The Odyssey Reaches Just 25 U.S. IMAX 70mm Theaters as 3 a.m. Shows Sell Out

Q: For the millions unable to see the 70mm IMAX version, what key part of Nolan's artistic vision will be unavoidably lost?

What will be unavoidably lost is Nolan’s full intended image: the complete 1.43:1 IMAX frame, at the highest possible resolution, on a screen large enough to fill the viewer’s field of vision. That matters more on “The Odyssey” than on most films because Nolan shot the entire movie with IMAX cameras and designed every scene around that expanded frame. In 70mm IMAX, audiences see more picture at the top and bottom of the image, not just a sharper version of the same composition. In other formats, even strong alternatives like standard IMAX, 70mm film, or Dolby Cinema, some of that visual information is reduced, cropped, or presented on a less overwhelming scale. The other major loss is the specific kind of immersion Nolan has long argued for: the sense that the screen “disappears” and the image surrounds peripheral vision. The 15/70 IMAX film format also preserves the maximum detail, tonal subtlety, and clarity available from the negative—far beyond typical digital presentation. That is especially central here because Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema overcame major technical barriers so dialogue scenes as well as spectacle could remain in full IMAX throughout. Other premium formats can still deliver an excellent experience, particularly Dolby Cinema for contrast and standard IMAX for size. But for viewers who miss 70mm IMAX, the irreplaceable part of Nolan’s vision is the full-frame, maximum-detail, all-encompassing presentation the film was specifically built for.

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 15

Only 25 U.S. theaters can screen "The Odyssey" in IMAX 70mm ahead of its July 17 release, making Christopher Nolan’s preferred format scarce even before opening weekend.
Tickets have been unusually hard to get: IMAX 70mm seats went on sale in July 2025, a full year early, and New York’s Lincoln Square IMAX has sold out even 3 a.m. screenings.
"The Odyssey" is drawing extra attention because it is billed as the first narrative feature shot entirely with IMAX cameras, after Nolan used a noise-reducing "blimp" casing to film dialogue as well as action.
Moviegoers shut out of IMAX 70mm can still see the film in standard IMAX, non-IMAX 70mm at select sites, or Dolby Cinema, which Nolan has highlighted for its contrast and brightness.