Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey has sparked unprecedented excitement—even before a single frame has been released. A full year ahead of its July 17, 2026 premiere, IMAX 70mm tickets are already nearly gone, with 95% selling out almost immediately after pre-sales opened across 26 selected venues worldwide. Demand for the premium large-format experience is so high that theaters are currently offering only one showing per day per location, since the film’s exact runtime remains unknown.
While early buyers managed to secure tickets at face value (around $25–$28), scalpers quickly stepped in, listing seats on resale platforms like eBay at vastly inflated prices, ranging from $200 to over $500 each. Some bundles of tickets even appeared with starting bids as high as $1,000. Examples of this frenzy include tickets for a Sunday-night screening at a Dallas Cinemark theater selling for four times their original price, and a set of four tickets at AMC Lincoln Square in New York City going up for auction at $1,000.
The unprecedented demand is driven largely by Nolan’s reputation and his dedication to the IMAX format. Building on the success of his previous film, Oppenheimer, which earned approximately $190 million of its $976 million global gross from IMAX screenings, The Odyssey will be the first major studio film shot entirely with IMAX 70mm cameras. Newly developed lighter and quieter IMAX cameras, specifically tailored to Nolan’s dialogue-driven epic, have made this ambitious production possible. Nolan’s commitment to filming exclusively in IMAX is seen as a groundbreaking move in cinematic storytelling, allowing audiences to experience the film in a fully immersive, expanded aspect ratio.
Adding to the excitement is the film’s all-star cast, headlined by Matt Damon as Odysseus and supported by actors including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal. Filming is taking place across various international locations such as Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, and Iceland, with a teaser trailer already generating buzz in select theaters.
Industry experts have described Nolan’s pre-sale strategy as bold and audacious, designed to amplify anticipation and create a sense of exclusivity around the film. However, some observers have raised concerns that the limited availability of tickets could inadvertently fuel scalping and frustrate genuine fans. Nevertheless, the hype surrounding The Odyssey has led many dedicated moviegoers to plan international trips solely for the opportunity to view Nolan’s vision as intended.
In summary, The Odyssey is rapidly becoming one of the most anticipated movie events of recent years. With Nolan’s name attached, groundbreaking IMAX technology, and a carefully orchestrated marketing campaign, the journey to its release is already proving to be a landmark cinematic experience.