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Why Aren’t There More Imax 70mm Screens for ‘The Odyssey’? ‘It’s Not Practical,’ Company Says
Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey”, the first film shot entirely on Imax cameras, has been released with strong demand for true Imax 70mm screenings. However, only 25 US cinemas can show the film in that format, limiting access despite audiences travelling long distances to see it as intended.
Imax chief executive Richard Gelfond said expanding the number of 70mm venues is difficult because new Imax film projectors have not been made for about 50 years. The company refurbishes existing machines, but many components, design records and specialist skills were lost as cinemas shifted to cheaper, simpler digital projection; renewed interest from filmmakers such as Nolan and Denis Villeneuve has not yet made film projection practical at scale.
In short
- Only 25 US cinemas can show “The Odyssey” in Imax 70mm.
- Obsolete parts and lost expertise restrict projector expansion.
- Imax says film projection is impractical to scale.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Expanding Imax 70mm screening would give more audiences access to a format central to how the film was made, and could support cinemas offering a distinctive shared experience. Strong demand and renewed interest from filmmakers suggest there may be a case for rebuilding the skills and equipment needed to serve more venues.
The case against
The format depends on projectors and specialist expertise that have largely disappeared, after decades of cinemas moving to simpler digital systems. Recreating that capacity would take substantial investment and time, while demand for a particular release may not be enough to make expansion practical or sustainable.
Explained simply
Imax 70mm is a film format that creates exceptionally large, detailed images on giant cinema screens. Christopher Nolan's new film "The Odyssey" was shot using Imax cameras, but only 25 cinemas in America can show it in this format, meaning audiences in most places cannot see it as the director intended.
Imax stopped making 70mm film projectors about 50 years ago after the industry switched to cheaper digital projection. Although the company still refurbishes old machines, the original equipment designs, components and specialist expertise have been largely lost, making it impractical to create many new 70mm screens.
Several modern filmmakers have championed 70mm for its superior image quality, but the shortage of venues means audiences who want to experience their films this way often must travel long distances or cannot access the format at all.
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