Story perspectives

Nolan’s “The Odyssey” Triggers App Crash, Long Queues

6/8/2026

Summary

Nolan Stalls AMC

Demand for Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey stalled AMC’s app, creating hour-long queues.
Wait times fell to about eight minutes after earlier peaks of over an hour, while Fandango also slowed.
AMC’s premium-format ticket sales were the highest for a major-studio movie since 2022.
The Odyssey opens in U.S. theaters on July 17 2026 with a $250 million budget.
The film was shot entirely with IMAX 15-perf/65 mm cameras using a blimp sound-capture technique.

Summary

IMAX Ticket Flip

Resale listings for IMAX 70mm tickets have hit $1,000, showing a new market value for physical projection in a streaming era.
Critics warn that limited 70mm venues may turn premium cinema into a status experience for a few.
Industry voices call for more 70mm IMAX theaters to improve accessibility and curb black-market flipping, while Nolan’s rarity strategy pushes audiences out of homes.

History

Historical Context

The Cinesphere opened May 19 1971 at Ontario Place, the world’s first permanent IMAX theatre, debuting Graeme Ferguson’s North of Superior. Founded in 1967, IMAX’s 15/70 format launched a 70 mm boom, and 2008 digital upgrades grew the network to over 1,300 theatres worldwide. Today, premium-ticket flips of Nolan’s $250 million 70 mm releases echo that original scarcity model.

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Nolan Stalls AMC

Demand for Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey stalled AMC’s app, creating hour-long queues.
Wait times fell to about eight minutes after earlier peaks of over an hour, while Fandango also slowed.
AMC’s premium-format ticket sales were the highest for a major-studio movie since 2022.
The Odyssey opens in U.S. theaters on July 17 2026 with a $250 million budget.
The film was shot entirely with IMAX 15-perf/65 mm cameras using a blimp sound-capture technique.

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