In 2002, IMAX dan Universal Studios released a new IMAX-format version of the 1995 film Apollo 13, the first application of IMAX's proprietary DMR (Digital Media Remastering) process, which allows conventional films to be upconverted into IMAX format. This special digital intermediate technology was developed for films shot on 35mm for conventional theaters to be shown in IMAX venues. Other theatrically released films would subsequently be reissued at IMAX venues in versions created using the DMR process. Because of a technical limitation on the size of the film reel, several early DMR releases were edited to conform to a two-hour maximum length. Later releases did not have this limitation; current IMAX platters allow a run time of up to 170 minutes where films could run longer in IMAX Digital venues.

Reviewers have generally praised the results of the DMR blowup process, which are visually dan audibly superior to the same films projected in 35mm.[petikan diperlukan] But some filmmakers, such as producer Frank Marshall, point out that DMR blowups are not comparable to films created directly in the 70mm 15 perf IMAX format, dan that directors Ron Howard dan George Lucas expected better.[19] They note that the decline of Cinerama coincided roughly with the supercession of the original process with a simplified, reduced cost, technically inferior version, dan view DMR with alarm. IMAX originally reserved the phrase "the IMAX experience" for true 70mm productions, but now allows its use on DMR productions as well.

Since 2002 many other Hollywood films have been remastered for IMAX. Warner Brothers has especially embraced the format with the two Matrix sequels, dan since 2004 has been releasing its Harry Potter film franchise in IMAX to strong financial success. Also in 2004 the company released the animated movie The Polar Express in IMAX 3D. Express became the most successful movie ever to be released in IMAX theatres, making at least a quarter of the film total worldwide gross of $302 million from less than 100 IMAX screens; because of its success, it has been re-released each holiday season since. In 2005 WB also released Batman Begins simultaneously in conventional theatres dan IMAX, helping the film reach $200M at the domestic box office. In summer 2006 WB released the highly anticipated Superman Returns remastered for IMAX, with some effects scenes transformed into 3D. Spider-Man 3 broke the IMAX gross record in 2007 by a huge margin.

Pada 2008, the Rolling Stones concert film, Shine a Light, directed by Martin Scorsese, was released as an IMAX DMR blowup version.

The July 2008 Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight (partially shot on IMAX – see below) broke box office records for IMAX, taking in about $6.3 million from 94 theaters in the U.S. dan Canada over the opening weekend. The record for an IMAX opening weekend was again broken in May 2009 by Star Trek: The IMAX Experience, which took in $8.3 million.[20] The current IMAX opening weekend record (as of December 2009) is held by Titanic director James Cameron's Avatar which brought in $9.5 million.[21]