IMAX-only ticket sales for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey have topped $140 million worldwide, about 21 percent of the film's $652 million global gross. 70mm screenings are routinely selling out weeks in advance, prompting Universal and IMAX to extend the format's run into mid-September. "Fans are flying across countries, if not continents, to experience 'The Odyssey' and IMAX 70 millimetre," IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond said. Cinemas have added late-night and early-morning shows to squeeze more seats into a limited rollout. IMAX’s next big 70mm date is December 18, when Warner Bros and Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three opens in 70mm IMAX theatres.

"What we're seeing is historic demand for a single-format presentation," Gelfond added, and the numbers back that claim. What changed and how big is the revenue surge? EntTelligence data cited by CNBC showed the adult average ticket for an IMAX 70mm opening-weekend screening was $27.77, about 81 percent above the average admission. IMAX told analysts that a 70mm-equipped screen delivered roughly $153,000 over opening weekend. Across all IMAX-tagged showings, the film has brought in over $140 million globally, accounting for slightly more than one-fifth of The Odyssey's $652 million worldwide total.

Who can see the 70mm presentations and where are they? Only a tiny fraction of auditoriums worldwide can run the 1570 format Nolan used. IMAX lists 25 locations in the United States and 16 internationally that can handle the massive 70mm film reels, 41 in total. That scarcity has turned those sites into destination venues. IMAX Melbourne is the only southern-hemisphere house capable of screening the format; it sold more than 17,000 tickets in under 24 hours. Managers report patrons flying from Europe and Asia to see the film on the largest 1.43:1 screen in the world.

Why is demand concentrated on 70mm and can exhibitors scale it up? Nolan shot The Odyssey entirely on the IMAX 1570 cameras, the first feature to do so, and fans prize the analog, high-resolution presentation that reproduces the director's intent. The physical 70mm reels are heavy and long, requiring frequent reloading during projection and specialised machinery; IMAX Melbourne's single reel weighs about 240 kg and runs more than 17 km.

Those technical constraints, combined with a novelty premium and strong word-of-mouth that began as early as July 2025, have driven repeat viewings and advance bookings.

How are cinemas responding to limited capacity? Exhibitors can't rapidly scale 70mm capacity because of the specialised equipment and space requirements. IMAX and Universal extended the run into mid-September to capture more demand, while some cinemas have added early and late sessions and extra weeks. Chains including Cinemark and Regal reported exceptionally strong demand across multiple US states, but IMAX warns there are a finite number of auditoriums that can economically support the format, comparing them to a Rolls-Royce of screen types.

What does this mean for the wider box office and upcoming competition? The Odyssey has posted an unusually gentle second-week domestic drop of about 27 percent, far below the typical 50 to 70 percent slide for big releases, which points to strong repeat business.

In Australia the film contributed to a stronger opening week for 2026, grossing $18 million as of late July, and Cinema Association Australasia says the Australian box office is tracking about 17 percent ahead of last year toward a forecast $1.1 billion. The film will soon face theatrical competition from Sony and Marvel's Spider-Man: Brand New Day and other filmed-for-IMAX titles such as The End of Oak Street and Resident Evil, which will force shared screen time in some markets.

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IMAX's next 70mm commitment is December 18, when Warner Bros and Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three opens in 70mm IMAX auditoriums. Originally reported by CNBC.

This article was created with AI assistance.