The Shining IMAX release set for December 2025: first-ever large format screening of Stanley Kubrick horror classic

Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror film The Shining will receive its first IMAX theatrical release on December 12, 2025, marking the first large-format presentation of the classic in 45 years.The IMAX release represents the first time audiences can view The Shining in large-format theater presentation since its original November, 1980 debut. A new trailer features iconic scenes from the Stephen King adaptation, including the hallway twins sequence and Jack Nicholson's "Here's Johnny" moment.

While standard screenings of The Shining appear regularly in UK cinemas during autumn months, the IMAX format offers remastered visual presentation unavailable in previous theatrical runs. The enhanced format allows viewers to experience Kubrick's meticulous cinematography and atmospheric direction on a significantly larger scale than traditional theater screens.

The Shining stars Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers. The film follows an aspiring novelist and recovering alcoholic who accepts a winter caretaker position at a mountain resort hotel with his wife and clairvoyant son, ultimately descending into insanity.


Also read: Psychological horror films for Halloween: essential movies that define the genre from Psycho to modern cla

Critical reception evolution since 1980 release

The film received mixed reviews upon initial release, earning a nomination at the first Golden Raspberry Awards in 1981. Critical assessment has shifted significantly over four decades, with The Shining now recognized as a certified classic and frequently cited among the greatest horror films in cinema history.

Theater information for IMAX screening

Screening information and ticket details are available through the IMAX website. The December release provides audiences opportunity to view the Kubrick film in high-definition large-format presentation. Theaters across the United States are expected to participate in the IMAX special release.