IMAX movies offer dramatic, large-scale experiences, but few filmmakers fully embrace the format due to significant practical and financial hurdles. IMAX film cameras are larger, heavier, and louder than standard equipment, making them impractical for small sets or fast-paced action. The 65-70mm film stock is bulky, requiring frequent reloads that extend shooting schedules and increase costs. On Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, star Tom Holland mistook routine three-minute film changes for criticism of his performance. Even newer cameras, like the 400-pound IMAX Keighley model used on The Odyssey, remain cumbersome.

True 15/70 IMAX projection is limited to a small number of theaters, reducing the commercial incentive. While digital IMAX-certified cameras exist, they lack the quality of traditional film. Most directors, following The Dark Knight's example, use IMAX selectively for high-impact sequences. The industry's broader shift toward cheaper, quieter, and more flexible digital production has further marginalized the format. Christopher Nolan remains a rare exception, committing to the format despite the trade-offs that most producers refuse to accept.