Only 25 US Theaters Can Show ‘The Odyssey’ in IMAX 70mm Moviegoers hunting for “real IMAX theaters” were actually looking for venues capable of projecting a specific large-format film presentation. What they found was a disappearing technology. Only 25 theaters in the United States have the equipment needed to show Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” in IMAX 70mm. [1] The director shot the entire movie using IMAX cameras, which capture a much larger image than a standard movie screen can display. Theaters that can show it at its full scale use IMAX 70mm, a version of IMAX that uses giant reels of film instead of digital projection. Because the film is around 10 times larger than traditional 35mm film, it can capture far more detail, creating a sharper image on the biggest screens.
The scarcity of these screenings was not planned. Most theaters replaced their film projectors with digital ones years ago, leaving only 25 U.S. venues still able to show “The Odyssey” this way. Many of the parts needed to build the projectors “simply no longer exist,” an IMAX source told Variety. The problem goes deeper than just missing parts. New IMAX film projectors have not been manufactured in about 50 years, according to IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond. The equipment that remains is aging, and no new replacements are being built. This means the number of theaters capable of showing the film as Nolan intended is not just small — it is shrinking.
The geography of these 25 theaters leaves large parts of the country without access. Arizona has one location, at Harkins Arizona Mills & IMAX in Tempe. California has the most, with nine venues spread from Dublin to Universal City. Colorado has two, in Colorado Springs and Denver. Florida has one, the AutoNation IMAX at the Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale. [1] Georgia has one, at Regal Mall of Georgia & IMAX in Buford. Illinois has one, at Cinemark Seven Bridges & IMAX in Woodridge. Indiana has one, at the IMAX at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Michigan has one, at Celebration! Cinema Grand Rapids North & IMAX in Grand Rapids. Nevada has one, at Brenden Palms 14 & IMAX in Las Vegas. New York has two, at AMC Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX in New York City and Cinemark Tinseltown Rochester & IMAX in Rochester. Pennsylvania has one, at Regal UA King of Prussia & IMAX in King of Prussia. Rhode Island has one, at Apple Cinemas Providence Place & IMAX in Providence. Tennessee has two, at the IMAX at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga and Regal Opry Mills & IMAX in Nashville. Texas has two, at Cinemark Dallas & IMAX in Dallas and AMC Rivercenter 11 & IMAX in San Antonio.
When Seeing a Movie Becomes a Pilgrimage
The societal dimension of this scarcity has turned watching “The Odyssey” into something far beyond a trip to the movies. When tickets first went on sale last summer, many opening-weekend screenings sold out within minutes. Tickets were listed on resale sites for as much as $500 each. According to the Associated Press, tickets for popular theaters such as AMC Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles and the AMC Lincoln Square in New York “are virtually sold out for weeks.” The demand has not faded with time. “We’re sold out in some theaters into the fifth week already,” IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond told Variety. The limited supply of IMAX 70mm screenings has created a secondary market where tickets become commodities traded at inflated prices.
Some moviegoers are taking extraordinary measures to see the film as Nolan intended. People are even flying to Melbourne, Australia — home to the southern hemisphere’s only IMAX 70mm theater — to watch “The Odyssey.” The theater’s general manager, Jeremy Fee, told the Guardian: “We have people who built their holidays around their Odyssey screening, which is pretty incredible.” This phenomenon transforms a routine entertainment choice into a destination event. The theater in Melbourne has become a pilgrimage site for film enthusiasts willing to travel thousands of miles for a single screening. The economic impact extends beyond ticket sales to include flights, hotels, and meals for these dedicated viewers.
The distinction between screening formats matters to these audiences. Most IMAX theaters use digital projection. IMAX 70mm uses large-format film projected on specially equipped giant screens. The format is known for its exceptional image detail, scale and clarity. Many movie fans consider IMAX 70mm the gold standard because it uses large-format film and is the format most closely associated with Christopher Nolan’s movies. IMAX with Laser, however, offers brighter images, stronger contrast and excellent picture quality, making it a popular alternative when IMAX 70mm is not available. The only real difference between formats is how much of the picture viewers see onscreen. IMAX 70mm shows more of each shot, making the biggest scenes feel larger and more immersive. Nolan told the Associated Press that IMAX 70mm is the ideal theater experience because “the sharpness and the clarity and the depth of the image is unparalleled.” He added: “The headline, for me, is: By shooting on IMAX 70mm film, you’re really letting the screen disappear. You’re getting a feeling of 3D without the glasses. You’ve got a huge screen, and you’re filling the peripheral vision of the audience. You’re immersing them in the world of the film.”
When Film Technology Meets Ancient Storytelling
The intersection of film projection technology with classical literature opens new questions about how we experience ancient stories. Nolan’s “The Odyssey” stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca. Based on Homer’s ancient epic poem, the film follows Odysseus’ long and dangerous journey home after the Trojan War. The choice to shoot entirely on IMAX cameras means the visual scale of the film matches the epic scope of the source material. The Odyssey, composed around the 8th century BCE, survives in manuscripts that scholars have studied for centuries. Now, the same story is being projected using a film format that captures more detail than any previous cinematic technology. The parallel between the ancient oral tradition and modern projection technology is not accidental. Both aim to transport audiences into another world.
The director has been using IMAX cameras since “The Dark Knight,” which opened with a shot on IMAX. That film’s use of the format was limited to specific sequences. “The Odyssey” represents the culmination of this technical evolution, with the entire movie shot using IMAX cameras. The format’s ability to fill peripheral vision and create a feeling of immersion without glasses aligns with the immersive quality of Homeric poetry. Ancient audiences listened to the Odyssey performed by rhapsodes who recited the poem from memory. Modern audiences watch it projected onto screens that fill their field of view. Both experiences demand a suspension of disbelief and a willingness to be carried away by the story.