The Odyssey Tickets on Sale One Year Before Showing To Avoid 'Oppenheimer' Mess: How to Buy IMAX 70mm Seats

Fans of Christopher Nolan who remember the ticket frenzy around Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer can start planning their next event: IMAX 70mm tickets for The Odyssey officially go on sale Thursday, 17 July 2025, which is exactly one year ahead of the film's scheduled release date on 17 July, 2026.

This marks an unprecedented move by Universal Pictures and Nolan, who seem determined to secure not just an audience, but a devoted audience who are committed for the long haul. However, before fans can worry about braving a Homeric journey just to get a seat, here's the catch: these early tickets are only for select showtimes at IMAX 70mm theatres, a format that Nolan fans know all too well comes with limited availability.

Why the Rush?

To understand the early ticket drop, the fans only have to look back at 2023's Oppenheimer, which became a cinematic juggernaut, grossing nearly $1 billion worldwide, with 20% of that total attributed to IMAX screenings alone.

Fans travelled across states and in some cases, countries to find a true 70mm showing. It was less a film release, more a pop-cultural pilgrimage.

With The Odyssey, Nolan raises the stakes. This will be the first film ever shot entirely using IMAX cameras, a technical milestone even for a director already known for pushing the format to its limits.

How to Buy IMAX 70mm Tickets for The Odyssey

Tickets will be released on Thursday, July 17 2025, but only for select IMAX 70mm theatres and a limited number of showtimes. Here's how to book:

• Find a 70mm-Equipped Cinema: There are only around 30 theatres globally with true IMAX 70mm projectors. In the UK, look out for the BFI IMAX (London). In the US, major venues include AMC Lincoln Square (New York) and TCL Chinese Theatre (Los Angeles).
• Book Directly via Cinema Websites: Early access is handled by individual theatres. Check their official websites, not third-party ticketing platforms, for showtime listings and pre-sale details.
• Watch for Announcements: Fan groups like IMAX Vanguard and Reddit communities have already spotted listings going live in places like Dallas and Arizona. The BFI IMAX is also rumoured to be among the first UK locations selling tickets.
• Act Fast: Expect showings to sell quickly. IMAX 70mm screenings are technically demanding and often limited to just a few showtimes per day. Be ready when booking opens and refresh early.
• Standard-format and digital IMAX tickets are expected to be made available closer to the film's July 2026 release, so you haven't missed the boat entirely if you're not chasing the 70mm experience.

What Is The Odyssey?

A modern reimagining of Homer's ancient Greek epic, Nolan's The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the war-weary king of Ithaca, navigating a perilous return home from Troy. While no official announcement has been made, according to rumours, Tom Holland plays his son, Telemachus, who sets out in search of his long-lost father.

The cast, in general, is stacked with talent. Alongside Damon and Holland are Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, and Jon Bernthal, among others. Quite possibly the most star-packed Greek epic.

The production spans multiple countries, including the UK, Sicily, Morocco, Ireland, and Scotland, and is expected to be Nolan's most expensive film to date, with a reported budget of $250 million.

As of now, Universal hasn't officially released a trailer. However, a teaser has been quietly playing ahead of select theatrical releases, including Jurassic World: Dominion and Superman.

It reportedly features Damon's Odysseus, Holland's Telemachus, and a voiceover suspected to be Robert Pattinson's. Footage includes crashing waves, mythic imagery, and the line: 'He knew it was an unwinnable war. And somehow... somehow he won it.'