If you haven’t seen Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm, fret not: Showings of the epic in premium format have been extended by one month to September 16th. Per Forbes, the announcement of the extension arrives after screenings of the film sold out in advance, with some theaters selling out seven weeks ahead of its initial run.
Premium screenings of The Odyssey are in high demand in part because of the film’s status as the first-ever movie to be shot entirely in IMAX. Before The Odyssey, traditional IMAX movies switched between large and standard aspect ratios during showings. The literary classic-turned-blockbuster film maintains a large aspect ratio for its full duration.
Demand for The Odyssey
Demand has been a part of The Odyssey‘s journey since it was announced. Only 25 theaters in the US are capable of showing The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm. Tickets for the earliest screenings of the film went on sale one year before its release on July 17th. When the movie made its grand arrival this year, a portion of the IMAX 70mm theaters experienced such high demand that they introduced 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. showings.
The Odyssey‘s success keeps on coming. As of July 29th, the film has pulled in $700 million at the global box after just 12 days in theaters. The film gave director Christopher Nolan his biggest global opening ever, with $264.1 million during its first weekend. If things keep trending in this direction, The Odyssey could become Nolan‘s highest grossing movie ever. To do that, the Homeric epic would need to beat Oppenheimer, which earned $975 million; The Dark Knight, a $1 billion triumph; and The Dark Knight Rises, which earned just a bit more with $1.08 billion.
Awards Season Ahead
Nolan has long advocated for the IMAX format, and has experienced similar success with premium formats. In 2024, IMAX extended Oppenheimer‘s 70mm showings twice, adding commercial success on top of critical acknowledgements, including an extremely successful Oscars campaign. If the path of Oppenheimer is any indication, The Odyssey is well on its way to a busy awards season.
In conclusion, the extension of The Odyssey‘s IMAX 70mm showings is a testament to the film’s enduring popularity and the power of premium formats in the movie industry. With its groundbreaking cinematography and epic storytelling, The Odyssey is sure to continue to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impact on the world of cinema. As IMAX tweeted, “Can’t ever get enough of #TheOdysseyMovie. More IMAX 70mm tickets are on sale NOW! #ShotEntirelyWithIMAXFilmCameras” – it’s clear that The Odyssey is a must-see experience in IMAX 70mm.
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