Christopher Nolan's epic adaptation of The Odyssey arrived in theaters last week on a wave of critical acclaim — but not every screening looks the same.
The Oppenheimer director's latest blockbuster, based on Homer's ancient Greek epic, stars A-listers including Matt Damon, Zendaya and Tom Holland. But unlike most big releases, the excitement isn't just about seeing the movie — it's about where you see it.
Only a small number of IMAX theaters in the U.S. have the equipment needed to show the movie as it was intended. Those screenings have become some of the hardest tickets to get, with many selling out after going on sale a year before release.
Most people won't be watching The Odyssey in one of those specialist theaters. But where are they, and does it matter if you see the movie in an ordinary theater instead?
Why are there different screenings of 'The Odyssey'?
Not every theater can show The Odyssey in the same way. Nolan 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.
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.
Speaking in 2023, before the release of Oppenheimer, 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."
"The headline, for me, is: By shooting on IMAX 70mm film, you're really letting the screen disappear," he added. "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."
Where can I watch 'The Odyssey' at its biggest?
If you're hoping to see The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm, use the map below to find out where to go.
Why are tickets for 'The Odyssey' so hard to get?
For some fans, seeing The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm has become a huge event, not just another trip to the movies. When tickets first went on sale last summer, many opening-weekend screenings sold out within minutes, with tickets 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."
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"We're sold out in some theaters into the fifth week already," IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond told Variety. "There's certainly more demand [for more IMAX 70mm screens in the U.S.], the problem is, they haven't made new IMAX film projectors in about 50 years."
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Some moviegoers are even flying to Melbourne, Australia — home to the southern hemisphere's only IMAX 70mm theater — to watch The Odyssey. "We have people who built their holidays around their Odyssey screening, which is pretty incredible," the theater's general manager, Jeremy Fee, told the Guardian.
The rush for tickets has translated into box office success. The Odyssey opened to $120.5 million domestically and $257.8 million worldwide, the biggest global launch of Nolan's career, according to Deadline. More than half of its ticket sales came from IMAX, other premium large-format screens and 70mm prints.
Do I actually need to see 'The Odyssey' in IMAX 70mm?
If you've got one of these theaters nearby and can get a ticket, there's little reason not to see The Odyssey there. But if your nearest one is hours away, don't despair: You'll still be watching the same movie, wherever you go.
The only real difference is how much of the picture you'll see onscreen. IMAX 70mm shows more of each shot, making the biggest scenes feel larger and more immersive — just as Nolan intended.
Whether that's worth a long journey is up to you. For some Nolan fans, it's all part of the experience. For everyone else, your local theater will still do the job.
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