IMAX系統的雛形最初以多重銀幕型態發表於1967年在加拿大蒙特婁所舉辦的世界博覽會中，之後一些加拿大的製片及企業家們決定設計一套強大且採用單一放映機的巨型銀幕放映系統，因此就誕生了革命性的IMAX電影放映系統。緊接著在1970年首次在日本大阪所舉辦的世界博覽會富士館中推出全球第一套巨型銀幕放映系統，一般英文稱為Large Format（指的是其獨特且最大的影帶規格－70mm畫格）或是Giant Screen（指的是其高增益亮度的巨型銀幕）。第一座IMAX劇場於1973年首次在加州聖地牙哥科學館亮相，當時吸引很多民眾到博物館觀賞影片，很快地為全世界科學類博物館所競相引進。這個系統發展至今已有40年歷史，而國內博物館劇場正式引進此系統也有 25年歷史（國立自然科學博物館太空劇場1986年開幕），隨著進入數位化時代，以及3D科技產業蓬勃發展，業界和博物館正努力有所突破。2010年9月國立自然科學博物館（以下簡稱科博館）邀請加拿大IMAX公司人員與國內劇場從業人員進行一場「博物館劇場發展」講座，論及其未來發展策略與趨勢，而近年科博館立體劇場在營運上顯露成果，成功地從傳統影片的劇場轉型為具數位化規模的劇場。本文擬先略談巨型銀幕電影系統發展概況與博物館劇場的轉變，然後以科博館立體劇場經營為例來探討博物館劇場發展。

The IMAX system had its roots in EXPO '67 in Montreal, Canada where multi-screen films were the hit of the fair. Then a small group of Canadian filmmakers and entrepreneurs decided to design a new system using a single, powerful projector, rather than the multiple projectors used at that time. Thus was born the IMAX motion picture projection system, which revolutionizes cinema. The world's first set of IMAX projection system generally known as Large Format (referring to its unique and the largest frame size-70mm) or Giant Screen (referring to its high-gain brightness screen) was introduced at the Fuji Pavilion, EXPO '70 in Osaka, Japan. The first OMNIMAX theater made its debut at the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theatre and Science Center in San Diego in 1973. Many people were attracted to the museum to watch the movie, then science museums around the world competing for introducing this system. The IMAX system has been developed for 40 years, while it was formally introduced to the museums in Taiwan at least 25 years ago (National Museum of Natural Science Space Theater opened in 1986). With access to the digital age and the flourishing of 3-D technology industry, both the IMAX company and museums are working respectively to achieve a breakthrough in its development and application. In September 2010, the National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS) invited the Canadian IMAX staff to engage in the seminar on "IMAX Evolution-Direction & Strategy". In recent years, NMNS 3-D Theater’s operation shows a success, a transition from traditional film theater to a digital theater. Hence, this article will mention the development of the giant screen theater as well as the transformation of theaters in museums recently, and then take NMNS 3-D theater for example to introduce the change of the operation.