Full Breakdown
The Odyssey fuels a nationwide frenzy for scarce IMAX 70 mm screenings
7/25/2026, 11:54:30 PM
Core Event: Limited-run 70 mm IMAX showings spark a ticket scramble
Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, opened on July 18, 2026. It is the first feature film shot entirely on IMAX 70 mm film, and only 41 theaters worldwide—including 25 in the United States—can project the genuine 1.43:1 format. Tickets have sold out for weeks, prices have surged, and moviegoers are traveling hundreds of miles for a single showing.
Background & Context: The technology behind the hype
IMAX 70 mm runs a 65-mm negative horizontally, producing a frame about three times larger than standard 35 mm. The new “Keighley” camera, developed with Kodak, Panavision and FotoKem, reduced camera noise by roughly 15 % and allowed sync-sound dialogue, but the format still requires massive 70 mm reels and a purpose-built sound-proof blimp. The format’s heritage dates to classic epics such as *Ben-Hur* and *Cleopatra*, and Nolan’s use of it for an entire three-hour narrative marks a technical milestone.
Official Statements & Responses
IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond said the limited number of suitable auditoriums is “like a Rolls-Royce” and that the company is exploring ways to add more locations, though economics constrain rapid expansion.
Regal’s Indiana State Museum manager Neale Johantgen reported that more than half of early-day attendees traveled at least 50 miles, with requests coming from over 20 states and even Switzerland.
When the Regal King of Prussia theater experienced a projector failure, the venue issued a social-media apology, stating technicians were working “around the clock.”
Cineplex spokesperson Michelle Saba confirmed that the Vaughan, Ontario projector was down and that the company was repairing it “as soon as possible,” while offering refunds and vouchers.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Mike Rohlfing, a marketer from St. Louis, drove ? 900 miles to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to see the film in 70 mm, calling the format “incredible.”
- Morgan Bernados, a nonprofit worker, likened buying a 70 mm ticket to “buying concert tickets.”
- Ashton Jones, an IT administrator in Georgia, attended a 3 a.m. showing, staying awake with a Red Bull and noting the experience was “fun.”
- Janine Marchessault, a York University professor, explained that celluloid-based screenings are prone to film-sticking or breaking, a risk inherent to the format.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact count of U.S. venues: some list 24 theaters while others cite 25 (wired, CNBC). Ticket-resale prices also vary, with reports of $30 face value versus $200 on secondary markets (SFStandard, CBC). No source provides a definitive schedule for expanding the 70 mm network beyond the current 41 locations.
What’s Next: Future screenings and format outlook
Analysts at Rosenblatt Securities expect IMAX’s stock to rise another 12 % over the next year, citing premium-format demand as a growth driver. Upcoming releases such as Warner Bros. Discovery’s Dune: Part Three are slated for 70 mm showings, suggesting the format will continue to attract cinephiles willing to travel and pay premium prices.
