Disney+ to Stream “Queen Rock Montreal” with IMAX Enhanced Sound, Adds Marvel Titles with Enhanced Audio

Published on 4/14/24 by Craig Smith

Queen Rock Montreal disney plus Disney+, in partnership with IMAX Corporation and DTS, a subsidiary of Xperi Inc., has announced that “Queen Rock Montreal” will make its global streaming debut on May 15 as the first concert film to feature IMAX Enhanced sound. This premiere comes alongside the addition of 18 Marvel films on Disney+ that will also boast the IMAX Enhanced audio technology.

“Queen Rock Montreal,” which records the legendary 1981 concerts of Queen at their zenith, has been digitally remastered specifically for this release. The film captures the iconic performances of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon, offering fans a vivid and sonically expansive viewing experience. Originally filmed over two nights in November 1981, the concert was designed to be a comprehensive live film, capturing the band’s dynamic stage presence and musical prowess. The film has been restored for IMAX by Mercury Studios, with executive production credits to Geoff Kempin and Alice Webb from Mercury Studios, and Jim Beach and Matilda Beach from Queen Films.

Alongside the Queen concert film, Disney+ will enhance the home viewing experience of Marvel fans with IMAX Enhanced sound versions of popular titles such as “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and 3,” “Black Panther,” and “Thor: Ragnarok,” among others. These films will feature select sequences in IMAX’s expanded aspect ratio, bringing a new level of immersive audio-visual entertainment right into viewers’ living rooms.

IMAX Enhanced utilizes DTS:X technology to preserve the full dynamic range of the original theatrical sound mix, allowing audio to envelop the listener with incredible clarity and depth. The technology aims to faithfully reproduce the filmmaker’s original intent and provide an IMAX-quality presentation in the home environment.

Certified device manufacturers that support IMAX Enhanced sound include leading brands such as Sony, Hisense, Sharp, and Xiaomi for Android/Google TV devices, and Denon, Marantz, and JBL for DTS:X enabled AV receivers. These devices ensure that subscribers get the most out of their viewing experience with optimized audio performance.

This innovative move by Disney+ marks a significant step in home entertainment, making it the first major streaming service to offer IMAX Enhanced experiences. It reflects the ongoing evolution of the partnership between IMAX and Disney Entertainment, which began in 2010 with the Marvel Cinematic Universe entering the IMAX theaters and has since led to IMAX becoming a major platform for Marvel’s blockbuster releases.