The British Film Institute (BFI) has issued an apology after a technical glitch on its website caused widespread frustration among fans of director Christopher Nolan, who were attempting to purchase tickets for his highly anticipated epic, The Odyssey.
Tickets for a series of 70mm IMAX screenings went on sale at 8am on Monday, prompting thousands of cinephiles to join a virtual queue. However, many users reported being kicked back to the end of the queue after reaching the front, with some finding themselves behind more than 15,000 people after waiting for nearly two hours.
One frustrated fan wrote on X: “@BFI I waited in the Odyssey tickets queue for almost 2 hours and finally got to my turn at 09:45 only to be redirected to a page that says I lost my place in the queue.”
Another added: “Extremely disappointed with @BFI. I was in the queue for 40 minutes to get tickets to see The Odyssey, only to be told I'd lost my place and had to start all over again. Terrible experience.”
Some users claimed they had reached position 387 before being sent back behind nearly 7,000 people. The scramble reflects the extraordinary demand for Nolan's latest film, which stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the legendary Greek king whose decade-long journey home forms the basis of Homer's ancient epic.
As complaints mounted online, some cinema-goers directed disappointed fans towards alternative screenings at London's Science Museum, which also boasts a 70mm IMAX screen. “If you've realised you're never seeing The Odyssey at the BFI IMAX because of the insane queue, try the Science Museum,” one user suggested. “I've just booked there instead for opening weekend.”
The BFI later acknowledged the issue and apologised to customers. “We're aware of the issues faced by some BFI IMAX customers today as a result of our online queueing system,” the organisation said in a statement. “On discovery, we worked with our box office system provider to resolve these as soon as possible. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment caused.”
The BFI added that its website was now operating normally and that tickets remained available for most screenings through August 17. The Standard has contacted the BFI for comment.
The Odyssey boasts a star-studded cast including Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o and Travis Scott. The film marks Nolan's first project since Oppenheimer, which earned him his first Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture. The filmmaker is also known for Inception, Dunkirk and The Dark Knight trilogy.
