Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, The Odyssey, has ignited unprecedented demand for IMAX 70 mm screenings across the United Kingdom, with most showings sold out weeks in advance.
The film marks a historic first: it was shot entirely on IMAX 70 mm cameras, using horizontal celluloid film that measures 70 mm wide. At a runtime of 2 hours 52 minutes, the single reel stretches approximately 11 miles.
IMAX 70 mm delivers the largest photographic negative ever used for a feature film, offering an image quality comparable to up to 18 K resolution in digital terms. The format’s 1.43:1 aspect ratio and towering screens provide up to 40 percent more image area than conventional formats.
Globally, only 41 IMAX 70 mm venues exist, and the United Kingdom is served by three locations: the BFI IMAX, the Science Museum’s Ronson Theatre, and the Vue Manchester Printworks.
Ticket sales have far exceeded expectations, prompting theatres to add extra screenings that fill within an hour of being released. Audiences have traveled from overseas to secure seats, underscoring the format’s appeal.
Projection of the film relies on highly skilled technicians who monitor each frame from the projection window, ensuring the integrity of the analogue process. At peak demand, additional projectionists have been deployed to maintain the rigorous schedule.
Admission prices range from £20 to £28, reflecting the premium experience and the limited number of venues capable of presenting the film as intended.
The industry faces a technical bottleneck: new IMAX 70 mm projectors have not been manufactured for five decades, and many essential components are no longer in production. Existing equipment must be retrofitted and meticulously maintained.
Institutional leaders remain optimistic, emphasizing that the robustness of legacy projectors and the expertise of veteran technicians make continued operation feasible. Preserving the specialized knowledge required to service these systems is deemed essential.
In response to the surge, both the BFI and the Science Museum have confirmed plans to add further IMAX 70 mm showings of The Odyssey in the coming weeks, aiming to accommodate the growing audience while safeguarding the format’s future.
