2026 appears to be like like an unbelievable 12 months on the films on paper. There are a great deal of extremely anticipated titles, similar to The Mandalorian and Grogu, Avengers: Doomsday, and Spider-Man: Model New Day, in addition to Toy Story 5, Supergirl, Mortal Kombat II, and the live-action Moana.
With so many various genres and fan bases being focused, there’s an actual dialogue available about which movie would be the greatest of subsequent 12 months. Doomsday is prone to high the field workplace and get individuals speaking, however Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is shaping as much as be the cinematic occasion of the 12 months.
We’re nonetheless 9 months away from the epic’s launch, however Hollywood has already been doing every part it could actually to arrange for its arrival. Nolan’s film is reshaping the business in a number of methods, exhibiting how a lot weight his title and flicks actually carry. And with a lot time nonetheless to go till it arrives, it might proceed defying norms and expectations.
Christopher Nolan & Film Theaters Have Made The Odyssey 2026’s Largest Theatrical Occasion
There was by no means any doubt that Hollywood and film theaters would put their assist behind Nolan with The Odyssey. He is one of many greatest administrators within the enterprise, and he is an enormous proponent of the theatrical expertise being the means that films ought to be skilled.
Nolan can be a major associate with IMAX and has executed a whole lot of work to indicate that utilizing the premium giant format (PLF) screens is an efficient solution to eventize a movie. That is what he did with Oppeneheimer, which revamped $950 million on the field workplace total, with $183 million coming from IMAX screens alone.
The Odyssey is predicted to have a equally excessive demand in IMAX and 70mm IMAX, which is why Hollywood is already taking mandatory steps to be extra outfitted. This may be seen with Cinemark saying plans so as to add 17 new IMAX screens in America and South America, three of which might be 70mm movie projection techniques.
Whereas the information is available in preparation for the epic 2026 IMAX film slate, reviews observe that Cinemark particularly desires these further IMAX and 70mm theaters obtainable by the point The Odyssey opens subsequent summer season. These screens might be obtainable for different titles, like Doomsday, in a while, however, notably, Nolan’s film is the driving drive behind this growth.
Theaters clearly have a mindset that The Odyssey might be an enormous success and that they do not wish to miss out on further income by not having the ability to have the codecs that audiences are going to need. This then turns into one other solution to measure the early pleasure and the unprecedented strikes being executed prematurely of its launch.
Cinemark’s IMAX growth comes on the heels of Common and Nolan shocking everybody by placing The Odyssey 70mm IMAX tickets on sale one 12 months prematurely of its launch. The restricted showtimes offered out in a couple of hours. Whereas there might be extra showtimes obtainable sooner or later, this proved to be a genius bit of selling.
The early ticket launch received everybody speaking concerning the film one 12 months early. There’s already a way of pleasure for the movie’s arrival, with those that secured these first showings receiving limited-edition printed tickets too. Having sold-out showings so early on solely creates extra demand, which Cinemark now hopes to construct on.
Each of those strikes assist symbolize the facility and affect that Nolan and, by extension, The Odyssey have. Studios and theater chains aren’t doing a lot of these strikes for one more director, not to mention a tentpole franchise. It isn’t Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Narnia, Starvation Video games, or so on that is getting this particular remedy; it is Nolan.
The film is in a league of its personal already, as Nolan is immediately liable for audiences getting extra IMAX theaters, together with theaters with 70mm capabilities. It is smart that it is occurring with this filmmaker and film, too.
Whereas Nolan loves all film theaters, he has a particular affinity for IMAX. He is one of many format’s most vocal supporters and is at all times on the forefront of technical improvements. This continues with The Odyssey, which is the primary film utterly shot utilizing 70mm IMAX cameras.
Constructing extra theaters and increasing the places the place 70mm IMAX films will be seen is monumental, not just for The Odyssey, however for the way forward for all films. There’ll merely be extra choices obtainable to audiences come July 17, as long as these theaters are completed as deliberate.
That ought to end in larger field workplace numbers than already anticipated and permit extra individuals to expertise the film within the director’s most well-liked format. Simply as audiences are determined to see the newest from the visionary’s thoughts, theaters and studios are wanting to bend to his will on theatrical home windows and get inventive to additional eventize his movies.
Christopher Nolan is a good larger IMAX associate than Spider-Man, as The Odyssey’s launch plans will preserve Spider-Man: Model New Day trip of the big format except one thing adjustments.
As the one 2026 film that has tickets on sale and is liable for the creation of extra IMAX screens, in addition to upgrades for others, Hollywood has gone to nice lengths to advertise and put together for The Odyssey. All of it communicates how a lot energy and affect Nolan has on the business.
With a trailer launch and a full advertising marketing campaign nonetheless to return, there is no telling what different distinctive developments await both.
- Launch Date
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July 17, 2026
- Producers
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Emma Thomas