Moviegoers are seeking IMAX 70mm tickets for Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey," with some fans pursuing screenings as early as six a.m.
The surge in demand highlights a growing consumer preference for premium, large-format cinema experiences over standard digital screenings. Because the film was shot entirely with IMAX 70mm cameras and designed for IMAX 1.43:1 screens, fans are treating the format as an essential part of the storytelling.
This enthusiasm has persisted into the third week of the film's theatrical run in July [1]. The scarcity of the experience is driven by the fact that only 25 theaters across the U.S. are capable of projecting the IMAX 70mm format [2].
According to Fast Company, people are scouring social media to find out about new ticket drops for showings at all hours of the day and night, even six a.m. [3]. This desperation for seats is reflected in the booking windows, as some showtimes have sold out seven weeks in advance [4].
AMC Theatres said "The Odyssey" continues to break box-office records [5]. The commercial success has extended to the financial markets, with IMAX stock reaching an all-time high on Monday, Aug. 3 [6].
To accommodate the ongoing demand, the window for these premium screenings has been expanded. Antonio Pequeno IV said for Forbes that IMAX 70mm screenings, which were originally scheduled to run through Aug. 19, have been extended to Sept. 16 [7].
The limited number of venues has created a bottleneck for audiences, turning the act of viewing the film into a competitive event. This trend underscores Nolan's influence on the industry's push toward analog film preservation, and high-fidelity projection.
“People are scouring social media to find out about new ticket drops for showings at all hours of the day and night, even six a.m.”
The intense demand for 'The Odyssey' in a specific, rare format suggests that a segment of the moviegoing public now views the technical delivery of a film as a primary draw, similar to a live event. By limiting the experience to 25 U.S. theaters, the production creates an artificial scarcity that boosts both box-office prestige and the stock value of the technology provider, IMAX.
