Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon and a star-studded cast, has generated extraordinary excitement, as IMAX tickets for its release have sold out a full year before the scheduled premiere. Despite the movie’s July 17, 2026 release date, demand is so high that tickets for IMAX screenings are already unavailable, marking an unprecedented event in cinema history.
High Demand Shuts Down Ticket Availability Across Multiple Platforms
The overwhelming rush has caused IMAX’s official website listings to either display as sold out or have broken links, with a similar situation unfolding on the British Film Institute’s site in the UK. Secondary markets have taken advantage of the rarity, with resellers listing tickets for $100 to $150 to view The Odyssey at venues like New York City’s Lincoln Square and Atlanta’s Regal Georgia Theater. The enthusiasm extends to merchandise as well, as some film posters are being sold for as much as $250.
Limited Showings and Rapid Sellouts in Major Cities
Theaters have currently planned only a single IMAX screening each day at 7 p.m. during the opening weekend, which sold out within minutes, particularly in cities such as New York and Los Angeles. Soon after the initial rush, nearly all IMAX 70mm showings were reported to be fully booked, reflecting the intense interest in seeing the film as director Christopher Nolan envisions it.
A Film Industry First with Tickets Available While Still in Production
No movie before has come close to selling IMAX tickets this far in advance. The closest precedent is from 2012, when Warner Bros. released 70mm midnight showings for The Dark Knight Rises about six months before its debut, and those also sold quickly. However, The Odyssey is the first to have tickets sold more than a year before a release date, despite the film still being in production.
Cast Highlights and Future Screening Possibilities
The Odyssey features a compelling cast including Tom Holland as Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, alongside Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal. While there is a chance that additional IMAX showings may be scheduled, and a remote possibility for release adjustments, the limited number of IMAX screens across the U.S. means that securing a ticket for opening day is likely to remain difficult.
Significance of Early Sellouts for IMAX and Cinema
The rapid sellout of Christopher Nolan The Odyssey IMAX tickets reveals the extraordinary anticipation for this film and highlights Nolan’s influential position in the industry. It underscores the challenges theaters face in meeting demand for major event movies, especially on premium formats like IMAX 70mm. This unprecedented situation sets a new benchmark for how early blockbuster enthusiasm can build and may influence how studios and theaters manage ticket sales for future highly anticipated releases.
