Dolby Cinema

Dolby Cinema logo

Dolby Cinema is a premium cinema concept created by Dolby Laboratories that combines Dolby proprietary technologies such as Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, signature entrance and intrinsic design features. The technology is expected to compete with other formats such as IMAX and exhibitors own premium large format packages.^[1][2]

History

The first installations featuring Dolby Cinema were JT (now Vue) Bioscopen Cinema in Eindhoven, Netherlands on 18 December 2014; followed by Cinesa La Maquinista in Barcelona, Spain.^[3] Dolby Laboratories has partner contracts with Cinesa, Vue Cinemas, AMC Theatres, Cineplexx Cinemas, Wanda Cinemas and Jackie Chan Cinema to install Dolby Cinemas.^[4]

Technology

Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision is an in-house projection system developed by Dolby Laboratories in conjunction with Christie Digital. The system consists of dual Christie 4K 6P (primary) modular laser projectors featuring a customized design to allow for unique light path. The system is capable of delivering up to 14 foot-lambert on unity-gain matte-white screens for 3D (and up to 31 foot-lambert for 2D), a substantial improvement on current generation 3D systems which deliver in the range of 3 to 4 foot-lambert for 3D. The result is improved brightness, color and contrast compared to traditional xenon projectors.^[5][6] The first theatres temporarily used off the shelf dual Christie 4K laser projectors until the Dolby Vision-capable ones were shipped out in spring 2015.^[2]

Dolby 3D uses spectrum separation, where the two projectors function in stacked operation and each projector emits slightly different wavelength of red, green and blue primary. There is no polarization present on the projector and the 3D spectacles have notch filters that block the primaries used by the projector that projects the image intended for the other eye.^[7]

Dolby Vision is able to display the following resolution / frame rate combinations:

• 2k - 2D at 60fps, 48fps and 24fps
• 2k - 3D at 60fps, 48fps and 24fps per eye / projector
• 4k - 2D at 30fps and 24fps
• 4k - 3D at 30fps and 24fps per eye / projector

Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos is an object and channel based hybrid sound format developed by Dolby Laboratories. The system is capable of reproducing ten bed channels and 128 objects, through 64 individual speakers in order to pan sound around and through the auditorium.^[8][9] This allows recreation of effects such as thunder and flyover using the ceiling channels as well as pin point effects such as bumps or bullets using objects.

Signature Entrance

Most Dolby Cinemas feature a curved video wall entrance displaying content related to the feature film playing in the auditorium. The content displayed on the video wall is specifically generated by the film studio and is intended to immerse viewers in the movie experience before the movie has started.^[10] The video is generated using multiple short throw high definition projectors in the entrance ceiling and proprietary software is used to pixel map the different images together along the wall. similarly, the audio is generated using speakers placed in the ceiling of the entrance.^[11]

Theatres with Dolby Cinema

United States

Arizona

• Mesa - AMC Mesa Grand 24
• Phoenix - AMC Desert Ridge 18

California

• Burbank - AMC Burbank 16
• Los Angeles - AMC Century City 15
• Los Angeles - El Capitan - Not advertised as Dolby Cinema but contains Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
• Newark - AMC Newpark 12
• Norwalk - AMC Norwalk 20
• Ontario - AMC Ontario Mills 30
• Orange - AMC Orange 30
• Torrance - AMC Del Amo 18

Colorado

• Broomfield - AMC Flatiron Crossing 14

District of Columbia

• Washington - AMC Loews Georgetown 14

Florida

• Altamonte Springs - AMC Altamonte Mall 18
• Aventura - AMC Aventura 24
• Brandon - AMC The Regency 20
• Orange Park - AMC Orange Park 24
• Tallahassee - AMC Tallahassee Mall 20
• Tampa - AMC Veterans 24

Georgia

• Alpharetta - AMC North Point Mall 12
• Morrow - AMC Southlake 24

Illinois

• Crestwood - AMC Loews Crestwood 18
• Oakbrook - AMC Oakbrook 12
• Vernon Hills - AMC Hawthorn 12

Indiana

• Indianapolis - AMC Castleton Square 14

Kansas

• Leawood - AMC Town Center 20
• Wichita - Warren East - Not advertised as Dolby Cinema.

Louisiana

• Harahan - AMC Elmwood Palace 20

Missouri

• Kansas City - AMC BarryWoods 24

Nevada

• Las Vegas - AMC Town Square 18

New Jersey

• Paramus - AMC Garden State 16

New York

• New York City - AMC Empire 25

Ohio

• West Chester - AMC West Chester 18

Oklahoma

• Broken Arrow - Broken Arrow Warren - Not advertised as Dolby Cinema.

Texas

• Addison - AMC Village on the Parkway 9
• Dallas - AMC Northpark 15
• Garland - AMC Firewheel 18
• Houston - AMC Willowbrook 24
• Humble - AMC Deerbrook 24
• Sugarland - AMC First Colony 24

Virginia

• Hampton - AMC Hampton Town Centre 24
• Mclean - AMC Tysons Corner 16

Washington

• Spokane - AMC River Park Square 20

Future

• AMC Santa Anita 16, Arcadia, CA
• AMC Puente Hills 20, City of Industry, CA
• AMC Sunset Place 24, South Miami, FL
• AMC Woodlands Square 20, Oldsmar, FL
• AMC South Barrington 30, South Barrington, IL
• AMC Clearview Palace 12, Metairie, LA
• AMC Star Gratiot 21, Clinton Twp, MI
• AMC Rosedale 14, Roseville, MN
• AMC The Parks At Arlington 18, Arlington, TX
• AMC Mesquite 30 with Dine-in Theatres, Mesquite, TX
• AMC Hoffman Centre 22, Alexandria, VA
• AMC Loews Alderwood Mall 16, Lynnwood, WA

Rest of the World

Austria

• Linz - Cineplexx Linz
• Salzburg - Cineplexx Salzburg Airport

China

• Beijing - Wanda Cinema（Fengtai Wanda Plaza）（Coming Soon)
• Beijing - Jackie Chan Cinema (Wukesong)^[12]
• Changchun - Wanda Cinema (Side plaza)^[13]
• Changsha - Wanda Cinema (Huachuang)
• Chengdu - Wanda Cinema (Qingyang Wanda Plaza)(Coming Soon)
• Chengdu - Wanda Cinema (Shuangliu Wanda Plaza)(Coming Soon)
• Chongqing - Wanda Cinema (Nanping Wanda Plaza)
• Dalian - Wanda Cinema (Peace Plaza Aona)
• Jinan - Wanda Cinema (World Trade Plaza)
• Kunming - Wanda Cinema (Justice Square) (Coming Soon)
• Nanjing - Wanda Cinema ( Jiangning Sunny Plaza)
• Nanchang - Wanda Cinema (World Trade Plaza) (Coming Soon)
• Shanghai - Wanda Cinema (Hongqiao) (Coming Soon)
• Shanghai - Wanda Cinema (Wujiaochang Wanda Plaza) (Coming Soon)
• Wuhan - Wanda Cinema (Jianghan Road Yue Hui Plaza) (Coming Soon)

Netherlands

• Eindhoven - Vue Eindhoven
• Hilversum - Vue Hilversum

Spain

• Barcelona - Cinesa La Maquinista

Films presented in Dolby Cinema

References