A few nights ago, I saw a tweet by Mark Cousins:

I replied, “Noted, thanks for the recommendation.” But the tweet stayed with me. Not because it hyped the film, but because it made the experience sound intentional. So I looked up where I could watch Sinners in IMAX. In Kochi, the only option was Cinepolis.

And if you know Cinepolis, you probably understand why I hesitated. I wasn’t sure if it was a proper IMAX screen or just a rebranded one. So I searched online. Google led me to a Reddit thread—an honest review that said the screen and sound were solid, but the seats were uncomfortable. That matched my past experience with Cinepolis. Nonetheless the review helped me decide to go watch the film.

The seats at Cinepolis have always been a weak point. Just not made for sitting through two-hour films. But to my surprise, the IMAX seat I chose, ₹450, center of the hall, was better. Possibly even leather. Felt more premium. Not luxurious or deeply reclining, but noticeably better than the regular Cinepolis screens. Maybe the Reddit review had set my expectations so low that anything slightly above average felt like relief. Even then, it was better than just tolerable.

The screen quality held up. The height of the frame gave the image a kind of presence—floor to ceiling, close enough to feel, not just see. I noticed reflections on the floor near the screen, small details that created a sense of depth I hadn’t experienced elsewhere. The sound was as promised—strong, immersive. I wasn’t straining to catch dialogue or plugging my ears from loudness. It felt clean.

What stood out more was the shifting aspect ratio. I hadn’t anticipated how satisfying that would be. This wasn’t just an upscaled digital print. Many scenes actually used shot on IMAX cameras, and it showed. The transitions between ratios were noticeable, at least to my filmmaker’s eye. It pulled me out of the story. But when they took advantage of the full IMAX resolution, it felt really good.

I don’t have a long list of IMAX experiences to compare this to. The only other one was watching Interstellar in Chennai when it released. That was years ago, and my memory of the actual viewing environment is vague. What I remember is the film, the hype, the scale of it.

So yes—the Reddit review helped. And it was mostly accurate. But if someone asked me now, I’d add:

  • The screen and sound are genuinely good.
  • The seats, at least in the higher tier, are better than regular Cinepolis.
  • And if the film you’re watching was made for IMAX—or even partly—this screen in Kochi can do it justice.

It’s not a theatre I’d rush to for every film. But for something like Sinners, where format and filmmaking align, it worked. It was worth the evening.