The Tuttleman IMAX Theater at The Franklin Institute

B ES 8 years ago

I love this IMAX screen and just about anything shown on it. The theater seats more than 300 people. Hint: the best place to sit is above the square console in the center top of the seats. If you sit more than 2-3 rows below that point, you may get a stiff neck from looking up.

TJ Lewis 10 years ago

By far the largest movie screen I have ever seen. It's so large that it has multiple sections. While this larger size is amazing, it's also partially a downside as depending on the lighting in the scene of the movie, you can see the seems between the sections of the screen. The seats are good in that each level of seating is raised far enough above the section in front of it that you can still see without other people's heads being in your way (big benefit for short people). However the seats are a little uncomfortable after you have been sitting in them a while. Overall a great experience though.

Bill Timmons 9 years ago

I would not recommend seeing a movie in the IMAX format due to poor picture quality and an ill fitted theater that makes it physically uncomfortable. (Reference movie: Rogue One) The IMAX screen is not not good. The screen shape distorts images, you are so close to the screen it is impossible for a human to focus properly and the resolution is not better than a regular theater. For example, the dome shape of the screen distorts images. The mast of a ship appears bent and a Star Destroyer ends up looking like an elf shoe with a curled up front. Another example is that the screen is so close and big that it is not possible to really focus on a scene in a meaningful way. An actor's face appears so big on the screen that you can basically only focus in on their nose, rending the entirety of the screen a total blur, especially in action scenes. While the Franklin Inst. is a great facility and the Tuttleman IMAX appears to be nice I would say it has many design flaws. The seats are arranged just like any other theater as if you are meant to be looking forward at a regular screen. However the IMAX screen is located higher above your head. You need to slump down in your seat and look up over your head the entire time. I overheard many people comment on this negatively in the theater. Also, the construction of the screen really takes away from the picture quality. Because of the shape of the domed screen it is constructed of many panels, which resemble a beach ball of sorts. While this isn't a problem for the most part it completely ruins any light colored scenes such as those that show a bright blue sky, beach, winter scene, etc.

Ian Sebastian 8 years ago

Lots of folks here have some valid complaints about seeing a blockbuster type film here, the key to having a good experience watching a movie here is SIT UP HIGH IN THE THEATER! The best seats for a blockbuster film are just above the projector in the center of the seats. This gives phenomenal experience in a unique theater. In addition concessions are reasonably priced and the movies have no previews!

Calvin Ni 8 years ago

I recently watched Dunkirk in IMAX 70mm here because it was one of the two locations in PA to screen the movie in that particular format. It was my first time being there and it was a disaster. Watching movies here is literally a pain. The movie was projected on the entire dome and you would have to look up and side to side to get the action. Seats were very uncomfortable. There were really small and the seats made me feel like I was sitting on concrete for 2 hours. The picture quality was poor. Most of the movie was flat in terms of saturation and the brightness was very low (darker scenes were difficult to focus on.) The film was majorly shot in 70mm and in digital. A lot of the image was cut off during the scenes that were shot in 70mm because of the dome's circular shape and it was almost like watching it out of a fish eye lens. Not much of the film was shown properly and it was a shame. The only positive thing I can say about watching it here was the sound quality. I went to see Dunkirk again at UA King of Prussia in IMAX 70mm and all of my problems I had with this theater were non-existent there. STAY CLEAR FROM HERE. YOU WILL REGRET IT.