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Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" has moviegoers scrambling for one particularly elusive ticket: a seat at one of the few theaters showing the epic in IMAX 70mm film.
Only 41 IMAX locations worldwide are presenting the movie in the format, according to IMAX. With demand far exceeding the number of available screens, prime showtimes have been selling out quickly.
Why Are There So Few IMAX 70mm Theaters?
The shortage largely comes down to specialized projection equipment.
Unlike digital IMAX, an IMAX 70mm presentation requires a theater equipped with a working 15-perforation film projector, a compatible projection booth and a screen capable of displaying the format's expanded image. The equipment is rare, expensive to maintain and cannot simply be installed in every conventional IMAX auditorium.
IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond said the projectors have not been manufactured in decades and that expanding the network requires existing machines to be rebuilt or retrofitted. Although IMAX plans to increase its capacity, those efforts will not substantially expand the number of locations during "The Odyssey's" initial theatrical run.
What Makes IMAX 70mm Different?
IMAX 70mm film runs horizontally through the projector, with each frame using 15 perforations. At properly equipped venues, "The Odyssey" is presented in the tall 1.43:1 expanded aspect ratio, allowing the image to fill more of IMAX's floor-to-ceiling screen.
That differs from most digital IMAX theaters, which commonly show movies in a 1.90:1 ratio.
The distinction is especially significant for "The Odyssey." Every frame was captured with IMAX film cameras, making it the first commercial narrative feature shot entirely in the format. The IMAX 70mm version therefore presents the largest portion of the image photographed by cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema.
Where Is 'The Odyssey' Playing in IMAX 70mm?
The official list includes 25 theaters in the United States, among them:
- AMC Lincoln Square 13 in New York City
- TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood
- Regal Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, California
- AMC Metreon 16 in San Francisco
- Cinemark Dallas and IMAX in Texas
- IMAX Theatre at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis
- Regal UA King of Prussia in Pennsylvania
- Brenden Palms 14 in Las Vegas
- Cinemark Tinseltown Rochester in New York
- Apple Cinemas Providence Place in Rhode Island
Because participating theaters and available showtimes may change, viewers should consult IMAX's official "The Odyssey" 70mm theater list before booking. Universal also provides a format comparison and theater finder showing the movie's different presentation options.
What If IMAX 70mm Is Sold Out?
"The Odyssey" is also showing in standard IMAX, 70mm film, 35mm film, premium large format and conventional digital theaters. Some IMAX venues with dual-laser projection can display the expanded 1.43:1 image without using film, although the experience is not identical to an IMAX 70mm print.
For viewers determined to see the movie in its largest film presentation, checking for newly added showtimes and booking early remain the best options.
