Tickets for The Odyssey in IMAX and premium large formats have gone on sale ahead of it’s release next month. The demand was so high that ticketing services like AMC and Fandango experienced massive disruptions, leading to long wait times.
You might be asking, “What is the best way to watch The Odyssey?” As an advocate for the theatrical experience, Christopher Nolan prefers audiences to watch his movie in a cinema. There are several formats in which fans can see the movie with subtle differences, especially between IMAX and premium large-format presentations. Here’s a breakdown of each premium format.
Every Premium Format for Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey explained
Imax 70mm
In a perfect world, Imax 70mm is Nolan’s pick for screening The Odyssey. Nolan’s epic is the first movie to shoot entirely on Imax 70mm cameras. It’s the largest and highest-resolution format available. Unfortunately, there are only about 30 theaters in the world that can screen Imax 70mm. Due to their scarcity, these are the hardest tickets to secure.
Imax
If Imax 70mm is unavailable, you might have a better shot at seeing it in Imax. Depending on whether you count museum and institution screens, there are over 360 Imax theaters in the U.S. With immersive sound technology and proprietary pictures, Imax offers The Odyssey in 1.90:1 Expanded Aspect Ratio, with select IMAX with Laser locations showing it in IMAX’s 1.43:1 Expanded Aspect Ratio.
70mm
70mm is another version of a large format. It has five perforations and runs vertically through the projector, with a 2.20:1 aspect ratio. Keep in mind that not every 70mm screen is a 70mm Imax screen.
35mm
If you’re looking for a classic film format, it’s 35mm. It has four perforations, one less than 70 mm. In other words, 35mm covers less of the screen than 70mm. However, it also runs vertically through the projector, with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. It’s still a solid way to watch The Odyssey if you’re looking for an authentic film experience.
Dolby Vision
If you see movies at AMC theater chains, then you’ve probably heard of Dolby Cinema. To see something in Dolby Vision means it will be presented with ts 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, brightness, and exact color rendering. This creates an immersive experience for the viewer. For aspect ratios, Dolby Cinemas offer 2.39:1 Cinema Scope or 1.85:1 Flat based on the native screen in the auditorium. There are over 300 Dolby Cinemas in the world, with more than 200 in the U.S.
Premium Large Formats
Premium Larger Format, or PLF, is designed to offer a more immersive cinematic experience. It features wall-to-wall screens and superior projection technology, including laser projection. The aspect ratios available are 2.39:1 or 1.85:1, depending on the theater. For many viewers, PLFs will likely be the most readily available format for the movie.
The Odyssey is in theaters on July 17, 2026.
Originally reported by Dan Girolamo for ComingSoon.
