The dazzling ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' led by Pedro Pascal, plays like a live-action cartoon
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CBC
17 hours ago
- CBC
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey sells out 70 mm Imax screenings a year in advance
The movie will be screened in the 70 mm Imax format in 26 theatres worldwide, including the Kramer Imax theatre in Regina's science centre.
21 hours ago
Sellouts for Nolan's The Odyssey shows audiences' hunger for movies projected on film
A shattered statue, scattered amber, smoke plumes, a hint of defiance, a release date and a director's name — the theatrical teaser and accompanying poster for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey was all it took for the film to sell out select cinemas a year in advance of its July 17, 2026, release date. The select theatres — 16 in the U.S., six in Canada, two in the U.K., one in Australia and one in the Czech Republic — are all expansive cinemas that project on 70 mm Imax film. The rush could be interpreted as a rejection of near-ubiquitous digital screenings in favour of the analog appeal of celluloid. Enlarge image (new window) Ryan Holota, the chief operating officer at Regina's science centre, cuts film from the Oppenheimer reel in the projection booth of the Kramer Imax theatre in Regina. Photo: CBC / Shlok Talati The Kramer Imax in Regina's science centre is one of the theatres projecting Nolan's latest in 70 mm. The 147-seat theatre has sold out all four of its available shows for the next year, including a 2 p.m. show on Thursday. Ryan Holota, the centre's chief operating officer, said tickets started to fly as soon as they went on sale July 17. I think people are really starting to understand how rare of an experience it is to be able to watch a movie on film, especially in 2025. Until 2023, Kramer Imax only used film with its Imax Small Rotor 15/70 mm projector. The theatre decided to add a digital projector — the Imax Grand Theatre Laser — because of a lack of movies releasing on film, Holota said. He said they feel rewarded for preserving and keeping the film projector operational. It's really a special thing to be a part of that when we're selling movie tickets to people that live in Finland or Florida or the Middle East. We've had people fly out to watch shows here, he said. Enlarge image (new window) Filmmaker Christopher Nolan works with an Imax camera on the set of Oppenheimer with actor Cillian Murphy. Photo: Associated Press / Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures The Odyssey is the first commercial production to be filmed entirely with Imax cameras, but not the only recent movie to put its shot-on-film status in the forefront. Ryan Coogler's recent outing Sinners , partly shot on film, quickly garnered critical acclaim and commercial success after releasing in theatres in April. Following its release, hundreds of thousands of people watched Coogler's YouTube explainer (new window) on aspect ratios, illustrating differences between Super 8, Super 16, 35mm and 65/70 mm films. Holota said he's seen the inquisitiveness about movie formats increase in real time. He said moviegoers are more informed than ever. I certainly have seen times when we've run film, people have said, 'what would this look like in digital?' If we had a digital screening, they say, 'what would this have looked like on film?' he said. I think now people, sort of, are really starting to understand the differences, and oftentimes seeking out that experience. Enlarge image (new window) Mark Welton, global president at Imax Theatres, says the company's aiming to increase the number of screens that use film projectors by roughly 20 per cent over the next year. Photo: CBC / Shlok Talati Mark Welton, president of Imax Global theatres worldwide, said the demand is not just on the consumer's end. Welton said he's seeing more movies shot with film cameras. Although the company debuted four more cameras last year, which allows two Imax shoots to occur concurrently, there's still a finite number of them available — 12 currently. [It is] because we're seeing so much demand from the directors, he said. The number of people filling theatre seats for the big screen experience is evident in the company's financial reports (new window) . In the first six months this year, Imax's net income almost doubled to $20.4 million, compared to $10.5 million in the same period last year. WATCH | Big movies on big screens: Imax bucks downward box-office trend: Imax digital and Imax film More recently, Mission: Impossible -The Final Reckoning , F1: The Movie, Fantastic Four: First Steps, Thunderbolts*, and Superman were all partly or fully shot on Imax digital cameras, which are different from the film cameras Nolan has used. Despite the similarities in projection ratios, Welton said more people have started gravitating toward the feel of film. It's really the gold standard for resolution, clarity, and scale, Welton said. It's like vinyl. Vinyl is the way that you really listen to the music world. Enlarge image (new window) Ryan Holota, chief operating officer at Regina's science centre, says a 70mm film (the larger film) on an Imax 1:43:1 screen gives viewers about 40 per cent more image than the smaller standard 35mm film. Photo: CBC / Shlok Talati In 2008, the company introduced (new window) Digital Imax, a lower-cost system that used two 2K digital projectors. Since then, the company has released multiple variations of the digital systems, like the one at Kramer that uses a dual laser. The film projector, on the other hand, runs physical 70 mm film through the projector. Regina's Kramer theatre has an aspect ratio of 1.43:1, which means the screen width is 1.43 times the height. For Imax movies, Holota says, this gives viewers about 40 per cent more image than a standard movie. Kramer has the largest screen in Saskatchewan. Both the digital and film projector are capable of filling up that entire screen, but Holota said there are differences. He said there's an extra bit of warmth and film grain when a movie is shot and replayed on film. There's just sort of a fluidity to it that just makes it feel a little bit more organic, and maybe a little bit more lifelike. Holota said there is significance in the journey celluloid makes from filmmaker to viewer and beyond. It's like your theatre leaves its fingerprint on every film print that you have. If we ship that print somewhere else, there's sort of like a piece of the Kramer IMAX with it, which I think is really cool, he said. Enlarge image (new window) Tyson Liske, a Regina resident, has bought his tickets for The Odyssey a year in advance. Photo: Submitted by Tyson Liske Tyson Liske, a Regina resident, has bought his tickets for The Odyssey a year in advance. It's the first time in his life he's bought tickets this early, he said. You almost have the fingerprint of the filmmaker themselves on the film itself as you watch it. It's really true to life as best they can recreate what's happening in that scene, he said. You can do so much with digitization, which is great and phenomenal, but there's something really special about that permanence on the film itself, which really adds to the experience for me. Liske said he watched Nolan's 2020 movie Tenet twice — once in Imax and once in a normal theatre. Those who are missing out, it's just a different experience. I think it's like comparing apples to oranges. Enlarge image (new window) Siddhant Adlakha, a freelance movie critic, says decades-long strides in automation has rendered the job of some projectionists dispensable. Photo: Submitted by Siddhant Adlakha Siddhant Adlakha, a freelance movie critic, said he's seen 70 mm film screenings sell out for weeks and months at a time. It seems to have exploded in a really interesting way post-pandemic, he said. In an age when so much of theatrical projection is digital, I think there is a desire for that nostalgia, that old world tactility. Accessibility of the 'intended' format Some filmmakers, including Nolan (new window) and Coogler (new window) , have referred to Imax as the intended experience. Nolan's Oppenheimer was projected on film (new window) in 30 cinemas worldwide, with 25 of them being in North America. Enlarge image (new window) Canadian filmmaker and Imax co-founder Graeme Ferguson films a space shuttle launch for his 1982 Imax film Hail Columbia! Imax is not only a Canadian's brainchild but also a breakthrough that coincided with Canada's Centennial year. Photo: Roger Scruggs/Courtesy of Graeme Ferguson Imax was founded in Mississauga in 1967 after four Canadians bought the rights to the rolling loop film movement system from an Australian inventor. In 1971, the first permanent Imax theatre was opened (new window) in the Cinesphere at Ontario Place in Toronto. Despite its Canadian roots, the country only has six screens selling tickets for The Odyssey on film as of Saturday: two in Toronto and one each in Calgary, Regina, Edmonton, and Vancouver. Welton said there isn't yet a set number for how many cinemas will screen Nolan's adaptation of the Greek epic on film, but that they're aiming to increase the number by roughly 20 per cent over the next year. Even with a 20 per cent increase over Oppenheimer , The Odyssey would only be projected on film in less than 40 theatres worldwide, but Adlakha said that number could be increased if the will is there. It wasn't that long ago that even the most remote parts of the world would still receive 35 mm film prints for new film releases. So it's not that crazy to think that the same thing could theoretically be done for 70 mm Imax, given the right infrastructure. Regina's Kramer Imax employs a projectionist on contract for shows involving film projectors. It's also now training employees on operating and handling film. Adlakha said one of the issues is decades of strides in automation that have put many projectionists out of work. If people are willing to invest that money and give projectionists the time and money and training, I think [expansion] is absolutely doable. Shlok Talati (new window) · CBC News · Journalist Based in Regina, Shlok Talati is a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan. Talati joined CBC News as a Donaldson Scholar in 2023. He has since worked with The World This Hour, CBC Toronto's digital desk, and CBC Sask. He holds a master of journalism from the University of King's College, Halifax. You can reach him at Follow Shlok Talati on Twitter (new window)
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Toronto Sun
'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' holds its lead atop the box office
Published Aug 03, 2025 • 2 minute read This image released by Disney shows Pedro Pascal in a scene from "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." Photo by Marvel Studios / AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marvel's first family stumbled in theaters in its second weekend, but still held on to the top spot at the box office. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' earned $40 million from 4,125 North American theaters, a 66% drop from a healthy $117.6 million debut. The film was accompanied by comedies 'The Bad Guys 2' and 'The Naked Gun' in the top three box office rankings. The superhero movie dipped significantly more than Marvel's previous film, 'Thunderbolts,' which took a 55% dive in its second weekend. 'First Steps' is the last major blockbuster of the summer. It added nearly $40 million internationally in its second weekend, bringing thefilm's global total to $369 million. The movie's box office drop off was surprising given its strong reviews, said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for the data firm Comscore. Though the movie's debut weekend may have given box office results a strong push toward the $4 billion summer benchmark, August is off to a slow start, he said. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's a tough lift, but we might be able to get there. It really means that all the films are gonna have to stand on their own,' Dergarabedian said. 'It's gonna be about getting great reviews, having that staying power, that longevity in the marketplace.' Newcomer comedy 'The Bad Guys 2' earned second place at the box office this weekend, with $22 million from 3,852 North American theaters. That was on par with projections and also in line with the first movie in the series, which brought in $23 million in 2022. Paramount's slapstick comedy, 'The Naked Gun,' also in its debut weekend, snagged the third box office spot, earning $17 million from 3,344 locations. Jim Orr, president of domestic distribution for Universal Pictures, said the solid debut for 'The Bad Guys 2,' coupled with strong audience reaction scores, 'should point to a very long, very successful run through not only the rest of the summer, but really, I think into the fall.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. James Gunn's 'Superman,' which opened four weekends ago and already crossed $550 million globally, earned $13.8 million domestically this weekend, taking the fourth spot. 'Jurassic World Rebirth' followed with $8.7 million. The horror movie 'Together' had a strong debut weekend, coming in at sixth place and earning $6.8 million domestically, proof that August is a month for edgier and off-beat films, Dergarabedian said. 'That's what this month is about. It's not just about box office,' Dergarabedian said. 'It's also about providing really interesting, rewarding movie-going experiences for audiences.' Dergarabedian said he expects highly-anticipated movies hitting theaters in the next few weeks — including 'Freakier Friday,' and Zach Cregger's horror movie 'Weapons' — to give August a needed boost. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The box office is currently up 9.5% from last year. Top 10 movies by domestic box office With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore: 1. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' $40 million. 2. 'The Bad Guys 2,' $22.2 million. 3. 'The Naked Gun,' $17 million. 4. 'Superman,' $13.8 million. 5. 'Jurassic World Rebirth,' $8.7 million. 6. 'Together,' $6.8 million. 7. 'F1: The Movie,' $4.1 million. 8. 'I Know What You Did Last Summer,' $2.7 million. 9. 'Smurfs,' $1.8 million. 10. 'How to Train Your Dragon,' $1.4 million. Toronto Blue Jays Columnists Homes Sex Files Toronto & GTA
