The Odyssey 70mm IMAX run is extended as tickets keep selling out
Universal and IMAX extended Christopher Nolan’s 70mm screenings into mid-September as rare film-capable theaters drive demand.
By Jordan Bell · Startups & Deals Reporter
· 3 min read
The Odyssey 70mm IMAX screenings will stay in theaters into mid-September after Universal and IMAX extended the limited-format run, CNBC reported. For retail investors watching the movie business, the key point is demand: a tiny slice of screens is producing an outsized share of the film’s box office.
Christopher Nolan’s retelling of Homer’s epic has drawn moviegoers who want to see it on physical film and in the aspect ratio used during production, according to CNBC. IMAX offers multiple formats, including digital presentations that can approximate the 70mm framing, but CNBC reported that some digital showings are cropped to match individual auditoriums.
The scarcity is the business story. CNBC reported that only 25 theaters in the U.S. can show physical film reels of The Odyssey, with 41 such locations worldwide. Because most films are now shot and shown digitally, theaters with the equipment to run this version are limited.
Why are The Odyssey 70mm IMAX tickets hard to get?
Tickets have been selling out soon after new batches become available, CNBC reported. IMAX has added late-night and early-morning showtimes to absorb some of that demand, but the number of theaters capable of running the physical reels puts a hard cap on supply.
In this case, 70mm IMAX means a screening from physical film reels rather than a digital file. The appeal for Nolan fans is that the format shows the movie closer to the way it was captured, including the intended large-format framing.
As of the weekend, IMAX ticket sales for The Odyssey had topped $140 million globally, according to CNBC. That represents a little more than 20% of the film’s $652 million worldwide gross, even though IMAX locations account for less than 1% of total screens.
That mix matters because premium formats can shape a film’s revenue profile. If a small number of higher-demand screens keeps selling out, studios and exhibitors can extend runs and add odd-hour showtimes without needing broad new distribution.
CNBC noted a similar pattern around Nolan’s 2023 film Oppenheimer, which became an Oscar-winning box-office success while also drawing attention to large-format film presentations.
How strong is The Odyssey at the box office?
The Odyssey has held up unusually well after opening weekend. CNBC reported that domestic ticket sales fell 27% in the second week, compared with the 50% to 70% weekly declines that Hollywood blockbusters commonly see after debuting.
A smaller drop can point to strong word of mouth and repeat viewings, CNBC reported. The film has also benefited from early planning by audiences: some tickets went on sale in July 2025, roughly a year before release.
The release calendar is about to get more crowded. CNBC reported that Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives Friday, while filmed-for-IMAX titles The End of Oak Street and Resident Evil are also ahead.
For now, The Odyssey has more room to remain in the format its most committed viewers are chasing. CNBC reported that IMAX’s next 70mm commitment is not until Dec. 18, when Warner Bros. and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three is scheduled to reach theaters.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.
