Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" is experiencing extraordinary demand for its Imax 70mm screenings, with newly released tickets selling out within hours and no availability in New York or Los Angeles until 19 August, while London screenings are sold out through 10 September. The frenzy raises questions about how long the film can retain access to the rare large-format screens, which exist in only 25 US theatres and 41 worldwide, given that upcoming Imax releases such as "The End of Oak Street" and "Resident Evil" are also vying for the format.

Imax has confirmed its next contractual 70mm commitment is to "Dune: Part Three" in December, meaning "The Odyssey" is not obliged to relinquish the screens until then, though it will likely rotate off and return periodically, echoing the pattern seen with Nolan's "Oppenheimer" in 2023. "The Odyssey", an R-rated, near-three-hour adaptation of Homer's epic costing $250 million, opened to $123.5 million domestically and $263.8 million globally, the biggest launch of Nolan's career, with Imax screens alone generating a record $51.8 million. Theatres have added early-morning showings to cope with demand, and scalpers have been reselling tickets as the film, the first shot entirely on Imax cameras, generates strong awards buzz.