Moviegoers are scrambling to order their seats for “The Odyssey,” and the mad sprint to see what Christopher Nolan has cooked up is hitting some surprising hurdles.
Demand for Imax and different premium massive format screenings of the journey epic seems to be so excessive that AMC‘s ticketing app paused briefly. Sales have resumed, but wait times are up to an hour. On social media, users complained about the difficulty of reserving tickets for the format. Nolan is a passionate advocate for Imax and used the company’s proprietary cameras to shoot “The Odyssey,” so it’s clear how he desires his new movie to be seen. Imax and PLF screenings went on sale on June 4, triggering the frenzy to purchase seats. AMC isn’t alone — Fandango’s web site additionally seemed to be dragging with customers experiencing lengthy wait occasions.
Final summer season, opening weekend screenings of “The Odyssey” in Imax 70mm had been made obtainable and shortly offered out. That’s nearly exceptional for a film to start out providing seats that far prematurely, however due to Nolan’s proselytizing followers travelled throughout state strains to see his earlier movie, “Oppenheimer,” in that format.
“The Odyssey” hits theaters on July 17. It carries a manufacturing price range of $250 million and boasts an A-list ensemble that features Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson. Common is releasing the movie, which is predicted to be one of many greatest hits of the summer season. The movie is a re-telling of Homer’s poem about Odysseus’ lengthy journey house. It’s a quest that’s practically as daunting as discovering tickets to a gap night time 70mm Imax screening of “The Odyssey.”
However there’s a cause moviegoers belief Nolan, whose immersive movies are providing one thing distinctive at a time when theaters are crammed with superhero sequels and franchise fare.
“When I’m writing, I’m visualizing the film as an audience member, as somebody experiencing the story,” Nolan advised “60 Minutes” in a latest interview. “Then, when I direct the story, I’m trying to take the audience there. So, in the case of ‘The Odyssey,‘ I’m trying to put the audience into that horse. I’m trying to put them on the deck of Odysseus’s ship.”
It’s not exceptional for ticketing demand to crash AMC’s web site. One thing related occurred with the 2023 launch of Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” live performance movie and once more in 2025 for the singer’s movie, “Showgirl.” AMC is the world’s largest exhibition chain and has essentially the most Imax screens in america.
A spokesperson for AMC declined to remark. Spokespeople for Common and Fandango didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
