‘The Odyssey’ Extends IMAX 70mm Showings Through September 16 Due to High Demand

Christopher Nolan has crafted a compelling narrative around the necessity of experiencing certain films in a specific format, and ‘The Odyssey’ stands as the latest testament to this belief. Since its release earlier this month, the film has turned the hunt for IMAX 70mm tickets into an almost competitive endeavor.

The enthusiasm for Nolan’s ambitious adaptation of Homer’s epic poem shows no signs of waning. In fact, the demand for ‘The Odyssey’ has only grown stronger week after week, prompting theaters to continually adjust their schedules to accommodate eager audiences.

The most recent update reveals that IMAX 70mm screenings of ‘The Odyssey’ have been extended through September 16, a decision made in response to what exhibitors describe as overwhelming demand. This extension brings the film’s specialty engagement closer to the date when IMAX’s next scheduled 70mm feature, Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil,’ is set to take over on September 18.

Only 25 theaters across the United States and 41 worldwide are equipped to showcase the film in true IMAX 70mm, and tickets have been selling out weeks, and sometimes months, in advance since its debut. Fans in cities like New York and Los Angeles have already reported no available seats through August 19, while London’s IMAX 70mm screenings were sold out through September 10 even before this latest extension was confirmed.

This scarcity has transformed the experience of watching ‘The Odyssey’ in its intended format into a pilgrimage for dedicated fans. Many moviegoers have traveled hundreds of miles round trip just to catch a 70mm screening, with some even flying internationally to Melbourne, Australia, which hosts the only IMAX 70mm theater in the Southern Hemisphere.

IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond has openly discussed the challenges of meeting the rising interest in 70mm screenings. In a conversation with CNBC, he likened the exclusivity of the format to owning a luxury vehicle, stating that IMAX 70mm auditoriums are akin to a Rolls-Royce, limited by the number of locations capable of supporting the specialized equipment required.

Part of the fervor surrounding this film stems from its distinction as the first narrative feature shot entirely on IMAX cameras, utilizing specially designed casings that allowed Nolan to capture both dialogue and action directly in this format. This milestone has led audiences and critics alike to regard the 70mm presentation as the only authentic way to experience the film.

This heightened demand has also translated into impressive box office results, with the film reportedly surpassing $600 million globally within its first two weekends, according to Variety, with approximately $140 million of that total coming from IMAX screenings alone. This performance positions ‘The Odyssey’ among the top earners of the year, with its 70mm exclusivity significantly contributing to premium ticket sales.

This isn’t the first instance of Nolan’s films igniting such a frenzy for a specific format. His 2023 film ‘Oppenheimer’ experienced similar extended runs in IMAX 70mm before eventually relinquishing its screens, only to return ahead of that year’s Oscars ceremony—a pattern that industry observers expect ‘The Odyssey’ to follow, especially given its increasing awards buzz.

With screenings now confirmed through September 16 and demand showing no signs of diminishing, fans eager to see ‘The Odyssey’ as Nolan intended have a limited window before those sought-after 70mm slots transition to the next major release.

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