Mia Khalifa Breaks Down Nolan's Genius IMAX Hustle Better Than Most Critics Ever Could
So when Mia Khalifa, yes, that Mia Khalifa, took to X (formerly Twitter forever petty) and dropped the nerdiest flex of 2025, my entire timeline came to a screeching halt.
'Survived war (secured tickets to The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm a year in advance)' she posted like a true cine soldier in Nolan's cult of visual devotion.
Girl, what?!
This isn't just securing tickets. This is securing bragging rights for LIFE. This is cinematic clout on god mode. This is the type of move that makes Film Twitter collectively fall to its knees like it just found the Holy Grail at the back of the Dolby Theatre.
And like clockwork, another user jumped in with:
'Yes I did get Odyssey tickets. No I'm not happy about this whole ordeal.'
Relatable. Because scoring these tickets ain't just about fandom, it's trial by fire. It's a multiversal battle where you're fighting bots, boomers, and bandwidth issues while praying your credit card doesn't decline in front of God and Christopher Nolan.
But Khalifa, now a certified 70mm evangelist, clapped back with facts only:
'It's so Nolan can prove demand early on before other studios book the IMAX theaters for their releases. Previously he's negotiated a certain amount of weeks for the theatrical but other films also have contracts with the IMAX theaters. If they sell out this early he can beat them to it and extend the theatrical release for longer rather than bringing it back for a week or two at a time.'
Translation? This ain't just about us. It's about cinema. She didn't just buy a ticket, she joined a damn revolution.
One Year Out, All Seats Gone. Nolan Really Said 'Plan Ahead Peasants'
On Thursday at midnight (or what we really call 'prime geek hour'), IMAX quietly dropped an announcement like Beyoncé in the Lemonade era: tickets were now on sale for the 70mm IMAX release of Nolan's The Odyssey. The catch? The movie don't come out till July 2026.
That's 365 days of anticipation. A full zodiac cycle. Four seasons and a leap year's worth of hype. And within ONE HOUR, 95 percent of those sacred seats were gone like Thanos just snapped them out of existence.
We're talking 25 or 26 handpicked IMAX theaters across the globe. NYC's Lincoln Square IMAX? Gone. Universal CityWalk in LA? Ghost town. Orange County? Dublin, San Francisco, and Fort Lauderdale? All vanished into cinematic nirvana.
And then the resale prices hit.
$300 to $400 a seat. I could've bought a PS5 and still had money for popcorn. But instead, somebody out there is flipping Odyssey tickets like it's the Super Bowl of storytelling. Which… it kind of is?
The Odyssey Nolan's Most Expensive Flex Yet
Oppenheimer was just the warm-up act. This time Nolan's turning all the dials to extra with The Odyssey, a $250 million adaptation of Homer's mythic road trip from hell.
And it's shot entirely in IMAX film cameras. Not 'some scenes.' Not 'for select sequences.' No, the whole damn thing. That's like filming your grandma's BBQ with a RED camera and a drone team.
Matt Damon leads as Odysseus (because apparently, if Nolan is making a movie about anything, Damon will find a way to be in it). Then you've got Zendaya as maybe Athena, Anne Hathaway as Penelope (twice confirmed in the cast list because once ain't enough), Tom Holland, Jon Bernthal, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, and Robert Pattinson rounding out the most elite ensemble this side of Mount Olympus.
It's not a cast. It's an Avengers team made up entirely of award season powerhouses.
Why We Do This: The Gospel of 70mm
Let me say this from the pulpit of Black cinephilia ain't nothing like seeing a Nolan film in 70mm IMAX.
You don't just watch a Nolan movie, you ascend. The chairs rumble. The aspect ratio breathes. The screen swallows you whole like Scylla and spits you out in emotional ruin by the credits. And if you were lucky enough to catch Oppenheimer in 70mm? You know what I mean. We walked out of that theater dazed, blessed, and needing therapy.
Now imagine that experience turned up to mythic. Imagine Sirens in full frame. A cyclops towering over you in ultra crisp detail. Imagine Nolan rendering Hades with the kind of scale usually reserved for natural disasters and Kanye West album rollouts.
The post Mia Khalifa Breaks Down Nolan's Genius IMAX Hustle Better Than Most Critics Ever Could appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sydney Sweeney Is Facing A Backlash Over Her New American Eagle Campaign. Here's What People Are Saying
Sydney Sweeney's new collaboration with the fashion brand American Eagle has become the centre of a whole lot of debate. The Euphoria star unveiled a new campaign with the American clothing brand last week, to promote their line of denim last week. However, it didn't take long before social media clips to promote the deal sparked a wave of discomfort among many critics, largely due to some of the language that's used in the campaign. This is the story so far… What is Sydney Sweeney's new ad campaign for American Eagle all about? For American Eagle's autumn 2025 campaign, Sydney Sweeney can be seen sporting items from the brand's denim range, including a new pair of jeans inspired by her. The campaign also makes use of the slogan 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans', a pun on the term 'great genes'. In another, she explains: 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour.' 'My jeans are blue,' she then quips, at which point a narrator delivers the line: 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.' Why are some people upset about Sydney Sweeney's new ads for American Eagle? Unfortunately this repeated use of the slogan 'great jeans', a pun on 'great genes', has put some viewers in mind of the language used by white supremacists and eugenicists. By centring a blonde, white star in a campaign referencing 'genes', some critics are accusing the brand of tone-deafness at best – particularly in the current political climate – and deliberately pushing a white supremacist agenda at worst. HuffPost UK has contacted representatives for both Sydney Sweeney and American Eagle for comment. Others are pointing out that Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle campaign doesn't mention one other important aspect of the product American Eagle's new 'Sydney Jean' features a butterfly detail on its back pocket, in a nod to domestic violence awareness, a cause which the White Lotus star has championed throughout her career. In fact, an American Eagle press release confirmed that '100% of the purchase price from 'The Sydney Jean' will be donated to Crisis Text Line', a charity in the US which aims to help those affected by domestic violence. However, the ads are also being criticised for not highlighting this key part of the campaign, with some saying its accompanying slogan is even more jarring as a result. Has Sydney Sweeney or American Eagle said anything about the controversy? Not yet, but we'll be sure to keep you updated if and when they do… READ MORE: Glen Powell's Ex Makes Veiled Comments About How Sydney Sweeney Rumours Affected Relationship Sydney Sweeney Fires Back After Producer's Takedown Of Her Looks And Talent Sydney Sweeney Makes Blunt Comment On Women's Empowerment In Hollywood
CNET
5 hours ago
- CNET
Access More Than 30,000 Movies and TV Shows With This One Free Item
When I was an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I added a concentration in film studies as part of my English and Comparative Literature degree. This choice exposed me to the marvelous world of film scholarship, adding to my already fervent love for movies. The decision also meant I was screening anywhere from four to seven movies each week for assignments and my honors thesis. The one platform that saved me throughout my semesters of frantic screenings was the streaming service Kanopy. Kanopy is an on-demand video platform that boasts a catalog of 30,000-plus titles, including classics, film noirs and award nominees. And unlike other streaming services like Netflix that are consistently raising their prices, Kanopy is still free. As a college student, I had free access to the platform with my university email address. The best part -- besides Kanopy being ad-free -- is that I didn't have to give up my account after I graduated; I'm still streaming its robust offerings for free thanks to my public library card. Below, I'll show you how you can sign up with Kanopy, and why it's worth it. Read more: 9 of the Best Netflix Alternatives to Entertain You How to create a Kanopy account With Kanopy, you can stream for free — without ads — movies, TV shows and documentaries. To create a Kanopy account, you can do the following: Go to and click Get Started . . The next window will ask if you're signing up with a university credential or a public library card. Select which option applies to you. You'll need to select your library system or university from the dropdown list. To find a library near you, share your location when prompted or search for your library by name, city or ZIP code. You can do the same when searching for your university. Hit Continue. Create your Kanopy account by filling out the requested fields (name, email address and password). Click Sign Up . . You will receive a verification email from kanopy@ Open the message, and click Verify My Email . . Start streaming. You'll need to select your library system or university from the dropdown list when creating a Kanopy account. Kanopy/Screenshot by CNET Are there limits to the number of films I can watch per month? Yes, Kanopy does not offer unlimited streaming. After signing up, you can stream up to 10 titles per month. Your 10 play credits will renew at the beginning of every calendar month. These credits do not carry over if you don't use them. Why is there a monthly limit? CNET Kanopy works on a pay-per-checkout model, meaning the public library system pays a small fee each time you check out a title. By limiting checkouts to 10 titles per month, libraries can ensure they stay on budget. Which films are offered on Kanopy? Kanopy catalog gives you access to over 30,000 titles, including: Award-winning foreign films Critically acclaimed movies A24 films Documentaries Classic films from the Criterion Collection Content from the Great Courses and PBS Festival indie or world cinema Storybooks Films and series for children Some notable standout films include Memento (2000), Donnie Darko (2001), Dial M for Murder (1954), and my personal favorite, Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019). If you're interested, you can read my commentary about why I love this film so much. Does Kanopy offer seasonal collections? Yes, Kanopy offers select seasonal and speciality collections. Kanopy's Holiday Collection is released each December and includes a slew of Christmas features and documentaries, and Yuletide classics. In October, Kanopy released its Fright Fest collection -- a catalog of Halloween favorites -- comprised of horror flicks, slashers, thrillers and more. The Fright Fest collections includes A24 favorites, creepy classics, cozy horror and so much more. Kanopy/Screenshot by CNET You should also explore our full rundown of the best movies on Max, Netflix and Amazon Prime. Plus, stream our favorite horror double-feature now on Netflix.
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
How Dan Mace Is Making Kindness Go Viral: Inside Beast Philanthropy's Storytelling Super‑Power
Getting involved in Philantropy What happens when you merge cinematic storytelling with philanthropy — and strip away every trick that makes traditional filmmaking sensational? For Dan Mace, the creative force behind Beast Philanthropy, the answer is both simple and profound: you find a way to tell the truth and still move millions. Mace, known for his collaborations with creators like Casey Neistat and for his own award-winning films, wasn't initially convinced that the mix of philanthropy and YouTube's fast-paced attention economy could work. 'I struggle to see these videos getting any more than 5 million views,' he admitted when first approached. Yet, the very first video he directed for Beast Philanthropy soared to 20 million views — and changed the course of his career. 'I then studied that video for a very long time to try and figure out' why it resonated so deeply with audiences. Fast forward 29 months, and Mace has helped grow the Beast Philanthropy channel to 28 million subscribers, with most videos now surpassing 25 million views each. 'When I started, people would constantly say that it's impossible to make philanthropy films 'viral.' With Jimmy Donaldson's (Mr Beast's) dedication and my exceptional team at JOE, we are pulling it off, film by film,' he said. Traditional charity films often swing between two extremes: earnestness that bores or sensationalism that exploits. 'We refuse to do either,' Dan told me. The Beast Philanthropy team instead aims for the sweet spot where entertainment, inspiration, and impact intersect—content you want to watch and feel compelled to share. That alchemy matters because on this channel every view literally funds the mission: 100 percent of ad revenue, brand deals, and merch profit flow straight back into projects on the ground. Dan Mace is a creative and visionary Filmmaker, Youtuber, CCO (Chief Creative Officer) for Beast ... More Philanthropy and the founder of JOE and ALL OF US Studios in Cape Town. For Mace, storytelling has always been about emotion — the ability to make people feel something real. But philanthropy posed a unique challenge. 'With philanthropy, and especially with BEAST, everything that we say, everything we do, is 100% true,' he explained. 'Sometimes, as a director, I think I could make this seem a lot more impactful by framing it differently, but we have to focus on being really, really honest and still make it gripping. It's a fascinating challenge.' Music is one of the tools he uses to shape that honesty into something powerful. 'We score all the films ourselves,' Mace said. 'That really helps when you have the ability to control the emotion through music, you can work people towards a crescendo with different motifs.' He often records authentic sounds on location — the footsteps, voices, and rhythms of the communities they're filming — and weaves these elements into the score to make the films feel alive and deeply personal. Beast Philanthropy is not just about creating content — it's about creating change. Every view directly fuels real-world impact. 'The sums of money that come in through philanthropy that goes straight back into philanthropy is insane,' Mace said. Unlike most charities, 100% of the revenue from ads, brand deals, merchandise, and donations goes directly to the causes. MrBeast personally covers the production costs, ensuring every penny raised is put to work. But for Mace, the most powerful moments aren't on camera. 'They're not these really aesthetic pieces of content,' he said. 'They're just legitimately sending you a video over WhatsApp, thanking you and going like, you know, this is, look at the impact it's made on the community. And that for me is the most special part.' The scale of Beast Philanthropy's work is staggering. In the past two years, the team has launched 30+ films spanning more than 20 countries, delivering everything from life-saving surgeries to solar-powered villages. They've built homes for orphans in South Africa, provided 20,000 pairs of shoes for school children, and funded 100 heart surgeries for children in Nigeria. In Asia, they've powered a mountain hospital and birthing center in Nepal, given 2,200 prosthetic limbs in Cambodia, and rebuilt shelters for hundreds of animals in Thailand. In the U.S. alone, the channel has donated over $2.7 million in clothing, 13 tons of food, $1 million in dental surgeries, and supported teachers, hospitals, and mental health organizations. 'When I look back at the projects we've brought to life across the globe, I'm so humbled,' Mace said. 'Creativity truly has the ability to change the world.' Mace approaches YouTube storytelling with the same precision he learned during his years in advertising. His formula? Impact, communication, and persuasion. 'The hook up front, this is why,' he explained. 'Once you get into the video and the hook suggests that yes, the film is indeed going to show you what you've clicked on, you go into this level of communication, and that's where you solve the emotion throughout that communication part. The persuasive elements at the end… that's transforming in those last 30 seconds of the film, giving people the ability that now they really want to be involved.' This structure ensures that viewers are not just entertained but also moved — inspired to share, donate, or simply see the world in a new way. When Mace joined Beast Philanthropy, he wanted to create something with more depth than the flashy giveaways that defined early videos. 'The videos prior were kind of… bubblegum,' he said. 'They were throwing money down and had these little explosion animations. It's just not what I was interested in.' Today, every video is designed like a cinematic mini-documentary. A project in Colombia, for example, powered a remote island but also gave women a path to financial independence by creating a bakery. 'Does the creation of a bakery on an island sound as clickable as 'We Powered an Island'?' Mace asked. 'Probably not. But once we get them to click, we can introduce the deeper story — like women's empowerment — and keep them engaged through authentic storytelling.' For Mace, Beast Philanthropy offers viewers a simple yet powerful way to contribute. 'There's this notion where it's like, okay, there's so many problems in the world, which there is,' he said. 'If you go and you just view a Beast Philanthropy video, a simple view is giving back.' Even young audiences are finding inspiration in the work. 'There's been comments of kids saving their tooth fairy money to donate a few dollars to the charity,' he shared. 'That stuff is just incredible for youth. It's given a lot of hope' Our conversation ends with a mutual sense of wonder at what storytelling can still achieve. 'I've stopped trying to be the best,' Dan says quietly. 'Now I just want to share what I've learned. Because there are so many amazing organizations out there doing incredible work—but no one sees them. And views? Views create hope.' Beast Philanthropy proves that storytelling, when done with honesty and heart, can turn attention into real impact. With just one click, a viewer can spark donations, amplify awareness, and help change lives. In a world overloaded with content, these stories stand out because they remind us that even the smallest action can make a difference.
