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State Museum's IMAX Offers Special Version Of Star Wars

Forecasts predict the new Star Wars film will bring in around $150 million domestically this weekend.

But only one theater in the entire state — the Indiana State Museum's IMAX theater — gives Hoosiers the chance to see the film the way it was shot.

IMAX theaters have strayed from film projections for the same reason that IMAX film is embraced.

The reels are big — really, really big. The picture quality comes from the exceptional size of each frame. IMAX 70-millimeter film allows for a frame that is 10 times larger than 35-millimeter film.

This massive size affects everything from the size of the projection booth to the expense of shipping the film.

"Once a movie comes in, it comes in small boxes," says Theater Manager Craig Mince as he holds up a box. "There's about three-and-a-half minutes of film right here."

A film like Star Wars costs about $50,000 to print and over $1,000 to ship.

The Indiana State Museum's IMAX theater  is planning another sci-fi adventure for next year. They will bring a rare 70-millimeter version of "2001: A Space Odyssey" to the big screen.