Kinepolis in Brussels issued a warning Thursday about counterfeit tickets and price gouging for IMAX screenings of "The Odyssey" [1].
The alert comes as high demand for the film's original IMAX format has created a lucrative market for fraudsters and opportunistic resellers. This surge in illicit activity threatens to leave cinema-goers without entry despite paying significant sums.
According to VRT NWS, those seeking tickets for the film in its original IMAX format must remain vigilant against fraud [1]. The cinema chain said that some individuals are reselling tickets at inflated prices, reaching as high as 115 euro [1].
The problem is twofold, involving both the sale of entirely fake tickets and the legal resale of legitimate tickets at predatory rates. Kinepolis Brussels has urged the public to be cautious when purchasing from third-party sellers to avoid financial loss.
"Others are selling their tickets for extortionate prices of up to 115 euros," VRT NWS said [1].
The cinema chain is emphasizing the use of official channels to ensure ticket validity. Because the IMAX screenings are highly sought-after, the risk of encountering sophisticated counterfeits has increased during this window of peak popularity [1].
“Kinepolis Brussels warned that counterfeit tickets are being sold.”
The emergence of a secondary market for 'The Odyssey' IMAX tickets highlights the ongoing struggle for cinema chains to control distribution of high-demand specialty screenings. When official ticket platforms sell out, the vacuum is typically filled by scalpers and fraudsters, shifting the financial gain from the venue to third-party actors and increasing the risk of consumer fraud.
