You know that there’s a serious money-maker on the way when cinemas are changing almost a year before a film’s release date. That’s what we’re seeing now with the preparation for the 17 July 2026 release of The Odyssey. Brought to the big screens by Christopher Nolan, the film has all of the hallmarks of a colossal hit.
Not only is the writer-director coming in on the back of a wildly successful biopic, of all things, but the film will also draw from one of the most legendary of Homer’s poems. Naturally, cinemas are hoping that the hype pays off, and in doing so, many are looking to integrate new screening formats to offer what Nolan sees as the best form of film.
Too Big to Not Bust Blocks?
From the creator of The Dark Knight trilogy and Oppenheimer and starring Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and Jon Bernthal, The Odyssey immediately stands up as one of the biggest films of 2026. On top of this, the film will be adapting perhaps the greatest tales ever told.
It’s a tight character study of a man enduring trial after trial simply to get home from a legendary war. You also get the perspective from Penelope, offering a kind of ticking clock for the hero to try to beat. Throw in the grand landscapes, the tests of Odysseus’ and Penelope’s character, and the infusion of mythological figures, and you have a true epic.
While perhaps not as read directly these days, people still connect to the realms of Ancient Greek mythology. This spans all corners of entertainment. Poor films have done exceedingly well because of their mythical premise, while the likes of Zeus and Poseidon featuring in the Age of the Gods series have helped to propel it to incredible highs.
After all, one of the most immediately noticeable of all of the tiles for casino games online is that of Age of the Gods Roulette, thanks to its use of Zeus. In the game powered up by Greek deities, the Ancient Greek setting of the studio only further increases the immersion and appeal to all who are interested in these famed myths.
Put all of this together, and you have the perfect storm for a film to go above and beyond at the box office. With decent reviews, it’s not difficult to imagine The Odyssey challenging the all-time best at the box office. Already, a year before the film is due to be released, pre-orders for IMAX 70mm tickets sold out, pushing up resale prices to $300.
Such a Force that Cinemas Must Change
Cinemas that already boast IMAX 70mm screenings are selling their tickets well ahead of time and selling out in doing so. Others have had to follow suit. In fact, the cinema chain Cinemark has announced that it will add more screens for IMAX 70mm showings of movies, specifically for The Odyssey next summer.
So, why is IMAX 70mm the buzzword for the upcoming mythical epic? That comes down to Christopher Nolan preferring the format and filming in 65mm – the extra 5mm comes from the audio strip. What this achieves is the equivalent of a 16K digital resolution, filling the cinema screen thanks to IMAX’s horizontal projection.
It’s immensely better than anything we can expect from even the best digital cameras that filmmakers can access. In that regard, you’re generally looking at 8K as a cap for now. The IMAX offering also expands the number of vertical perforations from five to 15, truly maximising the showing of a 70mm film.
Nolan has showcased his penchant for the epic, and so, fans are excited to pay extra to see The Odyssey in its best possible form. So, cinemas are scrambling to meet the demand by the time next summer rolls around.
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