What Is Rpx at Regal Cinemas? Technical Breakdown of the Premium Movie Format
By James H. Sterling
Regal introduced RPX to recapture audiences who were abandoning run-of-the-mill multiplex rooms for massive commercial presentations. The concept relies on proprietary theater specification: build an auditorium that exceeds the screen dimensions, acoustic volume, and physical comfort of standard 2D houses without being beholden to external operational mandates.
Inside an RPX auditorium, visual presentation starts with screen dimensions that range between 45 and 75 feet wide. While regular screens stretch across only a portion of the room, RPX canvases run wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling. The aspect ratio generally adheres to standard theatrical flat (1.85:1) or scope (2.39:1) framing. This means films fill the canvas as directors shot them, avoiding the specialized square-ratio remastering required for select IMAX prints.
Modernized locations employ high-contrast 4K laser projection technology supplied through hardware agreements with manufacturers like Barco and Christie. Laser units throw substantially higher lumens onto the screen compared to aging xenon bulbs. The increased light output solves the persistent dimness that once plagued 3D and oversized projection, creating crisp color separation, stable highlights, and deep blacks across the entire surface.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
