4D film is a presentation system combining motion pictures with synchronized physical effects that occur in the theater. Effects simulated in 4D films include motion, vibration, scent, rain, mist, bubbles, fog, smoke, wind, temperature changes, and strobe lights.[1] [2] Seats in 4D venues vibrate and move.
As of 2022, 4D films have been exhibited in more than 65 countries.[3] 4D motion pictures are also exhibited in theme parks.[4]
The term "4D film" is an extension of 3D film, which gives the illusion of three-dimensional solidity.[5] Precursors of the modern 4D film presentation include Sensurround, which debuted in 1974 with the film Earthquake. Only a few films were presented in Sensurround, and it was supplanted by Dolby Stereo in 1977, which featured extended low frequencies and made subwoofers a common addition to cinema.[6] Other notable efforts at pushing the boundaries of the film viewing experience include Fantasound, the first use of stereo sound; Cinemiracle and Cinerama, both widescreen formats utilizing multiple projectors; and Smell-O-Vision.
The Sensorium is regarded as the world's first commercial 4D film and was first screened in 1984 at Six Flags Power Plant in Baltimore. It was produced in partnership with Landmark Entertainment.[7]
4DX, D-Box Technologies, and Mediamation all currently integrate 4D technology in global stadium seating multiplexes.[8]
The following is a list of 4D presentation systems developed for traditional film theatres.
| Format | Date | Developer | 3D format | Motion seat | Effects | Remarks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4DX | CJ 4D Plex | Stereoscopic 3D | yes | motion, vibration, scent/olfactory, water sprays, wind/air, snow, fog, strobes, lightning, bubbles | Cineworld, Cinépolis | ||
| D-Box | D-Box Technologies | Stereoscopic 3D | yes | motion, vibration | Cinemark | ||
| MX4D[9] | MediaMation | Stereoscopic 3D | yes | motion, vibration, scent/olfactory, water sprays, wind/air, snow, fog, strobes, lightning, bubbles | Paramount, Showcase | ||
| 4D E-Motion | Lumma | Stereoscopic 3D | yes | motion, vibration, scent/olfactory, water sprays, air shots, wind, strobes, colour lights, fog, bubbles, snow | |||
| (Not named by developer) | Red Rover | Stereoscopic 3D | yes | motion, water sprays, wind/air, scent/olfactory, fog, strobes, bubbles, | Branded as Super 4D in Lotte Cinema installations. | ||
| Title | Year | Release venue/Country | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sensorium | 1984 | The first 4D film | ||
| Captain EO | 1986 | Closed in the mid-late 1990s and reopened in 2010 as a tribute to the late Michael Jackson. | ||
| Muppet*Vision 3D | 1991 | Disney's Hollywood Studios | Directed by Jim Henson | |
| Honey, I Shrunk the Audience | 1994 | Sponsored by Kodak, closed in all locations in May 2010 and was replaced with Captain EO. | ||
| Terminator 2 3D: Battle Across Time | 1996 | Universal Studios Japan | Directed by James Cameron | |
| Pirates 4D | 1997 | SeaWorld Ohio, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Thorpe Park in the UK, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Produced by Busch Entertainment, Directed by Keith Melton. | |
| PandaDroom | 2002 | Same film released in other parks without 4D effects | ||
| SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D | 2002, 2006 | Six Flags over Texas, Moody Gardens, Shedd Aquarium, Adventure Dome, Six Flags Great Adventure, Movie Park Germany, Adventure Aquarium, Kings Dominion, (formerly at Paramount Parks), Indianapolis Zoo, Carowinds, Camden Aquarium (Camden, NJ), Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo and other locations | ||
| Mickey's PhilharMagic | 2003 | Magic Kingdom, Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disney California Adventure. | In collaboration with Walt Disney Feature Animation | |
| Haunted Lighthouse | 2003 | |||
| Shrek 4-D | 2003 | Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Singapore | Released in an anaglyph version as Shrek 3-D on DVD | |
| Borg Invasion | 2004 | , at Las Vegas Hilton, US | Closed in 2008, to be reopened in Neonopolis, Las Vegas | |
| Fly Me to the Moon | 2008 | |||
| Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure | 2008 | Vibrant 5D, Raipur, India | Stone Mountain Park, Dollywood, Warner Bros. Movie World | |
| 2017 | India | First Indian 4D film; directed by Rahul Rathish Kumar | ||
| Avatar in 4D | 2009 | In 4DX. James Cameron, Director | ||
| London Eye 4D Experience | 2009 | London Eye | Produced by Centre Screen Productions and Principal Large Format | |
| Beyond All Boundaries | 2009 | WWII Museum, New Orleans | Produced by Tom Hanks | |
| ENERGIA The Spirit of the Earth | 2009 | Cité de l'énergie, Shawinigan (Quebec) | Spectators are seated on a revolving platform. Features wind, snow, smoke, rain, vibration and lighting effects. | |
| "The Garden" | 2010 | The eight-minute film was projected upon five 10-meter-high screens. | ||
| Marvel Super Heroes 4D | 2010 | Madame Tussauds London, Trans Studio Bandung[10] | ||
| Rabid Rider | 2010 | |||
| Shalem | 2011? | A 3000-year-old guide to Jerusalem's history at the Jerusalem Time Elevator, Jerusalem.[11] | ||
| The Bourne Legacy | 2012 | Multinational | In 4DX | |
| Tallgrass Prairie: Tides of Time | 2012 | Features wind, snow, smoke, and lightning effects[12] | ||
| Prometheus | 2012 | Cinepolis Galerias Guadalajara, Mexico | In 4DX. Ridley Scott, Director | |
| Titanic | 2012 | Multinational | 4DX re-release,[13] James Cameron, Director | |
| The Adventures of Tintin | 2011 | 14-minute condensed version of the film. | ||
| Iron Man 3 | 2013 | Korona World Theatre Nagoya, Japan, Seoul, South Korea | Labeled as 4DX featuring strobe lights, tilting seats, blowing wind and fog, and odor effects. | |
| 47 Ronin | 2014 | Multinational | In 4DX | |
| Fury | 2014 | Multinational | In 4DX | |
| Interstellar | 2014 | Multinational | In 4DX. Christopher Nolan, Director | |
| Rio | 2014 | 12-minute condensed version of the film. | ||
| Temple Run 7D | 2014 | 9-minute ride to various Indian temples including Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Rameshwaram, and Dwarka produced by Modern Techno Projects Private Ltd. | ||
| 2015 | Multinational | In 4DX. J.J. Abrams, Director | ||
| Ice Age: No Time for Nuts 4D | 2015 | 4D-remastered version of the 2006 short film of the same name. | ||
| Rogue One | 2016 | Multinational | In 4DX | |
| 2016 | Labeled as 4DX including fog, wind, motion, rain, lightning, vibrations and scents. | |||
| Pixels | 2016 | 4DX re-release including models, sprites, explosives, and bullets. | ||
| 2016 | -minute film, 60-foot screen with 4K resolution, live performers, wind, water, leg pokers, neck ticklers, 80-channel surround sound | |||
| LEGO Nexo Knights 4D: The Book of Creativity[14] | 2016 | Legoland parks and Legoland Discovery Centre parks worldwide | -minute 4D film of LEGO Nexo Knights shown at Legoland, along with The LEGO Movie 4D Produced by Alexander Lentjes[15] for M2Film and Merlin Entertainments | |
| Gravity | 2018 | Multinational | 4DX re-release, Alfonso Cuarón, Director | |
| Life of Pi | 2018 | Multinational | 4DX re-release, Ang Lee, Director | |
| 1917 | 2019 | Multinational | In 4DX,[16] Sam Mendes, Director, Produced by Amblin Partners | |
| 2019 | Multinational | In 4DX. J.J. Abrams, Director | ||
| Gemini Man | 2019 | Multinational | In 4DX. Ang Lee, Director | |
| The Lion King | 2019 | Multinational | In 4DX. Jon Favreau, Director | |
| Inception | 2020 | Multinational | 4DX re-release,[17] Christopher Nolan, Director | |
| The Matrix Resurrections | 2021 | Multinational | In 4DX. Lana Wachowski, Director | |
| 2022 | Multinational | In 4DX. Directed by Joseph Kosinski. | ||
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | 2023 | Multinational | In 4DX. Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic Directors | |
| Oppenheimer | 2023 | Multinational | In 4DX. Christopher Nolan, Director | |
| Postcard from Earth | 2023 | Sphere at the Venetian Resort, Las Vegas | Effects include wind, scents, and infrasound seat vibrations. Directed by Darren Aronofsky.[18] | |
| Godzilla Minus One | 2023 | Japan | In 4DX. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki[19] |