ScreenX is a wraparound movie format developed by the Korean company CJ 4DPLEX that extends the picture from the main screen onto the two side walls of the auditorium, creating a 270-degree field of view. The effect is built scene by scene: filmmakers and post-production teams choose specific sequences to expand onto the side walls, so a ScreenX showing mixes standard widescreen moments with panoramic ones rather than filling the side walls for the entire runtime. CJ 4DPLEX, a subsidiary of South Korea's CJ CGV theater chain, launched ScreenX in 2012 and has since installed it in theaters across Asia, Europe, and North America, often alongside the company's motion-seat format, 4DX. Unlike 3D or IMAX, ScreenX doesn't require glasses or a specially shaped screen — it uses three flat or gently curved walls projected together to widen the audience's peripheral view.
Table of Contents
- How does the three-wall projection actually work?
- What does a ScreenX scene look like compared to a normal scene?
- Where can you watch a ScreenX movie, and how do you pick seats?
- Do you need special glasses or equipment, and is there an extra cost?
- Frequently Asked Questions
How does the three-wall projection actually work?
A ScreenX auditorium has a standard center screen plus two additional projection surfaces on the left and right walls, usually angled to wrap partway around the seating area. Multiple projectors are calibrated and blended so the image on all three surfaces appears continuous, without visible seams where the walls meet the main screen. The side-wall footage isn't a simple stretch of the center image.
For scenes designated as ScreenX moments, cinematographers shoot or render extra wide-angle or multi-camera footage specifically meant to extend into the periphery, and editors composite it so the action flows naturally from center to sides. During non-ScreenX scenes, the side walls either go dark or display a muted extension of the main image, so the screen effectively "expands" and "contracts" throughout the film. Because the format depends on precise geometry, ScreenX auditoriums are built or retrofitted with the wall angles and projector placement in mind. A theater can't simply project existing side-wall content into a room that wasn't designed for it — the seating layout, screen curvature, and projector throw distances are all part of the specification CJ 4DPLEX certifies before a theater can advertise a ScreenX screening.
What does a ScreenX scene look like compared to a normal scene?
Most of a ScreenX film plays exactly like a conventional theatrical presentation, framed entirely within the center screen. The format is reserved for select sequences — often large set pieces, establishing shots, chase scenes, or immersive environments — where the filmmakers decide the extra peripheral image adds to the sense of scale or presence. When a ScreenX scene begins, the image expands outward onto the side walls, putting action or scenery in the viewer's peripheral vision rather than directly in front of them. This differs from IMAX, which enlarges the entire film on one oversized flat or domed screen, and from 3D, which uses depth cues rather than width.
ScreenX is specifically about horizontal field of view: it surrounds the viewer rather than making the image taller or giving it stereoscopic depth. Because only specific scenes are built for the side walls, not every film released in ScreenX uses the technology to the same degree. Some productions lean on it for a handful of key moments; others use it more sparingly. The theater listing or pre-show notice typically doesn't specify how much of the runtime will use the wraparound effect.
Where can you watch a ScreenX movie, and how do you pick seats?
ScreenX auditoriums exist in a subset of theaters, most commonly within chains that have a formal partnership with CJ 4DPLEX, including CGV-affiliated cinemas and select Regal and other partner locations in various countries. Not every multiplex has one, and not every film gets a ScreenX release — studios and theater chains decide on a title-by-title and market-by-market basis.
Seat selection matters more in a ScreenX auditorium than in a standard one. Because the side walls are only visible at an angle, seats positioned too far to one side or too close to the screen may not catch the full wraparound effect, while seats further back and closer to the center typically see the most consistent image across all three surfaces.
- Check the theater's seating chart for seats labeled or recommended for ScreenX viewing.
- Favor center or center-rear seats over far-left or far-right seats.
- Confirm the specific showtime is listed as "ScreenX" — the same film may also run in standard or other premium formats at the same theater.
Do you need special glasses or equipment, and is there an extra cost?
ScreenX doesn't require 3D glasses, headsets, or any other equipment — it's a flat-image, naked-eye format that depends entirely on the auditorium's screen and projector setup rather than anything worn by the viewer. Anyone who can watch a regular movie can watch a ScreenX presentation without adjustment.
ScreenX tickets typically cost more than a standard screening, similar to other premium large-format or specialty showings, because of the added projection equipment and auditorium build-out. The exact premium varies by theater chain and location, so the only reliable way to know the price is to check the specific theater's ticketing page when booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ScreenX the same as IMAX?
No. IMAX enlarges the picture on one large screen, while ScreenX adds two side-wall projections to widen the field of view; a theater can offer either, both, or neither.
Does every scene in a ScreenX movie use all three walls?
No. Filmmakers select specific sequences to expand onto the side walls; the rest of the film plays on the standard center screen.
Can you watch a ScreenX film without special glasses?
Yes. ScreenX is a naked-eye format and doesn't require 3D glasses or any other equipment.