RetroScreen vs IMAX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RetroScreen
Experience interactive computer art inspired by 1990s aesthetics on your iPhone and iPad. Utilize multitouch gestures to manipulate points and switch between five unique modes, creating dynamic visual experiences. This app offers a nostalgic yet modern artistic playground.
- Multitouch interaction
- Five distinct creative modes
- Tap and drag to move points
- Double-tap to add/remove points
- Gesture-based controls
- Nostalgic computer art aesthetic
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Inspired by the computer art of an earlier generation, RetroScreen is an interactive incarnation for iPhone and iPad. Five modes, each built around multitouch — it's like your 1996 Power Macintosh had a multitouch display all along. • Tap and drag to move a point • Double-tap a point to remove it • Double-tap empty space to add one • Tap the dot, top right, to switch mode • Tap the x, top left to slow everything down Originally published in 2011, rebuilt in 2026 for the latest devices with the original look intact. Created by Mike Tucker (mike-tucker.com). Published by CreativeApplications.Net. Made with openFrameworks, an open source C++ toolkit.
IMAX
Discover upcoming films, documentaries, and live events. Save your favorite theaters to stay updated on showtimes and release dates. Access exclusive content like cast messages and digital art.
- Save favorite theaters
- View showtimes and release dates
- Browse film and event listings
- Access exclusive cast messages
- Download exclusive IMAX Art
- Explore capsule collections
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From Hollywood blockbuster releases to exclusive one-night-only artist performances, IMAX is personalizing your theatre experience with the help of our app: - Save your home theatre and stay updated on what’s playing on our screens - Learn release dates for films, documentaries, and amazing, one-night-only IMAX Live experiences - Browse our limited-edition capsule collections celebrating the history of our cameras and our filmmaking heritage - Receive exclusive downloadable messages from cast and crew, and save our exclusive IMAX Art on your phone Download today to be in the best seat tomorrow. Terms of Use: https://www.imax.com/content/terms-service Privacy Policy: https://www.imax.com/content/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RetroScreen at none against IMAX's 19. RetroScreen also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (67% vs 35%). IMAX's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 99 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. IMAX sells 19 one-off in-app purchases. RetroScreen asks for nothing beyond the download.
RetroScreen ships an update every 99 months, IMAX monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RetroScreen | IMAX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 2.3 (32 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better | 34.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 32 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 99 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPod, Vision Pro |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 124 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | CreativeApplications.Net | IMAX Corporation |
Customer experience
RetroScreen
IMAX
Bugs and requests
RetroScreen
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
IMAX
Reported bugs
10 issues- App freezes on splash screen or black screen
- Content loading error: 'There was an error loading the content'
- Unable to retrieve content in certain regions
- Login failures and authentication issues
- App crashes after initial use
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- Control center down arrow continuously flashing
- Error messages appear without actual issues
- Theater location search returns no results for existing locations
- Password validation rejects secure keychain-generated passwords
- Movie not displaying in expected 3D format despite listing
Requested features
18 requests- Add option to purchase movies instead of renting
- Expand content library with major films (Dune, Oppenheimer, Interstellar, TRON, Lord of the Rings)
- Subscription model for unlimited access
- Update location database with new theaters
- Add support for multiple favorite theaters
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- Include full-length IMAX movies in 1.43 aspect ratio
- Add 3D content for all available titles
- Implement search functionality
- Show rental duration and movie length information
- Add trailers for all paid content
- Download feature for offline viewing
- Monthly or yearly subscription option
- Shared viewing experience with other users
- Hand visibility toggle for low-light viewing
- Support for more countries and regions
- Guest login option without account creation
- Movie recommendations and sorting options
- Theater kiosk ordering integration
In-app purchases
RetroScreen
No in-app purchases
IMAX
- Hail Columbia$1.99
- Fires of Kuwait$1.99
- Pandas$2.99
Show 16 moreShow fewer
- Superpower Dogs$3.99
- A Beautiful Planet$4.99
- Journey to the South Pacific$4.99
- Superpower Dogs [3D]$4.99
- Pandas [3D]$4.99
- Deep Sky [3D]$4.99
- Planet Earth 3: Ep7: Human$4.99
- Planet Earth 3: Ep3: Deserts$4.99
- Planet Earth 3: Ep4: Freshwate$4.99
- Planet Earth 3: Ep5: Forrests$4.99
- Planet Earth 3: Ep6: Extremes$4.99
- Planet Earth 3: Ep1: Coasts$4.99
- Planet Earth 3: Ep2: Ocean$4.99
- A Beautiful Planet [3D]$5.99
- Journey to the South Pacific$5.99
- Deep Sky$6.99
