Jul 15, 2026 2:43pm IST
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Sparks Ticket Frenzy as Fans Travel Hours for IMAX 70mm Screenings
Christopher Nolan’s fans are eagerly waiting for his upcoming movie, “The Odyssey.” Fans are expecting to watch the movie the way the director has meant it to be seen, in Imax 70mm theatres. So much so, moviegoers are ready to take up to three to four hour drives to reach the closest Imax 70mm theatres to experience “The Odyssey” in its full glory.
Interestingly, the director’s decision to film the movie entirely in Imax cameras, the first film to do so, has made it difficult to secure tickets. It has become even more difficult to get tickets for select showings in Imax 70mm. As per Variety, the challenge lies in the fact that many Imax auditoriums don’t hold the capacity to showcase movies in 70mm. Hence, moviegoers are crossing state lines and securing tickets of multiple showtimes months in advance to not miss out on the experience. Many are also going for late night screenings.
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According to Amber Connaghan, a 29-year-old tech editor, she planned her pregnancy in accordance with “The Odyssey”’s release. Another moviegoer, Hogan Shay, noted that she is planning to watch the movie in Imax 70mm twice. 33-year-old healthcare consultant Tim McHugh has flown from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles to watch “The Odyssey” in Imax 70mm at Universal City Walk.
Securing tickets for an opening weekend showing has become a challenge almost as epic as Odysseus' own journey. Universal took the unusual step of releasing Imax tickets for “The Odyssey” a full year before the film's debut, with most screenings selling out within hours. A second batch of tickets was released in June, but eager moviegoers encountered long virtual queues and website crashes as they competed to reserve seats. Spencer Frey, a 27-year-old, did not wait for the site to function properly. He went to the AMC Theatres’ Lincoln Square location and reserved a spot in person.
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The frenzy was expected. “The Odyssey” is supposed to dominate the box office on its way to becoming a commercial success. This is also because of Nolan’s popularity as a director. The expectations are at an all-time high due to Nolan’s past hits, including “The Dark Knight,” “Dunkirk” and “Oppenheimer.” As the filmmaker has spoken about the cinematic experience with “The Odyssey” time and again, fans are hoping to watch the movie the way the director has intended it to be watched.
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