Downtown Chicago is getting a new IMAX theater

Right now, the only spot in the Greater Chicago area with a working 70mm IMAX projector is the Cinemark Seven Bridges and IMAX out in Woodridge, Illinois. But if the new downtown IMAX theater ends up with the awesome 70mm setup (fingers crossed!), Chicago's movie scene is about to get a major upgrade.

Honestly, any new IMAX theater in the U.S. is exciting, especially if it has that top-notch 70mm format. There are around 350 IMAX theaters in the country, but only 25 have the 70mm capability. Not surprisingly, Los Angeles and New York are neck and neck for the most IMAX screens, with LA slightly ahead for the 70mm ones.

According to NBC Chicago, building permits show that one of the auditoriums at AMC River East 21, located at 322 E. Illinois St. in Streeterville, is being transformed to include IMAX. We don't know the opening date yet or if it'll have the 70mm capability. (For those curious, unlike regular 70mm film that runs vertically, IMAX 70mm film runs horizontally through the projector, which means you get the best resolution and clarity for a truly immersive experience.)

Chicago's got plenty of great movie theaters, but when it comes to screen size, there's room for improvement. (And yes, size does matter here, guys.) The Windy City only has two IMAX theaters—at AMC Roosevelt Collection in South Loop and Regal City North on the Bucktown/Logan Square border. These theaters turn movies like The Odyssey and the Dune franchise into epic spectacles. But with a new IMAX theater coming soon to downtown Chicago, that count is about to go up!