Nolan's Epic Adds More 70mm Imax Showtimes Into Late September
Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' has extended its 70mm Imax engagements for an 11th consecutive week, with new dates through the end of September. The film has grossed $457 million on Imax screens globally, including $66 million from 70mm presentations. It remains the highest-grossing Imax release ever and the second-biggest movie of the year.
The extended 70mm Imax engagements reflect unusually strong sustained demand for premium-format exhibition, with the film averaging $1.6 million per screen in that format alone. Its July and August performance helped drive record-breaking months for Imax, buoyed by a $20.58 average ticket price that underscores audiences' willingness to pay for large-format experiences.
The production's technical distinction as the first feature shot entirely with Imax cameras has become a central marketing and cultural talking point. With $1.55 billion worldwide, the film trails only Spider-Man: Brand New Day this year, while also claiming records as the top-grossing R-rated release ever and the biggest hit for its three leads.
This sustained Imax run could signal a broader shift in theatrical exhibition, where premium formats increasingly drive revenue and audience loyalty. Smaller theaters may face pressure to invest in large-format capabilities, while studios may greenlight more epic, visually ambitious productions. The film's success could also reinforce the cultural cachet of theatrical viewing as a communal event, potentially influencing how future blockbusters are shot, marketed, and scheduled.