The Odyssey Imax 70mm screenings limited to 41 theaters worldwide
9 reported
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the first feature film shot entirely on Imax film with Imax cameras, is available on thousands of screens globally but only 41 theaters — 25 in the United States — can show it in full Imax 70mm format, with many sold out for weeks. The Imax 70mm format uses a 65mm negative run horizontally through the camera, producing a 15-perforation-wide image that projects at a 1.43:1 aspect ratio, offering a sharper and more immersive experience than standard digital Imax. Digital Imax theaters typically crop the image to a 1.90:1 ratio and use smaller screens, creating varied experiences across venues. The scarcity of Imax 70mm projectors stems from the fact that no new ones have been built in about 50 years, according to Imax CEO Rich Gelfond, who told Variety that specialized parts for new projectors “simply no longer exist.” Former Imax theater manager James Hyder noted that the rarity of the format contributes to its popularity, though he expressed hope that the excitement around Imax film could keep it alive for decades with proper maintenance.
What’s reported
The Odyssey is the first feature film shot entirely on Imax film with Imax cameras.
Only 41 theaters worldwide, including 25 in the US, can show the film in full Imax 70mm.
Many of those screenings are sold out for weeks.
Imax 70mm uses a 65mm negative run horizontally, producing a 15-perforation-wide image at a 1.43:1 aspect ratio.
Digital Imax theaters typically crop to a 1.90:1 aspect ratio and use smaller screens.
Imax CEO Rich Gelfond told Variety that no new Imax film projectors have been built in about 50 years.
Gelfond said specialized parts for new projectors “simply no longer exist.”
James Hyder, who managed the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s Langley Imax theater in the 1980s, said the rarity of the format is part of its appeal.
Hyder said the last Imax film projector could still be running in 50 years with old prints.
Key figures
Christopher Nolan, director of The Odyssey
James Hyder, former manager of Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s Langley Imax theater and former publisher of LF Examiner
Rich Gelfond, CEO of Imax
Sources: Wired
