Imax Expands 'The Odyssey' to 41 70mm Sites as 50-Year-Old Projector Shortage Caps Growth
Updated
Updated · Variety · Jul 16
Imax Expands 'The Odyssey' to 41 70mm Sites as 50-Year-Old Projector Shortage Caps Growth
3 articles · Updated · Variety · Jul 16
Summary
41 Imax 70mm locations worldwide will show "The Odyssey," up from 30 for "Oppenheimer," after Imax spent more than a year rebuilding and relocating old film projectors.
Only 25 U.S. theaters can present the film in true Imax 70mm, and some are sold out into a fifth week, underscoring demand that outstrips the format's limited supply.
50-year-old projector designs, missing blueprints, vanished replacement parts and a shortage of engineers and projectionists have made adding new film systems difficult; Imax trained 60 new projectionists.
High construction costs for auditoriums large enough to house 1.43:1 Imax screens further limit expansion, even if more 70mm projectors could be restored or built.