SerpApi.Org
70mm IMAX screenings of "The Odyssey" haven't gone smoothly at Colorado's only two theaters equipped to show the film as director Christopher Nolan intended.
Why it matters: Fans paid premium prices, booked seats in advance and stood in long lines to experience the summer blockbuster in one of the world's rarest formats.
The big picture: Instead, opening weekend brought projector failures, refunds and a wave of frustrated moviegoers.
Zoom in: At Denver's Regal UA Colorado Center, a projector malfunction forced the theater to switch to a digital screening. But that projector failed, too, about 10 minutes into the nearly three-hour film, the Denver Post reports.
- A Cinemark spokesperson told Axios the projector at Colorado Springs' Carefree Circle XD failed during one weekend screening, prompting refunds. It's since been repaired.
What they're saying: The snafus have spurred angry online reviews.
- "Went for the 70mm showing ... Upon getting there learned that the projector was broke ... Complete rug pull after driving 2 hours for this experience," one Regal customer wrote.
Between the lines: Showing a 70mm IMAX print is notoriously difficult. Prints can weigh about 600 pounds and stretch 11 miles long, requiring specialized projection equipment and careful handling.
The latest: Cinemark says its 70mm screenings are back on track in Colorado Springs.
- Regal's status is less clear.
- Its website now lists upcoming showings simply as "IMAX" — a label that covers several formats, not just 70mm. The company didn't respond to Axios' requests for comment.
Zoom out: Colorado isn't alone. At least one other theater — in San Antonio — also experienced projector problems over opening weekend.
- Only 25 theaters in the U.S. can screen movies in 70mm IMAX.
