The Odyssey’s IMAX farewell date is set — see it big while you can
IMAX’s pre-booked calendar is about to kick in, forcing The Odyssey’s all-70mm moment to make way for the next tentpole sooner than you might think.
If you thought the Oppenheimer IMAX bonanza was intense, well, The Odyssey may just be smashing past it. Christopher Nolan's new adaptation of Greek myth, led by Matt Damon, opened on 17 July 2026 and, as expected, crowds have gone a bit mad for it—especially if there’s a screen bigger than your average London flat involved.
The Odyssey was the first movie in history shot entirely with 70mm IMAX cameras.
An eye-watering $51.8 million from opening weekend IMAX sales tells the tale: Nolan fans are turning up for the absolute premium experience. Given his obsession with making cinema 'huge'—both in subject and actual film stock—this is hardly a shock. This film wasn’t just designed for cinemas, it’s basically hostile to being watched on a normal telly. Unfortunately, the ultimate Nolan experience is now something of a ticketing Hunger Games.
About Those 70mm IMAX Screens...
Here’s the catch. Yes, there are a reasonable number of IMAX screens about, but for true bragging rights (and, presumably, the most immersive Greek epic ever put on celluloid) you need a proper 70mm IMAX projection. These are rare birds. The United States has just 25 of these massive setups, with a mere 41 worldwide. They’re booking out faster than Glastonbury tickets—theatres in New York and LA are completely sold out for 70mm IMAX all the way through 19 August. If you fancy trying your luck in London, you’ll be waiting until at least 10 September for an available slot.
Should you miraculously live near one of these precious venues, and your F5 key isn’t melted from ticket site refreshing, you might get in. But no need to despair if you miss this round. The Odyssey is sticking around in 70mm IMAX for quite a stretch. An IMAX spokesperson has let slip that the next title they’re giving the ultra-premium treatment to is Dune: Part Three—which doesn’t turn up until 18 December this year (conveniently up against Avengers: Doomsday; you choose your spectacle). A couple of other IMAX films pop in between (The End of Oak Street in August; a fresh Resident Evil helmed by Zach Cregger in September), but Nolan’s myth-fest is the houseguest who won’t budge as long as IMAX can swing it.
Mind you, the spokesperson did clarify that The Odyssey probably won’t hog 70mm IMAX screens straight through December without any interruptions, but expect it back for spot encores through year’s end. Translation: keep stalking those ticket sale drops.
Nolan and IMAX: Another Addicting Cycle
This barely controlled madness isn’t a brand new phenomenon. There’s a clear echo of the Oppenheimer effect from 2023: Nolan’s last film had its own extended run in 70mm IMAX, stretching a full six weeks before yielding to The Equalizer 3. Demand was so relentless, Oppenheimer got dragged back for more in February 2024 when Oscar season hit fever pitch—and don’t be stunned when The Odyssey pulls the same awards-circuit encore. All in all: if you want the full Greek epic at ten-storeys tall, your odds improve the longer you wait.