, has finally landed in theaters.
As per the recent Jurassic World movie, the aim from the director is to draw on inspiration from the first iteration, when Christopher Reeve brought his iconic version to life in the 1970s, with David Corenswet's version a return to its comic book roots and a more hopeful version of the character, which arguably is exactly what audiences need right now and although inevitably there are naysayers, the first reviews seem to be positive.
As you'd expect for what could be the biggest film of the year, the movie is available in nearly every format possible so let's run through them.
IMAX
As a larger-than-life character such as Superman, giant IMAX screens make for an obvious match. As James Gunn says in the IMAX BTS video, 'Seeing Superman fly, you want as much frame as you possibly can.'
Captured digitally on a 6K Red Komodo, with a 4K digital intermediate, the movie is 'Filmed for IMAX'. In this case, this means it has undergone the IMAX DMR process and will be in 1.90:1 in all IMAX screens for the whole duration of the movie.
Note that in all non-IMAX screens it is presented in pillar boxed 1.85:1. However, as the IMAX image is only 2.7% this pillar boxing will be barely noticeable on 1.85:1 screens – but will have larger pillar boxes on wider 'scope' 2.39:1 screens.
Interestingly, 3D has made a minor comeback with Superman, with stereoscopic fans having a choice of five variations to choose from and IMAX 3D is one of them.
3D always works best at scale and no one does that better than IMAX. In the UK, only the BFI IMAX and Manchester Printworks will be showing it in IMAX 3D, with not even the GT dual-laser IMAX screen in Leicester Square offering it, while in the USA, you can find it in IMAX 3D on AMC screens.
For 3D, you'll want your IMAX theater to have a laser projector for a brighter image to make up for the light loss from the glasses. IMAX Laser screens are also paired with 12-channel audio, which adds a height layer, which is exactly what you want for a movie like Superman.
Dolby Cinema
Another great premium option is Dolby Cinema, which, thanks to its high brightness levels, offers extended dynamic range images, with Dolby Vision creating truly deep blacks and bright whites, along with a wide color gamut.
To my surprise, I also noticed that it is available, in limited showings, in Dolby Cinema 3D, and this will be another fine choice. I recently saw Jurassic World Rebirth in this format at the very lovely Cinema in the Power Station, in Battersea, London, and was blown away by the natural, eye-strain-free quality of the image.
While the brightness levels are inevitably a lot less for 3D, Dolby can still reach 48 nits, so that the image is still color-rich and pleasing. Dolby is also matched with Dolby Atmos audio, and its ability to place objects in a 3D space should be fantastic for the maelstrom of Kryptonian vs Kaiju and other assorted baddies.
HDR by Barco
In technical terms, HDR by Barco even outdoes Dolby, with even higher brightness and clever 'Lightsteering' tech enabling true cinematic HDR images, which, combined with Dolby Atmos, will be an amazing experience. While the format gained a boost this week with the news that it will be coming to 50 locations across Europe by the end of the year, as it stands, your options are limited to just a few locations, so it's not a mainstream option yet.
Premium Large Format
Regular premium large format (PLF) is a good replacement. While there's no HDR, you'll get bright and sharp, laser-based 4K projection on a larger than standard screen, Dolby Atmos audio and comfy seats — popcorn-tastic!
Each cinema chain uses its own brand name for PLF, so in the USA, look out for Prime at AMC, Regal RPX, Cineplex UltraAVX, and Cinemark XD. In the UK, it's Cineworld Superscreen, Odeon iSense, or OmniplexMAXX, with the first EPIC by Vue, in Nottingham, opening just too late for Superman. If you are a stereoscopic fan, I note that Regal is even offering a 3D option in RPX.
Emphasizing the global popularity of the character, Superman is even getting a release in China, with its homegrown premium Cinity format offering up a similar experience to Dolby Cinema.
4DX 3D
With Superman, you know that there is likely to be a large percentage of swirling, swooping flying action, and if you want to physically get a sense of it, then the bucking seats of 4DX are a tempting option. As kickers in the seat back convey every punch, you'll also get blasts of air, flashing lights and smoke effects. With 3D also the default option, 4DX is the way to go if you're looking for sensory overload.
Side-screen action
Other formats include ScreenX, which has footage that extends down screens at the sides of the auditorium, and in the USA, there is also ICE, which has panels down the side to match the content on the main screen. While the idea works for music, I find these mostly distracting for a movie, so it wouldn't be something I'd recommend.
Standard Digital
The final option is a standard theatre, which will be offering Superman in 2D or RealD 3D. If you go for the latter, then, as ever, try and seek out a screen with laser projection, as conventional Xenon-lamp-based projectors with older bulbs can already lack brightness, which, when you combine with the light loss from the 3D glasses, will make for a lackluster image. And your standard, regular 2D digital theatre? Well, it has the advantage of being the most inexpensive option, and if that means you can afford to take the family to see Superman and Louis Lane, then it's a very choice indeed.
Further reading
HDR By Barco Projection Technology To Underpin New 'EPIC By Vue' Branding
Barco HDR Cinema Tech To Reach 30 US Theatres By The End Of 2025
Regal Cineworld To Bring Barco Laser Projection To 4000 Screens By 2030
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

From Krispy Kreme to GoPro, has meme-stock trading frenzy returned?
From Krispy Kreme to GoPro, has meme-stock trading frenzy returned?

Yahoo

time4 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

From Krispy Kreme to GoPro, has meme-stock trading frenzy returned?

Shares in struggling retailers and ageing consumer brands surged, as amateur traders cast aside Wall Street's skepticism and mobilized online. It's like 2021 all over again. But the latest meme-stock rally could be even bigger than its predecessor four years ago, when investors piled into recognizable but unloved stocks, such as the video games retailer GameStop and the movie theatre chain AMC, according to the founder of the Reddit forum that helped whip up the frenzy. Retailer Kohl's, camera firm GoPro, fast-food chain Wendy's and doughnut chain Krispy Kreme each staged rapid rallies this week, driven by abrupt surges in trading volume reminiscent of the the meme-stock craze of 2021, when social media memes boosted a collection of struggling stocks, triggering extraordinary and volatile leaps in value. Actress Sydney Sweeney helped bring clothing retailer American Eagle Outfitters into the mania after it was announced the Euphoria and White Lotus star would front the brand's latest marketing campaign. The company's shares surged about 10% in trading on Thursday. Meme stocks are 'about to leap-frog in size and scope and scale, so that retail traders are going to redefine what matters', according to Jaime Rogozinski, founder of the wallstreetbets Reddit forum behind many of the volatile rallies. 'The world of finance is clearly changing, with blockchain technologies encroaching, and AI agents that trade on their own,' he said. 'And the collective of retail traders is adapting along with it.' Rogozinski founded wallstreetbets in 2012, but said Reddit ousted him as a moderator in 2020. His bid to sue the social media company for trademark infringement was dismissed by the US court of appeals for the ninth circuit last month. The forum's users home in on stocks and share their own research. 'It's a decentralization of power of who can be financial analyst,' said Noor Al, a moderator on wallstreetbets. 'Great ideas can now come from anyone, anywhere. 'We're seeing the power of retail push stocks, sometimes to the tune of billions of dollars, through the power of ideas, the power of community and the power of the people,' he added. The meme-stock craze of 2021, which produced stars such as Roaring Kitty, was a product of the Covid era, when many amateur traders were stuck at home and flush with pandemic stimulus cash. Whether this latest frenzy produces similar winners is not yet clear. Kohl's finished the week up 32%, GoPro was up 66% and Krispy Kreme was up 41%. The rallies show some investors are willing to take on more risk, as stocks scale record highs and the market, dominated by big tech, becomes harder to beat. Often, meme-stock bets are unbound from economic fundamentals, as investors move to support a brand for romantic or ideological reasons. Donald Trump's Trump Media & Technology Group, home to Truth Social, is valued at more than $5bn on quarterly revenue of about $1m. The wallstreetbets ethos 'has always to some extent been about flaunting and exploiting the ironies, relevance or irrelevance' of the stock market, said Rogozinski, who pointed to Wendy's, the hamburger chain, as a good example. 'Wendy's has always been a meme that goes back a decade. It brings a smile to my face, because on Reddit there's always been this thing where they say: 'Sir, this is a Wendy's.' 'It's an inside joke, and I don't even get where it started. It's just a meme,' he added. The stock's fleeting rise – it rallied 10% in two days, but finished the week broadly flat – shows some retail investors do not necessarily care about the typical factors that drive the market, such as tariffs and war in the Middle East. 'It's this ability for us to almost make fun of the financial system.' Long-term institutional players will always get the last laugh, Rogozinski conceded, because prices will return to normal valuations. 'But in the short term there's lot of money to be had with this volatility, and the fact that stocks are able to move up and down with such ease is but a mere showcase for how the financial system needs a facelift in relevancy.' Related: Bed Bath & Beyond sees 'meme-stock' surge – but is it too little, too late? While current market conditions do not replicate the low interest rates and retail investor buoyancy of the Covid era, market records and a robust economy have made meme stocks attractive once again for some. 'You see all these indications where this is full-blown meme mania,' Brent Kochuba, founder of derivatives-data firm SpotGamma, told Bloomberg. 'The macro economic environment really favors the retail and speculative plays,' agreed Al. 'I think were only going to see more speculation and excitement. It's a good time to tune in, because retail players can react and provide insight faster.' Days traders are not necessarily bothered by a company's financial performance, said Rogozinski. 'You have this activist, elective investor who is saying, 'I don't care what the financial statements look like, I don't care what the discounted cashflow is, I like the food, I like the video-game store, I like the meme. So dude, you can go back to Excel spreadsheets if you want, but I really like the chicken tenders,'' he said. There is now a 'third component' to investment, beyond supply and demand, he claimed, 'which is, 'dude, I don't care if you think it's going to go up or not, or if they have assets or liabilities. I care about this company and I'm going to help it out. I'm going to go buy my jeans from American Eagle.'' Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten

Astronomer Hired Gwyneth Paltrow To Answer Questions After The CEO Was Allegedly Caught Cheating At A Coldplay Concert
Astronomer Hired Gwyneth Paltrow To Answer Questions After The CEO Was Allegedly Caught Cheating At A Coldplay Concert

Yahoo

time4 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Astronomer Hired Gwyneth Paltrow To Answer Questions After The CEO Was Allegedly Caught Cheating At A Coldplay Concert

Today in "News You Didn't See Coming," Gwyneth Paltrow was hired at Astronomer — yes, the same company that recently went viral after two of its employees were caught "having an affair" at a Coldplay concert. Related: As seen in now-infamous video, Coldplay singer and (Gwyneth's ex) Chris Martin was highlighting fans on the jumbotron at a recent concert when the camera cut to two people getting cozy in the audience. Realizing they were on camera, the two immediately panicked and hid, leading Chris to joke that they were "having an affair." As it turned out, they seemingly were. The man in the video was later identified as Astronomer CEO Andy Byron, who is reported to be married with two kids, while the woman, later identified as CPO Kristin Cabot, reportedly got a divorce in 2022. After widespread jokes and commentary about the video, an internal investigation was launched. Andy ultimately resigned from his role last week, while Kristin's departure was announced on Thursday. @instaagraace / Via Related: Then, in the plot twist of all plot twists, Gwyneth was announced as a "temporary spokesperson" for the tech company. She shared the news herself yesterday in a video statement posted to Astronomer's X account. "Thank you for your interest in Astronomer," Gwyneth began. "Hi, I'm Gwyneth Paltrow. I've been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300-plus employees at Astronomer." She said, "Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days. And they wanted me to answer the most common ones." Related: Text then popped up on the screen, asking, "OMG what the actual f," which Gwyneth completely ignored to respond to a different question. "Yes, Astronomer is the best place to run Apace Airflow," she answered. "Unifying the experience of running data, ML, and AI pipelines at scale. We've been thrilled so many people have a newfound interest in data automation." She also said, "As for the other questions we've received — yes! There's still room available at our Beyond Analytics event in September. We will now be returning to what we do best, delivering game-changing results for our customers. Thank you for your interest in Astronomer." @astronomerio / Via Twitter: @astronomerio Viewers reacted to the video in the comments, with many calling it a "genius" and "brilliant" way to capitalize on all the publicity. "Turning an internet dragging of their CEO into a full-blown PR moment by bringing in Chris Martin's ex as a spokesperson? That's not marketing, that's wizardry," one tweet with over 4,000 likes read. "Guys this is a PR masterclass," another agreed, garnering over 12,000 likes. "You take the most viral moment of July 2025 and, instead of disaster control, make light of the situation and create the ultimate brand awareness. Bravo." Related: Someone else said it was "one of the best crisis responses" they've ever seen. "You hired the Coldplay singer's ex-wife. Extraordinary," said another. "Honestly, well done to the marketing team, this is incredible haha," one viewer wrote on Reddit, as others called it both a "brilliant" and "hilarious" move by the company. "This is so unserious, I love it," said one person, as another said it was "well-played." "Their social media and PR team all deserve a nice vacation far away from any upcoming Coldplay concerts," one more shared. Honestly, yes. Hopefully, Chris responds to this — I'm dying to know what he thinks! Until then, share your thoughts on all of this in the comments. Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Solve the daily Crossword

It Sure Sounds Like ‘Alien Vs. Predator' May Return In the Future
It Sure Sounds Like ‘Alien Vs. Predator' May Return In the Future

Gizmodo

time5 minutes ago

  • Gizmodo

It Sure Sounds Like ‘Alien Vs. Predator' May Return In the Future

So over here we've got new Alien movies and a new Alien TV show. And over there we've got new Predator movies expanding that universe. Then, in the upcoming Predator movie, a prominent character is made by Weyland-Yutani, a company at the center of the original Alien film, which also plays a large role in the new Alien movies and TV shows. What the heck is going on here? Friday at San Diego Comic-Con offered fans a rare opportunity to hear from two of the people primarily responsible for major franchises, in the same place, on the same day. And that's exactly what happened in both the Alien: Earth and Predator: Badlands panels, which both took place in Hall H. First up, at the Alien: Earth panel, a fan asked showrunner and creator Noah Hawley if Alien vs. Predator was something we might see in the future. 'I don't have any current involvement in that combo package,' Hawley said. 'But I love seeing that Dan Trachtenberg is continuing with the Predator series. This new movie looks great, and my question is, 'Can't we all just get along?'' An expert passing of the buck, to say the least. But, fast forward a few hours, and the person Hawley passed the buck to was on the same stage. Moderator Kevin Smith asked Trachtenberg about if the fact that Weyland Yutani, a company from Alien, is in Predator: Badlands is teasing at an eventual showdown. 'I think sometimes people that are dabbling in cinematic universes, there's a seduction to grab all the action figures and smush them all together,' Trachtenberg said. 'And I really didn't want to do that, and I really wanted to make sure if we ever do something, it would be a little more elegant.' Smith pressed him for more. Could he, the person now responsible for Predator, bring Aliens in? 'Wouldn't it be cool?' the director added. The crowd roared. Of course, one person not in attendance who'd have a say in this, outside of the executives paying for everything, is Fede Alvarez. Alvarez made last year's Alien Romulus and is expected to return to that world in the future. But, since Trachtenberg is clearly linking his Predator movies with Alien and continues to expand the Predator franchise by bringing back iconic characters like Danny Glover's Lt. Harrigan and Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch, there's clearly a larger plan in place (oh, you didn't hear about that? Yes, that happened). And that plan may just be heading toward the Alien and Predator sharing the screen one more time. Do you want to see a new Alien vs. Predator movie? Let us know below. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store