How to Secure Tickets for Christopher Nolan's IMAX 70mm Release in New York
With most seats sold through mid-August at AMC Lincoln Square, moviegoers are turning to online forums, alert apps and theater kiosks for any chance to see the film in its intended format.
New York’s only theater capable of showing Christopher Nolan’s latest film in its original IMAX 70mm format – AMC Lincoln Square 13 – has sold out nearly every seat through Aug. 19, according to the venue’s website. The 75.6-foot-high by 101-foot-wide screen is the sole venue in the city that can present the movie in the director’s intended aspect ratio.
Because AMC does not announce when new ticket batches become available, fans are relying on community-driven sources. Reddit’s r/NYCMovies forum and Discord channels such as “IMAX Syndicate” often post alerts when users spot unannounced drops. > "We have so many users, and so somebody basically is bound to see these tickets drop, and then people report that they've become available," said Tessa Senders, moderator of r/NYCMovies.
Users also share cancellations and arrange swaps, though Senders warned that scammers have proliferated. > "We've had a huge influx of scammers, more than I've ever seen for honestly anything," she added.
Several notification services can help. The official AMC mobile app includes a “remind me” feature, though reviewers note it is inconsistent. Third-party tools like SeatDrop track seat releases when patrons cancel, sending text alerts for specific showtimes. Data from SeatDrop indicate that half of cancellations occur within 12 hours of a screening, with a peak in the final hour.
Some patrons prefer the theater’s ticket kiosks, believing they refresh more quickly than online listings. One 19-year-old reported receiving a ticket from an unknown individual at the kiosk after repeatedly checking the screen.
The film’s strong box-office performance – $124 million opening weekend – suggests the run will extend well into the summer and possibly the fall. Industry observers expect the theater to keep the IMAX screen occupied until the next major release, "Dune: Part Three," slated for December.
For cinephiles seeking a seat, the consensus is to monitor community forums, set up alerts, and be ready to act the moment a ticket becomes available.