Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Faces IMAX 70mm Screen Scarcity, Gets Rare Tom Cruise Review

Christopher Nolan's latest cinematic achievement, "The Odyssey," has embarked on its theatrical release, garnering immense critical acclaim and a unique buzz surrounding its presentation. This epic retelling of Odysseus' arduous voyage home after the Trojan War has quickly become Nolan’s highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes, boasting an impressive 97% score from critics. This places it ahead of previous Nolan masterpieces like "The Dark Knight" (94%) and his Best Picture-winning "Oppenheimer" (93%).

Critics have lauded the film extensively, with Collider's Joe Schmidt praising its "unrivaled cinematic spectacle" and ambitious scope. MovieWeb's Julian Roman specifically highlighted Robert Pattinson's performance as the nefarious Antinous, noting his "grimy manipulation." ScreenRant's Alex Harrison described it as "one of the most impressive accomplishments of Nolan's career." The film features a stellar ensemble cast, with Matt Damon embodying Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Tom Holland as Telemachus. Other notable cast members include Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton, Lupita Nyong'o, and Himesh Patel. "The Odyssey" premiered in theaters on July 17.

Adding to the film's allure is a powerful endorsement from Hollywood stalwart Tom Cruise, a renowned champion of the theatrical experience. After attending a screening, Cruise offered a concise yet emphatic review: “Wow!” He further expressed his gratitude to Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, and the entire cast and crew for delivering an "amazing night in a movie theater," eagerly anticipating a repeat viewing. Both Nolan and Cruise are vocal advocates for cinemas, practical filmmaking, and premium formats, and Cruise's enthusiastic reaction has sparked speculation about a potential future collaboration between the two cinematic titans.

A significant aspect of "The Odyssey's" release is its distinction as the first-ever movie shot entirely on IMAX film cameras. Nolan, along with stars like Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway, has strongly urged audiences to experience the film in its true IMAX 70mm presentation, emphasizing that this is how it was intended to be seen. However, this optimal viewing experience comes with a considerable challenge: the scarcity of true IMAX 70mm equipped theaters. Only 25 theaters in the U.S. and 41 worldwide possess the necessary projection capabilities, leading to extraordinary demand, with some screenings selling out weeks in advance and prompting dedicated moviegoers to undertake cross-country journeys.

IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond shed light on the logistical hurdles, explaining that new IMAX film projectors have not been manufactured in approximately 50 years. Consequently, IMAX's strategy involves retrofitting and rebuilding existing projectors. The complexity is compounded by the fact that many parts required for these specialized film projectors no longer exist, and the original design files, created half a century ago, were not properly maintained, resulting in a loss of complete manufacturing blueprints and institutional knowledge. Hollywood's broader transition from film to digital projection in the late 2000s further exacerbated this, as manufacturers ceased producing film projectors and their replacement parts. Despite these challenges, interest in the format has seen a resurgence in recent years, driven by visionary filmmakers like Nolan and Denis Villeneuve.

In preparation for "The Odyssey," following the success of Nolan's "Oppenheimer" in 2023, IMAX undertook a massive, year-long effort to expand its fleet of 70mm film projectors. This involved tracking down broken, abandoned, and forgotten projectors to salvage parts for refurbishment and installation. The rigorous process also necessitated training 60 new projectionists from scratch. While IMAX successfully rebuilt many projectors in-house, some obsolete and complex components proved impossible to source due to their intricate production and the small market demand. This monumental undertaking ultimately resulted in an increase to 41 IMAX 70mm locations globally for "The Odyssey," a net gain of 11 systems compared to the 30 available for "Oppenheimer."

It is important to note that IMAX operates by designing and manufacturing its cameras and projection systems, which are then sold or licensed to exhibitors such as AMC Theatres. While deals are struck to add new IMAX locations and upgrade existing ones to IMAX With Laser technology, expanding the highly specialized IMAX 70mm network faces additional obstacles. Exhibitors are often reluctant to build auditoriums capable of housing the towering 1.43:1 screens required for the full IMAX 70mm experience due to prohibitively high construction costs. Therefore, even if more 70mm projectors could be manufactured, there are relatively few theaters equipped to install them.

The future of the IMAX 70mm format continues to rely on the steadfast advocacy of Hollywood filmmakers who champion the technology, as well as sustained audience demand for event films like "Dune: Part Three." IMAX maintains that it strives to leave "no stone unturned" in bringing additional film projectors into its global network, including exploring new projection technologies, as the "frenzy around IMAX 70mm somehow continues to find new ways to surprise" them. "The Odyssey" stands as a testament to this unique cinematic ambition, offering an unparalleled experience for those fortunate enough to witness it in its intended format.