Full Breakdown
Christopher Nolan's “The Odyssey” Shatters BFI IMAX Ticket-Sales Record Ahead of Release
6/17/2026, 12:29:39 PM
Record-Breaking First-Day Sales at BFI IMAX
In its first 24 hours of on-sale tickets, the BFI IMAX in central London sold 28,000 seats for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film *The Odyssey*, generating a gross of £750,000 (approximately $1 million). The result set a new venue record for first-day revenue, surpassing the previous benchmark of £366,000 held by *Dune: Part Two* and the £254,000 recorded for Nolan’s *Oppenheimer*.
Context: Recent BFI IMAX Milestones
The BFI IMAX, the United Kingdom’s largest screen, previously posted its biggest opening-weekend box-office for Nolan’s *Oppenheimer* with a £207,677 weekend gross, making it the top-earning IMAX screen in the country. The new record for *The Odyssey* therefore represents a significant leap in the venue’s performance history.
Quantitative Highlights
- Tickets sold (UK, first day): 28,000 – £750,000 gross.
- U.S. advance sales: roughly 150,000 tickets and $3.4 million in 24 hours, the highest in four years for premium large-format tickets.
- AMC theatres reported the highest first-day advance PLF ticket sales in four years, with wait times of up to one hour on the website.
- Scalpers listed resold tickets for as much as $1,500 on eBay.
- The film is the first feature shot entirely on IMAX 70 mm with IMAX cameras.
Official Statements & Responses
The BFI IMAX reported the sales figures, confirming the £750,000 gross and noting the rapid sell-out of four opening-weekend screenings that were made available a full year before release. AMC CEO Adam Aron publicly apologized for website delays and assured fans that “MILLIONS more available seats” would be added to meet demand.
Criticism, Scalping and Ticketing Issues
Ticket-selling platforms experienced crashes and extended wait times, prompting consumer frustration. Resale markets saw tickets listed for up to $1,500, highlighting concerns about scalping and accessibility for ordinary moviegoers.
Why It Matters: Technological Firsts and Market Impact
*The Odyssey* marks the debut of a feature filmed exclusively on IMAX 70 mm with IMAX cameras. Its strong pre-sale performance may encourage studios to pursue premium-format releases and could reshape distribution strategies for high-budget epics.
Upcoming Release and Screening Plans
The film is scheduled to open on 17 July. A special midnight showing will launch a weekend of continuous, round-the-clock screenings at the BFI IMAX, capitalising on the unprecedented demand. The schedule includes a midnight premiere followed by nonstop screenings throughout the weekend.
Key Figures & Production Details
Christopher Nolan wrote, directed and co-produced *The Odyssey* through his Syncopy banner with Emma Thomas. The 172-minute epic stars Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o and Charlize Theron, marking Damon’s third collaboration with Nolan after *Interstellar* and *Oppenheimer*.
Verbatim Quotes
> “MILLIONS more available seats.” — Adam Aron, CEO, AMC Theatres
