“Oppenheimer” director Christopher Nolanâs upcoming epic “The Odyssey” isnât just one of 2026âs most anticipated releases â itâs already shattering records before cameras stop rolling. Advance tickets for exclusive Imax 70mm showings sold out across dozens of locations worldwide within hours of going on sale, and now some seats are being resold online for up to $400.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the unprecedented early rollout began at midnight Eastern on Thursday, with Universal and Imax launching sales for July 16â19, 2026 preview screenings at 70mm locations. Within the first hour, 95 percent of available seats were gone, totaling an estimated $1.5 million in sales.
Christopher Nolanâs The Odyssey Sells Out Imax 70MM Screenings One Year in Advance
Imax confirmed that this is the first time in history tickets have gone on sale a full year ahead of a filmâs release. With only one screening allowed per day per venue during the opening four-day window, scarcity drove immediate demand. Now, The chance to see Nolanâs latest epic in his preferred format is already slipping into the hands of resellers.
Regal Cinemas reported that all of its 70mm Imax showtimes sold out in under 12 hours, including sites like Irvine Spectrum, Mall of Georgia, and King of Prussia. AMCâs Lincoln Square in New York City sold out in just 15 minutes, and Universal CityWalk in Hollywood followed shortly after. At least 50 percent of participating theaters in the U.S. and Canada had completely sold out by midday Thursday.
Additional formats, including traditional Imax, premium large format, and standard digital will be available closer to the filmâs official release.
Matt Damon Leads Epic Cast in Christopher Nolanâs $250 Million Adaptation of The Odyssey
With a reported net production budget of $250 million, “The Odyssey” is now the most expensive film of Christopher Nolanâs career. The director is following up on the enormous success of Oppenheimer, which grossed nearly $1 billion globally and generated $190 million from Imax alone.
The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the legendary Greek hero whose journey home from the Trojan War becomes a years-long trial filled with gods, monsters, sirens, and betrayal. Damon is joined by an ensemble cast that includes Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyongâo, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, and Jon Bernthal.
Even though the film is still in production, the first teaser premiered earlier this month exclusively in theaters ahead of “Jurassic World: Rebirth”. Some chains leaked ticket presale announcements ahead of the official Imax rollout, which only fueled demand.
Nolanâs previous films include “Oppenheimer”, which earned over $950 million worldwide and won seven Academy Awards, as well as “Inception”, “Interstellar”, “Dunkirk”, and “The Dark Knight” trilogy. Many of these titles were released in Imax and became top box office performers globally. “The Dark Knight”, “Interstellar”, “Dunkirk”, and “Oppenheimer” were partially shot using Imax cameras, a format Nolan has continued to champion throughout his career.
“The Odyssey” opens exclusively in theaters on July 18, 2026, with expanded showtimes and formats to be announced.
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