Only 25 U.S. IMAX theaters can project Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" in 70mm format

Christopher Nolan's new film, The Odyssey, will open this week with critical praise, but only a limited number of theaters can present it in the format the director intended. The movie was shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film, which uses reels roughly ten times larger than standard 35mm and provides greater detail and a wider field of view. Because most cinemas have replaced film projectors with digital systems, just 25 venues in the United States still have the equipment needed for an authentic IMAX 70mm showing.

Nolan told the Associated Press in 2023 that IMAX 70mm offers "unparalleled" sharpness, clarity and depth, creating a sense of immersion comparable to 3D without glasses. IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond said tickets for the limited screenings have sold out quickly and remain scarce, noting that the company has not produced new IMAX film projectors in about five decades.

Tickets for the format have been resold for up to $500, and popular locations such as AMC Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles and AMC Lincoln Square in New York are reportedly sold out for weeks. Some viewers are traveling internationally, including to Melbourne, Australia, which hosts the southern hemisphere's only IMAX 70mm theater.

While the 70mm experience shows a larger portion of each shot and enhances the film’s visual impact, the movie is otherwise identical across formats. Audiences without access to an IMAX 70mm venue can still view the film in standard digital theaters.