Christopher Nolan's ‘The Odyssey' sells out Imax 70MM screenings a year in advance, resale prices hit $400
The film, a reimagining of Homer's legendary tale, will feature Matt Damon as Odysseus and is being shot entirely on Imax film cameras — a historic first for a commercial feature.
At midnight Eastern Time on Thursday, Imax officially announced the early ticket release via its social media channels, offering seats for a limited number of 70mm screenings at 25 to 26 select locations across North America. These screenings are scheduled for the weekend of July 17–19, 2026, with an additional preview on Thursday afternoon, July 16.
Within an hour of the announcement, approximately 95 percent of the tickets — priced at an average of $25 to $28 — had been purchased, generating around $1.5 million in advance sales. Industry sources report that demand quickly outstripped supply, leading to a secondary market surge with some tickets being resold for as much as $300 to $400 on platforms like eBay.
This marks the first known instance in cinema history where tickets have been made available an entire year ahead of a film's release. The fervour reflects Nolan's dedicated fanbase and the lingering impact of his 2023 Oscar-winning success 'Oppenheimer', which performed exceptionally well in Imax cinemas.
With 'The Odyssey', Nolan continues his tradition of blending technical innovation with narrative ambition, and early sales suggest audiences are eager to witness his latest vision on the grandest screen possible.
Apart from Matt Damon, the film will also feature a huge ensemble cast including Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, and Jon Bernthal.
This film will see the return of Nolan's core crew such as Hoyte van Hoytema as the cinematographer, Ludwig Goransson as the composer, and Emma Thomas as the producer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
21 minutes ago
- Business Standard
IMAX format attracts cinema goers as demand for premium experiences rises
Cinema exhibitors like PVR INOX and Cinépolis India have observed a steady rise in audience demand for large-format premium screenings such as IMAX (Image MAXimum), with many shows filling nearly all the seats in theatres. This comes at a time when viewers have access to a wide range of digital content at home but are increasingly drawn to immersive in-theatre experiences. Building on this momentum, the number of films being digitally remastered for release in India has increased by about 15 to 20 per cent in the January-June period compared to the same period last year, according to Cinépolis India. For the first six months of this year, PVR INOX noted that 23 films were released in IMAX, compared to 19 films during the same period last year. IMAX is a motion picture format that consists of high-resolution cameras, film format, projectors, and theatres. In India, however, most films are digitally remastered for release in IMAX format rather than being shot or filmed specifically for IMAX. 'We're witnessing a consistent surge in audience demand for IMAX screenings, particularly for high-octane, spectacle-driven films. Metro cities such as Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune continue to lead the demand curve,' said Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Executive Director of PVR INOX, which is the largest IMAX exhibitor in India with 25 operational IMAX auditoriums. 'These cities host some of our most successful IMAX properties, with near-full occupancy for major releases. The appetite for premium cinematic experiences is steadily growing, and IMAX remains at the forefront of that consumer preference.' Devang Sampat, Managing Director of Cinépolis India, said that while Hollywood releases approximately 30 to 35 IMAX titles annually, Indian IMAX releases typically range between 6 to 10 titles per year. However, he added that there has been significant growth in audience engagement for Indian IMAX content. Cities like Pune, Kochi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai are driving the demand in this segment for Cinépolis India, which operates five IMAX screens. 'We anticipate that upcoming releases such as War 2 will generate substantial demand for IMAX viewing experiences,' Sampat said. Some Bollywood films in IMAX format this year include Vicky Kaushal's Chhaava, Salman Khan's Sikandar, The Diplomat starring John Abraham, and Akshay Kumar's Sky Force. Yash Raj Films' spy universe movie starring Hrithik Roshan, War 2, will also be available in IMAX format. Additionally, major Hollywood releases such as Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the fantasy adventure How to Train Your Dragon, James Gunn-directed Superman, and the F1 movie starring Brad Pitt have driven the demand for IMAX format. 'This trend (growth in the number of films being digitally remastered for IMAX) reflects the industry's growing recognition of the IMAX format's value proposition and the increasing availability of post-production enhancement technologies,' Sampat added. Vipul Shah, Chairman and Managing Director of Sunshine Pictures, said that the wider availability of IMAX screens, coupled with a premium viewing experience, justifies higher ticket pricing—something audiences are willing to pay for when the cinematic scale warrants it. Bijli corroborates Shah's statement, noting that the IMAX release of a movie can contribute up to 25 per cent of the film's overall box office revenue. Movie trade analyst Girish Wankhede said that the ticket range for IMAX releases is between ₹1,200 and ₹1,400. 'From a production standpoint, unless a film is shot using IMAX cameras, the cost of converting a regular film to IMAX is not prohibitively high. Currently, India has very limited access to IMAX cameras…perhaps just one or two, which makes shooting natively in the format a rarity. But as the number of IMAX screens continues to grow and filmmakers look for ways to attract audiences back to theatres, we're likely to see more films being shot specifically for IMAX in the future,' Shah explained. For PVR INOX, IMAX continues to be an integral part of its premium screen strategy. Bijli added that as part of its growth in FY26, the company plans to expand its IMAX footprint with several additional screens across select high-demand markets. Meanwhile, Sampat said that the Indian arm of the Mexico-based international cinema exhibitor is in active discussions with IMAX Corporation to expand its partnership, with growth plans for both the Indian market and its global operations for FY26. Miraj Cinemas, which added one IMAX screen in Wadala last year, has signed agreements for two more IMAX screens with IMAX Corporation. Wankhede also anticipates that the total number of films available for IMAX screens will be higher than last year. He noted that large production houses are now actively working to have their films (especially those with huge star casts) digitally remastered for IMAX.
Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Hans Zimmer joins Euphoria: Season 3's soundtrack is about to go cosmic
In a twist that has electrified both film and TV fans, Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer has officially joined Euphoria Season 3 — marking a rare venture into episodic television for the musical mastermind behind Inception (2010), Gladiator (2000), and Interstellar (2014). He'll be teaming up with Labrinth, who returns after shaping the show's signature sonic landscape across its first two seasons. Zendaya in Euphoria and Hans Zimmer 'It's an honour to join this incredible team of storytellers led by the visionary Sam Levinson,' Zimmer said in a statement. 'Together, they have crafted such a bold and moving series that has meant so much to audiences. Labrinth's music has shaped the show's identity and I'm looking forward to contributing to the ongoing story and helping shape this new season through music.' Labrinth, the artist behind unforgettable tracks like I'm Tired and All for Us, is equally thrilled to be collaborating with Zimmer. 'Another chapter in the Euphoria universe! So great to join Hans, one of my heroes in film score, and bring some new magic to this new season. Love x,' he said. Zimmer's involvement is especially fitting, given that Euphoria creator Sam Levinson has long cited him as an influence. 'It's a true honour to be working alongside Hans. I wrote this season to the score of Interstellar and True Romance. So he's been ingrained in the creative DNA since the beginning,' Levinson shared. 'I'm really proud of the work Labrinth and I have done in previous seasons and am excited for Hans to push us to new heights.' With production finally underway and a star-studded cast — including Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and newcomers like Sharon Stone and Rosalía — Euphoria Season 3 is aiming for a 2026 release. If the music is any clue, this next chapter will be its most emotionally resonant and cinematic yet.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Jazz legend Chuck Mangione, known for ‘Feels So Good,' dies at 84
Two-time Grammy Award-winning musician Chuck Mangione, who achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-flavored single 'Feels So Good' and later became a voice actor on the animated TV comedy King of the Hill, has died. He was 84. Mangione died at his home in Rochester, New York, on Tuesday in his sleep, said his attorney, Peter S. Matorin of Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP. The musician had been retired since 2015. Perhaps his biggest hit — 'Feels So Good' — is a staple on most smooth-jazz radio stations and has been called one of the most recognized melodies since 'Michelle' by the Beatles. It hit No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top of the Billboard adult contemporary chart. 'It identified for a lot of people a song with an artist, even though I had a pretty strong base audience that kept us out there touring as often as we wanted to, that song just topped out there and took it to a whole other level,' Chuck Mangione told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2008. He followed that hit with 'Give It All You Got,' commissioned for the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, and he performed it at the closing ceremony. Chuck Mangione, a flugelhorn and trumpet player and jazz composer, released more than 30 albums during a career in which he built a sizable following after recording several albums, doing all the writing. He won his first Grammy Award in 1977 for his album Bellavia, which was named in honor of his mother. Another album, Friends and Love, was also Grammy-nominated, and he earned a best original score Golden Globe nomination and a second Grammy for the movie The Children of Sanchez. Mangione introduced himself to a new audience when he appeared on the first several seasons of King of the Hill, appearing as a commercial spokesman for Mega Lo Mart, where 'shopping feels so good.' Chuck Mangione, brother of jazz pianist Gap Mangione, with whom he partnered in The Jazz Brothers, started his career as a bebop jazz musician heavily inspired by Dizzy Gillespie. 'He also was one of the first musicians I saw who had a rapport with the audience by just telling the audience what he was going to play and who was in his band,' Mangione told the Post-Gazette. Mangione earned a bachelor's degree from the Eastman School of Music — where he would eventually return as director of the school's jazz ensemble — and left home to play with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. He donated his signature brown felt hat and the score of his Grammy-winning single 'Feels So Good,' as well as albums, songbooks and other ephemera from his long and illustrious career to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in 2009.
