Several technology companies, including Samsung and LG, are proposing a radical shift to the use of LED screens (AKA direct view displays) in cinemas. Samsung Onyx LED displays are already used in around 100 cinemas around the world, including at The Culver Theater in Culver City in Los Angeles. They are particularly good when it comes to high dynamic range (HDR) and brightness.
On the downside, auditorium sound is a concern, as, unlike conventional cinema screens, speaker arrays cannot be installed behind LED screens, though a Samsung/Harman Onyx Cinema Solution may effectively address this. Cost is another concern, especially as they consume a lot more power and generate significantly more heat than projection, adding to the load put on air conditioning systems.
Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) have published a technical specification for direct view displays and several units, including Samsung and LG models, have been DCI certified. They’re also looking to create a specification for a standard Digital Cinema Package (the digital equivalent of a film print) that could be used in LED-based auditoriums without the need to create a separate version of the movie.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter