Updated
Updated · Detroit Free Press · Jul 20
The Odyssey Lands 70mm IMAX Slot in Grand Rapids as Only 25 U.S. Theaters Qualify
Updated
Updated · Detroit Free Press · Jul 20

The Odyssey Lands 70mm IMAX Slot in Grand Rapids as Only 25 U.S. Theaters Qualify

2 articles · Updated · Detroit Free Press · Jul 20

Summary

  • Celebration! Cinema Grand Rapids North will screen Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” in true 70mm IMAX, giving Michigan moviegoers one of the film’s rare intended-format showings.
  • Only 25 theaters nationwide can project the movie that way, and Michigan has just one other true 70mm IMAX venue — the Michigan Science Center in Detroit, which mainly shows educational films.
  • The scarcity reflects the format’s demands: 70mm IMAX uses larger film stock and specialized projectors that are costly to maintain, even though the format delivers higher resolution, more detail and richer color than standard 35mm.
  • Michigan has several digital IMAX sites also showing “The Odyssey,” but critics say those presentations fall short of true 70mm IMAX on aspect ratio, sound quality and image resolution.
  • Interest in premium large-format screenings has risen since Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” in 2023 and Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” in 2025, making the Grand Rapids booking a notable draw in the state.

Insights

Is the 70mm IMAX revival a true cinematic renaissance or just a costly trend fueled by a single director?
Has the ultimate movie experience become an exclusive event that most audiences are simply locked out of?
With Nolan taking a three-year hiatus, who will carry the torch for the future of analog filmmaking?