The Odyssey, Sir Christopher Nolan's ancient Hollywood epic, hits cinemas tomorrow following rave reviews. The first IMAX showings sold out a year ago when tickets went on sale, underscoring the filmmaker's long association with the large-format cameras. However, this film marks a historic first: it is the first movie ever shot entirely on IMAX film cameras.
What You Miss Without IMAX
According to Nolan's team, watching The Odyssey in a regular cinema means missing up to 40% of the captured image. Specifically, 20% is cropped from the top and 20% from the bottom of the frame for the entire runtime. Even standard digital IMAX theatres, such as Cineworld Leicester Square in London, show the film in a 1.9:1 aspect ratio, which offers about 26% more image than a regular cinema but still crops some of the top and bottom.
Only Three UK Venues Show the Full Picture
Incredibly, only three cinemas in the UK—and 41 globally—are screening the epic in Nolan's intended 1.43:1 box-shaped ratio. These venues use IMAX 70mm or IMAX GT Laser projection to display the full image. Having experienced the world premiere at the BFI IMAX, one critic described it as "like staring at a wall of screen with the most beautifully crisp picture, in a gloriously engrossing experience."
Available Formats Compared
The Odyssey is available in several formats: IMAX 70mm (1.43:1), standard 70mm (2.20:1), 35mm anamorphic (2.39:1), IMAX GT Laser (1.43:1), and other premium large formats. The 1.43:1 ratio delivers 40% more image than the standard 2.39:1 widescreen.
The film releases on Friday.
